Brilliant Head Ponds Stewardship Collaborative

The Brilliant Headpond Stewardship Collaborative aims to bring together residents of the Brilliant Headpond area communities, government, First Nations and industry in a collaborative effort to build a stewardship plan that supports informed decision-making in order to ensure the area is best managed for ecological, social, cultural and industrial values. It was initiated in 2017 following the completion of a Scoping Study that identified the opportunities and challenges for stewardship in the headpond area. The Brilliant Headpond is defined as the area between the Brilliant Dam and Slocan Pools. The Brilliant Headpond Reservoir was created by the damming of the Kootenay River at the Brilliant Canyon in 1944.

The Scoping Study was the first phase of the project and was guided by the Brilliant Headpond Stewardship Initiative Steering Committee, which includes leaders from the Brilliant Headpond communities of Tarrys, Thrums, Glade, Shoreacres and South Slocan, representatives from the Ktunaxa First Nation and Okanagan Nation Alliance, the Electoral Area Directors from Area I and H of the Regional District, Regional District staff and representatives from FortisBC and the Columbia Power Corporation. A Literature Review was also completed in 2017.

Brilliant Head Ponds Stewardship Initiative Scoping Study
Brilliant Head Ponds Stewardship Initiative Literature Review 

Since completion of the West Kootenay Power Corps. (now Columbia Power Corporation) Brilliant Dam, the BHPR has been managed solely for hydro-electric generation purposes, and has been referred to as an “industrial commodity”. The priority has been to maximize economic revenue while providing an energy source for area residents and industry. Construction of the dams created more stable flows leading to the establishment of housing developments, recreation and public access. However, fluctuating water levels have impacted riparian areas, caused erosion issues, and increased access has led to the introduction of invasive species. Residents of the Headpond have expressed the need for improved planning and water management (CRT Local Governments’ Committee, 2014) (from BHSI Scoping Study, 2017).

The content on this page was last updated January 9 2023 at 1:46 AM