Natural resource permitting plays a significant role in the government’s strategy to strengthen and diversify our economy. B.C. is working across the natural resource sector to streamline permitting, remove barriers and delays, eliminate duplication, simplify processes and shift permitting while maintaining high environmental standards and our commitment under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. As part of this work, teams across the natural resource ministries were tasked with identifying areas that would increase efficiency, remove redundancy, and/or reduce administrative burden. Opportunities with the highest potential for impact and timely implementation are being considered for recommendation to Government.
The Water Sustainability Act (WSA) came into force in 2016, and modernized B.C.’s water laws to better manage and protect stream and ground water supply. Under the WSA, parties or individuals who want to carry out fish habitat or channel restoration or maintenance work must apply for and receive a change approval.
B.C. is exploring ways to streamline the process for qualified proponents doing stream restoration. Instead of focusing on who can do the work, the regulation could set clear terms and conditions for how the work can be carried out. This approach could create more opportunities for qualified proponents to carry out stream channel or fish habitat restoration and maintenance projects, while still ensuring a high standard of protection for aquatic ecosystems, water users, water quality, public safety, land or other property, and environmental protection. Currently, this process is available to provincial, federal, and local governments, allowing them to submit a notification before beginning the work.
Balancing timely restoration work with strong protections for the environment and public safety is a complex challenge. To address this, the Province is exploring what terms and conditions might be appropriate in such cases to provide proper guidance for restoration and maintenance activities while minimizing risk. The goal is to explore what work might be able to proceed. Here are some ideas under consideration for stream channel restoration or maintenance:
- Designed and supervised by experts: Restoration or maintenance work that is planned and supervised by qualified experts. Experts in fish habitat, aquatic ecosystems, and/or engineering are more likely to deliver effective, lasting results that benefit the environment and minimize risk.
- Protecting natural stream function: Projects would have to maintain or restore the natural stream flow to support healthy ecosystems, including the protection and enhancement of fish habitat
- Minimizing environmental impact: Efforts to minimize disturbance to fish habitat, vegetation, and stream bed and banks should help protect water quality and support healthy ecosystems
- Monitoring and reporting: Ensuring long-term environmental protection with ongoing monitoring and reporting
- Preventing contamination: Mitigation and reporting measures reduce the risk of contaminants entering the environment
The survey closed October 17, 2025.
The Province is considering whether and how to move forward. Input was requested on this approach, including where and how flexibility could be introduced.
Respondents were asked these questions when filling out the survey:
- What qualifications, experience, or local knowledge should be required for those designing or implementing stream restoration activities?
- Are there specific restoration or maintenance activities you believe should be avoided or limited? If so, why?
- How do you distinguish between stream restoration and stream maintenance?
- How might the distinction between stream restoration and stream maintenance affect how activities are planned or regulated?
Learn more about our other identified opportunities to improve natural resource permitting on the on the govTogetherBC website.