Watershed Protection & Planning

In this Program Area, we will collect existing and new information, and analyze it to create new knowledge. We will create useful tools, analysis and supporting materials and products such as maps, reports and online information systems.

Priority Actions:

• Improve Climate and Water Monitoring Systems;
• Improve Data Management Systems;
• Characterize the Health of the Region’s Watersheds and Identifying Risks;
• Risk Assessment;
• Develop Water Budgets and Other Supporting Information; and
• Stable, Long Term Monitoring and Reporting.

In this Program Area, we will use science and knowledge to inform policy, land use decisions, and operational activities that affect drinking water and watersheds.

Priority Actions:

• Developing Coordinated Policy Frameworks;
• Informing Planning and Decision Making; and
• Informing Operational Decision Making.

In this Program Area, we will work directly with the public and organizations to help residents understand the benefits of water stewardship and how they can contribute.

Priority Actions:

• Education and Communication;
• Strategic Partnerships; and
• Watershed Restoration.

Through a partnership approach to program design and delivery, working with other organizations and agencies also committed to watershed protection, CVRD will be more effective at leveraging resources and will achieve better results. Partners include Cowichan Tribes, Ditidaht First Nation, Halalt First Nation, Lyackson First Nation, Pacheedaht First Nation Pauquachin First Nation, Penelakut First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, Stz’uminus First Nation, Ts’uubaa-asatx First Nation, Malahat Nation, local governments, other regional agencies, and other non-governmental environmental entities.

Program Areas in the Strategy are focused on improving and informing future decisions specific to CVRD’s approved Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Service (Bylaw No. 4202). This emphasis on decision making at the local government level will help prioritize and allocate funds more efficiently and avoid duplication of effort with other jurisdictions.

The program will rely on the best available information in order to learn and adjust over time. This includes local and traditional knowledge along with evidence–based and scientific methods. Accordingly, the Program is predicated on adaptive management: Program Areas and Actions may be revised and adapted in response to new information and changing conditions (e.g., climate change).

The program will adhere to performance requirements in the design, execution and reporting of the work to ensure consistency and quality standards are met, especially those related to water science and information acquisition. For some tasks and initiatives, that will mean community organizations, private companies, and researchers assisting with delivery will need to demonstrate that they have the necessary skills and experience to successfully carry out the work.