Members of the public are invited to an open house to learn about the development of a Xwulqw’selu (Koksilah) Watershed and Water Sustainability Plan, and provide input to help guide long-term approaches to water supply and ecosystem health in the area.
The open house will take place on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 3-6 p.m. at The Hub at Cowichan Station, 2375 Koksilah Road in the Cowichan Valley.
The B.C. government and Cowichan Tribes are leading the development of the plan, building on several years of engagement with community members, farmers and industry through local advisory tables, such as the Cowichan Tribes Guidance Group and the Community Collaborative Advisory Table.
This project has been supported by the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to gather and analyze information and develop options related to water allocation, watershed restoration priorities and land-use recommendations.
Engaging with the community
Ongoing community engagement on this planning project includes regular meetings of the Community Collaborative Advisory Table (with input from local public interest groups) and the Cowichan Tribes Guidance Group. Members of the Cowichan Tribes and the community at large have also been engaged, including the distribution of newsletters that provide updates about the project’s progress.
In addition, a series of targeted engagement sessions have been held with representatives of key economic sectors, such as forestry and agriculture. All water licensees in the planning area have also been notified about this process.
Since the fall of 2025, the Province and Cowichan Tribes have been conducting a survey to gather insights from community members, water users, farmers, industry and other interested parties about their visions for the future of the Xwulqw’selu (Koksilah) watershed, asking respondents for their thoughts on local water needs, potential approaches to increase summer water flows and other topics related to the watershed’s stewardship.
Click here to see more...