Wetland Mapping & Monitoring in the RDN – 2024 Update

The Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute (MABRRI), in partnership with the RDN’s Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program, has recently completed its 8^th year of wetland mapping & monitoring in the RDN. Since 2016, this project has focused on mapping, classifying, and monitoring wetlands across the region to better understand their hydrology, connection to groundwater recharge and ecosystem health.

In 2024, community volunteers continued to play a key role in this work. Over 30 volunteers have been trained since the project began, contributing to seasonal data collection at five long-term monitoring sites. Fieldwork combined photo-point monitoring with vegetation and water quality surveys, along with the collection and review of data from groundwater instrumentation installed at three of the sites.

This year’s findings underscore the complexity of surface and groundwater interactions, the seasonal variability of water levels, and the importance of ongoing long-term monitoring to better understand how wetlands function within the broader watershed. Recognizing the need for a more in-depth analysis of data collected over the past six years, MABRRI and the RDN have brought in a consultant to support data review and provide recommendations to strengthen future monitoring efforts.

Looking ahead, our team will work to continue seasonal monitoring, refine instrumentation methods, and share insights from the comprehensive data analysis.

If you're interested in learning more about this project, or would like to get involved, please contact Jacob Frankel at jacob.frankel@viu.ca.