The purpose of the Cowichan Valley Watershed Atlas is to provide baseline information for future decision-making about proposed shoreline developments and a detailed accounting of existing shoreline development. The Cowichan Valley Regional District, Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Provincial government agencies are under tremendous pressure to assess and make decisions on many shoreline development proposals. This Atlas will help agencies identify and monitor the ecological condition of the shoreline, evaluate resource values and explore conservation and restoration opportunities associated with shoreline habitats. This information will be useful for local, regional, provincial, and federal organizations when assessing development issues related to shoreline habitats. This project provides agencies and the public with an easily accessible source of map-based information for the shoreline, including land use, shore type, existing riparian condition and anthropogenic alterations. It will aid in developing land use policies, regulations and standards and is intended to increase long-term capabilities for protection of aquatic and riparian habitat within existing local government land use planning programs. The project builds on existing information sources and will serve as a benchmark for regulatory agencies by documenting current foreshore conditions, providing evidence for regulatory investigations and monitoring objectives set out in foreshore protection initiatives.
Contact Organizations
Brad Mason, CMN Director [email protected]
Rob Knight, CMN Director [email protected]