Members of the Similkameen Valley Planning Society met at the Lower Similkameen Indian Band offices on Wednesday, September 10.
Major discussion centred around the awarding of an $87,000 contract for the second phase of the Similkameen Watershed Study to Summit Consulting. The second phase of the study will look at three issues:
- assessment of water availability and risk of inadequate supply.
- groundwater and surface water interaction.
- surface water quality status and trends analysis.
The study’s remaining budget stands at $213,000, from an original grant of $500,000.
The SVPS is also initiating a communications plan in order to better convey information about the study to the general public. A tentative date for a public meeting has been set for October 7, with time and place to be announced.
Plans are also being made to campaign for further support of the SVPS’ two year old tourism initiative. Provincial funding for the unified web site and tourist guide is available for one more year. The society is planning to build sustainability by creating “ownership” of the initiative amongst the Similkameen Valley’s business community. It was suggested by communications consultant Andrew Stuckey to host “a couple of good workshops” over the winter to get people involved.