As of June 8, 2016, the Leech Water Supply Area, including the Weeks Lake area, is now subject to CRD Bylaw No. 2804: Greater Victoria Water Supply Area Protection Bylaw and will soon be gated and fully closed to public access. Closure of the Leech Water Supply Area will be enforced under the Bylaw and tickets and fines may be issued.
Requests for access and special use in the Leech Water Supply Area will be considered for groups or individuals with access requests that are consistent with water supply area management, that carry insurance and have the permission of adjacent private landowners for the transit to the area. In keeping with long standing strategic policy dating back to 1999, requests for access and special use in the Sooke and Goldstream Water Supply Areas, other than in very unique circumstances, will be declined by staff and not advanced to the Regional Water Supply Commission for decision.
Background Information
In 2007 and 2010, the CRD made a significant investment in purchasing the Leech Water Supply Area to protect and ensure future drinking water supply for Greater Victoria. Learn more about how the CRD plans to protect these future water supply lands by reading the display boards, brochure and staff report in the sidebar.
In October 2015, the Regional Water Supply Commission directed staff to prepare an amendment to the Greater Victoria Water Supply Area Protection Bylaw No. 2804 to:
- include the Leech Water Supply Area with the intention that the Leech Water Supply Area be fully closed to unauthorized public access effective June 1, 2016;
- allow for First Nations cultural use access in the Leech Water Supply Area in accordance with an access agreement; and
- not allow for public recreational use access by permit in the Leech Water Supply Area.