In this episode, host Auston Chhor sits down with Tom Rutherford, Executive Director of the Cowichan Watershed Board. Tom has been involved in building partnerships to support community empowerment for salmon and watershed sustainability over nearly 40 years. Over the course of a long career with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and working with Living Rivers / British Columbia Conservation Foundation, Tom has evolved into a talented science communicator.

What even is a watershed board? This is the question Auston first asks Tom, getting the conversation flowing into how the practice of opening ears can open minds, and lead to opening doors for opportunity. In Tom’s work with the board, he highlights the need to listen, shift perceptions, and consider the concept of whether we have enough science, but need more social science.

“My theory is there’s not enough of us who are engaged professionally in this work to make a difference. In order to move the needle, we have to bring everyone along with us.”

A solution? Outreach and engagement. Tom and Auston provide some examples of great science communication, and discuss how it can occasionally be looked at condescendingly, or completely overlooked altogether. 

Other topics include: the 2003 Chinook crisis in the Cowichan River, the 2023 unprecedented fish mortality event, a six foot tall dancing Chinook, and how things aren’t going to be the same, but they’re going to be okay (if we take action). 

Additional resources:

• Cowichan Watershed Board
• Tom’s home waters: Kelvin Creek Watershed, a small tributary of the Koksilah
• The 2003 Chinook Crisis in the Cowichan River
• Poisonous shellfish warnings on Vancouver Island
• Watershed superheroes, Water Woman
• Mr. Floatie, Victoria’s dancing piece of poop to advocate for water treatment
• Chinook Shimmy, Cowichan Watershed Board’s dancing salmon
• 2023 fish mortality event 

Raincoast Radio is hosted by Auston Chhor and produced by Sofia Osborne. This podcast is a production of Raincoast Conservation Foundation, a team of conservationists and scientists empowered by research to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. Learn more and support our work at raincoast.org