DOWNLOAD A COPY OF: “Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Community-based science raises water balance awareness on Salt Spring Island” – released by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in February 2023
NOTE TO READER:
Waterbucket eNews celebrates the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the Living Water Smart vision. The edition published on on February 14, 2023 the Salt Spring Island Water Preservation Society’s FreshWater Catalogue. They are applying a science-based approach to help educate the community about the fragile nature of the “water balance” on Salt Spring.
Community-based science raises water balance awareness on Salt Spring Island
With the launch of the Watershed Moments Symposia Series in 2018, a key theme for “stories behind the stories” published on Waterbucket eNews is this: local government partnerships with stewardship groups can be transformational and ‘make where we live better’. This is the context for the story below about community-based science in action on Salt Spring Island.
Inspired by the leadership of Dr. John Millson, the Salt Spring Island Water Preservation Society’s FreshWater Catalogue has in recent years mobilized a small army of volunteers. A retired geologist, John is passionate about using science and Indigenous knowledge to show the way forward to protect the freshwater and watersheds of Salt Spring’s drinking-water systems.
The Freshwater Catalogue project is applying a science-based approach to help educate the community about the fragile nature of the “water balance” on Salt Spring. As John explains it, “Doing science and making learnings from science accessible to a community is key to having them onboard.”
Shaped By Water: The Film
In support of accessible educational material based on the science, the Salt Spring Island Water Preservation Society has a vision which is to produce a film documentary, with a working title Shaped By Water: The Story of Salt Spring Island’s Freshwater Journey. It is the sequel to Freshwater Salt Spring, a short pilot film. To view it, click on the image below.
As a communication and educational tool, the feature film would support the messaging about an Island’s delicate freshwater balance, and the importance of its watersheds and their natural systems in maintaining this balance, for the natural ecosystems and for the community.
TO LEARN MORE:
To read the complete story published on February 14th 2023, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Community-based science raises water balance awareness on Salt Spring Island.
