The purpose of the Society is to protect and secure the long-term health and safety of the Shawnigan Lake Community Watershed specifically and the South Cowichan region generally, particularly the drinking water these watersheds provide. We work to promote a holistic approach toward environmental solutions, community engagement, and local stewardship. In addition to providing drinking water for approximately more than 10,000 people, the Shawnigan watershed supports a wide range of wildlife. The pressures of development, resource extraction and recreation continue to affect the quality of water in all of the South Cowichan Watersheds. Since its inception in 2012, the Basin Society has collected a large body of technical data and literature, which was required to develop the necessary scientific baseline of the Shawnigan Lake watershed for the purposes of credible knowledge, good judgement, and long-term decision making. It is time to take concrete actions to maintain and improve the water quality in the aquifers & Shawnigan Lake. We need to have regular water testing in place to gain insight about which actions are most critical to act upon first. Our volunteers provide approximately $75,000 of services free of charge. We need financial support from the public to move forward.