About the Shuswap Watershed Council

The Shuswap Watershed Council (SWC) is a collaborative program of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD), Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD), District of Sicamous, City of Salmon Arm, Regional District of North Okanagan, Secwepemc Nation and Province of BC (Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy), working with other agencies and interests.

The mandate of the Shuswap Watershed Council is to help enhance water quality and safe recreation in the Shuswap for the long term. In 2014-2015 SWC focused efforts on development of a five-year Water Quality and Safe Recreation Education Programs for the watershed. Implementation of these programs began in 2016, with financial support from the TNRD, CSRD and City of Salmon Arm. The SWC recently completed a new strategic plan for 2021-26, which will come into effect in April next year.

The Shuswap Watershed Council is a collaborative, non-regulatory initiative and will not duplicate the work of any agencies with responsibilities for water.

Vision

This is the vision of the SWC for the Water Quality Program:

Enhanced water quality that supports human and ecosystem health and the local economy in the Shuswap watershed.

Membership

The SWC is chaired by Paul Demenok, Electoral Area Director for the CSRD, Area C.

See all members on the SWC membership list (as of December 16, 2020).

Objectives

These are the objectives identified for the Shuswap Watershed Council:

1. To maintain and enhance water quality in the Shuswap watershed through collaboration with water quality monitors. By working together, we can help ensure clean water and the many benefits it affords including a healthy ecosystem and a thriving tourism economy.
2. To coordinate and report on water quality data and information in the Shuswap watershed.
3. To communicate with and inform residents and visitors about water quality in the Shuswap, and advocate for good practices to prevent water quality degradation. The SWC will also communicate with the public about its activities and accomplishments.
4. To encourage safe behaviour by recreationists on and near the water.

Terms of Reference and Statement of Principles

To learn more about the Shuswap Watershed Council, see:

• Terms of Reference for the Shuswap Watershed Council, v.5, which sets the governance framework for the SWC
• Statement of Principles, intended to guide members of the SWC and its committees in their work.

Also, see our flyer What is the Shuswap Watershed Council? (PDF)

For SWC meeting agendas, summaries and highlights, see SWC Meetings.