CVRD Drinking Water and Watershed Protection (DWWP) 

10 Year DWWP Cover Page Opens in new window

The Drinking Water and Watershed Protection (DWWP) Program is a regional service tasked with protecting the region’s water resources, with the goal of keeping our watersheds and aquifers healthy. This program recognizes that our personal wellbeing, our communities, and our water resources are all interconnected. We strive to protect and cultivate the linkages between human needs and the needs of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

The One Water One Region strategy sets out the goal, objectives, program areas, priority actions, and guiding principles for delivery of this program. Read on to learn key points about the strategy.

One Goal: 

Healthy watersheds and aquifers.

Six Objectives:

  1. Safe source water for domestic supply;
  2. Resilient watersheds, aquifers and aquatic ecosystems;
  3. Protection of social and cultural values and enjoyment of recreational amenities and services derived from our watersheds;
  4. Preparedness for climate change effects on the region’s water resources;
  5. Strong partnerships working together to ensure healthy watersheds; and,
  6. Efficient use of water. 


Three Program Areas:

  1. Learn: Watershed Science and Information
  2. Act: Watercentric Planning
  3. Share and Collaborate: Watershed Stewardship and Outreach

Learn: Watershed Science and Information

In this Program Area, we will collect existing and new information, and analyze it to create new knowledge. We will create useful tools, analysis and supporting materials and products such as maps, reports and online information systems. 

Priority Actions:

  • Improve Climate and Water Monitoring Systems;
  • Improve Data Management Systems;
  • Characterize the Health of the Region's Watersheds and Identifying Risks;
  • Risk Assessment;
  • Develop Water Budgets and Other Supporting Information; and
  • Stable, Long Term Monitoring and Reporting.

Fourteen Priority Action Areas:

  1. Improve climate and water monitoring networks;
  2. Improve data management systems;
  3. Characterize surface and groundwater quantity;
  4. Characterize surface and groundwater quality;
  5. Assess ecological health;
  6. Develop water budgets and other products;
  7. Update risk assessments;
  8. Ensure stable long term monitoring and reporting;
  9. Develop and inform policy frameworks;
  10. Inform planning decision making;
  11. Inform operational decision making;
  12. Education and communication;
  13. Support strategic partnerships; and
  14. Support watershed restoration.
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Four Guiding Principles:

  1. Partnership Based
  2. Action Oriented
  3. Adaptive Management and Continuous Improvement
  4. Performance Standards

Through a partnership approach to program design and delivery, working with other organizations and agencies also committed to watershed protection, CVRD will be more effective at leveraging resources and will achieve better results. Partners include Cowichan Tribes, Ditidaht First Nation, Halalt First Nation, Lyackson First Nation, Pacheedaht First Nation Pauquachin First Nation, Penelakut First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, Stz'uminus First Nation, Ts'uubaa-asatx First Nation, Malahat Nation, local governments, other regional agencies, and other non-governmental environmental entities.

Education Materials