Water-Centric Planning

LIVING WATER SMART IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: “It requires a long-term commitment to build stewardship sector capacity to do flow measurement,” stated Neil Goeller, Unit Head for Hydrometrics & Hydrology in the Ministry of Environment & Parks

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. Stories are structured in three parts: One-Minute Takeaway, Editor’s Perspective (REPRODUCED BELOW), and the Story Behind the Story.

The edition published on May 6, 2025 featured the Vancouver Island Community Flow Monitoring Network. The story behind the story is structured in four parts. An over-arching message is that flow monitoring is a springboard to broader initiatives which can then inform community planning. The idea for a community-based flow monitoring network was seeded years ago in conversations between Peter Law and Neil Goeller, former colleagues in the Ministry of Environment.

EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE / CONTEXT FOR BUSY READER

“The idea for a community-based flow monitoring network was seeded years ago in conversations between Peter Law and Neil Goeller, former colleagues in the Ministry of Environment,” stated Kim Stephens, Waterbucket eNews Editor and Partnership Executive Director.

“The idea came to fruition when they collaborated after Peter Law retired from his day job. He has since achieved prominence in the stewardship sector through his leadership role in MVIHES, the Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society; as well as through his involvement and collaboration with other stewardship groups.”

“Flow monitoring has always been a subject area that is of interest to freshwater fish biologists in this province. Hydrology is as important as understanding the issues of fish. Neil seemed to get it,” recalls Peter Law.

Parksville 2019 Symposium seeded the self-fulfilling prophecy for a provincial program

“Shelly Creek collaboration was the springboard for Peter Law to recruit Neil Goeller to the team that delivered Parksville 2019, the second in the Watershed Moments Symposia Series on Water Stewardship in a Changing Climate. Undertaken in partnership with MVIHES, the 3-day event was transformational,” continues Kim Stephens.

“Neil Goeller had an idea for building stewardship capacity, and with the energy generated by the Parksville 2019 Symposium, he successfully brought the idea to fruition as a provincial program in 2022. Parksville 2019 raised awareness and encouraged volunteers to get involved, Neil Goeller reported in 2023.”

Curious to learn more?

Download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Measure streamflow and close a data gap in community planning, published on February 14th 2023.

Next evolution is the idea for a “stream monitoring and water balance initiative”

“The groups involved in the Community Flow Monitoring Network in the mid-island region of Vancouver Island share a single FlowTracker2 handheld Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter. Earlier this year, the Partnership for Water Sustainability stepped up to purchase a new unit for the network,” reports Kim Stephens.

“The instrument is extremely expensive. It cost $26,000 and would otherwise have taken time and multiple partners to find funding to purchase it. But the need to replace the worn out FlowTracker1 was immediate,” states Peter Law.

“Having the FlowTracker2 is key to what can eventually be accomplished in the mid-island region and beyond. The time is right for an initiative that links two ideas, stream monitoring and water balance, because doing this would support the Partnership’s Water Balance Express program. I believe that would help spur changes in practice at the property scale to restore water balance.”

To Learn More:

Waterbucket eNews stories are structured in three parts: One-Minute Takeaway, Editor’s Perspective and Context for Busy Reader, and the Story Behind the Story. To read the complete 3-part storyline, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Mobilize Stewardship Groups, Close Data Gap in Community Planning.