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Location: Fraser River Basin, Basin Wide Project Summary
SUMMARY Watershed Watch and Periscopic Design will collaborate to produce an interactive online map focusing on threatened rivers in the Fraser Basin. The map will feature information on instream flows, temperature, groundwater extraction and fish stocks at risk to give an overview on each river in a format that will be easy to update and interact with. The map will inform the public about the need for comprehensive water reform, starting with the implementation of the Living Water Smart program. OVERVIEW In 2008 the Government of British Columbia announced a new and long awaited water strategy, the Living Water Smart Program, which makes 45 wide-reaching recommendations around water. Though the implementation of the LWS has been delayed, consultations will soon begin. Watershed Watch Salmon Society has been one of the ENGOs at the forefront promoting improvements to water policy, but additional public outreach and scientific research are crucial to highlight current threats and regulatory gaps for fish and water. We intend to work with consultants Tanis Gower and Pamela Zevitt, lawyer Linda Nowlan, and Periscopic (an interactive design firm specializing in the development of data visualizations and interactive infographics) to create a novel and overdue map of rivers within the Fraser Basin that are under threat from instream flow “challenges”. The data presented on the map will portray issues of water licensing, instream flow and temperature, groundwater extraction, and fish stocks at risk to give an overview of the status of each river. We believe that current resources (like the maps available through the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Wild Salmon Policy website, or others hosted through the Community Mapping Network) do not adequately express the kind of information needed to give the user a complete picture of the rivers in question. They are also not designed to have the same level of user interaction, or graphic interface as the data visualization project we are proposing. The Wild Salmon Policy maps produced by Fisheries and Oceans Canada are expansive in the information that is displayed as you can theoretically focus on any river in the province and also view a variety of data layers. It is clear, however, that the map is not focused on water issues nor is it engaging to a user with little background in these issues. The interactive data visualization we are proposing will illustrate rivers that are clearly under threat to enable the user to see the kinds of issues facing these rivers and their geographical context. The map will also emphasize ease of use with a compelling graphic interface that will be able to show quantitative data (charts and graphs) along side qualitative accounts (such as anecdotes, photos or interviews). Current tools are focused on displaying data in a very basic GIS format and are not fully taking advantage of the kind of data visualizations currently being developed in a variety of fields. An integral component of the map’s design will be the ability to easily update the information so that it reflects the results of any legislative changes or reforms that alter the status of the rivers profiled. This interactivity enabled by an engaging graphic interface is a key reason we believe this project will have the potential to educate and engage both managers and citizens alike. An outreach tool that can engage people across a broad spectrum of both experience and interests is needed to create the greater public awareness necessary for water issues. Our proposed interactive map could have the broad appeal necessary to place increased public pressure on government and resources managers to implement the LWS program. We are often surprised to find the lack of public awareness around current inadequacies in water regulation and our interactive map will serve as a centralized resource to highlight key issues—for example, in British Columbia fish have no legal right to water—and emphasize why fish and aquatic ecosystems should be considered in all water licensing and water extraction decisions. We envision this project happening in two distinct phases: The first is research and development of the online map that will involve extensive collaboration between Watershed Watch, government contacts, First Nations and community groups as we gather the information that will form the basis of the map. During this phase the template and overall design of the map will be finalized by Periscopic and initial data entry will begin. This first phase will happen from April to November of 2010. The second phase will consist of finalizing and testing the online map and developing and executing the distribution plan. Due to the online format of the map, this phase will be much less resource intensive and will extend from February 2011 throughout the year. Since the resources required to maintain the map will be minimal, Watershed Watch will be able to provide in-kind support for this project well into the future. OBJECTIVES Objective #1 To research and develop an interactive online map that will provide a central source of information regarding instream flows for rivers in British Columbia
During the final development and testing of the interactive map WWSS will begin working on the second main objective of the project and will liaise with key allies within ENGO, conservation and First Nation communities to ensure that they are ready to assist us in distributing the map. This will be a unique resource so we are hoping to capitalize on this innovation through a targeted media campaign, and we will also use Periscopic’s extensive distribution network to ensure that this visualization reaches potential users outside of the traditional conservation or ENGO community. We will also coordinate presentations in key areas and to other conservation groups using the map as a presentation tool and will encourage other groups to promote the use of this resource in that way. The map will also be used as a key resource in our consultations with government around the LWS program that are currently ongoing.
If better legal protections for instream flows are secured, then fish stocks in peril in the Fraser Basin have a much better chance of long-term recovery and persistence. The Water Act reform that we hope to influence should also include watershed-based planning and other measures to address instream flows that would contribute to the long-term sustainability of Fraser Basin watersheds.
We will be working with First Nations, government contacts and NGOs during all phases of this project. They will provide valuable information regarding the rivers that will be profiled and will form a key part of the distribution phase.
Our project can be an information source (and sink) for projects that are working to conserve habitat and fish stocks.
This project will increase the capacity of stakeholders to contribute to Water Act reforms, and if successful will influence policy and decision-making.
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