Painted live at the Galiano Conservancy’s Walk Along for Learning site, Where Water Is Remembered depicts a small restored pond within a watershed restoration area on Galiano Island.

Filtered light moves through cedar and fir, settling on still water held gently within the land. Native grasses and forest growth gather at the pond’s edge, suggesting a place where natural systems are being allowed to function as they once did. The scene is quiet and modest in scale, offering a glimpse of balance rather than a declaration.

For me, this place reflects what hope looks like: careful funding, thoughtful planning, and the steady work of a small group of dedicated people making a meaningful difference within a small island community. When this kind of restoration is repeated — place by place, watershed by watershed — it offers a grounded and realistic path forward for the future of this land.