HomeDucks Unlimited Submits Report to Walkerton Inquiry 
Important Watershed Management planned for BC
Surrey BC, April 12 – A report entitled Beyond the Pipe submitted to the Walkerton Inquiry by Ducks Unlimited Canada (DU) clearly confirms that the management of key watershed features - including wetlands and the trees and grassland areas that surround water ways - is critical to the sustainability of water resources and the protection of our drinking water.
While Walkerton is almost 4,500 kilometres away from Vancouver, the link between watersheds and water quality is just as strong in British Columbia as it is in southern Ontario according to Les Bogdan, Ducks Unlimited's manager of conservation programs in Surrey. Ducks Unlimited, a wetland conservation organization, has conserved over 65,000 hectares of coastal and inland wetlands and associated habitats in the province. That's an area equal to roughly 160 Stanley Parks."
"Watershed management is required across Canada," Bogdan said. "Reducing contaminants in the water that flows over our lands leaves us with cleaner wetlands and cleaner streams and rivers. We also improve the quality of water that enters our estuaries, bays and groundwater supplies for drinking water."
Wetland, river and stream conservation and estuary protection are all part of watershed management. In over 30 years of conservation efforts, Ducks Unlimited has positively influenced all major watersheds in BC including those of the Fraser, Columbia-Kootenay, Cowichan and Peace Rivers.
Conservation efforts have been successful in improving water quality for people, wildlife and fish but there is still a lot more work to be done Bogdan said.
"Our past conservation efforts have built the foundation for us to work on the larger watershed levels," said Bogdan. Future conservation efforts will see Ducks Unlimited team-up with other conservation groups and government agencies to ensure attention is given to the highest priority watersheds and that management plans can be developed for all others.
"Priority watersheds will be selected based on the existing level of impact and future threats to the landscape. We will combine these considerations with the benefits that can be afforded to wildlife and people," Bogdan said.
