Transcript Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils (WPACs) CAPF/CAPFT Tech Sessions April 14 and 16, 2015 Photo credit: M.

Watershed Planning and Advisory
Councils (WPACs)
CAPF/CAPFT Tech Sessions
April 14 and 16, 2015
Photo credit: M. Romuld SEAWA
Water for Life strategy
• Goals
1) Safe, secure drinking water supply
2) Healthy aquatic ecosystems
3) Reliable, quality water supplies for
a sustainable economy
Water for Life strategy
• Key Directions
1) Knowledge and research
2) Partnerships
3) Water conservation
Water for Life: Shared responsibility through
partnerships
1) PROVINCIAL
Alberta Water Council
2) REGIONAL
Watershed Planning and
Advisory Councils
3) LOCAL
Watershed Stewardship
Groups
What are WPACs?
Multi-stakeholder, independent organizations that engage
governments, stakeholders and communities to:
• report on the health of their watershed
• develop recommendations to address issues in their
watershed
WPAC Program Outcomes
1. Albertans are provided opportunities to actively participate and
invest in the shared stewardship of watershed resources.
2. Stakeholders, governments and communities are engaged in
deliberative dialogue and build collaborative partnerships within
each of Alberta’s main river basins.
3. Albertans are informed of the current conditions, resource
management pressures, and indicators of health and sustainability
for priority watershed resources.
WPAC Program Outcomes (cont’d)
4. Partner investment in the work results in efficiencies in the delivery
of service, and the effectiveness of actions in achieving watershed
outcomes.
5. Watershed resource managers are empowered with the
information, and have access to alternative options to make
informed land and water management decisions that support the
achievement of shared goals for the watershed.
6. A commitment to continuous improvement, adaptation, and
learning ensures the work meets professional standards, processes
are clearly documented, and the opportunities for engagement are
understood.
Alberta’s WPACs
• 11 WPACs across the
province, based on
watershed boundaries
• All designated between
2004 and 2011
Who are the WPAC members?
• Provincial and federal governments
• Municipalities
• First Nations and Métis
• Industrial sectors
• Environmental organizations
• Landowners
• Academia
• Public
Photo credit: NSWA
Forest Sector Partnerships on
WPAC Board* and Project Teams
• Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance
– Alberta Forest Products Association*
– Weyerhaeuser
– Agroforestry and Woodlot Extension Society
• Lesser Slave Watershed Council
– West Fraser*
– Lesser Slave Forest Education Society
• Bow River Basin Council
– Spray Lakes Sawmills*
• Oldman Watershed Council
– Spray Lakes Sawmills
– Foothills Research Institute
– Agroforestry and Woodlot Extension Society
• Red Deer Watershed Alliance
– Sundre Forest Products*
• North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance
Photo credit: NSWA
– Weyerhaeuser*
WPAC Program Areas
1) Watershed evaluation and reporting
2) Watershed management planning
3) Education and outreach
4) Environmental stewardship
Photo credit: M. Romuld SEAWA
Watershed evaluation and reporting
• All WPACs have now produced a draft or
final State of the Watershed Report
• Objective: characterize the state of the
watershed, its potential problems and the
pressures upon it
• State of the watershed reports include:
– History of the watershed
– Natural and built features
– Condition of resources and related
issues/concerns
– Impact of human activity
Watershed management planning
Integrated Watershed Management Plans
(IWMPs)
• IWMPs are non-regulatory and have no statutory
authority
• Provide advice to governments and agencies that
have policy and approvals decision-making
authority
• Consensus-based approach to recommendations
• ESRD coordinates cross-ministry review of
IWMPs upon completion
Education and outreach
• Increase public awareness about issues in the watershed and
public ownership towards actions that benefit watershed health
• Encourage public involvement in watershed management and
provide opportunities for engagement
• Activities include:
– Workshops and Educational Forums
– Classroom programs
– Community events
– Communications: newsletters, social
media, publications
Photo credit: M. Romuld SEAWA
Photo credit: BRWA
Environmental stewardship
• Promote environmental awareness and a shared responsibility for
practices that support a healthy watershed
• Assist stakeholders such as municipalities, landowners or industries
to develop and implement programs aimed at:
– Water conservation
– Source water protection
– Shoreline cleanups
– Riparian and wetland restoration
Photo credit: NSWA
GOA and WPACs: How do we work together?
• Designation and oversight
• Participation on Board of directors
• Participation on Technical committees
– Watershed planning
– Science
– Research & Monitoring
– Communications & Outreach
• Yearly Ministry funding to WPACs ~ $3.5 million
• WPAC Summits & Forums
Examples of integration and collaboration
between ESRD and WPACs
Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance
• Designated as a WPAC in 2011
» State of the Watershed
2015
» Completed two
technical reviews on
aquatic ecosystem
health and basin
hydrology
• Currently consulting on ToR for their
watershed planning process
• Redwillow and Heart River
Restoration projects
• Wapiti River Water Management plan
Athabasca Watershed Council
• Completed 4 state of watershed
reports covering aquatic health,
watershed integrity, ground/surface
water quality and sediment quality.
• First Nations Traditional Knowledge
• Current focus on building stronger
linkages with industry and
community partners.
Lesser Slave Watershed Council
• State of the watershed report 2009
• Recent technical reports on
fisheries habitat, paleolimnology,
nutrient budgeting (BATHTUB
model)
• Ongoing (5 years) partnership with
the Lesser Slave Forest Education
Society to deliver water related
curriculum to schools.
• Current focus on completing
Watershed Plan ToR
Beaver River Watershed Alliance
• State of the watershed report 2013
• Community Groundwater Program
in partnership with Alberta Health
• Worked with ACA to develop Fish
Conservation Index
• Youth education
programs
• Watershed Plan
2015/16
Photo credit: BRWA
North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance
• State of the
Watershed
2005
• Watershed
Plan 2012
• Educational
Forums
Photo credit: NSWA
• Municipal based sub basin and lake
planning initiatives in Vermilion, Sturgeon,
NSR Headwaters, and Parkland County
• Key partner of ESRD in supporting
Industrial Heartland and NSRP initiatives
Battle River Watershed Alliance
• State of the watershed report 2011
• Watershed planning complete on
drought adaptation, non-point source
pollution, and source water protection
• Strong focus on experiential education
and youth initiatives
Photo credit: BRWA
• Partner with WRRP to
restore watershed function.
Red Deer River Watershed Alliance
• State of watershed report 2009
• Drafting watershed management plan
(phase 1 surface/ground water
quality) using a social lab process
with REOS partners
• Phase 2: Land Use, Riparian Areas
and Wetlands commencing 2015
• Watershed ambassador program to
recognize stewardship.
• Deliver school based programs
Photo credit: RDRWA
Bow River Basin Council
• State of watershed report 2005
• Watershed plan 2012
• Bow River Basin Project report 2010 optimization of water infrastructure.
• Annual Science and Quarterly
Educational Forums
• Current work includes mapping of
hydrologically
significant areas,
and
flood mitigation
and bioretention
pilot study
Photo credit: BRBC
Oldman Watershed Council
•
•
•
•
State of watershed report 2010
Headwaters Action Plan 2015
Implementation of HAP linked to SSRP
Dutch Creek Pilot Education and
Restoration Project
• Urban and rural education programs
Photo credit: OWC
South East Alberta Watershed Alliance
• State of the watershed report 2011 (near
real time on-line reporting tool)
• Watershed management plan underway
• Partnering with ABMI Ecosystem
Services Project to develop a water
purification model.
• Land use inventory project
Photo credit: SEAWA
Milk River Watershed Council Canada
• State of the watershed report 2013
• Watershed management plan 2015
• Youth Engagement Programs: Youth
Range Days; Caring for Our Watersheds
• Riparian restoration and agricultural
BMP implementation (WRRP funding)
• Alberta-Montana Water Management
Initiative to coordinate water sharing.
• Milk River Transboundary Aquifer
Program
• Fecal coliform
source tracking
Where to find more information?
• Program information and copies of all state of the watershed reports
and watershed management plans available on Water for Life web
site: http://waterforlife.alberta.ca/01261.html
• All WPACs have their own websites and many send out regular
membership updates, newsletters, and invitations to events.
CONTACT
Andrew Schoepf
Strategic Relationships and Engagement Branch
Environment and Sustainable Resource Development
[email protected]
780-415-4654
Photo credit: M. Romuld SEAWA