The Capital Regional District (CRD) announced it is purchasing 1,973 hectares of land from the Kapoor Lumber Company (KLC), near the Sooke Lake Reservoir.
According to the CRD, the land’s proximity to the Sooke Lake Reservoir catchment area and the Sooke Lake Watershed make it ideal for water quality preservation.
“The CRD has identified these lands as an acquisition priority for many years, but they only recently became available,” said Cliff McNeil-Smith, CRD Board Chair.
“This purchase ensures the further protection of our primary water source and aligns with our long-term vision for sustainable water management and environmental stewardship.”
The Sooke Lake Reservoir is one of three sources which supply all of Greater Victoria with clean drinking water, which makes environmental stewardship of the area around it of the utmost importance to the CRD.
The CRD says that the strategic location of the KLC Lands makes them crucial for safeguarding the region’s water supply.
“The Kapoor Lumber Company Lands are vital for the protection of our water resources. By integrating these largely forested areas into the Greater Victoria Water Supply Area, we are safeguarding our water infrastructure and enhancing our ability to manage and expand our water resources sustainably,” said Gord Baird, Chair of the Regional Water Supply Commission.
“This purchase is a rare and significant opportunity to secure land that is important to the future of our region’s water supply, ensuring that we continue to provide clean and safe drinking water for generations to come.”
Several nearby First Nations also have potential interests that overlap with this property, prompting the CRD to initiate conversations with them regarding management and stewardship opportunities for these lands.
KLC is slated to pass the lands over to the CRD in September 2025.
The purchase will cost the CRD a total of around $33.3 million.
Funding for this purchase came from long-term debt taken on by the CRD, which will be repaid by water users over the course of many years.
According to the CRD, the cost to an average household is estimated at $14 per year.
Anytime a large amount of long-term debt is taken on by a municipality or regional district, elector approval must be obtained.
The CRD says they will seek approval through an Alternative Approval Process which is expected to take place in 2025.
