The Cowichan Watershed Board

CWB Members with elected leaders and staff from Cowichan Tribes and Cowichan Valley Regional District. At the Quw'utsun Sta'lo' / Cowichan River, July 2024.. (Photo by Graham Twomey)

The Cowichan Watershed Board is co-Chaired by its founding partners, Cowichan Tribes, represented by the Elected Chief, and the Cowichan Valley Regional District, represented by the CVRD Chair. The other Board members are drawn from these and other governments, and from people with special expertise about the watershed. All members are appointed by the Co-chairs, guided by the seat allocation below. See the CWB Governance Manual (link below) for more detail.

CWB Organizational Structure Diagram. Excerpted from the Cowichan Watershed Board Governance Manual Version 4, 2024 (Draft update, pending partner review)

Current Board Members:

Appointed by Cowichan Tribes
- Co-Chair Chief Cindy Daniels - Sulsulxumaat, Chief of Cowichan Tribes
- Calvin Swustus Sr - Swutth'tus, Cowichan Tribes Councillor
- Christopher Alphonse - Cowichan Tribes Councillor
Appointed by CVRD
- Co-Chair Kate Segall - Interim Chair of CVRD
- Alison Nicholson - Director for CVRD Area E
- Mayor Michelle Staples - Mayor of Duncan
Appointed at Large
- The Honourable David Anderson - Former Federal Fisheries Minister, Former Federal Environment Minister
- Tim Kulchyski - Natural Resource Consultant, Cowichan Tribes
- Dr. Shannon Waters - Deputy Provincial Water Officer for Planetary and Water Health
- Kristine Sandhu - Councillor for Town of Lake Cowichan
- Dr. David Froese - former fisheries biologist, medical doctor
- David Slade - former President of the BC Groundwater Association
Nominated by Provincial Government
- Arlette Malcolm - Director, Resource Stewardship Operations, Coast Area - West Coast Region, Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, BC Government
Nominated by Federal Government
- Jennifer Sutherst - Section head, South Coast Region, Salmonid Enhancement Program, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Federal Government.

Advisors and Committees

The CWB coordinates Working Groups that align around the CWB's Targets for Watershed Health. These are tangible but aspirational goals rooted in the objectives of the 2010 Cowichan Basin Water Management Plan. Members of the Working Groups are invited to serve based on their expertise in the target area, and as representatives of the many stewardship organizations actively working towards these collective goals. The Working Group members are listed in the back of the Annual Plan each year (links below).

The Board is also grateful to be supported by Advisor Oliver Brandes, economist, lawyer and Co-Director of the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance (UVic) and Director of the POLIS Water Sustainability Project.

Meetings

Board meetings are normally the last Monday of every month. The public is welcome to attend all meetings. Check the agenda to see if the meeting is in person or online, and request login links/help if needed. Agendas, minutes, and materials for Board meetings are posted by date here. https://cowichanwatershedboard.ca/meetings