Protecting the Cowichan River: Community Water Conservation Call
Notice to Residents, Visitors and Businesses of the Town of Lake Cowichan
Dear residents, visitors and business owners,
The Cowichan River is a crucial ecosystem for salmon, recreation and the region’s cultural identity. However, the river is currently under serious threat.
The Situation
As our community is aware, in 2023, the river saw a catastrophic fish die-off of between 75,000 and 80,000 juvenile fish when extreme drought and low flows created the perfect storm of lethal conditions.
This year, conditions are worsening as declining lake levels continue to place growing pressure on both the river and the infrastructure that supports our community, creating another perfect storm of challenging conditions.
River temperatures are approaching 25 °C — the danger zone for fish survival, meaning the likelihood of a massive fish die-off isn’t just a possibility but a likely reality as temperatures continue to rise. To reduce risk, the Town has increased its water restrictions level to Stage 3 on August 5, is currently releasing treated effluent only at night, when the river temperatures are lower, and proactively working on developing emergency response protocols along with a long-term solution. (Read more on what the Town is doing on page 2)
How Can You Help? Let’s Make Every Drop Count, Together
While not the ideal situation, the Town is asking everyone to help reduce wastewater volume in the following ways. Every litre of water that goes down the drain affects our ability to protect the Cowichan River, so we are asking everyone to do their part.
Residents
• Keep showers short
• Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators
• Turn off the tap when lathering your hands or brushing your teeth
• Flush responsibly
• Only run full dishwasher loads
• Compost food scraps instead of using a garburator
• Turn off decorative water features
• Limit lawn watering
Visitors
• Take shorter showers
• Turn off taps
• Reuse towels and linens
• Limit laundry
• Use biodegradable products
• Dispose of greywater properly
• Don’t litter, dump or leave sunscreen or food in or near the river
Businesses
• Fix leaks and drips quickly
• Install low-flow features
• Delay non-essential water use
• Only run dishwashers when full
• Offer linen and towel reuse options in accommodations
• Limit water-intensive items like decorative fountains
• Display water-saving signage in bathrooms and guest areas
What the Town is Doing to Help
The Town is working closely with the Cowichan Watershed Board and provincial and federal government partners to monitor conditions and ensure cohesive responses.
Town staff are monitoring the situation daily, adjusting operations as needed and preparing for all scenarios, including drastic emergency measures. The system being used to monitor the Cowichan River is the best in the country, but we are still preparing for the next steps, including:
• Triggering emergency protocols including potentially calling a local state of emergency
• Exploring new containment measures
• Planning for longer-term adaptations
We encourage the Province and regional stakeholders to work with us to explore a flexible solution that balances ecological protection, regulatory compliance and what’s realistically possible for a small community under these challenging conditions.
We are also calling for:
• Expedited permit processes
• Emergency supports for mitigation
• Accelerated funding for infrastructure upgrades for climate adaptation
How Did We Get Here?
This is not an issue unique to the Cowichan River and Lake. Communities across Canada are facing growing pressure as aging infrastructure meets extreme weather caused by climate change.
In response to the ongoing drought, decisions were made by the province and industry stakeholders to conserve water in the lake for longer-term needs — including regional industry which plays an essential economic role in our community.
At the same time, the Province introduced new wastewater permit requirements tied to the pH levels in the Cowichan River to safeguard the long-term health of the river. These changes were introduced quickly with little input from the Town and without operational support or funding.
The Town of Lake Cowichan has been making steady progress on long-term wastewater system upgrades since 2023 through multi-level government funding. That year, the Town secured a $4.05 million grant from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program — Green Infrastructure: Environmental Quality Stream, as well as $3.38 million from the Province of B.C. through the same program. The Town has also committed $2.7 million from its own budget to move forward with this critical project. But the reality is that the climate crisis is outpacing our ability to adapt.
Moving Forward
Overcoming this challenge will require ongoing collaboration across all levels of government, industry and community. The Town is committed to doing its part — and we’re asking everyone, including our partners, to do the same.
For the most current information, please visit our Facebook Page and the Lake Cowichan Public Notices.
Sincerely,
The Town of Lake Cowichan
