Waterscape Bowen Island: Water for Our Island Community
Basics
Title
Waterscape Bowen Island: Water for Our Island Community
Description
AI-generated: This 26-page illustrated community education booklet, produced by the Geological Survey of Canada (Miscellaneous Report 88, 2005), explains Bowen Island's freshwater systems to community members in accessible, plain language. It covers the full water cycle as it applies to a small island community surrounded by saltwater: where water comes from (entirely from local rainfall), how it moves through watersheds, streams, wetlands, and groundwater systems, how it is used by households and water districts, and the threats to water quality and quantity. Topics include water conservation success stories (Eagle Cliff metering), seasonal water shortages despite high annual rainfall, aquifer types and recharge, septic system maintenance, source water protection, saltwater intrusion, arsenic contamination, the role of forests and wetlands as clean water infrastructure, and practical conservation measures. The booklet was derived from the Waterscape Bowen Island poster developed by Natural Resources Canada and community partners. It is heavily illustrated with diagrams, maps, charts, and photographs throughout.
Date
January 1, 2004
Creator Organization
Natural Resources Canada | Geological Survey of Canada
Authors
Bob Turner | Richard Franklin | Murray Journeay | David Hocking | Anne Franc de Ferriere | Andre Chollat | Julian Dunster | Alan Whitehead | D. G. Blair-Whitehead
Document Type
Educational booklet
Full Text URL
Subject Area
Conservation & Protected Areas > Environmental education | Ecosystems > Forest ecology | Ecology > Geology | Water Resources > Groundwater | Water Resources > Hydrology | Policy & Governance > Municipal Planning | Ecosystems > Riparian ecology | Water Resources > Water quality | Water Resources | Water-supply | Water Resources > Watershed management | Ecosystems > Wetland ecology
Metadata
Keywords
Bowen Island
|water resources
|groundwater
|aquifers
|freshwater
|watershed
|water conservation
|septic systems
|water quality
|turbidity
|saltwater intrusion
|arsenic
|wetlands
|forested corridors
|riparian zones
|water table
|summer drought
|rainfall
|water meters
|source water protection
|Grafton Lake
|Eagle Cliff
|Josephine Lake
|Killarney Lake
|Honeymoon Lake
|Mount Gardner
|Howe Sound
|water cycle
|community water systems
Time Period
2001-2005
Relationship - isPartOf
Document ID
2610000000
Document ID
2610000000
Copyright holder
Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada 2005
Document Filename
waterscape-bowen-island-booklet-2005-compressed_2605071947.pdf
Storage Location
analysis/other-sources/
Key Findings
Bowen Island's entire freshwater supply comes from local rainfall — there is no connection to mainland groundwater systems. Annual rainfall of 1.5 to 1.8 metres falls mostly in winter and runs quickly to the sea, creating summer water shortages. Eagle Cliff water district reduced consumption by 70% after installing household meters. Less than 15 cm of annual rainfall recharges deep groundwater storage. Bowen has two aquifer types: fractured rock (limited storage) and sand and gravel (greater storage). Saltwater intrusion is less likely on Bowen than on flatter Gulf Islands due to higher elevation and rainfall. Arsenic occurs naturally in Bowen's bedrock and contaminates some wells. Turbidity from road construction and land clearing is a major water quality issue. Septic fields, if properly maintained and located, return water to groundwater and are beneficial; failing systems contaminate wells and streams. Source water protection through forest conservation is the most cost-effective strategy for safe water supply. Grafton Lake watershed, which supplies the Cove Bay water system, contains residential and commercial development representing contamination risk.
Methodology
Community education booklet based on data from Bowen Island water districts, weather stations (Hood Point and Cowan Point, 1992-1998), Bowen Island Geolibrary CD (2002), and research analogues from San Juan Islands for groundwater recharge estimation. Includes advisory committee community engagement process.
Map Descriptions
Page 1: Location and aerial map of Bowen Island showing key water features: labeled aerial 3D perspective image of Bowen Island with Mount Gardner (727m), Killarney Lake, Honeymoon Lake, Eagle Cliff reservoir, Tunstall Bay, Grafton Lake, Josephine Lake, Snug Cove, Seymour Bay. Inset regional map showing Bowen Island relative to Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle, and Pacific Ocean.
|Page 5: Cross-section diagram (The Myth of Mainland Water Supply) showing Bowen Island between North Shore Mountains and Sunshine Coast with 'no' symbols indicating no groundwater connection from mainland.
|Page 5: Cross-section diagram of island groundwater system showing freshwater lens underlain by salty groundwater and Howe Sound on both sides.
|Page 6: 3D block diagram of Bowen Island water cycle showing Pacific Ocean storms, Vancouver Island, Strait of Georgia, streams, lakes, springs, fresh groundwater system, and salty groundwater margins.
|Page 8: Map of Bowen Island showing water sources: dug wells, drilled wells, licenced surface water intakes, streams, wetlands, lakes (Honeymoon, Killarney, Grafton, Josephine), community water system distribution areas, weather stations. Scale 0-2 km.
|Page 9: Conceptual watershed diagram showing watershed boundary, dam and reservoir, groundwater flow, surface runoff, and Howe Sound.
|Page 9: 3D aerial image of Grafton Lake Water Supply Watershed showing watershed boundary, Grafton Lake, stream flow, water intake, dam, distribution to Cove Bay water system, surrounding communities.
|Page 15: Two comparative maps of Josephine Lake area showing protected lands: 1999 (before) and 2005 (after greenway agreements), with roads, streams, wetlands, Crown land labeled.
|Page 17: 3D block cross-section showing groundwater flow from Mt. Gardner recharge area through Josephine Lake, Tunstall Bay, Terminal Creek discharge areas to Howe Sound and Cowans Point, with fresh and salty groundwater zones.
Graph Descriptions
Page 4: Bar chart comparing average daily water use per person (litres) across Bowen Island water districts (Eagle Cliff, Bluewater, Tunstall Bay, Bowen Bay, Cove Bay) and international jurisdictions (Greater Vancouver Regional District, Canada, USA, UK, Sweden, France, Israel, Kenya). Bowen Island districts rank as most efficient water users.
|Page 4: Timeline area chart showing Eagle Cliff water use history from 1920 to 2000, illustrating rise and fall in per-person daily water use with key historical milestones annotated.
|Page 7: Cylinder/bar chart showing average monthly rainfall (millimetres) for Hood Point and Cowan Point weather stations (1992–1998), showing high winter rainfall and very low summer rainfall with peak summer demand overlay.
|Page 7: Water balance flow diagram showing rain and snow on island cycling through evapotranspiration, surface storage, groundwater, wells, and septic disposal.
|Page 18: Time-series diagram showing seasonal water table fluctuations over two years with rising (fall/winter recharge) and falling (summer dry season) cycles, plus long-term depletion trend.
|Page 25: Pie chart showing household water use by category with potable water requirement classification (required, optional, not required) — drinking/cooking 4%, bathing/cleaning 28%, laundry/dishes 16%, toilet flushing 32%, watering lawn/garden 20%.
Image Descriptions
Page 3: Pie chart of household water use breakdown — toilet flushing 32%, bathing/cleaning 28%, garden watering 20%, laundry and dishes 16%, drinking and cooking 4% (GVRD data). Cutaway house diagram showing water supply path and waste disposal.
|Page 10: Paired diagrams comparing natural forest (healthy green infrastructure) vs. modified/cleared landscape (damaged green infrastructure), showing infiltration, runoff, erosion processes.
|Page 11: Cross-section diagram of wetland functioning showing stream energy dissipation, contaminant filtering, peat water storage, groundwater flow, wildlife habitat, cleaner water outflow.
|Page 12: Two 3D block diagrams showing stream tributary problems summer dry stream crossing and winter high-flow siltation damage from poorly constructed road culvert.
|Page 13: Two cross-section diagrams showing stream gravel underground water in winter high flow vs. summer low flow, including insects and small fish habitat in dry-looking stream gravels.
|Page 15: Cross-section diagram of riparian/forested corridor showing stream with forest on both sides and labelled ecological functions.
|Page 16: Two subsurface cross-section diagrams showing aquifer types (fractured rock, sand and gravel, till) and well types on Bowen Island.
|Page 17: Landscape photo of Mt. Gardner seen from Grafton Lake wetlands (B. Turner).
|Page 18: Two diagrams: adequate pumping vs. overpumping scenarios showing water table drawdown and stream drying.
|Page 19: Salt water intrusion cross-section showing fresh/salty groundwater boundary shift after overpumping (Howe Sound setting). Arsenic contamination 3D cross-section showing arsenic-rich minerals in fractured rock with groundwater flow paths and contamination zones.
|Page 20: 3D farm/residential landscape diagram showing best water protection practices (settling ponds, organic farming, animal fencing, manure storage, forest corridor, spill containment, septic management). Killarney Lake valley photo (B. Turner).
|Page 21: 3D farm/residential landscape diagram showing poor water practices (muddy runoff, pesticides, failing septic, fuel spills, animals in stream). Boil water advisory sign photo (B. Turner).
|Page 22: Septic system cross-section diagram. Three well-placement diagrams (safe scenarios and contaminated scenario). Well construction detail diagram.
|Page 23: Water treatment chain diagram showing watershed source protection through to household drinking water treatment. Photos of healthy forest waterfall, Cove Bay Watershed Protection Area sign, Groundwater Protection Zone sign (all B. Turner).
|Page 24: Conservation house cutaway diagram showing water-efficient fixtures, rainwater cisterns, drip irrigation, greywater question. Low water at Josephine Lake photo, September 2002 (B. Turner).
|Page 25: Household water use circle/pie diagram with potable water classifications. Septic field groundwater recharge cross-section diagram. Cove Bay water notice sign photo (B. Turner).
|Page 26: Community advisory committee meeting photo (B. Turner). Community member viewing poster display photo (B. Turner).
Page Count
27
Publisher Location
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
File Size
7.2 MB
File Format
application/pdf
Geographic Locations
Bowen Island | Howe Sound | British Columbia | Canada | Grafton Lake | Killarney Lake | Honeymoon Lake | Josephine Lake | Mount Gardner | Eagle Cliff | Tunstall Bay | Seymour Bay | Snug Cove | Bluewater | Bowen Bay | Cove Bay | Cowans Point | Hood Point | Fairweather
Street Address
101-605 Robson Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5J3