POLIS Project on Ecological Governance

Our latest op-ed in the Vancouver Sun tackles the hard truth: B.C. is facing serious water risks, yet we're still responding like drought is a future problem—not a current reality.

It's time to move from crisis mode to proactive planning.

📰 Read the full op-ed here:

https://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/opinion-drought-is-here-why-arent-we-acting-like-it

Opinion: Drought is here. Why aren’t we acting like it? British Columbians are tired of a crisis response cycle. Drought is a predictable issue. It demands year-round attention and meaningful budget

Drought is no longer a distant threat-- it's here, and it's time to talk solutions. 💧

Tune in to our latest media feature on CTV News, where POLIS' Rosie Simms and Deana Machin, along with UVic PhD candidate Sacha Ruzzante, discuss the future of drought readiness in B.C.

We're diving into:
🔹 What "drought ready" really means
🔹 Practical solutions for communities and policymakers
🔹 How we can move from crisis response to proactive planning.

This conversation ties directly into our recently released report, "Drought Ready: From Crisis Response to Community and Watershed Resilience in British Columbia."

📺 Watch the full segment: https://youtu.be/OotAx04mQG0?si=txCr-sfG8hPb6GIU

Call for proactive drought planning instead of a reactive water crisis Calls for proactive drought planning instead of reactive water cris...

🥀 The proper response to the increasing frequency of in B.C. is not despair. It’s preparation and planning.

The POLIS Project on Ecological Governance released a new report today, entitled Drought Ready, that first outlines the current situation. They include a telling graphic (below) that highlights how summer low flows have changed since the 1950s. The red and dark red arrows signify some extreme drying trends.

But their report then moves on to recommend five interconnected actions for drought resilience. Key to achieving this new resilience is strong public education and awareness, which allows mindsets and relationships with water to fundamentally shift so that becomes the norm.

Read more ⬇️

https://poliswaterproject.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/162/files/sites/162/2026/07/DroughtReady_WebFinal.pdf

New Report: Moving B.C. from Crisis Response to Proactive Drought Planning 🌊

Drought is no longer a rare event — it is the new reality for British Columbians. Today, POLIS released " Drought Ready: From Crisis Response to Community & Watershed Resilience in B.C.," which analyzes a decade of droughts and drought management in the province and offers a path to a water secure future.

This report offers practical guidance to move away from reactive crisis response and toward proactive drought planning. Drawing on best practices and innovative examples from around the world, the authors reimagine B.C.’s drought future and identify five areas where the provincial government must focus its attention to successfully reform drought management:

✅ Deploy existing water legislation and regulations to their fullest potential.

✅ Redefine our understanding of drought in B.C.

✅ Promote water conservation and efficiency.

✅ Expedite water and watershed sustainability planning.

✅ Resource and empower local drought governance and response.

It is time to move beyond crisis mode and build a drought-ready future for all communities.

📖 Read the full report here: https://poliswaterproject.org/polis-research-publication/drought-ready-bc/

🎭 Music, Legends, and Nature: A Weekend of Wonder! 🌿

Looking for a magical outing this July? Join us at the Baumann Centre for a unique double-feature event you won't want to miss!

✨ The Main Event: Experience Robin Hood, a spirited, 55-minute opera presented by Pacific Opera Victoria’s Youth Summer Performance Program. Watch as talented local performers (ages 8–18) bring the legend of Sherwood Forest to life in a story filled with adventure, humour, and heart. 🏹

✨ The Art Experience: While you're there, wander through Trees: Celebrating Gaia, a stunning 3D fine art installation. Explore breathtaking black & white and colour photography by award-winning local photographers Blair Ketcheson and Frances Litman.

🌱 Plus: Connect with our community resource hub featuring Creatively United, Climate and the Arts, and HabitatAcquisitionTrust (HAT) to celebrate our local ecological diversity!

📅 When: July 17–19
📍 Where: Baumann Centre, Victoria, BC
🎟️ Get your tickets here: https://pacificopera.ca/event/robin-hood-by-ben-moore-and-kelley-rourke/

Robin Hood by Ben Moore and Kelley Rourke - Pacific Opera Victoria Pacific Opera Victoria’s Youth Summer Performance Program presents Robin Hood, a fully staged, spirited 55-minute opera by Ben Moore and Kelley Rourke. Featuring talented, local performers ages 8–18, alongside professional artists, this lively retelling of the classic legend is filled with adven...

Driving Policy Reform: POLIS at the Legislature and the Water Leaders' Retreat 🏛️🌊

At the heart of the POLIS Water Sustainability Project is a long-standing commitment to convening, advising, and building the networks necessary to drive watershed security across British Columbia.

This spring, our team has been active in two critical arenas:

1️⃣ Advocacy at the B.C. Legislature: Acting as advisors to the BC Watershed Security Coalition, POLIS' Oliver M. Brandes and Rosie Simms met with provincial ministers, MLAs, and the Premier to discuss urgent watershed security priorities, specifically focusing on industrial water rentals and the need for meaningful reform.

2️⃣ Strategic Convening at "Confluence": In Sidney, B.C., our team helped deliver a retreat for the "Confluence"—a strategic group of water funders and partner organizations. Discussions focused on reforming laws and institutions, as well as a preview of our upcoming major report on drought in B.C.

By working alongside both new leaders and long-time colleagues, we are helping to set a shared direction for the future of B.C.’s freshwater.

📖 Read the full update on our latest forays into the freshwater community: https://poliswaterproject.org/2026/05/29/forays-freshwater-community/

Strengthening wildfire resilience through collaboration and innovation 🌲🔥

This April, the POLIS Wildfire Resilience team joined practitioners and researchers from across the world at the Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit, hosted by FireSmart BC.

The summit provided a vital space to discuss the practical barriers to resilience and the on-the-ground realities faced by first responders and residents alike. A highlight for the POLIS team was a presentation by Kevin Kriese on the Potential Operational Delineations (PODs) pilot project. PODs serve as a crucial decision-support framework, designed to bridge the gap between wildfire management, forestry, and land-use planning.

Beyond technical solutions, the summit tackled critical systemic issues, including:

🔹 The expansion of community wildfire resilience programs
🔹 The complex landscape of wildfire insurance in various jurisdictions
🔹 The importance of leadership grounded in community relationships

Resilience is not just about managing fire, but managing the relationships and coordination that exist long before an emergency occurs.

📖 Read our full recap of the summit here: https://poliswildfireproject.org/blog/2026/04/23/polis-wildfire-resiliency-training-summit/

Effective water policy requires an understanding of the values and concerns of the communities it serves.

"Watershed Security Matters: Analysis of 10+ years of public opinion polling on fresh water in B.C.” dives into public perceptions regarding watershed health and security, providing critical context for decision-makers and stakeholders.

In this brief, the authors highlight three crosscutting takeaways and the overarching message that British Columbians have a high expectation for strong, coordinated, and well-funded action to secure the future of watersheds across B.C.

📖 Read the full piece here: https://poliswaterproject.org/polis-research-publication/watershed-security-matters-polling-analysis/

The June Edition of the POLIS Watershed Security Newsletter is Here! 🌊

Whether you're a researcher, decision-maker, or simply passionate about watershed security in B.C., this newsletter is packed with updates you won't want to miss. In this issue:

🔹 Deep dive into our new Advancing Water Metering Handbook
🔹 Updates from the POLIS Wildfire Resilience Project
🔹 Upcoming events & recent publications

& more!

📖 Read the full update here: https://mailchi.mp/polisproject/polis-news-june-2026

📩 Want to receive these updates directly to your inbox? Subscribe to our mailing list via https://polisproject.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=389657c8f0bdbc7fc5e9dc59d&id=69b13589cd to stay connected.

Photo by the BC Wildfire Service (2023). Copyright Province of British Columbia. All rights reserved.

New Release: A Roadmap to Universal Water Metering in B.C.:🚰
As climate change intensifies, British Columbia is facing a new reality of deeper droughts and increasing water scarcity. Despite this, B.C. is falling behind in one of the most proven tools for managing our most precious resource: water metering.

POLIS is proud to announce the release of our latest handbook: “For Good Measure: A Handbook on Advancing Water Metering in British Columbia.”
Developed by the POLIS Water Sustainability Project, this handbook offers a practical, decade-long roadmap to achieve universal water metering across the province by 2036. From addressing upfront capital costs to navigating public perception, the authors—including Kirk Stinchcombe, a nationally recognized leader in water use efficiency, advisor to the POLIS Water Sustainability Project, and co-author of the handbook, and POLIS Co-Director Oliver M. Brandes—provide clear policy recommendations to help decision-makers move forward.

Key recommendations include:

✅ A provincial mandate for universal metering
✅ Financial and technical support for local communities
✅ Improved data collection to align with drought management and watershed security

Metering is not an optional investment, but essential community infrastructure.

📖 Read the handbook here: https://poliswaterproject.org/polis-research-publication/for-good-measure-metering-handbook/

Learn more: https://poliswaterproject.org/2026/06/16/why-water-metering-matters/