This is exactly what the proposed CVRD water service is for
In a recent article in the Citizen on parrot’s feather infestation choking Somenos Lake water flows (Sept. 26) North Cowichan’s engineering director said the municipality doesn’t have sole authority to manage water bodies in its [own] jurisdiction — that’s the responsibility of the province.
Also, there are salmonids in the waterway and that’s federal jurisdiction.
Meanwhile the province has just proposed moving two Natural Resource officers from the Duncan office to Nanaimo, clearly impacting their effectiveness in the Cowichan Valley area. Both of these events highlight the need for a function within the CVRD that has the ability to work across jurisdictions and with locals to study, educate and enforce respect for our watersheds.
The Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Service up for referendum on Oct. 20 will give us this opportunity.
Bruce Coates
Duncan
