Watershed Stewardship Network

We are very excited to announce a new funding program - the Demonstration Sites & Interpretive Signage funding program!

The Regional District of Nanaimo’s Drinking Water & Watershed Protection (DWWP) Action Plan 2.0 (Action 5.1.1) has identified the use of demonstration sites and interpretive signage as a meaningful to way to bring awareness to watershed features, watershed restoration and stewardship, and nature-based urban infrastructure that restore or protect watershed function.

Demonstration sites are real-world examples of features, practices, or infrastructure that inspire stewardship, action, or adoption of behaviours that are beneficial to communities and the environment. Examples of demonstration sites of green infrastructure (urban infrastructure that incorporates nature-based solutions that aim to retain or restore ecological function) include raingardens, bioswales, xeriscape gardens, rainwater harvesting practices, green rooftops, pervious surfaces, and more.

Interpretive signage is an effective and engaging way to bring public awareness to the function and importance of natural ecosystems and community efforts that aim to restore or protect those ecosystems. Together, demonstration sites and interpretive signs are a powerful tool to illustrate water sustainable practices, highlight the importance of healthy watersheds, and promote freshwater conservation.

The Demonstration Site & Interpretive Signage funding program supports the efforts of community organizations, stewardship groups, local government, and First Nations by offering to fund up to $5,000 for the installation or enhancement of demonstration sites and/or interpretive signage.

First Nations and municipal governments within the Regional District of Nanaimo, community organizations, non-profit environmental stewardship groups, as well as Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) departments, may be eligible to apply for up to $5,000 (or greater based on project need and available funds) for demonstration site installation or enhancement and/or interpretive signage.

• Other community groups or organizations may be considered eligible if the proposed project matches the merits of the program and aligns with DWWP initiatives.

• Priority may be given to organizations that have partnered on other DWWP initiatives, such as those who have participated in the Community Watershed Monitoring Network.

To submit a project proposal, complete the online application available on our webpage here or by emailing waterstewardship@rdn.bc.ca.

Submissions must include:

• Contact name and organization,
• Brief description of the project, including:
  • Project type (eg. rain garden and sign installation, green roof upgrade and sign installation, sign installation only at an existing site, etc.),
  • Location of the project within the RDN,
  • Project timeline (estimate of the project start and end dates),
  • Project site description and visibility (i.e. the level of public accessibility to the site),
  • The scale of installation (i.e. new demonstration site and sign installation, site improvement to an existing site with sign installation, or sign installation only)
• Estimate of project costs and list of any funding contributors or donators, including in-kind donations and support,
• The amount of Demonstration Site & Interpretive Signage program funds requested,
• List of project partners and description of the level of involvement or support from First Nations,
• Brief description of how and why the project site was chosen, as well as why the community would benefit from the education, awareness, and information provided by the site and/or sign.
• Description of a site maintenance plan.

Project submissions do not guarantee funding approval. Project proposals will be evaluated against a set of prioritization criteria and funding availability.

Contact waterstewardship@rdn.bc.ca with any questions or to discuss demonstration site and interpretive signage project ideas.

The Drinking Water & Watershed Protection Stewardship Seed Funding (SSF) program is now open for applications for 2023 projects!

The RDN's Drinking Water & Watershed Protection (DWWP) program supports the efforts of local stewardship groups involved in community-level action to monitor, restore, or enhance regional watersheds by offering seed funding of $1000 to $5,000 per project. Multi-year projects can apply annually for up to three consecutive years.

To be eligible for Stewardship Seed Funding, projects must:

• be led by a non-profit organization and involve community volunteers,
• be jointly funded by other partners, donors, or with in-kind contributions,
• acquire all the necessary permissions and permits for work to be carried out,
• and they must actively enhance or monitor stream, river, lake, estuary, or wetland health, hydrology, or function.

Funding is available to all organizations and projects that match the above criteria and align with DWWP goals, though priority in the program is given to groups pursuing recommended actions generated from RDN supported stream assessments or water quality monitoring, such as the Community Watershed Monitoring Network.

To apply, organizations must:

• Step 1: Submit a Pre-approval Application with estimated project costs, site overview, and any other requested information.
• Step 2: Once approved, complete the outlined project work within the same year as applying to the program.
• Step 3: Submit a Claim Application with an itemized breakdown of project costs, invoices/receipts for project materials and services, and any other requested information, such as project completion site photos and site maintenance plan.

There is no application deadline - allocations are 'first come, first served' based on project merit until years-end or until program funds are exhausted.

Complete program details and application forms are available online at https://www.rdn.bc.ca/stewardship-seed-funding. Applications and any questions can be submitted to waterstewardship@rdn.bc.ca.

Our region is experiencing increased air and water temperatures, prolonged drought periods, and increased frequency of high intensity rainfall events as a result of climate change. To buffer these extremes, intact and functional riparian areas are essential for promoting cooler air and water temperatures in heatwaves, offering water filtration and flood protection during high rainfall events, and providing overall enhanced biodiversity, ecosystem services and climate resilience.

To understand the state of riparian cover across the region’s major watercourses and guide future restoration and enhancement efforts, the RDN’s Drinking Water & Watershed Protection (DWWP) engaged with McTavish Resource & Management Ltd to determine current functional riparian cover levels across the region’s watersheds, using aerial imagery, remote sensing data, and existing water quality data collected through the RDN’s Community Watershed Monitoring Network.

The Regional Riparian Spatial Analysis for Restoration Prioritization project assessed the riparian condition of 47 waterways across the RDN based on a prioritization scheme that considers eight parameters associated with riparian health, including:

• Disturbance,
• Zones of concern,
• Vegetation cover,
• Terrestrial habitat cover and continuity,
• Vegetation complexity and structural diversity,
• Soil parent material and texture,
• Water quality, and
• Climate

The goal of this assessment is to identify priority areas for restoration of riparian vegetative buffers and enhance climate resilience and water protection in the region.

An outcome of this project included the development of an interactive mapping tool that allows decision-makers, water stewards, and community members to interact with the results of the riparian spatial analysis and support the prioritization of restoration and enhancement efforts. Users of the Riparian Analysis Map Viewer can interact with a visual depiction of the results of the analysis, identify and prioritize areas for restorative efforts, as well as, build tailored maps with the use of a suite of informative layers, identifiers, and mark-ups to aid in the scoping and planning of restoration projects.

Visit the Riparian Analysis Map Viewer here: https://rdn.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=86fedd424d9740f59445df46b3ae11dd

Your feedback is welcome! Don't hesitate to contact us with your comments, questions, or concerns by emailing waterstewardship@rdn.bc.ca

You are invited to attend a 2022 Community Watershed Monitoring Network Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon!

Join us on Saturday, November 19^th, from 1:00 – 3:00pm at the McMillan Arts Centre in Parksville for a catered lunch, volunteer gear, door prizes, activities, and an opportunity to introduce your stewardship group to potential new volunteers.

The RDN’s Drinking Water & Watershed Protection team is so grateful to be partnered with 14 wonderful environmental stewardship groups, whose dedicated volunteer work make the Community Watershed Monitoring Network program a possibility.

After a couple years of postponement, we are delighted to host an in-person event to express our appreciation and gratitude for your participation.

This event will also be open to the public and those who may be interested in learning more about volunteering with a stewardship organization and participating in the Community Watershed Monitoring Network. There will be an opportunity to introduce your group to potential new volunteers from the public by having a display table or providing a short presentation.

Please register to attend by emailing waterstewardship@rdn.bc.ca and let me know:

1. If your organization would like to have a display table at the event. We will provide tables for display materials and are happy to offer some assistance with developing and printing materials that highlight your group. The venue is booked for a couple of hours before and after the event, so there is plenty of time for setting-up and taking-down displays.

1. If you would like to give a short 5-minute presentation about your group and the important work you do. There will be a projector, screen, and microphone available at the venue for presentations, if desired. If you are planning to present with PowerPoint slides, we will also have a computer available so you may bring your presentation on a USB or email your presentation to waterstewardship@rdn.bc.ca prior to the event.

1. If you have photos that you’d like to share of watersheds and water stewards. We will be putting together a photo slideshow of local streams and the folks who work so hard to care for them. If you have any photos that you would like to share, please don’t hesitate to send them now and throughout the upcoming monitoring season to waterstewardship@rdn.bc.ca.

We are very much looking forward to hosting you and hope to see you there!