Beaufort Watershed Stewards Information Forum: What our Data Reveals

Beaufort Watershed Stewards are very excited to host a community event to share the cumulative results of our citizen science programs that help us understand the structure and current status of our local aquifers. We will present results from the Fanny Bay Aquifer (419) Study from September 2025 and our findings from three summers of data collection on our Aquifer Mapping Program. We will also discuss aquifer function during rainy seasons and during summer droughts. We will conclude with information on what we are planning our next aquifer study and a panel question period. More detailed summaries follow.

Aquifers Explained

Mike Wei, is a retired Physical Hydrologist with 40 years’ work on groundwater management in BC. Mike has also served as the provincial technical expert for groundwater legislation including the recent BC Water Sustainability Act. Mike will use a physical model to demonstrate aquifer function and explain what variables affect water levels and accessibility within aquifers.

Aquifers Mapping Results

Mark Lake, is a retired Geophysicist, who is responsible for Beaufort Watershed Stewards’ Aquifer Mapping Program. In collaboration with Mike Wei, Lucinda Leonard, (University of Victoria School of Earth and Ocean Sciences) and several University of Victoria Honours students, Mark has used resistivity testing and historical well data to estimate the physical parameters of aquifers on the eastern slopes of the Beaufort Range. Mark will present a summary of the group’ findings to date.

Break & Displays

Display tables will be set up around the hall with BWS members to answer your questions.

  • Watersheds: Structure Functions and Threats
  • Aquifer 419 Project
  • Aquifer Mapping on the eastern slopes of the Beaufort Range
  • Cumulative Effects Assessments of Six Watersheds
  • BWS Citizen Science Programs Summary
  • BWS Membership & Merchandise

Refreshments will be available.

Aquifer 419 Results

Kate MacMillan, is a current Honours student University of Victoria, School of Earth & Ocean Sciences. She is supervised by Mike Wei and collected data from 40 wells in Aquifer 419 (Fanny Bay) in October 2025. She will be presenting the results of that project.

What’s Next

Mike Mesford, is the Beaufort Watershed Stewards President, and is responsible for Ground Water Monitoring, Flow Monitoring, Data Management and “other duties as required”. He will discuss the cumulative implications of the presentations, and what the next steps are for Beaufort Watershed Stewards. This includes expanding well monitoring in Bowser’s Aquifer 416.

Question Panel

All speakers will be available to answer questions in a moderated panel session.