Freshwater Sustainability Strategy

Extracted text (beginning)

Freshwater Sustainability Strategy 
DECEMBER 2021

|  ISLANDS TRUST FRESHWATER SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY DECEMBER 2021
i
Executive Summary ii
1.        Introduction        2
2.0 Strategy Context 3
 2.1 Strategy Development Process 4
 2.2 Indigenous Perspectives on Freshwater Sustainability 4
 2.3 Islands Trust’s History with Freshwater Sustainability 7
 2.4 Freshwater Resources in the Islands Trust Area 8
 2.5 Partners in Freshwater Stewardship 11
3.0 Strategy Goals and Objectives 15
 3.1 Strategy Goals 15
 3.2 Strategy Objectives 15
4.0 Freshwater Sustainability Programs 17
 4.1 Groundwater Sustainability Science Program (GWSS) 19
 4.2 Watershed Sustainability Science Program (WSS) 23
 4.3 Cultural Knowledge and Engagement Program (CKE) 25
 4.4 Freshwater Sustainability Reporting Program (FSR) 27
 4.5 Collaboration and Advocacy with Other Agencies (CAOA) 28
5.0 Implementation 32
 5.1 Early Priorities 32
 5.2 Organization and Governance 33
 5.3 Strategy Resourcing 34
 5.4 Progress Indicators 36
 5.5 Updating the Plan 36
Acknowledgements 38
Prepared for Islands Trust 
Prepared by Econics and Compass Resource Management
December 2021
This project was supported through the Healthy Watersheds Initiative, which is delivered by the 
Real Estate Foundation of BC and Watersheds BC, with financial support from the Province of 
British Columbia as part of its $10-billion COVID-19 response.
Table of Contents
 

DECEMBER 2021  ISLANDS TRUST FRESHWATER SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY   | 
ii
Executive Summary
I
slands Trust’s mandate is to preserve and protect the unique amenities and environment of the Islands Trust Area. Among 
these unique amenities is freshwater, which has always been vulnerable. As development pressures continue, population 
grows, and the impacts of a changing climate intensify, freshwater vulnerabilities for communities, economies, Indigenous 
heritage, and ecological systems increase.
Freshwater sustainability needs to be a key lens through which Islands Trust land use decisions are made. To effectively 
facilitate this, it is imperative that the Islands Trust continues to support research, advocate for water literacy, and provide 
open public access to knowledge about freshwater. 
This Freshwater Sustainability Strategy provides a foundation to address supply challenges and support climate change 
adaptation. It identifies actions for the Islands Trust to take over the next decade (2022 to 2032) to protect water 
resources over the longer term. It describes the context in which this work takes place, overarching goals, objectives, and 
programs, specific actions, and outlines an implementation plan. Importantly, because Islands Trust cannot accomplish 
this mission on its own, the strategy also identifies how it will work with key partners in other government agencies, First 
Nations, community groups, and island residents.
Supported by the BC Healthy Watersheds Initiative and endorsed by the Islands Trust Regional Planning Committee and 
Trus

First 3,000 characters. Open the original for the whole document.