Blogs
In recent years, as the temperature continues reaching and breaking higher records, the Cowichan watershed is at its third consecutive year of drought. The watershed plays an enormous role in the Cowichan Valley: not only for providing water for our daily life, but also supporting commercial and sport fishing thus participating in the economy as a huge part as well. This problem has been affecting the species and people living in and around the lake. Considering that Cowichan watershed provides water for the towns, droughts will affect a large number of people. Therefore, our group’s inquiry question is “What will happen to people and species in Cowichan community as we get more and more droughts in the watershed?” as well as “How can we help Lake Cowichan sustain increasing drought conditions each summer?”
So far, we have contacted with experts in the community to get their real thoughts and perspectives upon this topic based on evidential researchers that has been done in the past. Fortunately, we were lucky to have Kate Miller from Cowichan Valley Regional District who knew more about this issue. And particularly, the existence of groundwater was a new discovery for us.
Because human activities and the environment have a closer connection than we think, we need to take this issue more seriously; knowing many of our necessities of life come from nature. We believe it will be a good education for us to research a global problem and actually make a difference in and for our own community. People will also benefit if we are able to teach about some of the harmful practices that need to stop. Yet there are still so many ways to support the watershed. As individuals, we can spread awareness and save some water in our own homes, which has the potential to gain long-term results. Finally, our goal is to develop and sustain a water storage facility which would supply water for our summer needs, as there is not enough water due to droughts.
