A new government-to-government partnership will help ensure long-term water sustainability in the Koksilah Watershed south of Duncan and explore the benefits of a water sustainability plan for the area.

As part of its ongoing commitment to reduce wildfire threats, the B.C. government is providing more than $72,700 in community resiliency investment grants to support projects in the Cowichan Valley.

Under the BC Rural Dividend Program, the Government of British Columbia is providing $407,746 to local government, First Nations and not-for-profit organizations for six projects in the Cowichan Valley.

The Skutz Falls Forest Service Road, which runs for about 10 kilometres south of Cowichan River Provincial Park, will be completely closed to all users from Sept. 12 to Oct. 6, 2016 to allow the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to replace an aging bridge.

Cowichan Valley residents who want to know what’s in their well water have an opportunity this spring to find out for free.

Thanks to more than $112,000 in provincial Brownfield Renewal funding, three brownfield sites in Duncan can begin the process of redevelopment.