Local water groups: building influence in watershed decision-making - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Local water groups: building influence in watershed decision-making

CBWN Member Meeting Natasha Overduin, Rosie Simms November 17th, 2018

200 8 200 9 2014 200 2 2016 2018 2017

BC Water Law Reform

What we’re here to do today

Part 1: ✓Who’s who in the water ecosystem? ✓Role & strengths of community-based groups Part I1: ✓ How do we increase our punch?

Governance: How decisions about water are made, and who influences and plays a role?

Val Napoleon UVic Indigenous Laws program

85% (water professionals)

agree local watershed entities will be needed to

ensure B.C’s new WSA is

implemented to its fullest potential.

87% (public) believe the

province will face a serious

problem if nothing is done to

improve the management of water resources

“Reconciliation in action”

Nutsamaat kws yaay’us—we come together as a whole to work together to be stronger as partners

Watershed

Governance Pilot -

Nicola Valley

○ Nicola Watershed Project – Co-governed with Province + “5 Nicola” Chiefs ○ MoU now signed ○ Opportunity to test and implement new key Water Sustainability Act provisions: ✓ Water Objectives ✓ Water Sustainability Plans ✓ Environmental Flows

First Nations at the forefront of water stewardship

COLLABORATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS LITIGATION & G2G AGREEMENTS PLAN or POLICY Revitalizing LAWS DECLARATIONS MANAGEMENT PROJECTS

Considerations for cross-cultural collaboration and partnerships

The Province

Land-use planning Climate adaptation Drinking Drinking/ source protection Salmon Reconciliation

Water

Some key considerations

• Province is not homogenous!

– Know the different Ministries, their organizational cultures – Engaging staff vs. politicians (different strategies needed)

• Develop relationships with regional staff +

enforcement officers

• Take note of Ministry/political priorities
• Government capacity is limited: know

what they need; demonstrate your value

• Government are just people

Water Management is Shared in the Natural Resource Sector model

Environment and Climate Change Strategy Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development

• Provincial water strategies
• Water policy, legislation, regulations
• Watershed and aquifer science
• Water objectives, standards and

guidelines

• Advice, guidance and support to

statutory decisions

• Support enforcement
• Monitoring networks
• Transboundary and inter-

governmental agreements (e.g. Mackenzie River Basin)

• Administer the Water Sustainability

Act including all statutory decisions pertaining to surface and groundwater licensing

• Other programs and related statutes:
• Dam and dike safety
• Flood management
• Drought management
• Utility regulation
• Issue enforcement orders

POLICY, LEGISLATION, SCIENCE, MONITORING DELIVERY, STATUTORY DECISION-MAKING

Local Government

Close to the issues and community concerns

• Not just “creatures of the province”
• Significant roles/responsibilities, e.g.
• Land use and development
• Local infrastructure
• Drinking water and sewage services
• Education
• Funding
• Conservation

9 UBCM water & waterway

resolutions endorsed (2018)

Province to recognize and support local watershed collaborative governance entities and adequately resource these entities.

B67 – Watershed Governance Model

Some observed concerns/constraints

“Passing the buck” – downloading Resistance to taking on work that has real or perceived costs

Wary of politically risky moves

Sockeye fry

Watershed groups

As watershed stewardship groups, what is your role in the ecosystem? What are your strengths and your

• pportunities for influence?

Where do you face resistance?

PLENARY DISCUSSION

Our observations: role of local groups

✓ESSENTIAL! Often the only boots on the ground ✓Most effective as SUPPORTING vs. ACTING as convener ✓Data collector ✓Education and watershed IQ ✓Getting issues on the radar of decision-makers; creating demand for solutions ✓Telling the water story in a compelling way

NOT ENOUGH TOO MUCH

PART 2: STEPPING STONES OF WATERSHED GOVERNANCE

Build Champions (on the outside & inside)

What: Articulating issues; building demand for solutions; finding people on the ‘inner track’ who will advocate. Why: Someone needs get water “on the agenda” and in the mandate of leadership! Examples of How:

• Surveys/open-houses to determine constituency water values
• Convening board or band council and educating colleagues
• Lots of 1:1 discussions – “politicking”
• Use other venues/places to talk about the water issues
• Get your message out there & in front of different audiences

Example & Questions

What are the main water issues

community members

are concerned about? Who do you need to work with on these issues? How can you resonate with people who might not agree?

Collaborative Watershed Projects & Relationship Building

What: Collaborative “boots on the ground” initiatives

.

How: e.g. projects such as restoration, monitoring, or mapping

Why: “Doing things together” as an entry point for:

• Developing relationships & trust
• Strengthening info base
• Securing funding
• Discovering common appreciation

for the watershed

• + … Critical ecological wins!

Habitats for species, etc.

Example & a Question

As a result of projects, are governments and organizations connecting in new ways (e.g., MOUs, jointly produced terms

• f reference, etc.)?

Shared Visioning & Priority Setting

• What: Establishing the big picture goals for where you

want the watershed to be in the future; and what your initial priorities are to get there.

• Why: offers an opportunity to develop a “whole of

watershed” approach, and figure out what the priorities are (a vision and plan is key for funding too!)

• How:
• Host a visioning session – and solicit community input
• Who convenes matters + value of neutral facilitation

Example & Question

Are local political leaders at all necessary levels (e.g., local government, First Nations) supportive

• f the process and driving

it within their

• rganizations?

A healthy watershed supported and enjoyed by the community in a manner that respects our common values through:

• Partnerships and collaboration;
• Education, stewardship, and monitoring;
• Conservation and green economics; and,
• Responsible decision making

….In perpetuity.

PART II: INCREASING YOUR INFLUENCE – TWO EXERCISES TO WORKSHOP

EXERCISE 1: ELEVATOR PITCH

WHAT IS THE WATER PROBLEM YOUR GROUP IS WORKING ON, WHY DOES IT MATTER, AND HOW ARE YOU HELPING SOLVE IT?

• Individually (3 min)
• With a partner (3 min)
• Go around your table (5 min)

EXERCISE 2: KNOWING YOUR AUDIENCE

Audience Onside/neutral/opposed/unsure? Actions to build support and relationship 1. 2. 3.