LIVING WATER SMART IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: “We are trying to envision a program where we acknowledge that we are part of fish habitat. We are part of the water cycle. This allows us to really look at our place on the water pollution file,” stated Dr. Peter Ross of the Raincoast Conservation Foundation
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 May 9, 2023 featured the Healthy Waters Program, an initiative of the Raincoast Conservation Foundation and the vision of Dr. Peter Ross.
This a new community-oriented water pollution monitoring initiative,” announced Peter Ross. “This program will complement existing initiatives, transcend jurisdictional silos, and bring high resolution analysis of contaminant classes of concern to BC watersheds, beginning in the Fraser River and Salish Sea watershed region.”
Healthy Waters Program for salmon, whales, and people
“My first contact with Peter Ross was in 2015 at a meeting of Metro Vancouver local governments. In recent years, we have had periodic contact as he worked hard to bring his vision for the Healthy Waters initiative to fruition. Peter Ross is passionate about his mission. Uncovering bad news is empowering, he says, because it enables us to create good news,” stated Kim Stephens, Waterbucket eNews Editor and Partnership Executive Director.
“Structured in three parts, the story behind the story that emerged during my “conversational interview” with Peter is compelling. First, he paints a picture of present-day conditions, and why water is under threat from a half-million chemicals and another 1000 each year.”
“Peter then explains why killer whales are demonstrating the fundamental failure of our regulatory system to have an early warning system. But do not despair because Peter concludes with a framework for community-based action.”
“People have their eyes on the streams and waterways now. There is a lot more community interest. There is a lot more watershed-based focus for community organizations and municipalities,” observed Peter Ross.
“We must cast a wide net for pollution monitoring to basically understand what we might run into. And then, when we start to uncover some awkward, embarrassing truths, we can actually act on them,” he added.
TO LEARN MORE:
To read the complete story, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Healthy Waters Program for salmon, whales, and people.
DOWNLOAD A COPY: https://waterbucket.ca/wcp/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/05/PWSBC_Living-Water-Smart_Peter-Ross-and-his-Healthy-Waters-Program_2023.pdf