The key recommendation of the 2018 Water Use Plan for Cowichan Lake and Cowichan River is to construct a new weir with an increase of 70 cm of elevation above the existing weir. In July 2021, the final design of the new weir was completed. A condition of the key recommendation is that an assessment be done of the potential impacts to the Cowichan Lake shoreline due to storing water earlier and at a higher level than has been done historically. The Property View Tool helps to visualize the various lake elevation information at a property level. It is a Geographic Information System (GIS) online tool in which we can compare the information gathered to date on top of aerial photography.
Watch the video below to learn how to use the Property View Tool. Click on the image to play the video.
Click the link below to access the Property View Tool.
For a refresher on the terms used in the Property View Tool, see the infographic below.
Or, watch the video below of a section from the July 8 Project Update in which we presented the terms. Click on the image to play the video.
Have questions or comments? Let us know!
Cowichan River Water Supply 
All ok, I found by just entering Walton Rd then moving the map to my property.
The legal parcel lines show my neighbors cabin over the property line . Is this accurate ?
The property view tool is meant to represent the various boundaries as accurately as possible, however it does nor replace title documents, field pins and surveys. When you open the Tool, it says “This map is for information purposes only. It is not intended for design, analysis or construction.” To be sure to get the answer to your question you would need to obtain a proper survey of actual conditions.
Just by observation, I don’t think the levels are correct for our place east of Saseenos point. The actual water levels fall well below where the existing weir crest is indicated by the light blue line. In March before the melt starts, there is considerably more beach showing.
What increase in lake water height can we expect over the course of the summer?
There is no definitive number as the lake drops in elevation every day as the water flows out into the river. The flow rates through the weir and into the river will be roughly the same as they are with the existing weir but now we will have an additional 70 centimeters of water to release. The 70 cm will be stored behind the weir starting in March or April (depending on climactic conditions) and then released throughout the control period from March/April to end of October. The daily release volume is authorized by the Province using a strict set of guidelines or ‘rule curve’. Throughout the summer the goal is to release water at 7 cubic meters per second. At this rate the lake lowers by approximately 1 centimeter per day.
The alternative to a new weir will be to have much lower lake levels than we have had in the past.