Stewardship of the Shawnigan Lake Community Watershed
Dedication
The four of us dedicated this book to three generations of our fellow citizens of Shawnigan Lake. We hope that it provides a challenge and a stimulus to conservation of the land and waters that we call home.
The views expressed arise from our life experience, professional engagements, civic participation, reading, schooling and conversations with many colleagues, friends and class mates in the community and beyond. Many will find their influence embedded in our thinking but we alone are responsible for how it has come to be expressed.
Bruce, Kelly, Brock and Chase
Four Voices
This book is about a place called Shawnigan Lake. Our story is told in four voices spanning 3 generations. Bruce Fraser at seventy-seven, Kelley Musslewhite at forty-eight, Brock Musselwhite at twelve and Chase Musselwhite at ten. Each of us has developed our environmental awareness at different times and places but each of us is now investing our insights into the future integrity of this place. But, it is that third generation that our community most to hear, Where comments can be attributed to one of the four voices, or and expert quotation is used, they are italicized and the author is indicated.
Biochar is charcoal used as a soil and water amendment for both carbon sequestration, soil and water health benefits. Biochar is rich in carbon and can endure in soil for thousands of years. Biochar has the potential to help mitigate global warming and climate change. It results from processes related to pyrogenic carbon capture and storage (PyCCS). Biochar can increase soil fertility of acidic soils (low pH soils), increase agricultural productivity, and provide protection against some foliar and soil-borne diseases. Biochar is extremely porous and its sponge-like structure lends itself well to water conservation. Biochar’s ability to improve the water holding capacity of soil and substrates. There are great benefits from enriched biochar.
Recently, the Shawnigan Basin Society experienced the loss of our tax based funding. Although this loss is significant, we have chosen to continue to uphold our commitment to Shawnigan residents. Doing so entails the launch of a community wide fundraising drive, 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.
Recently, the Shawnigan Basin Society experienced the loss of our tax based funding. Although this loss is significant, we have chosen to continue to uphold our commitment to Shawnigan residents. Doing so entails the launch of a community wide fundraising drive, 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.