The Salt Spring Island Public Library will host a community presentation on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at 129 McPhillips Ave in Ganges, Salt Spring Island, B.C. Ecologist Dr. Ruth Waldick — lead scientist with Transition Salt Spring and head of the Climate Adaptation Research Lab (CARL) — will lead the session and share practical steps residents can take to reduce drought and fire risks.
The talk will focus on the Hwmet’utsun (Mt. Maxwell) / Maxwell Creek watershed and Maxwell Lake, which provide the primary drinking water supply for about half of the island’s population. Dr. Waldick will explain nature-based solutions and on-the-ground actions intended to improve watershed water retention and reduce wildfire risk — measures aimed at avoiding the types of shortages and vulnerabilities that prompted a moratorium on new water hookups (introduced in 2014 and partially lifted in January 2025).
Residents will receive practical guidance for lowering fire risk on private property, including vegetation and fuel-load management approaches and other items from the CARL toolkit. According to the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, the Maxwell Creek Watershed restoration work aims to improve the watershed’s ability to retain water and increase resilience to drought and wildfire.
Securing the local water supply has been a major focus for the North Salt Spring Waterworks District as it prepares for more extreme weather; recent utility planning and assessments — and the partial lift of the Maxwell Lake moratorium in January 2025 — reflect that priority. Reporting by the Gulf Islands Driftwood and CBC News has emphasized that protecting forests, wetlands and other natural areas in the watershed is essential to reducing the risk of large-scale fires and protecting drinking water quality.
