Art & Eats An Evening at Unsworth
Fine dining and art fundraiser May 28th 2025
Our Fundraising Campaigns are ongoing.
We need your financial support to continue our work and apply for further grants
and funding opportunities from other sources.
We need your financial support to continue our work and apply for further grants
and funding opportunities from other sources.
Programs, Meetings Activities and more!
Concerned about activities impacting the environment? Observe, Record, Report. Keep the file number, share it with allies and the SBS.
"Observe, Record Report line" at 1-800-465-4336 or at the link below Federal Reporting
Provincial Reporting
CVRD Drinking Water & Watershed Protection 
Lovin' Lake Life Limited stock is still available
COLDWATER
EURASIAN MILFOIL REMOVAL PROGRAM OBJECTIVE: Maintaining the low productivity oligotrophic status of Shawnigan Lake by removing the invasive Mryiophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil) with its accumulated nutrients.
Curious about Milfoil reduction methods?
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General Meetings are hosted on the 1st Tuesday of each month.
Please join us! 2025 EventsJanuary 07 2025 - General Meeting 7-9pm February 02 2025 - World Wetland Day February 04 2025 - General Meeting 7-9pm February 15 2025 Volunteer Meet & Great with SLREC & SBS 10am - 2pm @SBS February 26 to March 03 - Invasive Species Awareness week March 03 2025 - World Wildlife Day March 04 2025 - General Meeting 7-9pm February 26 to March 03 - Invasive Species Awareness week March 22 2025 - World Water Day April 01 2025 - General Meeting 7-9pm April 17 - Speaker Series - All About Bats 7pm at SBS April 26 - 10am - 2pm SBS@ Shawnigan Rotary Eco Club Community Clean Up Day at SL Community Centre April 17 - Bat Appreciation Day April 22 - Earth Day May 02 - Forestry Tour with Mosaic 9am-1130am meet at SBS RSVP space is limited May 06 - SBS Annual General Meeting May 22 - International Day for Biological Diversity May 28 - Unsworth Fundraiser Gourmet meal & silent auction* June 05 - World Environment Day June 07 - Canadas Clean Air Day June 08 - World Oceans Day August 23 - SBS@ Cobble Hill Fair See our Events page for past offerings * event details to be announced when confirmed NEW SHIRTS HAVE ARRIVED !
Visit one of Community Supporters where you can donate to SBS for your preferred shirt. Island Water Store - 802 Deloume Rd, Mill Bay Masons Store & Patio - 1885 Renfrew Rd, Shawnigan Lake 
Aquatic Plant SurveysVolunteer Opportunities
*CVRD advisory panel: participating in CTAG community technical advisory group, SSLWMP South Sector Liquid Waste Management Plan, DWWMP Drinking Water & Watershed Management Planning *Fundraising / Grant writing Committee *Invasive Plant Management Program *Monitoring, Research & Testing Team *Native Plant Enhancement Program *Natural Asset Protection Program *Public Outreach, Education & Engagement Program *Resource & Development Program (forestry, dumping ,building) *Riparian Area & Foreshore Protection Program *Salmon in Shawnigan - YES THERE ARE *Technical Advisory/Reporting Team *Community Outreach Meetings and Presentations Partner Organizations
BC Lake Stewardship Society Cowichan Community Land Trust Invasive Species Council of BC Living Lakes Canada Shawnigan Lake Roatary EcoClub Watersheds Canada Salmon in Shawnigan? – YES THERE ARE
The Shawnigan Basin Society is looking for volunteers to help determine where Coho salmon spawn and develop in the streams that enter Shawnigan Lake. The main streams of interest are Upper Shawnigan Creek, especially in the vicinity of the lake, McGee Creek and West Arm Creek and its tributaries. However, observations of smaller streams would also be much appreciated. Additionally, we are participating in The BC Conservation Foundation (BCCF) monitoring program looking to identify what extent a recently identified common tire preservative compound (known as 6PPD-quinone) exists within our local East Coast Vancouver Island waterways. If you would like more information and are interested in volunteering, please email [email protected] Printable Colouring sheet
| Share your thoughts about local area planning
CVRD Local Area Plans
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| 2025_cvrd_lap_schedule_b_draft.pdf |
| 2025_cvrd_lap_bylaw_schedule_a_e8dc44fbe612acf354af6ee52314543b_schedule-a-new.pdf |
Shawnigan Historical OCP/LAP files
| 2014__ocp_merged_shawnigan_village_plan_201407141611373012.pdf |
| 2022_area_b_shawnigan_lake_local_area_plan.pdf |
| map_cvrd_water-systems4.pdf |
Adult T-shirts
Youth T-shirts & SPF50 Sun shirts
Work Hard, Play Hard, Clean Easy
Reduce the amount of toxins in your wastewater. Improve your carbon footprint, reduce your plastic use
Fish Habitat Enhancement Tools
| coho_salmon_in_the_shawnigan_creek_watershed.pdf |
| fish-habitat-enhancement-toolkit-guide-web.pdf |
CVRD Zoning Community Engagement September 24 → November 08 2024
2022 South Cowichan Area Director Candidates Respond to Environmental Questions
| candidates_questions_2022_10_02.pdf |
| 2024_sbs_colouring_sheet_v1_0.jpg |
The Shawnigan Basin Society is Proud to Announce the Launch of their Fundraising Initiative & Regular Community Events!
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We, the Shawnigan Basin Society, remain committed to protecting and securing the long-term health and safety of the Shawnigan Lake Community watershed and the drinking water it provides.
The Shawnigan Basin Society experienced the loss of our tax based funding in 2017. Although this loss was significant, we have chosen to continue to uphold our commitment to Shawnigan residents. Doing so entails the launch of community wide fundraising drives, a three-tiered approach of members, donors, and sponsors. We very much look forward to working in solidarity with all community members to achieve our goals. 1. $20 Annual Membership * please include your email
Shawnigan Basin Society Shawnigan Lake, BC V0R 2W1
2. Donations and Contributions
3. Sponsorship
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**For Members Only**
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Promoting a holistic approach toward environmental solutions,
community engagement and local stewardship
community engagement and local stewardship
WE WELCOME ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
ABOUTLearn more about our vision of watershed governance, how we operate, what we do, and our
success stories to date |
PROJECTSCheck out what we've been up to. Research our collection of documents, resources, and maps featuring our Ecosystem Based Conservation Plan
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GET INVOLVEDSee what's coming up for the Basin Society including events in the community and membership opportunities
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Overcoming Fragmentation:
A Holistic Approach to Watershed Management
Shawnigan Lake, unlike nearby Sooke Lake, is extensively developed. The consequences of historic and recent developments, along with an increasingly volatile climate, have accumulated to affect the capacity of the watershed to provide for both a community water supply and a thriving economy. Scientific trends are showing a steady decline in our drinking water quality, leading many of our citizens to act and advocate for change.
The CVRD electoral area that includes Shawnigan Lake is the largest unincorporated population in the province. It has a mixed economy of forestry, agriculture, mining, tourism, recreation and commerce. The rural community is facing increased pressures and is approaching a tipping point where both the public and private values of water and economy are at risk. Diversity of land ownership and the need to accommodate many competing interests makes the task of restoring watershed functions very complex. The Shawnigan Basin Society (SBS) is committed to working with all basin interests to identify values, define problems, consider the scientific record, and decide on courses of action to protect, conserve, restore, and enhance the environmental and economic values that make up the basin’s natural and human ecology.
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Narrated by Georgia Collins
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Narrated by Dave Hutchinson
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FUNDING & GRANTSLook here for past financial statements, budgets, and sources of funds
received by external agencies. 
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WATER QUALITYLearn more about our vision of watershed governance, how we operate, what we do, and share our success stories.
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STUDIES & REPORTSFind full details of thesis work, consolidated reports, and
ongoing water studies here. 
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Having completed an ecosystem-based conservation plan (EBCP), the Basin Society is now moving forward with a full-scale public engagement and consultation initiative.
Determine what sub-basin you live in on the map provided and consider hosting a discussion in your home.
Special Thanks to our Current & Past Contributors & Partners
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Web Design by VedaWorks and the Shawnigan Basin Society