Community Assistance - Golden, BC
Community-Based Mapping
In January, 2004, the Chinook Institute for Community Stewardship agreed to assist the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District by providing research and background resources for its Electoral Area A Project. The purpose of the Area A Project is to raise awareness of planning, identify community issues, and to gauge community interest in further aspects of planning in the rural area. Originally, the request of CSRD was to provide information in the form of reports or a list of available data with information on how to gain access. It was later determined that information in the form of digital maps or data sets was more appropriate for use in building visuals to share with the public at upcoming open houses. Through April and May, 2004, the Chinook Institute contracted Mike Worgan, of Mountainlife Enterprises in Invermere, to research and provide digital land-based inventories directly to the CSRD project consultant, TRUE Consulting Group. Based on the outline provided by the CSRD, a number of specific subject areas were identified and researched for relevant data sources. These subject areas were:
- Slope Instability mapping;
- Onsite Sewage Disposal soils capability;
- Aquifer mapping;
- Flood Plain mapping;
- Erosion Risk;
- Debris Torrents;
- Avalanche Hazard areas; and
- Environmentally Sensitive Areas.
The data was used to create maps and images to share information with area residents (in particular rural property owners) at four public workshops hosted by CSRD and the Area A Project Citizens Working Group. As a result, the Citizens Working Group and people who attended the workshops became more aware of the current status of land development and use - and its limitations - in the rural district, in relation to topics identified through the previous public survey of perceptions and issues regarding rural lands in Area A. The information gathered, and public awareness building that occurred, provided a critical foundation for future discussions on appropriate mechanisms for land planning and management.