Our Strategy

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Working with our local farming community to inform and support agricultural stewardship, landowner 

engagement, and incentives for best management practices. We recognize that agricultural lands 

(and all working lands) are key conservation lands that provide critical ecosystem services in our 

watersheds. Over 50% of the Baxter Creek watershed consists of agricultural and rural land use, 

compared to less than 10% community and infrastructure.

Restoring engagement and guidance of First Nations communities is essential for the maintenance 

and enhancement of the health of the Baxter Creek watershed. We recognize the deep connection 

First Nations have with Mother Earth and value their knowledge as stewards of nature. BCWA honours 

this knowledge through stewardship and respect for the land we protect.

Key initiatives include conserving the formal Millbrook Jail lands as publicly accessible open greenspace, encouraging natural heritage protection and exploring conservation easements across the watershed. 

BCWA supports the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of Indigenous Peoples for projects that may affect the lands they own, occupy or otherwise use, as set forth by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

BCWA will not endorse the establishment of new, legislated protected areas without the consent of the Indigenous decision-makers on whose traditional territories or homelands the areas are to be established. BCWA does support interim protection measures that prevent ongoing development while consultation is undertaken. Furthermore, it is our position that consultation must occur on a government-to-government basis and, therefore, the duty to consult can be legally satisfied only by the Crown. It follows that consent for any new, legislated protected areas must be given by an Indigenous nation to the Crown.

Ecosystem/land conservation and protection of natural heritage matters and holds utmost value to those living in the Cavan-Monaghan and Baxter Creek area. Ecosystem service valuation, integrated watershed hydrological protection, and rehabilitation are focus points for conserving natural heritage in the watershed and township planning influences.

Protecting water at its source rather than treating water that has undergone negative impacts is what 

we at BCWA strive for. Protecting water at the source is an effective way to reduce risks to public 

health, wildlife, and control water treatment costs. Stream rehabilitation through the creation of 

riparian buffer zones to reduce runoff pollution, stream bank stabilization to reduce sedimentation, 

land protection/easements and best management practices for agricultural and other activities are 

ways we can protect water at the source.

Restoring lost functions and services in degraded ecosystems to maintain biodiversity across the 

watershed.

Watershed characterization and habitat mapping are important processes in ecosystem restoration as 

they provide information critical to appropriate watershed restoration techniques. Increasing 

environmental monitoring programs to analyze how well restoration efforts are progressing in 

restoring lost biodiversity. BCWA aims at doing more with less; (in some instances) leaving sites 

alone for natural attenuation to run its course in re- establishing life and function to an area.

Working with our community to monitor and report on the state of the local watershed environment.

BCWA is currently designing and implementing a broad environmental monitoring program for the watershed. The goal of this program is to establish and integrate environmental monitoring across ecological sciences and share information with the community to inform on issues and develop solutions to address problems.

Engaging with community stakeholders and Indigenous right holders to partner on mutual strategic goals, 

collaborate on parallel initiatives, and collaborate on local watershed projects and activities. 

BCWA focuses on township planning that requires outreach, consultation, and guidance to build 

relationships with stakeholders and delegate with plans based on scientific or ecological evidence-based solutions. In developing efforts, watershed research and planning remain a top priority to ensure development impacts are minimal and implemented sustainably, so that the environment and 

future generations are not negatively impacted.