Water is life. One of the most fundamental challenges facing the world today is how we manage and develop this precious resource in the face of growing demand, to promote economic growth in a responsible and environmentally sustainable way.
Here in the Capital Regional District, our Bowker Creek meanders through the municipalities of Saanich, Victoria, and Oak Bay. In order to improve the quality of the residents’ lives, cities in the Capital Region decided to restore the Bowker Creek Watershed. In 2015, restoration of a section of Bowker Creek that flows along Oak Bay High School commenced as part of the Bowker Creek Blueprint: A 100 Year Action Plan. The restoration will build an environmentally friendly urban space for the community.
We, as a group of Oak Bay High School students, with the support of Mr. Shrubsole, our science teacher, decided to survey the water quality of the creek before and after the restoration, as well as perform ongoing monitoring of the creek. By sampling water from different parts of the creek, we are able to learn about the health of the creek and give constructive suggestions to the Bowker Creek Initiative.
We have partnered with Maurick College, a school in the Netherlands, with regards to the topic of water security and sustainability. As part of this collaboration, we have hosted students from Maurick College during our Bowker Creek pre-restoration surveying project in April 2015. In October 2016, we will travel to the Netherlands, also as part of the exchange, to participate in their water research.
The funds we raise will help us cover part of the transportation cost, allowing us to represent Oak Bay and Victoria on the international table. We believe this unique experience will bring connections with other students on a global scale, as well as develop the leadership skills of the next generation of community environment leaders. Your donation will help a group of young enthusiastic scientists to participate in a rare opportunity to pursue real scientific research at a UNESCO World Heritage site.
