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“Until we stabilize the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere, phenomena such as atmospheric rivers are likely to cause greater flooding and related economic damage widely – forever making sustainability and adaptive resilience a moving target. So what will we do?” asks Bob Sandford. Adapting to climate change requires a paradigm-shift in how we perceive watershed worth and service land. The audience will be asked to reflect on this question: How will communities ‘get it right’ through collaboration as land develops and redevelops?

Over the past decade, Richard Boase has been a key member of the Partnership for Water Sustainability team for training workshops and “sharing and learning” sessions in Metro Vancouver, Capital Region, Cowichan Valley, Comox Valley and Nanaimo Region. “The time has come to assertively push our politicians to make the hard decisions now for the benefit of our future generations; and to follow through with policy, regulations and bylaws that require simple, landscape-based, outcome-driven solutions so that we can start watershed restoration now,” said Richard Boase in 2010.

“All one need do is reflect on what British Columbia has experienced in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Impacts are magnified by human interventions. We have arrived at a fork in the road,” says Kim Stephens. “The situation calls for a whole-systems approach to managing the water balance distribution where people live. The risks are too high, and the margins for error too small, to view water and watersheds only through narrow technical lenses. Adapting to changes in the water cycle and restoring the water balance starts with rethinking our relationship with nature.”

“The objectives of the Streamkeepers Program are as follows: 1) Provide volunteers with the training and support required to protect and restore local aquatic habitat; 2) Educate the public about the importance of watershed resources; and 3)Encourage communication and cooperation in watershed management,”stated Zo Ann Morten. “The Pacific Streamkeepers Federation has been successful in bringing our Mission Statement to life in several ways. We help streamkeepers take action through support, education, and building partnerships.”

“2018 marks the tenth year of RDN DWWP program implementation and an Action Plan update will outline the priority actions and mandate for the next 10 years,” states Julie Pisani. “The solid foundation developed in the first 10 years provides a great opportunity to move forward with gained insight, practical understanding of the mechanics of program implementation, and context for the tools available through the new BC Water Sustainability Act. Will other regions take notice and follow in RDN’s footsteps?”

“Projected population growth would significantly increase various land use activities and enhance stress on groundwater resources, therefore it was mandated by the RDN to begin to develop a program that works towards reducing these impacts and increasing regional fresh water sustainability. For this reason, the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute and the RDN have partnered to redirect policy and land use decisions,” stated Ashley Van Acken. “The Wetlands Mapping Project aims to create an updated inventory of wetlands in the RDN.”

The Nanaimo Water Symposium will showcase the first demonstration applications of the Ecological Accounting Process (EAP) to assess ‘watershed worth’. “Looking through the ‘worth lens’ has led to a fundamental shift in the EAP approach: place less emphasis on monetization of ecological services; instead, focus on the investment of resources as well as aspirations of motivated stakeholders,” states Tim Pringle.

The Nanaimo River Watershed is a principal focus of the Nanaimo Area & Land Trust (NALT). “In 2011, NALT was the catalyst for bringing together a group of stakeholders to create the Nanaimo River Watershed Roundtable,” stated Paul Chapman. “Through the Roundtable, a group of stakeholders in the watershed who in the past might not have convened at the same table, have been able to gather and share information and where appropriate resources for the stewardship of the watershed and all the values, environmental, social and economic it supports.”

The Canadian Freshwater Alliance undertook research to determine what problems are affecting urban watersheds, why they’re happening, barriers local governments face in trying to address them, and how better supports could be developed under the province’s water framework. “Local governments play a large role when it comes to protecting watershed health. However, many watershed professionals working in local government feel stymied in their efforts to protect their local watersheds.” stated Christine Mettler.

“Community stewardship volunteers are demonstrating what it means to embrace ‘shared responsibility’ and take the initiative to lead by example. MVIHES secured funding from multiple agencies and developed the Shelly Creek Water Balance & Sediment Reduction Plan,” stated Peter Law. “The challenge for MVIHES is to facilitate the community’s journey from awareness to action, expressed as follows: Once a community as a whole acknowledges that there is a problem, and also understands why there is a problem, what will the community do about it?”