Prairie Water Strategies A Synthesis of Strategic and Coordinated Action at a Provincial and State Level D. Swanson, B. Oborne, S. Barg and H. Venema

Purpose of the Study To identify innovations and challenges in strategic and coordinated action for water resources

100 dpi A pathway to sustainable development cannot be charted in advance. Rather, the pathway must be navigated through processes of learning and adaptation.

Analysis Framework Continuous process of … leadership (the setting of goals and objectives) planning (inter-departmental and watershed level) implementation of a mix of policy instruments multi-level coordination and participation monitoring of key water indicators learning and adapting to new information

Research Methods Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba Interprovincial North Dakota Minnesota International Boundary Case Studies (~20 pages) Detailed Analysis (~70 pages) Synthesis (~15 pages)

Key Findings LEADERSHIP

Commitment – to the sustainable management of water resources within a respective jurisdiction. A single comprehensive water strategy document Alberta’s Water for Life strategy The Manitoba Water Strategy Observation: Each jurisdiction has made a commitment Prairie Provinces Water Board Targeted strategy and agency mandates A strategic mandate of a government partnership, Safe Drinking Water Strategy Sask Watershed Authority Water Management Framework SaskWater Corp

Focus – articulation of broad goals specific objectives Innovations –Alberta short-, medium- and long-term goals and objectives (with a 10-year future horizon) –Saskatchewan attention to a Safe Drinking Water Strategy which was given a five-year target completion time (by 2007). Gaps –Forward looking outlook that extends to next generation

Key Findings Planning

Strategic and Administrative Structure – how is government organized to formulate and deliver effective water policy? Innovations –Alberta Water Council and Sask. Deputy Minister Review Committee –Manitoba Water Stewardship –Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Gap –An assessment process to identify lessons learned with regard to different governmental structures seen in the prairies

Key Findings Multi-level Coordination and Participation

Watershed Partnerships Innovations –Watershed financing in MB via Water Stewardship Fund and existing CD program –Alberta has a comprehensive watershed management framework inviting any Albertan to participate (from local to regional) –Saskatchewan has a substantial level of dedicated staff support and a systematic process for watershed planning. Gaps –only a limited number of watershed plans have actually been completed within the prairie basin

Key Findings Implementation

Mix of Policy Instruments Innovations –Manitoba riparian tax credit. –Alberta’s Water Act now permits water allocation rights holders to transfer their licences Gap –Of the over 140 policy instruments surveyed among the four jurisdictions, we could find only two instances of an economic instrument being used for water resources management or stewardship.

Key Findings Monitoring, Evaluation and Adaptation/Improvement

Monitoring of Water Indicators Innovations –state-of-watershed reporting in the three leading watersheds in Alberta –Saskatchewan flexible suite of province-wide watershed indicators to support its stress-condition- response analysis framework –SaskH2O.ca –Integrated reporting (Alberta’s Measuring Up; Manitoba’s SD Report and 2005 Performance Report) –Manitoba’s Deerwood Association/WEBS program and the Tobacco Creek Model Watershed Gap –Watershed level indicators

Concluding Remarks A water strategy process is no panacea However, … is critical for adaptive management and sustainability at local and provincial levels

Concluding remarks Significant innovation seen throughout the prairie water basin Gaps do exist signaling a need for: –time-bound and formal next generation commitments –Widespread watershed planning & management and clear linkages with existing and new local, provincial, Aboriginal and federal initiatives –Use of economic instruments –Systematically monitored state-of-watershed indicators and forward-looking assessment to inform strategy and policy adaptations at local and provincial levels

THANK YOU Draft Synthesis paper and supporting case studies at kground.asp kground.asp Detailed draft report and U.S. case studies to be posted soon. Comments and Suggestions Please