Integrated Watershed Assessment for the P.E.A.C.E. Animal Sanctuary in Mission, BC: A Case Study
Victor Baez, MLWS 2025
As sanctuary numbers continue to grow along with the current animal agriculture operations, the ecosystem is open to additional impacts. Plus, climate change, forestry, and mining influence many communities in British Columbia. The owners of the PEACE Rescue and Farm Sanctuary located in Mission, British Columbia and similar sanctuaries across North America do not often have the resources to deal with the results of those environmental factors. Currently, there are not many water resource management studies focused on animal sanctuaries. As these sanctuaries are often outside of urban environments, pollutants from agriculture, forestry, and other intensive industries are a concern. Therefore, undertaking an integrated watershed management for the sanctuary and the Hatzic Valley watershed is both important and valuable for this community. The integrated watershed management analysis on the Hatzic Valley watershed included climate, hydrometric, and water quality data. The BC Agriculture Water Calculator added an additional element to the analysis of the operations at the PEACE Rescue and Farm Sanctuary. Additionally, incorporating existing water management guides and peer-reviewed literature to provide recommendations for small farm owners, sanctuary owners, and local policy makers were the primary objectives of this study.
