Citation | Madrone Environmental Services Ltd. 2013. The Cowichan: A Canadian Heritage River, 10-year monitoring report (2003-2013). Prepared for Cowichan Valley Regional District. |
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Organization | Cowichan Valley Regional District |
URL | http://www.cowichanstewardship.com/uploads/1/4/4/5/14453984/cowichan_river_decadal_monitoring_report_final.pdf |
Abstract/Description or Keywords | Flowing 47 km from Cowichan Lake easterly to Cowichan Bay, the Cowichan River is first and foremost part of the traditional territory of the Cowichan First Nation. They have lived on its banks, plied its waters, used and cared for its resources for thousands of years. In recent history the river has become renowned for excellent fishing, natural beauty, whitewater recreation in the winter and swimming/tubing in the summer. The main stem of the river was designated as a Canadian Heritage River in 2003. Under the Canadian Heritage Rivers program, it is the responsibility of managing jurisdictions to prepare a ten-year monitoring report to ensure that the river continues to possess the outstanding natural, cultural and recreational values for which it was designated. This report provides a chronology of events of the last 10 years and examines the condition of the natural, cultural and recreational values for which the river was designated. Changes and threats to the values are documented. The study reports on the Canadian Heritage River System Integrity guidelines and provides an update on the action items from the management plan entitled “Managing the Cowichan River as a Canadian Heritage River” (2003). Like many rivers near urban centres, the Cowichan River is somewhat vulnerable to the impacts of human population growth and the accompanying potential for habitat loss and degradation due to land use changes, pollution and invasive species. Climate change predictions forecast changes to water flow regimes, water temperatures, and a rise in sea level with potential impacts to the Cowichan River estuary. Further investigation into its cultural heritage values is bringing more evidence to light. For the most part, recreational values have remained intact and recreational activities have been steadily increasing. A major exception involves fishing-related cultural and recreational values. Both Cowichan Tribes food fishery and recreational fisheries have suffered from declining Chinook returns that have resulted in seasonal closure of the river to fishing. |
Information Type | report |
Regional Watershed | Vancouver Island South |
Sub-watershed if known | Cowichan |
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Comments | |
Project status | complete |
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