Emily Carson-Apstein
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder
As research and feedback continues on Gabriola’s new Official Community Plan, the Islands Trust is hosting the second information session on Freshwater.
This educational event is happening tomorrow, May 29th, in the Heron room at the Haven (240 Davis Rd) from 3:30 to 6:30pm. One of the founding principles of the Islands Trust is Stewardship Education: helping residents of the gulf islands understand the best ways to coexist with nature and preserve our natural resources and keep Gabriola the island oasis that we all appreciate.
This session, called Defining the Freshwater Footprint, will focus on how we measure our freshwater use and the sustainability of our freshwater sources in island communities.
The “Freshwater Footprint” being explored by the Islands Trust includes considerations around “water availability, distribution, and quality, along with island-specific water use, human impacts, Indigenous knowledge, and climate adaptation” (IT website).
Mapping our freshwater resources and learning how to limit our impacts on the watershed are vital as our island population continues to grow and evolve.
Decisions about housing, tourism, infrastructure, and more are dependent on the limits of the watershed. Many homeowners have noticed their wells running dry when decades ago the water was plentiful, and others have forgone wells entirely to rely on rainwater collection through cisterns.
Both rainwater and groundwater collection are weather-dependent, and climate change and other factors will impact the amount of water available to our community going forward.
The decisions we make as individuals impact the whole community’s access to water, and the more we understand the systems at play the more we can make good decisions about our water use.
This event will include experts William Shulba, a freshwater specialist with the Islands Trust, and Sylvia Barroso from Groundwater Solutions.
There will be presentations, as well as a panel discussion and Q&A. Email northinfo@islandstrust.bc.ca to reserve an in-person seat, or attend virtually through the zoom link on the Islands Trust website.
Recent Comments