New Research and Initiatives Tuesday, June 21 st 2016 12 p.m. to - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Evolving Watershed Governance in BC: New Research and Initiatives

Tuesday, June 21st 2016 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. PST

POLIS Water Sustainability Project Creating a Blue Dialogue Webinar Series 2015/2016

Thank You to Our Partners & Supporters

POLIS Water Sustainability Project Creating a Blue Dialogue Webinar Series 2015/2016

Series Partners & Funders

A Few Things Before We Begin

• 1. Audio
• 2. Question Period
• 3. Introductions

POLIS Water Sustainability Project Creating a Blue Dialogue Webinar Series 2015/2016

Today’s Speakers

Natasha Overduin

Watershed Governance Project Manager and Research Associate, POLIS Project on Ecological Governance

Theresa Fresco

Assistant Regional Manager, Upper Fraser Region, Fraser Basin Council

POLIS Water Sustainability Project Creating a Blue Dialogue Webinar Series 2015/2016

Heather Leschied

Program Manager, Living Lakes Canada; Chair, Kootenay Lake Partnership and East Kootenay Integrated Lake Management Partnership

Today’s Discussion

• New Research
• New Initiatives:

−Kootenay Lake Partnership −Nechako Watershed Roundtable

• Discussion

Oliver Brandes, Project Lead & Primary Author Tim Morris, Strategic Analyst & Co-Lead Author Jennifer Archer, Interview & Roundtable Lead Laura Brandes, Project Management & E-Survey Lead Angus McAllister, Opinion Research Advisor Michele-Lee Moore, Academic/Methodolog ies/Governance Innovation Advisor Jon O’Riordan, Strategic Policy Advisor Natasha Overduin, Research & Editorial Support

• Deepen collective

understanding about needs and challenges of key water sectors

• 439 respondents
• Highest participation from local

government (17%) and environment stewardship groups (15%)

• Input from all main watersheds

across B.C.

• Better understand needs and

challenges faced by First Nations for strengthening and enhancing watershed governance

(%)

Substantial appetite exists for a concerted move towards watershed governance

Substantial appetite exists for a concerted move towards watershed governance Collaborative approaches are seen as critical for better decision making

Substantial appetite exists for a concerted move towards watershed governance Collaborative approaches are seen as critical for better decision making Multiple stages to collaborative watershed governance exist

Stepping Stones

• f Watershed

Governance

Substantial appetite exists for a concerted move towards watershed governance Collaborative approaches are seen as critical for better decision making Multiple stages to collaborative watershed governance exist Communities seeking help and support to implement collaborative watershed governance

Regional Capacity Building Governance Workshops

Build capacity and commitment for action

– Knowledge – Skills – Networks – Strategic planning – Funding – Leadership

• Better understanding is needed of opportunities to

engage - and “doing” and “driving” capacity

• Where are opportunities to influence & engage?
• Sustainable funding
• Relationship-building
• Special skills in effective coordinators
• Clear tools to define watershed pressures
• Relationships, partnerships, reconciliation between First

Nations and non-First Nations a requisite for watershed governance

Substantial appetite exists for a concerted move towards watershed governance Collaborative approaches are seen as critical for better decision making Multiple stages to collaborative watershed governance exist Communities seeking help and support to implement collaborative watershed governance A potential role has emerged for a province-wide capacity-builder… A potential role has emerged for a province-wide capacity-builder…

• Enabling organization versus

management institution

• Build bridges between scales,

governments

• Repository of tools &

resources

• Aid in collective learning

Additional possible functions and services….

1. An arms-length, provincially supported organization 2. First Nations’ participation and leadership will be critical ingredients for ultimate and lasting success 3. Mixed feelings on whether it should have any authority or decision-making responsibilities

• Share and publicly communicate report
• “

” Options Paper

• Inform
• Support pilot initiatives, watershed

governance capacity building workshops and

September 30 – October 1, 2016 SFU Wosk Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia

A hands-on forum for watershed groups, water practitioners, researchers, First Nations and other decision-makers

• 1.5 day forum to build directly on the learnings

and successes of Watersheds 2014.

• Panel sessions, field trips, breakout workshops

and structured peer-to-peer learning to build participants’ skills and enhance capacity for watershed governance in British Columbia.

Co-organized by four core partners:

Key Findings and Recommendations (cont’d)

• A Natural Resources Practices Board can be timely

and cost–effectively created by expanding the mandate of the current Forest Practices Board

• Opportunity with the inclusion of wetlands in

the WSA’s definition of streams

• Other key findings?

Towards a Healthy Watersheds:

Collaborative Watershed Governance and the Nechako Watershed Roundtable

Theresa Fresco, Fraser Basin Council (Upper Fraser – Prince George) Evolving Watershed Governance in BC: New Research & Initiatives, POLIS Webinar – June 21, 2016

Nechako Watershed Roundtable

nechakowatershedroundtable.ca

Nechako Watershed

Traditional territories:

• Lheidli T’enneh
• Saik’uz First Nation
• Stellat’en First Nation
• Nadleh Whut’en
• Nak’azdli First Nation
• Tl’azt’en Nation
• Yekooche First Nation
• Cheslatta Carrier Nation
• Lake Babine First Nation
• Skin Tyee Nation
• Nee-Tahi-Buhn
• Ts’il Kaz Koh
• Wet’suwet’en First Nation
• Takla Lake First Nation

2 regional districts:

• Bulkley-Nechako RD
• Fraser-Fort George RD

5 municipalities:

• Prince George
• Vanderhoof
• Fraser Lake
• Fort St. James
• Burns Lake

Predecessor Initiatives & Early Stages

• Nechako Watershed

Council (1996-2011)

• Nechako Watershed

Alliance (2012-2015)

• Nechako Watershed

Roundtable (2015 – present)

Vision For the Nechako watershed to be healthy for generations to come.

Mission To protect and improve the health of the Nechako watershed and its communities.

Goals (WHAT)

1. To provide strategic direction and advice on issues related to Nechako watershed stewardship 2. To strategically advise and review the progress

• f projects of the

Roundtable

Membership & Governance Structure

• Authority: No delegated

authority

• Core Committee

– 3 Local Government reps – 3 First Nations reps – 4 NGO / Civil Society Reps

• Technical Advisory

Committee

– Diversity of technical experts and organizations

State of the Nechako Watershed

 The Nechako Watershed Health Report includes about 20 primary indicators, text, charts, tables, maps and photos to characterize the state of the watershed:  Water Quality and Quantity  Fish and Wildlife  Ecosystems  Resource Development  Resource Conservation  Information can be used by decision-makers from various sectors/agencies and community groups too.

Nechako Watershed Atlas www.cmnmaps.ca/NECHAKO

Folders & Map Layers

Nechako Watershed Strategy – What is it?

• A collaborative process to advance stewardship

through the region.

• 3 KEY AIMS:
• 1. To profile the key watershed health issues and

concerns

• 2. To identify priority actions to address the issues

and concerns

• 3. To identify commitments from various
• rganizations to implement these actions

Strategy Actions to Date

Established a Technical Advisory Committee Research and tools to initiate Strategy development:

– Nechako Watershed Health Report & Atlas – ‘Who’s Doing What in the Nechako’ Report – Nechako Watershed Roundtable Business Mtg Report – Survey results – Advancing Watershed Health

Community meetings in Fraser Lake, Fort St. James, Burns Lake and Prince George.

Next Steps:

• Final Community Meetings
• Incorporate feedback
• Submission to Core Committee for approval
• Disseminate final draft
• Initiate short-term actions for implementation
• Fund development for Phase 2

implementation

Challenges and Opportunities

• Sustainable funding

– Vital coordinator role – Process continuity

• Enabling First Nations engagement
• Power imbalances – local aspirations versus

legal realities

• Building capacities of decision-makers to

influence change

Thanks!

Theresa Fresco Assistant Manager, Upper Fraser Region 250 – 612- 0252 - tfresco@fraserbasin.bc.ca Steve Litke Senior Program Manager, Watersheds & Water Resources Program 604-488-5358 slitke@fraserbsain.bc.ca

www.fraserbasin.bc.ca nechakowatershedroundtable.ca

Kootenay Lake Partnership

Heather Leschied, Chair POLIS Creating a Blue Dialogue Webinar Series Evolving Watershed Governance in BC: New Research & Initiatives June 21 2016

What is the KLP? The Kootenay Lake Partnership is a multi-agency initiative which has been developed to support a productive and healthy Kootenay Lake ecosystem into the future. The project envisions balanced land and water uses that sustain environmental, community, recreational, aboriginal cultural, traditional, and aesthetic values. The mission of the Partnership is to share information and optimize available resources, in order to develop integrated, collaborative approaches to lake management.

Geographic Scope

• West Arm to Corra Linn Dam
• North Arm to the mouth of

Duncan River

• South Arm to the mouth of

the Kootenay River

• Foreshore to 100m inland or

to a logical physical break, i.e. East side – Highway 3A/West side – rail line.

KLP Membership Since 2011

• Regional District of Central Kootenay
• Fisheries and Ocean Canada
• Ministry of Forest Lands and Natural Resource Operations

(Lands/Water/Habitat)

• Interior Health Authority
• Ktunaxa Nation Council
• Yakan Nukiy or Lower Kootenay Band
• City of Nelson
• Village of Kaslo represented by RDCK

Why We Exist Large increase in development pressure + Multi-jurisdictional responsibilities + First Nations interest = Conflicting Policy, Poor Communication, Uncoordinated Efforts, Lack of Regulatory Compliance, Weak Public Education and Guidance

Environmental Issues

• Unpermitted grading
• Land clearing of vegetation in riparian areas
• Building structures that alter shoreline

SCIENCE POLICY

Community)Values)

Ecological)Values) Lake)Management)Plan)

First)Na9ons) Cultural)Values)

Accomplishments Completed: – Kootenay Lake Scoping Study – Foreshore Inventory and Mapping (FIM) – Aquatic Habitat Index (AHI) – Archaeological Overview Assessment (AOA) – Ktunaxa Nation Cultural Values Study (CVS)

Shoreline Management Guidelines Pending:

• Shoreline Management Guidelines that incorporate long

term vision of the Regional District including Member Municipalities, Federal, Provincial , First Nations and local communities accompanied by conservation and restoration initiatives that have been identified through analysis of current and historic shoreline conditions, water quality and aquatic health

• Incorporation into RDCK, City of Nelson, and Village of

Kaslo Official Community Plans and Zoning Bylaws, and

• ther lake planning opportunities as they apply

How Are We Funded: Member contributions:

• Regional District of Central Kootenay – Community Works,

Discretionary

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Ministry of Forest Lands and Natural Resource Operations
• Ktunaxa Nation Council
• City of Nelson

Foundations/Grants:

• Columbia Basin Trust
• Real Estate Foundation of BC
• Vancouver Foundation
• Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program

Industry:

• FORTIS BC

We are not the Friends of Kootenay Lake

• Do not do community events
• Do not do restoration
• Do not do water quality monitoring or citizen

science We do support all these things.

Collaborative Partnership into the Future

• Invasive aquatic species
• Cumulative Effects
• Compliance and Enforcement
• Fish – as a proxy for lake health
• Water levels – clarity and enhancement of values

Thank you klp.coordinator@gmail.com

Question Period

POLIS Water Sustainability Project Creating a Blue Dialogue Webinar Series 2015/2016

Thank You!

Stay tuned for details on next year’s series.

www.youtube.com/POLISWaterProject

September 30 – October 1, 2016 SFU Wosk Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia

A hands-on forum for watershed groups, water practitioners, researchers, First Nations and other decision-makers

• 1.5 day forum to build directly on the learnings

and successes of Watersheds 2014.

• Panel sessions, field trips, breakout workshops

and structured peer-to-peer learning to build participants’ skills and enhance capacity for watershed governance in British Columbia.

Co-organized by four core partners: