Freshwater Footprint Frequently Asked Questions
· Gabriola Island · Reports & Publications · 2026
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Topics: Agriculture & the ALR · Climate & environment · Governance & budget · Marine & foreshore · Fresh water & aquifers — our classification, not the Trust's.
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[[page 1]] The Freshwater Footprint Frequently Asked Questions July 2026 Purpose This guide explains the Islands Trust Freshwater Footprint project and answers the questions the community has asked about it. It is written in plain language for residents, trustees, and anyone interested in island water. Background Freshwater is the foundation of island life. The Freshwater Footprint project considered how much freshwater the Gabriola Island community has, how much it uses, and where the water supply faces the greatest pressure. It is the product of years of science, strong partnerships, and the knowledge of the community itself. The project is a keystone of the Islands Trust Freshwater Sustainability Strategy, adopted in 2021. A hydrogeology consulting firm, GW Solutions Inc., developed the methodology and applied it to Gabriola Island as the first case study, with the final report delivered in March 2026. The results are now part of the evidence base for the Gabriola Official Community Plan review. How to use this document The guide is organised into nine themes, from the project itself through to where to learn more. Each theme begins on its own page, and every question is numbered so it is easy to reference. The Contents page lists every question and a Table of Questions link at the top of each page brings you back to it. Words in blue are links to other parts of this guide and to more information on the internet. Questions and comments are welcome by email to freshwater @islandstrust.bc.ca. Islands Trust Page 1 [[page 2]] Islands Tr ust - The Freshwater Footprint FAQ Contents Table of Questions What is this project? 1. What is the Freshwater Footprint? 2. Why is it called a footprint? . Why did Islands Trust do this work? . Who did the work? . Why was Gabriola Island chosen for the first case study? . Is this the same as the OCP review? . What did the project produce? . Who paid for the project? . What does planning-scale mean? How was the work done? 10 . What steps did the project follow? 11. How was the community involved? 12. What data did the project use? 13. What is the relevance of a survey? 14. Is this work peer reviewed? 15. How are community questions being answered? 16. How long did the project take? 17. What earlier work does the project build on? How does island water function? 18 . Where does Gabriola's freshwater come from? 19 . What is groundwater recharge? 20 . What is a water balance? 21 . What is the freshwater lens? 22 . What is aquifer stress? 23. Why does the risk of saltwater intrusion deserve attention and adaptation? Islands Tr ust Page 2 [[page 3]] Islands Trust - The Freshwater Footprint FAQ Table of Questions 24. How is the risk of saltwater intrusion detected? 25. What are groundwater regions? 26. Is Gabriola one connected aquifer? What did we learn? 27. How much water does Gabriola use? 28. How much stress is Gabriola's water supply under? 29.
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