Nearly 100 people came out on Saturday for the launch of the WaterWealth Project in Chilliwack. The group is lobbying for complete local community control over the city's waterways.
"Water brings our communities together. There is a growing recognition among citizens of the Fraser Valley that there is an urgent need to protect the wealth within the rivers, lakes and groundwater that make our region so rich and unique," said Campaign Director Sheila Muxlow in a press release.
The group is distinguishing itself through its use of social media and interactive technology, and has already generated 115 Facebook 'likes.' Dozens of volunteers signed on during the launch, and local businesses Hofstede’s Barn, Greendale Meats, Sardis Bakery, Decades Coffee, and Save-On-Foods donated food for the event.
“The water wealth of this region is what sets it apart,” said Larry Commodore, community advisor and member of the Soowahlie Nation, in a press release. “But we’re facing urgent threats. The Kinder Morgan pipeline, mining gravel straight from the Fraser, urban expansion and intensive industrial agriculture are all jeopardizing our water. We need to come together, find common solutions and ensure our shared home waters are protected.”
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