Community Needs Assessment

The Community Needs Assessment Report 2023 is a compilation of the different ideas from the community based on recent community online survey and a series of focus groups. We’ve heard many voices, especially from underrepresented communities who have not participated in watershed council activities in the past.

KEY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONs

Personal connection to the Sandy River watershed

Spending time with family, children and friends and engaging with the watershed through walking, hiking, fishing, hunting, and swimming were the most mentioned ways survey respondents and discussion group participants connect with the watershed. Connecting with nature, Indigenous cultural connection, and an overall appreciation for water were also mentioned often in discussion groups.

Importance of the Sandy River watershed

Most people who participated in this project said the Sandy River watershed is very important to them. In discussion groups, participants most often talked about the importance of the watershed as a source of clean and abundant drinking water, of vital importance to the survival of all things, and as an important place to connect with nature in many ways. A large majority of survey respondents said the Sandy River watershed is very important to them, and many felt the watershed was more important after learning more about it.

Vision for a healthy watershed

We asked discussion group participants about their vision for a healthy Sandy River watershed. They most mentioned: Indigenous leadership and use of the area, healthy wildlife populations including fish, and a clean environment for future generations.

Concerns about the Sandy River watershed

Water pollution was the most mentioned concern in discussion groups and was among the top concerns among survey respondents. In discussion groups, this pollution included trash and littering, pesticides, stormwater runoff, and contamination of the fish people eat. For survey respondents, protecting fish and wildlife and forest fires were also important concerns.

How do you envision connecting with the watershed in the future?

In discussion groups, the most mentioned was wanting to work to help protect the watershed. Among survey responses, cleaning up rivers and natural areas was also among the most selected. Also important were spending time alone in nature, spending time with others in nature, and learning about nature in the area.