Cowichan farmers are getting government help to build more resilient and sustainable practices in the face of climate change.
Koksilah River project is one of 16 regional projects funded by the Regional Extension Program's $1.5 million infusion from the governments of Canada and B.C.
With their allotted funds, farmers can improve things such as soil health, water supply and management, greenhouse gas emissions and the impact from drought and wildfire. The regional projects will take place in communities throughout the province in the coming year.
In the Cowichan region, it means focusing on water — or lack thereof.
The Koksilah River has seen persistent low stream flows in recent years that are threatening the survival of steelhead trout populations, and an order from the province impacted more than 100 surface and groundwater licence holders in the watershed who had to stop using water for forage crops.
Due to the ongoing water issues, Cowichan Tribes and the province signed B.C.’s first water sustainability plan for the watershed last year, which is intended to find solutions to the problems.
In the drought preparation project for the Koksilah River watershed, the funding was used to support producers with an irrigation-scheduling project to help them be better prepared for drought conditions.
"Having been through a complete shutdown of irrigation on my own farm in the summer of 2019, I knew this project would be helpful to farmers on Vancouver Island," said David Tattam, contractor, Koksilah River project. "The benefits of having a plan in place to extend the irrigation season with scheduling provided the farmers with an opportunity to concentrate their irrigation efforts on the fields/crops that would benefit the most from the limited water resource."
Farmers and ranchers throughout B.C. were also able to attend field days and workshops for water management and training so they can be better prepared for prolonged dry periods.
"B.C. farmers and ranchers are experiencing first-hand the impacts of climate change, and the challenges it poses to their livelihoods, personal welfare and the well-being of their animals," said Pam Alexis, B.C. minister of Agriculture and Food. "We're already seeing the results of this program helping people in our communities prepare for and adapt to extreme weather events, which is helping strengthen food security for people in B.C."
