Sunday March 8, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The BC provincial government and Cowichan Tribes are leading the development of a Xwulqw’selu (Koksilah) Watershed and Water Sustainability Plan.
This builds on several years of engagement with community members, farmers and industry through local advisory tables, such as the Cowichan Tribes Guidance Group and the Community Collaborative Advisory Table.
The project has been supported by the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship as well as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food so as to gather and analyze information and develop options related to water allocation, watershed restoration priorities and land-use recommendations.
This process flows from the Agreement signed between the parties on May 12, 2023.
Online survey:
A survey is being conducted online to March 15, 2026 to gather insights from community members, water users, farmers, industry and other interested parties.
Survey results will inform Plan will recommend actions, including potential new regulations to address water use, protect environmental flows, and guide sustainable land and water management.
Public open house:
Members of the public may attend an open house from 3 to 6 pm on Wednesday March 11 to learn more about the planning process and to provide input to guide long-term approaches to water supply and ecosystem health in the area.
The open house location is The Hub at Cowichan Station, 2375 Koksilah Road in the Cowichan Valley.