• The Xwulqw’selu watershed flows are out of balance. The watershed is no longer able to reliably support fish, people, Cowichan rights and practices, and the broader ecosystem -especially during the dry summer months.

• A plan for water and land management is necessary to adapt to current impacts which are expected to become more severe with climate change.

• This process is needed to move away from emergency measures toward stable, long-term management.

The vision is to address low flow challenges and whole of watershed concerns, supporting healthy communities and a healthy watershed. Cowichan Tribes and the Province of BC have identified priorities in their agreement, S-xats-thut tst – We Agree. Section. 4.3 “core priorities”:

• Protection and restoration of ecological communities;

• Sustainability of environmental flows and water extraction;

• Protection and restoration of fish populations;

• Protection of cultural resources and Cowichan Tribes' ways of being;

• Protection of Cowichan Tribes' Title and Rights and Indigenous rights recognized in UNDRIP;

• Supporting the well-being of Cowichan Tribes members and the Xwulqw'selu Watershed; and

• Supporting the well-being of other groups and communities who use and rely on the Xwulqw'selu Watershed;

• Protecting Indigenous and local food security

The end products of this planning process are intended to reflect community, Cowichan Tribes, residents’ and the government of BC’s shared vision for a healthy watershed.

• Cowichan Tribes and the Province of BC share a responsibility to protect the Xwulqw’selu Watershed. Together, they will develop and decide on the plan content - with input from community advisory tables, and engagement sessions with interested parties and the public.

• S-xats-thut tst –We Agree, is an agreement to work together for the long term health of the Xwulqw’selu watershed. The plan will include mechanisms for review, adaptive management, and long term co-governance.

• The Plan will include a mix of regulatory and non-regulatory actions to address water use management, restoration and land use change, and water supply and storage.

• It will support communities and ecosystems to adapt to climate change.

• The plan will include a legal tool introduced in 2016 by the Water Sustainability Act— A Water Sustainability Plan (WSP). A WSP enables new, locally tailored regulations to be created to help prevent or address water use conflicts and risks to ecosystem health.

The multi-year timeline reflects the complexity of the work being undertaken - this process is looking at the entire watershed and exploring novel legal questions and options. This planning process is the first in BC to develop a Water Sustainability Plan (WSP) -we are not following a roadmap, and the timeline accommodates the need for collective learning.

• Given delays from BC’s strike action in Fall 2025, there is a new extended timeline for developing the XWSP.

• The XWSP will be approved by the G2G table and submitted to Chief and Council and BC Ministers for approval in December 2026.

Currently, the Planning Team is focused on developing water use regulations; the focus will shift to developing land use and restoration actions in spring 2026.

• S-xats-thut tst (We Agree): the 2023 Government-to-Government Agreement between Cowichan Tribes and the Government of British Columbia to “plan how we are going to take good care of all the Waters and the Earth connected to the Koksilah River.”

• Quw’utsun Tribes snuw’uy’ulh (teachings) and syuw’entst (proper ways of being).

• The Water Sustainability Act, BC’s primary law for managing and protecting water resources.

• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and BC’s DRIPA Action Plan and reconciliation commitments.

• The planning process is working on addressing multiple priorities, and is focused on long-term solutions. However, it is recognized that there is urgency to find solutions in the short-medium term for low flows and water security. Priorities are being sequenced, with addressing water low flows being a top priority

• The Koksilah Low Flows Working Group (est. 2020) coordinates drought response.

• Short-term funding and impact-mitigation programs are offered by BC ministries, industry groups, and local partners.

• An initial survey in 2020 helped identify community values and interests for the watershed.

• Local organizations and the CVRD have important partner roles in the planning process.

• A Community survey (open until January 2026) seeks community input to inform recommendations that could become part of the XWSP, and largely focuses on regulations related to water use reductions and water supply.

• Planning Team members attend and present at community info nights, town halls and other public events.

• Cowichan Tribes and the Province of B.C. established community advisory tables to provide input and advice on plan development – one table for Cowichan Tribes members and one table for the public and stakeholders. The two tables have each met at least four times and will continue to meet as the process advances. Find out who is involved on the website.

• Engagement sessions - The planning process will be hosting targeted sessions in the year to come with potentially impacted community members and stakeholders to seek feedback. Information about these sessions will be advertised in the community and on the website, as well as through our email newsletter.

• Connecting with a member of one of the Advisory Tables –find out who is involved on our website, and get in touch to learn more.

• Quarterly digital newsletters share project updates – join the mailing list!

• Visit the ‘connect’ page at Koksilahwater.ca

• The regulations will be a response to low flow and water management challenges, specifically aiming to address:

  • When water use reductions are required, by whom, and how much

  • How future water demands will be managed

  • Measuring and reporting of water use going forward

  • Supports for water users to conserve and store water, and transition practices

Any proposed regulations will be informed by technical studies, engagement with affected users, and consideration of economic and community impacts

2025 highlights include:

• Received input through XSWP Community Survey 2025, open until January 2026.

• Engaged with community, knowledge holders and experts through agriculture sector workshops, community advisory tables, and meetings with experts on fish, flows, hydrology, and restoration practices.

• Initiated technical studies to understand economic impacts, on-farm storage feasibility, and hydrologic review and modelling.

• Continued to build the relationship between Cowichan Tribes and the Province, integrating technical expertise, cultural teachings, and community feedback