BC Agriculture & Food Climate Action Initiative

Cowichan – Drought Alert System Pilot Project [cw07]

Region
Status completed in 2016
Project Lead CVRD Public Safety Division
Funding Partners Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, BC Ministry of Agriculture, CVRD Public Safety Division
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Download and read the project summary as a PDF: Drought Alert Project Keeps Producers 'In the Know'.

The recently completed Extreme Weather Events Preparedness and Mitigation Pilot Project brought Cowichan producers together to discuss preparedness for extreme events. Through this dialogue, it became clear that there was a gap between producers’ awareness of water issues on their farm, and their level of awareness about the status of water at the regional level. Although the provincial government issues drought alerts and updates, this information is not reaching all producers through existing communication mechanisms.

The Cowichan Drought Alert System pilot project implemented a series of low cost mechanisms for communicating drought status to producers and evaluated which approaches are the most effective. During the 2015 and 2016 production seasons, this project piloted 4–5 different communication mechanisms including: text and phone alerts, signage, a postcard mail out, an electronic newsletter, and website updates. The most effective options will be integrated into the on-going activities of the CVRD Public Safety Division and shared with other interested communities.

Project Results