"We're all in the same boat waterwise."
Mary Cooper, Mayne Island Integrated Water Systems Society
The Islands Trust Council has long been concerned about the issues of water quality and quantity on the islands of the Islands Trust Area. The Islands Trust does not have the jurisdiction to regulate water or wells. That is a provincial and regional district responsibility. Local trust committees can protect groundwater using land use planning tools. The Islands Trust also promotes sustainable water use and advocates on behalf of islanders for better provincial water legislation.
The Islands Trust Council's strategic plan for the 2014-2018 term of office includes the objective to protect the quality and quantity of water resources and specifically to advocate for and educate about water conservation measures (e.g. rainwater catchment, greywater recycling).
Below you will find links to organizations. (Click here for a pdf table of all the resources we found.)
Gabriola Groundwater Management Society
Hornby Water Stewardship Project
Mayne Island Integrated Water Systems Society
North Pender - Buck Lake Property Owners Association
Salt Spring Island Water Council
Salt Spring Island Water Preservation Society
Salt Spring Island Watershed Protection Authority
Saturna Water Conservation Committee
Regional Districts
Capital (Galiano, Mayne, Piers, Prevost, North and South Pender, Salt Spring, Saturna, Sidney)
Comox Valley (Denman, Hornby)
Cowichan Valley (Thetis, Valdes)
Metro Vancouver (Bowen, Bowyer, Passage)
Nanaimo (De Courcy, Gabriola, Mudge)
Powell River (Lasqueti)
Sunshine Coast (Gambier, Keats)
Improvement Districts
Other Organizations
BC Ministry of Environment
POLIS Water Sustainability Project
The Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC
We welcome suggestions for new items. If you are aware of information that is not included please contact Pamela Hafey, Communications Specialist (250) 405-5156.
Previous Islands Trust water resource projects:
- 2004 The Islands Trust partnered with other agencies to create the Gulf Islands Waterscape poster.
- 2005 The Islands Trust Fund built a demonstration rainwater catchment project on one of its Salt Spring Island nature reserves.
- 2009 The Islands Trust also created a series of posters, featuring island artist's work, about special considerations on the islands, including water conservation.
- Trust Council Advocacy to the Province of BC