This month’s Communities Protecting our Coast climate hug goes to Wayne Moorman, a retired civil engineer who has lived in Parksville for 20 years.
Many Parksville citizens are concerned about the health and stability of the Englishman River and Arrowsmith Lake, both of which are critical to the city’s water supply.
For the last three years Moorman has campaigned in Parksville for an up-to-date, science-based approach to managing the city’s water supply, and to stop development on the flood plain land along the lower Englishman River and estuary. His first involvement was in the Grieg Greenway Society, formed by Linda Harbo. The society was concerned about the impact of a proposed development on Grieg Road, which would have been built on a flood plain, and would have put a serious strain on water resources. The Greig Greenway Society remains active today after this first campaign was successful and the rezoning was not approved by council in 2023. It also contributed to the recent Nature Trust purchase of 13 acres of Englishman River estuary land at 130 Shelly Rd.
Moorman has in-depth knowledge of the water challenges in Parksville based on studying reports from the late 1990s to the present, and visiting the Arrowsmith Water Service sites. He indicates that climate change has affected the supply of water in the Arrowsmith Water Service, a system composed of wells which are dropping in pumping capacity, and the dam built at Arrowsmith Lake that supplies both Parksville and the Nanoose peninsula. Parksville residents are keenly aware of supply issues after Level 4 water restrictions were in place for summer and fall months of the last three years.
The Englishman River level was very low in September of 2024 and Level 4 restrictions had to be reinstated for a period in the fall. The proposed water study is a welcome step to understanding and improving the situation. Moorman hopes consultants will take a fresh look at the problem considering both climate change, which means reduced rainfall and snowfall and increased temperatures, and the increased demand for water due to the multi-home developments built or currently being constructed in Parksville.
Moorman calls for an updated Official Community Plan for the City of Parksville that considers climate changes and before any future developments that affect water supply are approved by council. Citizens need to be fully informed about water supply issues regularly. Moorman has spoken about these concerns to community groups and to city council. His voice is worth listening to and we give him credit for speaking up.
He has chosen the Grieg Greenway Society for a $50 donation by the Nanoose Bay Lions Club.
Climate Hugs runs monthly in the PQB News
