Stop Proposed Mines Road Logging Activity in the Koksilah Watershed

Dear Jimmie Hodgson,

We, the undersigned members of the Koksilah Watershed community, urge you to halt Mosaic’s proposed logging activity on Mines Road while the Xwulqw’selu (Koksilah) Watershed Sustainability Plan is in development.

The Province and Cowichan Tribes, supported by the community, are working toward a more water-secure future through the Xwulqw’selu Watershed Planning Process. Farmers, local businesses, and residents are doing their part—often at significant personal cost—to conserve water during the summer low-flow season.

As the major land holder in the watershed, it is important that Mosaic do its part too.

Your planned activity includes road construction and the cutting of trees and disturbance of soils on approximately 30 hectares of 40 year-old mixed forest mid-slope on the ridge above Cowichan Station. Many in the community are upset about this because it is a low gradient area that is especially sensitive – it gathers moisture and nutrients from above and stores water in many small wetlands and streams that feed into the Koksilah River. Neel Creek, an important fish bearing stream, is among them.

As you are aware, the Koksilah Watershed’s hydrology is severely degraded due to land use practices including forestry and made worse by water extraction and climate change.

The land no longer effectively slows and stores water in logs, soils, wetlands or aquifers. Instead winter storms send torrents of water and sediments downstream scouring stream channels and damaging habitat. In summer, flows drop so low that aquatic life is at risk.

The community has already lost much of the salmonid fishery and now we are at risk of losing our ability to farm. This is not sustainable.

Stopping the proposed Mines Road activity while the watershed plan is being developed shows respect for the planning process and community and will contribute to protecting water storage, aquifer recharge, and improved health of the watershed.

Thank you for your contributions to a sustainable watershed- for the future of our community.
Sincerely,