LIVING WATER SMART IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: “The job of a scientist is to provide the best advice to help people make a good decision,” stated Dr. Dave Preikshot, Senior Environmental Specialist with the Municipality of North Cowichan
Note to Reader:
Published by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia, Waterbucket eNews celebrates the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the Living Water Smart vision. The edition published on October 10, 2023 featured extracts from a conversational interview with Dr. Dave Preikshot, Senior Environmental Specialist with the Municipality of North Cowichan on Vancouver Island. Dave Preikshot collaborated with the legendary Daniel Pauly on fisheries research projects at the University of BC from 1995 through 2007.
Why aquatic scientists look at systems in an integrative way
“In the interview, Dr. Dave Preikshot talks about his 12-year university career from 1995 through 2007 when he worked with Daniel Pauly and how this experience prepared him for his current role as an environmental scientist working in local government,” stated Kim Stephens, Waterbucket eNews Editor and Partnership Executive Director.
“As Dave shared his story, I was struck by his career parallels with Dr. Chris May of Washington State who we featured in a March 2023 edition of Waterbucket eNews with a story about the Road Map for Stream System Integrity.”
“In the 1980s, both were naval officers. In the 1990s, both were inspir
Science, watershed-based drainage planning, and the Ecological Accounting Process
“In the October 3rd edition of Waterbucket eNews, Jim Dumont asked the question: Why have the practitioners of Rainwater Management in British Columbia fallen behind the West Coast states in protecting streams and reducing risk?”
“My interview with Dave Preikshot sheds more light on Jim Dumont’s question. In North Cowichan, at least, Dave Preikshot has broed to return to university and do their PhD degrees. In the 2000s, both joined local government to make a difference at the local scale where it matters most.”
“Interestingly, both believe that their naval leadership experience gave them a strong foundation for their careers in academia and local government.”
ught science inside local government. That is a good news story because the science-based, whole-system approach to drainage planning and design has generally been missing in British Columbia for more than a decade.”
Intergovernmental collaboration founded on science-based understanding:
“During my conversation with Dave Preikshot, we touched on the context for the decision by North Cowichan to step up and be a founding member of the EAP Partnership. This initiative is in collaboration with the City of Nanaimo, Regional District of Nanaimo, UBCM, Vancouver Island University and Partnership for Water Sustainability.”
“The EAP Partnership is embedding EAP, the Ecological Accounting Process, at the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Research Institute (MABRRI) at Vancouver Island University. The initial commitment is a 3-year transitional program to invest in youth and train future generations of local government staff.”
“The EAP Partnership is described as a model for other communities and governments. According to Dr. Max Blouw : It fits well with the ambition of the Research Universities’ Council of BC to support strong working relationships between post-secondary institutions and local governments and communities.”
TO LEARN MORE:
To read the complete story, download a copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Why aquatic scientists look at things in an integrative way.
