Mission & Values
The Beaufort Watershed Stewards (BWS) work to promote the health and resilience of local watersheds on the east side of the Beaufort Range and to ensure the quality and quantity of fresh water for the future.
Our values include: watershed ecological integrity, evidence-based decision making, scientific rigour and open collaboration.
Our Citizen Science Programs
1. Stream Mapping
Many streams along the eastern slopes of the Beaufort Range do not have current, detailed, publicly accessible maps. This information is critical to understanding current status and impacts on the streams. BWS is part of a 3-way collaboration to conduct detailed mapping.
2. Stream Water Quality
Parameters such as temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH and specific conductivity provide information on the quality of water, both for aquatic life and human consumption. We currently monitor 20 streams, at multiple locations, 31 weeks per year, for a base of 766 samplings annually. All done by three volunteer teams!
3. Stream Temperature
We have an expanding number of “TidbiTs” in streams. These are continuous temperature loggers that provide data on stream temperature throughout the year, especially during low flow summer season. In areas where cooler groundwater flows into warmer streams, we can learn much about the underlying hydrology of the area. We also learn where pockets of refugia or cold water are available for salmon.
4. Stream Flow
Flow measurement is about quantity of water. As climate warming continues it is critical to know the trends in the quantity of water flowing in our streams. We use staff gauges and gauging stations to monitor 16 stream sites.
5. Benthic Invertebrate Sampling
These ‘bugs’ live at the bottom of waterways. They are a very useful indicator of stream health because they cannot move away from pollution or overly warm streams. Different species have different levels of tolerance for these impacts. Knowing the numbers and species type in an area provides a living indicator of stream health. We have just started sampling six streams.
6. Groundwater Height in Wells
Most people living east of the Beaufort Range rely on well water. BWS continuously logs the height of 10 wells to help understand the supply of water in our aquifers.
7. Aquifer Hydrological Mapping
BWS is the first organization to assess the size and status of the aquifers that we rely on. In collaboration with University of Victoria we are using vertical electric soundings (resistivity) and existing well drilling data to assess surface and bedrock geology down to around 100 metres. So far 29 sites have been surveyed. These data inform the production of hydrogeological maps along the Beaufort Range.
8. Watershed Cumulative Effects
We have completed assessment of five watersheds to determine the risk to watershed health as a result of industrial activity such as logging. Using the BC Govt. protocol for Watershed Cumulative Effects Assessment, the Tsable River watershed was found to be at high risk.
Community Outreach and Education
We conduct town hall meetings, attend local fairs and markets, and participate in school environmental days.
The Fanny Bay Flyer, Lighthouse online Newsletter, Down By the Bay (Union Bay), our website, Facebook and Instagram pages are our main methods for sharing information.
BWS is now publishing with colleagues at the University of Victoria as the results from our collaborations are completed.