Stories of Watershed Resilience & Local Action
Over the past few months, drought has dominated headlines from coast to coast. In the Atlantic provinces, wells are running dry. Across agricultural regions, low crop yield and feed shortages are forcing tough choices. Meanwhile, low snowpacks and retreating glaciers are leaving less meltwater to sustain rivers and aquifers that communities depend on.
Yet amid these challenges, there is reason for hope. More communities than ever before are investing in water science, stewardship, and collaboration to build resilience. We’re seeing that momentum firsthand. In this issue, explore how local action is strengthening water security and building climate adaptation.
Water Mapping Helps Rural B.C. Communities Prepare for Wildfire Response
In rural B.C., proactive water mapping is helping communities stay one step ahead of wildfire. By creating detailed digital maps, communities can give wildfire crews quick access to nearby water sources, reducing the time needed for field reconnaissance. This approach has already shown to be effective during the 2024 Argenta Creek wildfire.
“The Argenta project proved that when we invest in watershed security, we can not only protect communities from the immediate threat of wildfires, but also build long-term resilience,” said Paige Thurston, Living Lakes’ Program Manager, in her recent Vancouver Sun op-ed.
See how this initiative is being put into action in a Global News feature on the project.
Southern Alberta Residents Speak Up About Groundwater Concerns
Across southern Alberta, residents are raising concerns about groundwater and the long-term security of this freshwater source after years of drought.
This year, Living Lakes and the Oldman Watershed Council gathered community input to guide a new groundwater monitoring program piloting in the Oldman Watershed. The message was clear: 97% of respondents emphasized the need for a better understanding of local groundwater.
Compiled into a visual report, this community feedback was used alongside scientific data to identify priority areas for groundwater monitoring, including Stavely and Crowsnest Pass.
Persistent Drought Underscores Urgent Need for Local Water Action
Communities across the Elk River Valley in southern B.C. are coming together to confront one of their most pressing challenges – water security. This June, more than 100 participants came together for the Without Water Symposium, a regional dialogue co-hosted by Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it First Nation, the Elk River Alliance, and Living Lakes.
The new What We Heard report shares key insights from the event and outlines community-driven calls to strengthen watershed planning and build long-term water resilience across the region.
Building the Next Generation of Water Stewards
Across the Columbia Basin, youth are stepping up for freshwater. Through Watershed Matters, a collaborative program between Living Lakes and Wildsight, high school students explore how climate change is transforming their local watersheds and how they can play a role in helping ecosystems and communities adapt.
Blending classroom learning with immersive fieldwork, students test water quality, measure streamflow, and engage in tough conversations about how water is managed and shared. The result: empowered young leaders ready to turn climate anxiety into meaningful action for a water-secure future.
It’s Time to Modernize B.C.’s Industrial Water Rates
Did you know B.C. has the lowest industrial water rates in Canada? At just $2.25 per million litres, industries here pay 20 to 80 times less than in other provinces.
As part of the BC Watershed Security Coalition, Living Lakes is calling on the Province to modernize these outdated rates and reinvest the revenue into watershed security. Aligning B.C.’s rates with other provinces could generate more than $100 million each year to fund climate adaptation, protect ecosystems, and strengthen local economies.
Add your voice to the call for fair water rates and a secure water future for B.C.
Our Current Reads
How Carney’s first budget impacts the environment – The Narwhal
Droughts on a Continental Scale a ‘New Normal’, Experts Warn – Earth.org
Fracking’s Water Demand Soared in Drought-Plagued Northeast BC – The Tyee
Salmon make historic return to river – The Columbia Valley Pioneer
AI-related data centres use vast amounts of water. But gauging how much is a murky business – CBC News
Wildfires are threatening B.C.’s drinking water – The Narwhal
The before and after images showing glaciers vanishing before our eyes – BBC News
