Water-Centric Planning

LIVING WATER SMART IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: “Almost always Canada’s exposure within our borders to weather extremes are lower, relatively speaking, than the risks in the international regions we depend upon. And that makes us extremely vulnerable as a net food importer,” stated Dr. Kushank Bajaj, researcher at the UBC Land Use and Global Environment Lab

March 11, 2025 - Posted in Living Water Smart: The Series, published in 2025

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 March 11, 2025 featured Dr. Kushank Bajaj of the University of British Columbia and the Partnership’s Ted van der Gulik. US President Donald Trump’s economic war against Canada has shone the spotlight on British Columbia’s food security vulnerabilities.

EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE / CONTEXT FOR BUSY READER

“Ted van der Gulik and I had a conversation with Kushank Bajaj because we perceive his research work as aligning with the mission of the Partnership. It is always about connecting dots when we have conversations such as this,” states Kim Stephens, Waterbucket eNews Editor and Partnership Executive Director.

“From my editor’s perspective, the story behind the story is about the insights that Kushank and Ted shared with each other; and how interweaving their two perspectives results in a compelling storyline. And a call to action!”

“In 1973, a strategic political decision was made to create the Agricultural Land Reserve. So, most of the Fraser Valley was protected as farmland. But even so, the integrity of land within the ALR has been compromised in recent decades.”

Land use, water need, food security and risk reduction in an era of uncertainty

“The Canada Food Flows portal is the hook but the real story is about two powerful tools that our provincial government has in its arsenal to support a pivot away from reliance on US food imports.”

“To provide reliable answers to those questions, the provincial government can draw upon the Agriculture Water Demand Model and the Agricultural Land Use Inventory program. These powerful tools yields accurate data about land use and water need in an era when climate change creates uncertainty and risks.”

Acceleration of the global hydrologic cycle means that British Columbia has crossed into a new climate regime

“A decade ago, we crossed an invisible hydrologic threshold into a new climate regime. The critical summer season has doubled…from mostly rain-free weather for up to 3-months to full-on droughts for up to 6-months…right when we need a reliable supply of water to grow food. We can expect deeper, more persistent drought punctuated by flooding,” concludes Kim Stephens.