Water for us all — vote yes in referendum
We all connect to water in different ways. I’m a whitewater canoeist — I revel in the challenge of running the many features on the Koksilah, the Chemainus, and the Cowichan Rivers: Bernie’s Negligee, Double Whammy, Burnt Bridge… But when the Chem and the Kok dry completely up in the summer, we turn affectionately to the Cow.
What about you? Perhaps you’re an angler, casting from shore on a crisp fall day. Or maybe, in the heat of summer, you enjoy a swim or a tube float down the river with family or friends. Possibly you’re a hiker or a photographer, catching amazing river vistas from the paths high above the river. Maybe you walk in the footsteps of your ancestors and others who have gone before. The Cowichan is, above all, a heritage river in every way — a traditional source of life to Indigenous peoples as well as the immigrants who came after them.
No matter your connection, we all depend on the Cowichan region’s water for our happiness, our security and our survival. But as our population and demand for water increases, this precious resource is in shorter supply. Research is clear — summer rainfall is declining significantly and our region is now facing back-to-back droughts.
Increasing water storage at Lake Cowichan is one important way to protect the water we all depend on. But local leaders also need new tools and resources. On Oct. 20, voters in the CVRD will have a chance to give our regional government and partners the ability to collect the data we need to make better decisions and investments when it comes to water protection. The service will also help the CVRD attract important funding from federal and provincial governments to support projects we can’t finance alone.
Nothing is free, and the average homeowner will pay about $20 per year if the referendum succeeds. To me, that’s a small price to pay for keeping our Heritage River fishable and floatable — and drinkable — for our grandkids.
Please get the facts and consider voting YES to the Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Service referendum on Oct. 20.
Rick Bryan
North Cowichan