Cowichan Valley Regional District, Climate Change and Water Use Planning

Changes in water demand, land use, and a shifting hydrological cycle from climate change are placing increasing pressures on the availability of water resources in the Cowichan Watershed.  The current water management system, designed in the 1950s, is no longer able to reliably meet water use demand. Climate change and associated changes in hydrology for the Cowichan Watershed are projected to have significant impacts on water use interests.

Compass led a consulting team with Ecofish and KWL to design and facilitate a community planning process that explored a range of policy, programs, and infrastructure options to address these worsening water scarcity and drought issues. A public advisory group (PAG) was formed and consisted of representatives from local, provincial and federal governments, First Nations, industry, local community and interest groups and area residents. The PAG followed a structured trade-off evaluation process (consistent with the provincial Water Use Plan Guidelines) and was supported through technical working groups and an overarching interagency and First Nations steering committee. The process evaluated the potential long-term (to 2050) impacts across a set of different water supply and storage options for the Cowichan Lake and River system and considered trade-offs between adequate flows and water levels for fish and other aquatic species, avoiding flood risk for lakefront property owners, and minimizing impacts on water users on the lake and river. The group reached consensus on a set of recommendations on water use that almost doubled summer time lake storage while avoiding any increase in flood risk to lakefront areas. These recommendations are expected to guide the development of a Cowichan Water Use Plan, which may ultimately be submitted to the provincial government.

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