{"id":83622,"date":"2026-03-05T07:54:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T15:54:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/?post_type=engagement&#038;p=83622"},"modified":"2026-03-18T15:53:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T22:53:37","slug":"xwulqwselu-koksilah-watershed-plan","status":"publish","type":"engagement","link":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/xwulqwselu-koksilah-watershed-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Xwulqw&#8217;selu (Koksilah) Watershed and Water Sustainability Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group engage-banner has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fbda80\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"top\">Engagement is open until March 15, 2026<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#686c61\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-83627\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/03\/Koksilahbanner.png\" style=\"object-position:54% 92%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"54% 92%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/03\/Koksilahbanner.png 1280w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/03\/Koksilahbanner-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/03\/Koksilahbanner-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/03\/Koksilahbanner-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/03\/Koksilahbanner-1200x675.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-engagement-container\"><div class=\"engagement-page\"><div class=\"engagement-content-wrapper\"><h1 class=\"engagement-title-banner \" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/themes\/bcgov-engagement\/dist\/images\/blue-curve-bg.svg)\">Xwulqw&#8217;selu (Koksilah) Watershed and Water Sustainability Plan<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-engagement-content\"><bcgov-breadcrumb>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\">Home<\/a>\n                      <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/\">Engagement Opportunities<\/a> \n                  <span>\n        Xwulqw&#8217;selu (Koksilah) Watershed and Water Sustainability Plan\n  <\/span>\n  <div style=\"display: flex\" slot=\"breadcrumb-extra\">\n      <\/div>\n  <\/bcgov-breadcrumb>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">On this page:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#summary\" title=\"\">Engagement summary<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#contribution\" title=\"\">How your contribution makes a difference<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-govtogether-engagement-header\"><div class=\"text-column\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dates:<\/strong> September 18, 2025 to March 15, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Who: <\/strong>Joint Cowichan Tribes and Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What: <\/strong>Xwulqw\u2019selu (Koksilah) Watershed and Water Sustainability Plan<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Where:<\/strong> Near Duncan, Vancouver Island<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why:<\/strong> To understand community values and the watershed\u2019s challenges<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How: <\/strong>Online<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-engagement_category wp-block-post-terms\"><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__prefix\"><strong>Category: <\/strong><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement_category\/environmental-protection\/\" rel=\"tag\">Environmental Protection<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement_category\/land-and-water\/\" rel=\"tag\">Land and Water<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement_category\/reconciliation-initiatives\/\" rel=\"tag\">Reconciliation Initiatives<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement_category\/wildlife-and-habitat-protection\/\" rel=\"tag\">Wildlife and Habitat Protection<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"image-column\"><span role=\"img\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"engagement-image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2026\/03\/Koksilah-Map.png);background-position:57.99999999999999% 35%\"><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"summary\">Engagement summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Koksilah River, Xwulqw&#8217;selu Sta&#8217;lo&#8217;, Watershed (the Watershed) is located south of Duncan on Vancouver Island and lies within the traditional territories of Cowichan Tribes, Malahat Nation and other First Nations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Xwulqw\u2019selu Watershed features prominently in Quw\u2019utsun origin stories and is central to the culture and identity of Quw\u2019utsun Mustimuhw (Cowichan people). It supports multiple species of fish, vital ecosystems, Indigenous and local food security, and sustains the diverse livelihoods of residents and businesses. In recent years, the Watershed has experienced serious climate-related challenges, including extreme low flows in the summer and flooding in the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more about the <a href=\"https:\/\/planninginpartnership.ca\/p\/6671f8686b56900039b91cc8\/background-info\" title=\"\">background of this Watershed and this project<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The joint Cowichan Tribes-B.C. planning team continues to engage with First Nations, stakeholders, and advisory groups to share information and gather input. An open house for broader public engagement on the planning process is scheduled for <strong>March 11, 2026<\/strong>.&nbsp; More information can be found at&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.koksilahwater.ca\/\">www.koksilahwater.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This survey is part of the Xwulqw\u2019selu (Koksilah) Watershed and Water Sustainability Plan process; a joint effort led by Cowichan Tribes and the Province of B.C. to restore and protect the health of the Xwulqw\u2019selu (Koksilah) watershed. This work is being done for all those who call the Watershed home, now and into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"contribution\">How your contribution makes a difference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The project\u2019s Planning Team is preparing to draft recommendations for the Xwulqw\u2019selu (Koksilah) Watershed and Water Sustainability Plan (XWWSP), and we want to hear from you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This survey is about informing those recommendations that could become part of the XWWSP. Your feedback will influence which options are considered, how potential future regulations are designed, and how to address community needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related engagements<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"related-engagements\">\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Angling, Hunting, and Trapping. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Environmental Protection, Natural Resource Sector, Recreation and Tourism, Wildlife and Habitat Protection. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/angling-hunting-and-trapping\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Angling, Hunting, and Trapping                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Environmental Protection<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resource Sector<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Recreation and Tourism<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Wildlife and Habitat Protection<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/angling-hunting-and-trapping\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2022\/12\/52020102588_38f5f124ed_o.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Kaska-B.C. Land Use Planning. Categories: Environmental Protection, Land and Water, Natural Resource Sector, Natural Resources, Reconciliation Initiatives. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/kaska-land-use-planning\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Kaska-B.C. Land Use Planning                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Environmental Protection<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Land and Water<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resource Sector<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resources<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Reconciliation Initiatives<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/kaska-land-use-planning\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/05\/Kaska-LUP-Ducks-sm-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: CleanBC Review. Categories: CleanBC, Environmental Protection. Status: Closed with results.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed with results\">\n                                            Closed with results                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/cleanbcreview\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        CleanBC Review                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">CleanBC<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Environmental Protection<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/cleanbcreview\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/06\/CleanBC-Review-banner.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Emergency Support Services. Categories: Environmental Protection, Families and Residents. Status: Closed with results.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed with results\">\n                                            Closed with results                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/emergency-support-services\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Emergency Support Services                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Environmental Protection<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Families and Residents<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/emergency-support-services\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/12\/ESSBanner.png\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Public Interest Bonding Strategy. Categories: Environmental Protection, Law and Public Safety. Status: Closed with results.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed with results\">\n                                            Closed with results                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/public-interest-bonding-strategy\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Public Interest Bonding Strategy                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Environmental Protection<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Law and Public Safety<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/public-interest-bonding-strategy\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/01\/52002466371_f4bcb018f9_o.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Columbia River Treaty Agreement-in-Principle\u00a0. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Environmental Protection, Land and Water. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/columbia-river-treaty-agreement-in-principle\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Columbia River Treaty Agreement-in-Principle\u00a0                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Environmental Protection<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Land and Water<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/columbia-river-treaty-agreement-in-principle\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2024\/09\/IMG_5507-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":83627,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","engagement_category":[212,277,292,282],"engagement_region":[327],"engagement_status":[52],"engagement_pin_group":[],"class_list":["post-83622","engagement","type-engagement","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","engagement_category-environmental-protection","engagement_category-land-and-water","engagement_category-reconciliation-initiatives","engagement_category-wildlife-and-habitat-protection","engagement_region-vancouver-island","engagement_status-closed"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"pinned_engagement_toggle":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/83622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/engagement"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/83622\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83896,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/83622\/revisions\/83896"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"engagement_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_category?post=83622"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_region?post=83622"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_status","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_status?post=83622"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_pin_group","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_pin_group?post=83622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}