The Cowichan is one of its most productive rivers on the west coast. It is the heart and soul of the Cowichan Valley. Without it agriculture, the wine industry, tourism, hundreds of industrial jobs, fishing and the traditional way of life of the first nations would cease to exist as we know it.
For years now, because of climate change, the level of the rivers source, Cowichan Lake, has been too low to address the human demands made on it through the summer and fall and to maintain the salmon and trout stocks.
The provincial and regional governments both know this. No more studies are needed, it’s been studied, and argued over to death.
The weir must be raised now, not by the 1 metre suggested to maintain the existing needs but by at least 2 metres. This would allow for any increase demands that may be made on it and also store more water in the event of even we have smaller snow packs and less rainfall in the years to come.
If we take care of the river it will take care of us.
The Cowichan is a life source that is bigger than all of us. It was here before humans arrived and it will be here long after we have gone.
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