Stave River Water Use Plan
The Water Use Plan (WUP) for Stave River (includes the Stave Falls and Ruskin facilities) was completed in 2003 and was developed through a multi-year consultative process.
- Stave River Water Use Plan [PDF, 2.2 MB] accepted by the Comptroller of Water Rights and implemented in May 2004.
- Executive summary [PDF, 38 KB] of Consultative Committee Report [PDF, 4.7 MB] provides an overview of the water use planning process and outcomes.
The final step is to review how things are going through a Water Use Plan Order Review which was done concurrently with a review of the Fisheries Act Authorization (FAA). The Alouette and Stave-Ruskin reviews were conducted jointly, reflecting BC Hydro's operation of all three facilities as a single system.
Learn more about why we have Water Use Plans and the Order Review process.
The outcomes of the review are an application for WUP Order amendment under the Water Sustainability Act and an application to amend the FAA under the Fisheries Act.
What's new?
BC Hydro has completed engagement on its Alouette-Stave-Ruskin Water Use Plan Order Review and Application for Fisheries Act Authorization amendment.
Since 2021, the review brought together a Committee of First Nations, regulators, local government and key stakeholders to review our existing operations, identify operationally related issues, and collaboratively develop a set of recommendations to support BC Hydro's regulatory applications to the Comptroller of Water Rights and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
In January 2025, the Committee reached consensus on a set of recommendations for operational adjustments, operating priorities, monitoring, and mitigation. We believe the recommendations being put forward will provide the best balance of benefits across the interests raised during the review. Specifically, the recommended operational adjustments are expected to provide benefits for fish and fish habitat, improve protection of cultural heritage resources, and provide operational flexibility to respond to changing climate conditions.
In early December 2025, we submitted our regulatory application to the Comptroller for their review and decision.
What's next?
Please check back in early 2026 to see our Stakeholder Engagement Summary, which will provide an overview of engagement activities that took place as part of the review.
We plan to submit a Fisheries Act Authorization amendment to DFO in spring 2026.
Water Use Plan Order and Order Review
- The Stave River Monitoring Program Synthesis Report [PDF, 2.4 MB]provides a summary of the monitoring programs undertaken for the Order and their outcomes.
- Stave River WUP Order [PDF]
- Public information meeting presentation [PDF, 2.8 MB] – September 14, 2021
- Public open house presentation [PDF, 1.3 MB] – November 3, 2025
Provincial and Program Information
| Projects | Studies | Terms of Reference |
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SFLMON-1 Pelagic Monitor |
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SFLMON-2 Littoral Productivity Assessment |
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SFLMON-3 Fish Biomass Assessment |
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SFLMON-4 Limited Block Load as Deterrent to Spawning |
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SFLMON-5 Risk of Adult Stranding |
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SFLMON-6 Risk of Fry Stranding |
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SFLMON-7 Diel Pattern Fry Out-Migration |
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SFLMON-8 Seasonal Timing and Assemblage of Resident Fish |
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SFLMON-9 Turbidity Levels in Hayward Reservoir |
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SFLMON-10 Archaeological Management |
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