Watershed Stewardship
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A Guide for Agriculture
This guide is designed for all agricultural producers – from ranchers to greenhouse growers to hobby farmers.
Much of British Columbia’s agricultural land, which is the basis of B.C.’s food production, is located in valley bottoms. These agricultural lands surround the rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands, which are the foundations of many of B.C.’s most valuable fish and wildlife habitats.
Farmers are therefore the key to ensuring our province’s aquatic environments are managed for the benefit of all.
The stewardship principles discussed here will enable farmers to improve their operations and enhance the quality of their local environment at the same time.
Others interested in relationships between agriculture and water quality, water quantity, and healthy fish and wildlife habitats, will also find this guide useful.
This guide aims to:
- Discuss stewardship and explain its role in protecting the aquatic resources of B.C.
- Outline fish and wildlife habitat requirements.
- Show how agriculture and the environment can both benefit from good stewardship.
- Provide examples of stewardship practices which can be incorporated into agricultural operations.
- Profile success stories where good stewardship has benefited producers, as well as fish and wildlife in B.C.
- Summarize the agency approvals to be obtained before working in or near a stream