The POLIS Water Sustainability Project at the University of Victoria’s Centre for Global Studies released its report Drought Ready: From Crisis Response to Community and Watershed Resilience in British Columbia today. The authors analyze the last decade of drought and drought management in BC and call for an urgent shift from reactive crisis response to proactive drought planning. They offer practical recommendations for the provincial government to successfully reform drought management and achieve watershed security in BC.
The following University of Victoria experts are available to media for comment about droughts in BC:
Rosie Simms (POLIS) is an expert in BC provincial water policy and local governance. She can discuss how drought is changing in BC, how BC’s water and drought management systems are currently functioning, and recommendations to improve provincial drought management.
Oliver M. Brandes (POLIS) is an expert in water sustainability, watershed security, resource management, wildfire resilience, public policy development and ecologically based legal and institutional reform. He can discuss how effective drought management will ensure watershed security in BC and solutions for future decision-making.
Deana Machin (POLIS) is an expert in fisheries management and water and First Nations governance. She can discuss how drought is affecting communities in BC (including specific impacts on First Nations), how communities are responding, and the need for provincial government support, resources and action in regional drought planning and response.
Sacha Ruzzante (PhD candidate, UVic Engineering) is an expert in historical streamflow declines, climate projections and glacier loss. He can discuss future modelling of drought in BC.
Tom Gleeson (UVic Engineering) is an expert in the role of groundwater in drought and water management. He can discuss the importance of groundwater in future drought planning for BC. He is available on July 14 and after July 20.
