ALBERTA WATER COUNCIL

Transcription

1 This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. ALBERTA WATER COUNCIL Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, October 2005

2 Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, Table of Cotets This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. Executive Summary Highlights Safe, Secure Drikig Water Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems Reliable, Quality Water Supplies for a Sustaiable Ecoomy Kowledge ad Research Parterships Coservatio Coclusio ad Commo Themes Goverace ad Maagemet Fudig Icreasig Public Awareess Backgroud Itroductio Outcomes Safe, Secure Drikig Water Supply Itroductio Review of Short-Term Actios Medium- ad Log-Term Perspective Observatios ad Opportuities Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems Itroductio Review of Short-Term Actios Medium- ad Log-Term Perspective Observatios ad Opportuities Reliable, Quality Water Supplies for a Sustaiable Ecoomy Itroductio Review of Short-Term Actios Medium- ad Log-Term Perspective Observatios ad Opportuities Directios Kowledge ad Research Itroductio Review of Short-Term Actios Medium- ad Log-Term Perspective Observatios ad Opportuities Parterships for Watershed Maagemet ad Stewardship Itroductio Review of Short-Term Actios Medium- ad Log-Term Perspective Observatios ad Opportuities Water Coservatio Itroductio Review of Short-Term Actios Medium- ad Log-Term Perspective Observatios ad Opportuities Coclusio ad Commo Themes

3 April 2007 Executive Summary This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. The year 2007 marks the ed of the short-term timelies established uder the te-year implemetatio pla for the Water for Life strategy. This review by the Alberta Water Coucil assesses the strategic actios commeced over the past three years. Water for Life represets a truly iovative ad visioary approach to water maagemet. As stated i our previous report: Alberta has a opportuity to trasform its water maagemet challeges ito world class solutios. The strategy evisios policies ad resources far beyod ad hoc decisios ad icremetal chage Success will deped o focus, iovatio, balaced social values ad a growig appreciatio of the value of water as a scarce resource. The Alberta Water Coucil views the Water for Life strategy as a shared resposibility ad a high priority for the provice ad its citizes. The Govermet of Alberta is uique i its commitmet to complete such a complex, evolutioary ad comprehesive strategy. The Alberta Water Coucil believes the Water for Life strategy creates the possibility for a ew water ethic i Alberta oe based o coservatio, soud sciece ad shared resposibility for watershed maagemet plaig. Uder this strategy, Albertas ca create a edurig legacy that esures a healthy ad sustaiable water supply for the eviromet, for our commuities ad for our ecoomic well-beig. The structure of the Water for Life strategy is based o a strog iterrelatioship betwee three outcomes: A safe, secure supply of drikig water Healthy aquatic ecosystems Reliable, quality water supplies for a sustaiable ecoomy; ad three key directios i water maagemet practices that are iteded to drive ad achieve these outcomes: Kowledge ad research Albertas will have the kowledge eeded to achieve safe drikig water, efficiet water use ad healthy watersheds. Parterships Citizes ad stakeholders will have opportuities to actively participate i watershed maagemet o a provicial, regioal ad commuity basis. Coservatio Albertas will be leaders i coservatio by usig water efficietly ad effectively. Efforts to achieve the outcomes must reflect their iterdepedecy. Accordigly, it is importat that progress i all areas be cosistet ad coordiated. It is the madate of the Alberta Water Coucil to steward ad ecourage progress uder the strategy ad to provide a regular review of its progress ad effectiveess. This report cofirms that progress has occurred i all three of the outcomes ad all three of the directios. Work o the strategy is well uderway.

4 Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. The Alberta Water Coucil observatios are framed withi the followig perspectives: The Water for Life strategy has mometum. Noe of the actios discussed i this review would be uderway without its strategic umbrella ad directio. This is ot solely a govermet iitiative. Success depeds o a meaigful commitmet toward the developmet ad implemetatio of watershed maagemet plaig by watershed plaig ad stewardship groups, idustry, muicipalities, First Natios, Métis settlemets, ad a rage of evirometal ad stakeholder orgaizatios. The strategy has prove to be complex, challegig ad world class because it takes a ew approach to maagig Alberta s water resources. The origial short-term targets, set i 2003, have bee affected by the high pace of developmet i the provice ad by the realities iheret i executig ambitious plas. Give the evolutioary ature of the strategy, it is etirely appropriate to reassess the actios at this time. This is a opportuity to use curret stregths to remediate weakesses, reset priorities ad defie ew iitiatives to address curret water maagemet challeges. The actios of the first three years have established a foudatio for future iitiatives, ad icreased resources were committed i the past year. The Govermet of Alberta deserves recogitio for this achievemet. This is a opportue time to reew ad resource the Water for Life strategy ad commit sustaied fiacial support to esure its success ad realize its potetial as a truly visioary approach to water maagemet. Highlights I assessig the progress made to date i the three strategic outcomes, we ote that much of the work uderway is complex ad demadig i ature ad that sigificat challeges remai. Safe, Secure Drikig Water I geeral, the Govermet of Alberta has made excellet progress toward the completio of the short-term actios supportig the safe drikig water outcome. The drikig water strategy is well o track. A comprehesive facility assessmet has bee completed, emergecy protocols have bee stregtheed, idepedet audits have bee coducted ad regioalizatio projects are uderway. There has also bee a focus o providig iformatio for the desig, operatio ad maiteace of private water systems. I the loger term, work is uderway o a comprehesive Source-to-Tap/Multi-Barrier Approach to drikig water protectio. The ext step i the strategy ivolves sigificat capital ivestmets. There is a eed to work closely with muicipalities, First Natios ad Métis settlemets o plaig, fudig requiremets ad source protectio measures. Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems The work uderway to develop assessmet ad moitorig tools for aquatic ecosystems has prove to be very complex. It is iteded to provide a scietific basis for future watershed plaig. It will ot be completed o schedule. I hidsight, the timelies for this project were too optimistic. However, ow is a excellet time to reew ad resource a pla for these tools because of the recet govermet commitmet of fiacial support for water research. This will help the Water for Life

5 April 2007 strategy to provide scietific support for the effective maagemet of healthy ecosystems uder watershed plas. I the meatime, there is a eed to develop iitiatives for the immediate protectio of critically sesitive aquatic ecosystems. These iitiatives are eeded i the face of rapid growth throughout the provice. The idetificatio of these areas does ot deped upo the loger-term developmet of ew assessmet ad moitorig tools. They ca be based upo existig iformatio, resources ad legislatio. May of these iitiatives could egage o-govermetal stakeholders i the executio of the Water for Life strategy. The Coucil believes Albertas would welcome a high priority, resposible ad participatory approach to protectio measures. There has bee good progress i developig a wetlads policy through the Alberta Water Coucil. A effective policy would provide guidace for the defiitio of specific protectio measures to support healthy aquatic ecosystems across the provice. It is also importat to the other two strategic outcomes. Wetlads ca be a importat compoet of healthy source supplies for private ad public drikig water users. They ca cotribute to availability of water supplies required to support a sustaiable ecoomy. A loger-term opportuity for esurig healthy aquatic ecosystems also exists i the iitiative by the Govermet of Alberta to develop a ew framework for lad use. There are importat liks betwee lad ad water. Lad use plaig is itegral to meetig water maagemet objectives. Specific plaig policies to stregthe the strategic outcomes of the Water for Life strategy could be a key result of the iitiative. Reliable, Quality Water Supplies for a Sustaiable Ecoomy The specific actios uderway to meet the objectives of esurig reliable, quality water supplies for a sustaiable ecoomy are geerally o track. Some good foudatio pieces are i place. They iclude prelimiary work o automated assessmets of water availability ad demads, the aalysis of costs associated with supplyig ad storig water to meet demad, the authorizatio of water allocatio trasfers ad the effective maagemet of trasboudary waters. The Alberta Water Coucil believes, however, that the itet of this outcome should focus o ew ad iovative tools for maagig supply ad demad. At this time, the actios uderway ted to ehace existig mechaisms rather tha develop such ew capabilities. I the cotext of a fiite water supply, there is a opportuity to develop a reewed focus ecouragig cuttig-edge iformatio systems, effective reallocatio practices, short-term water markets, strategic ifrastructure plaig ad holistic water maagemet practices. No-govermetal stakeholders should be ecouraged to become actively ivolved i such iitiatives. Overall, the Alberta Water Coucil believes that the potetial of this outcome should be to strive for world class capabilities i water maagemet tools ad techiques i the cotext of a clearly stated visio of supply limitatios.

6 Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, The actios take to achieve the three strategic outcomes are supported by three key directios i Alberta water maagemet practices: This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. Kowledge ad Research There has bee excellet progress i this directio. A research strategy has bee defied ad approved. The Alberta Water Research Istitute has bee formed, uder Alberta Igeuity, to implemet the strategy. The Govermet of Alberta has allocated $30 millio i fudig for water research. The advisory boards of the Istitute will provide a goverace structure to ivolve a broad rage of stakeholders i addressig research eeds. There is a opportuity to meet the specific eeds ad gaps related to research ad kowledge uder the other five strategic elemets of the Water for Life strategy. This directio has become a key stregth of the strategy. Alberta is i a positio to achieve world class capabilities. Parterships Good progress has bee made i developig partership capabilities to support participatory watershed plaig i the provice. The Alberta Water Coucil is eterig its third year of operatio, seve Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils have bee formed ad the Govermet of Alberta has provided fudig to local Watershed Stewardship Groups. The support give to fulfillig the capacity ad output of these three levels of partership has bee ecouragig. The short-term targets, however, were very aggressive ad are beig redefied. Developig true ad meaigful parterships takes time ad a commitmet to a desired set of shared outcomes. Give the complexities, this iitiative has made good progress. Parterships are iovative goverace models for watershed plaig. The Alberta Water Coucil believes that the iitial ethusiasm show by stakeholders to participate idicates that their potetial could go far beyod the basic priciples outlied i the Water for Life strategy. The challege is to maitai voluteer commitmet through the actual capability of these groups to lead ad ifluece plaig. Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils, i particular, require sustaied fudig to support their activities. The Alberta Water Coucil also otes the importace of meetig the plaig challeges created by the heavy allocatios i the South Saskatchewa River Basi. The South Saskatchewa River Basi Water Maagemet Pla has set major restrictios o the expaded use of water i the Oldma ad Bow River basis. The Coucil believes that this uderscores the eed to develop cooperative methods of preservig river flows, to develop effective plaig tools ad fiacial support for the Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils, ad to clearly uderstad future supply capabilities ad demad dyamics. Coservatio After a challegig start i the first year, this directio ow has mometum. Progress is beig made i moitorig actual water use, uderstadig the value of water for ecoomic ad social purposes, explorig the use of ecoomic icetives to ehace the wise use of water, ad improvig public awareess ad kowledge about the importace of coservatio. May of these iitiatives are complex ad ivolve chage i public expectatios ad behaviour. The Alberta Water Coucil believes that it may be appropriate for the Govermet of Alberta to facilitate chage through specific policy compellig the wise use of water. The Alberta Water Coucil believes that, i the log term, the wise use of water, through the effective maagemet of demad, is a critical compoet i the developmet of a true coservatio ethic i the provice.

7 April 2007 Coclusio ad Commo Themes This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. This review covers the first three years of the te-year implemetatio program plaed for the Water for Life strategy. Progress has bee show i all of the short-term actios defied i the strategy. There is mometum i most areas. I geeral, the strategy is o track. The foudatio for specific strategic commitmets ad programs i water maagemet is beig established. Give the pace of ecoomic activity i Alberta, this is a ideal time to reew ad resource the Water for Life strategy. The dyamics of the strategy require reewed visio, leadership ad fudig. Our cocludig observatios arise from a umber of commo themes i this regard. Goverace ad Maagemet There is a opportuity to review the appropriate structure for the log-term implemetatio of the Water for Life strategy. This could iclude a specific ad seior leadership resposibility to maage, drive ad be accoutable for the visio ad all elemets of the strategy. The establishmet of a Water for Life edowmet fud. The icome from such a fud could be allocated to the requiremets of parterships such as the operatig budgets for the Alberta Water Coucil, Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils ad the Alberta Stewardship Network, which represets ad provides support to commuity Watershed Stewardship Groups. It could also provide fudig for projects udertake by o-govermetal stakeholders i support of Water for Life actios ad outcomes. Icreasig Public Awareess It is critical to foster a uderstadig of water topics ad issues ad to provide opportuities for Albertas to develop a stewardship ethic for the resource. Public awareess ad the uderstadig that it creates ca provide a driver for other elemets of the strategy. A comprehesive approach to promotig public awareess of water maagemet issues would be a timely additio. Public awareess could iclude modules aliged to the six elemets of the Water for Life strategy. Fudig A overall pla to provide sigificat ad sustaiable fudig for the Water for Life strategy is required. We have two suggestios: A aual review by the Treasury Board Secretariat of all iitiatives to cofirm that fudig is coordiated, prioritized ad meets the eeds of the strategy; ad

8 Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, Backgroud This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. Water for Life: Alberta s Strategy for Sustaiability is a dyamic ad comprehesive log-term pla for the achievemet of three strategic outcomes i water maagemet: A safe, secure supply of drikig water for future geeratios. The establishmet, maiteace ad protectio of healthy aquatic ecosystems. The availability of reliable, quality water supplies for a sustaiable ecoomy. The actios take to achieve these strategic outcomes will be drive by three key directios i Alberta water maagemet practices: Kowledge ad Research: Iitiatives will be based o soud sciece ad facts. Parterships: Most solutios to water issues will arise from the effective maagemet of idividual watersheds. They are best defied through collaboratio with specific stakeholders ad the public. Iput is required o a provicial, regioal ad commuity basis. Coservatio: Usage, preservatio ad storage practices must be improved through coservatio efforts ad a icreased efficiecy ad productivity i water use ad maagemet. Water for Life is a balaced ad iterdepedet strategy. Each outcome depeds upo the successful achievemet of the others, ad each of the directios must drive all three outcomes. It is importat that progress i all areas be cosistet ad coordiated. The Water for Life strategy represets a truly iovative ad visioary approach to water maagemet. As stated i our previous report: Alberta has a opportuity to trasform its water maagemet challeges ito world class solutios. The strategy evisios policies ad resources far beyod ad hoc decisios ad icremetal chage.... Success will deped o focus, iovatio, balaced social values ad a growig appreciatio of the value of water as a scarce resource. The Alberta Water Coucil views Water for Life as a shared resposibility ad a high priority for the provice ad its citizes. Alberta is uique i its commitmet to complete such a complex ad evolutioary strategy. The Alberta Water Coucil believes that there is a strog uderlyig visio associated with Water for Life. The strategy is creatig a ew water ethic for the provice. The demad for water will be reduced as Albertas become coscious of limitig cosumptive uses ad usig iovative maagemet methods. The maiteace of healthy watersheds will be based upo soud sciece ad be ultimately valued by the public. The limits of a watershed s capacity will be better uderstood ad respected. Truly participatory watershed plaig will complemet ad ecourage sustaiable ecoomic developmet. Safe drikig water will be available ad assured across the provice. There is a opportuity to build o the progress achieved i the first three years of the strategy ad create a edurig legacy that esures a healthy ad sustaiable water supply for Alberta s eviromet, commuities ad ecoomic well beig.

9 April 2007 Itroductio This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. A major role of the Alberta Water Coucil is to steward the successful implemetatio of the Water for Life strategy. This resposibility icludes a aual review of the implemetatio progress ad effectiveess. the day. They have bee affected by the subsequet high pace of developmet i the provice ad by the realities iheret i executig ambitious plas. Gaps ad timelie lapses are therefore ievitable withi the scope of a ambitious pla. This review otes icosistet progress uder some of the short-term actios of the strategy. Give the evolutioary ature of the strategy, it is etirely appropriate to reassess the actios at this time. This provides a opportuity to reset priorities, use curret successes to remediate weakesses ad to defie ew iitiatives to address curret water maagemet challeges. The experieces of the first three years establish a foudatio for future success. However, the challeges that accompay them have also show that the successful executio of the Water for Life strategy will deped o a reewed commitmet for sustaied fiacial support. Otherwise mometum will be lost uless this is preset. The strategy cotais a implemetatio pla outliig a series of proposed actios to support the outcomes. These are staged over a te-year period. The first Alberta Water Coucil review, issued i October 2005, covered the first year of implemetatio ad was geeral ad coceptual i ature. Its purpose was to provide Albertas with a perspective o the purpose ad scope of the Water for Life strategy ad to commet o its iitial progress. The report emphasized the iterdepedece amog the six strategic elemets. Progress was oted uder all elemets of the strategy, ad a strog start i year oe was commeded. March 2007 marks the ed of the short-term timelies origially established uder the Water for Life strategy. This review assesses implemetatio progress up to this date. Through the Coucil s review of the strategic actios, several themes emerged: The Water for Life strategy has mometum. Noe of the actios discussed i this review would be uderway today without its strategic umbrella ad directio. A review of the progress uder each outcome ad directio follows. Commets for each strategic elemet are orgaized as follows: The specific short-term actios, as defied i the Water for Life strategy, are reviewed ad assessed. Progress is reviewed withi the perspective of the mediumad log-term targets of Water for Life. Observatios ad opportuities are discussed with a focus o those actios that ca eergize the mometum of the Water for Life strategy ad promote the ivolvemet ad commitmet of a broader rage of stakeholders i its executio ad success. This is ot solely a govermet iitiative. Success depeds o the meaigful commitmet ad ivolvemet of watershed plaig ad stewardship groups, idustry, muicipalities, First Natios, Métis settlemets, ad a rage of stakeholder ad evirometal orgaizatios. The strategy has prove to be complex, challegig ad world class. The origial short-term targets, set i 2003, were a sapshot i time that reflected the priorities of The review cocludes with a discussio of commo themes ad opportuities to improve the goverace, fudig ad public awareess of the strategy.

10 Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, Outcomes Commitmet: Albertas will be assured that their drikig water is safe. This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. Short-Term Target: Alberta has a comprehesive strategy to protect Albertas drikig water. Medium-Term Target: Albertas have full ad complete kowledge of drikig water issues ad real time access to iformatio about the drikig water quality i their commuity. Log-Term Target: Alberta s drikig water ifrastructure meets emergig stadards ad is maaged for log term sustaiability. Safe, Secure Drikig Water Supply Itroductio Stadards ad programs goverig muicipal water supplies i Alberta were relatively robust ad mature before the release of the Water for Life strategy. Alberta leads the coutry i its stadards ad operatig performace. However, the Water for Life strategy s focus o drikig water recogized that a structured review ad log-term developmet program were ecessary to esure both the cotiuatio ad evolutio of existig stadards ad the developmet of capabilities to meet the log-term requiremets, safety ad expectatios of a growig populatio. The itet is to provide log-term assurace to Albertas that they ca all rely o access to safe drikig water supplies. The short-term actios uder this outcome are iteded to provide the tools ad capabilities to eable such a comprehesive drikig water strategy to be defied ad implemeted.

11 April 2007 Review of Short-Term Actios 1. Complete a assessmet of all drikig water facilities i the provice. A assessmet of all drikig water facilities i Alberta has ow bee completed. This was a extesive udertakig ad has geerated both short-term, sitespecific recommedatios as well as roadmaps for 10 ad 25-year water supply developmets. Regioal hubs are a major focus ad a key part of the solutios beig proposed. They will require sigificat ivestmet. The Govermet of Alberta has show a commitmet to the idetified ifrastructure upgradig requiremets by providig a $200 millio capital commitmet over the ext two fiscal years. These fuds are to be directed to those drikig water facilities idetified i the assessmet ad to wastewater maagemet eeds i the provice. The iitial review is complete ad fudig has bee committed. Future ehacemets to drikig water capabilities ca utilize the assessmet fidigs to assist i plaig ad priority settig. 3. Establish emergecy protocols, icludig support by staff ad laboratory capacity, to protect Albertas from cotamiats i drikig water. The purpose of this actio is to provide ehaced prevetio ad respose capabilities for drikig water cotamiatio. Work o this iitiative commeced i March Alberta Eviromet has assiged drikig water specialists i each regio. Fudig is beig allocated to regioal health authorities to develop ad implemet a audit tool for public ad private drikig water systems throughout the provice that are ot subject to Alberta Eviromet approval. The Govermet of Alberta has asked for proposals to establish expertise pools to assist muicipalities i emergecy situatios. Provicial laboratory capacity is scheduled for expasio. Good progress is beig made uder this actio. The overall scope of the program eeds to be completed. We ote that this iitiative will also provide icreased resources for owers of private systems for testig their water supplies. 2. Establish a idepedet, ogoig review process, o a five-year cycle, for Alberta s drikig water program. A idepedet review of Alberta s drikig water program has bee completed, ad its recommedatios are beig followed up. I additio, the Office of the Auditor Geeral of Alberta has completed a comprehesive review of Alberta Eviromet s drikig water program. These due diligece iitiatives are to be commeded. The itet is to coduct a idepedet review every five years. The ext review is due i 2011.

12 This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, Establish muicipal grat criteria to support the developmet of regioal water systems. Regioal drikig water systems ca be cost effective ad provide high operatig stadards ad efficiecy. They ca optimize the supply from available drikig water sources. They are viewed as a importat compoet of Alberta s Water for Life strategy to meet the outcome of safe, secure drikig water. A ew framework for muicipal grat criteria has bee aouced ad is available o the Alberta Ifrastructure ad Trasportatio website. Pipelies to ew muicipal customers will receive 90 percet fudig, ad upgrades to hub suppliers for the ew customers will receive 100 percet fudig. The govermet has demostrated a commitmet to capital fudig i this area, as aouced i the 2006 Throe Speech with $100-millio beig committed i each of the 2007/08 ad 2008/09 fiscal years for such projects. 5. Alberta First Natios Drikig Water Partership Although ot a defied actio uder the Water for Life strategy, Alberta Eviromet, Alberta Iteratioal, Itergovermetal ad Aborigial Relatios, ad Idia ad Norther Affairs Caada are leadig a iitiative to develop a agreemet with the Chiefs of the Treaty 6, 7 ad 8 First Natios. Key areas for collaboratio are facility operatioal capacity ad traiig, participatio i regioal systems, ad the operatio ad maiteace of private systems. Cosultatio ad dialogue are uderway with the goal of a partership that will realize aligmet without regulatio i the operatio ad ifrastructure developmet of drikig water facilities. This iitiative is to be commeded ad ecouraged. 10 Medium- ad Log-Term Perspective The Govermet of Alberta has made excellet progress toward the completio of the short-term actios supportig the safe drikig water outcome. These efforts will also provide the iformatio ad resources to support the strategy i the loger term. This commitmet ad support are also reflected i the prelimiary efforts uderway o the medium- ad log-term actios. The evolutio of the drikig water strategy is well o track. Olie reportig of all drikig water facility test sample results has bee iitiated. Alberta Health ad Welless has made a maual available to private users outliig the desig, operatio ad maiteace procedures for private water systems. The major medium-term actio supportig safe drikig water is the implemetatio of a Source-to-Tap/Multi-Barrier Approach (STMBA) to drikig water safety. Historically i Alberta, the drikig water program philosophy has focused o the multi-barrier aspects (i.e., treatmet ifrastructure) ad less o the source (i.e., source water protectio) compoet of the Source-to-Tap cotiuum. We would ecourage the STMBA philosophy, whe fully complete ad implemeted, to esure iclusio of the etire spectrum of opportuities.

13 April 2007 Observatios ad Opportuities This outcome of the Water for Life strategy could be oe of the true legacy achievemets of the Govermet of Alberta if achieved i its etirety. The actios outlied above provide the basis for a comprehesive drikig water strategy for Alberta. These actios will support strategic iitiatives such as regioal treatmet ad delivery facilities, ogoig ad effective moitorig of operatios ad water quality, a fuctioig STMBA program across the provice ad emergecy respose capabilities. This strategy is far-sighted ad will help address the demads of populatio growth i Alberta. The ext stage ivolves usig the capabilities that have bee developed to date as the basis to pla future ifrastructure ad operatioal eeds for the provice. This is a chace to ivolve muicipalities, First Natios ad Métis settlemets i the process ad to stregthe their commitmet to Water for Life. Opportuities for future plaig iclude the followig: Establish a formal process to follow up o the requiremets of specific facilities, their shortcomigs ad future fudig allocatios. Coduct a review of the magitude ad timig of potetial regioal iitiatives so that future requiremets are clearly uderstood. Work with muicipalities o the idetificatio ad protectio of drikig water sources. Develop fudig iitiatives that are applicable to regioal programs ad the specific log-term maiteace of emergecy respose, source protectio ad o-lie reportig systems. 11

14 Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, Commitmet: Albertas will be assured the provice s ecosystems are maitaied ad protected. This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. Short-Term Target: Efforts to protect aquatic ecosystems i critical areas are uderway. Medium-Term Target: Water maagemet objectives ad priorities for sustaiig aquatic ecosystems are established through watershed plas. Log-Term Target: Water is maaged ad allocated to sustai aquatic ecosystems ad esure their cotributio to Alberta s atural capital ad quality of life are maitaied. Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems Itroductio The Water for Life strategy recogizes that future limits o water availability should be based o the preservatio of a healthy aquatic eviromet. This requires a objective, sciece-based uderstadig of aquatic ecosystems, their curret status, ad what they eed to maitai or improve their health. I tur, this iformatio will be used to set maagemet objectives, uder watershed plas, for effective habitat protectio ad restoratio. The short-term actios uder this outcome are iteded to provide iitial assessmets of the evirometal health of Alberta s watersheds ad to develop appropriate tools for the ogoig uderstadig ad moitorig of healthy aquatic ecosystems. Review of Short-Term Actios 1. Establish sciece-based methods to determie the ecological requiremets of healthy aquatic ecosystems. Efforts uderway iclude the assessmet of Alberta s surface water quality, developmet of a system for moitorig ad assessig aquatic ecosystems, a assessmet of the curret status of these ecosystems, ad a update of iitiatives to support watershed protectio ad plaig. This work icludes a provicial sythesis of water ad sedimet quality, a cosolidatio of fisheries ad ofish biota iformatio, the collectio of riparia health ivetory iformatio, ad assessmets of water quatity ad istream flow iformatio. These compoets will be itegrated ito assessmet ad reportig tools. There has bee variable success i each compoet, ad this actio will ot be completed withi the short 12

15 April 2007 term. It does ot appear that the resources are available to complete all compoets cocurretly. Util all the iformatio ad data are available, it will ot be possible to establish Alberta-specific methods for determiig the ecosystem requiremets. 2. Develop systems for moitorig ad assessig healthy aquatic ecosystems. This is a complex actio that is behid schedule. Efforts uderway iclude the review of techiques used i other jurisdictios, the developmet of stadardized approaches for moitorig, assessmet ad reportig ad the iitial collectio of existig iformatio. The complexity arises from the rage of variables to be assessed. They iclude idicators of water quality, hydrology, riparia ad wetlad health, biology ad lad use activities. The goal is to develop moitorig programs at all levels of water maagemet i the provice. This is a cetral compoet of the plaig process ad of adaptive maagemet approaches. More capacity eeds to be directed to the developmet ad ehacemet of moitorig programs. A immediate ad urget cocer is the legthy time frame required to develop these systems. 3. Develop a wetlad policy ad supportig actio pla. Some selected wetlads ivetories have bee completed. The Alberta Water Coucil s Wetlad Policy Project Team is preparig a draft wetlad policy ad correspodig implemetatio pla. Govermet, idustry, First Natios ad evirometal o-govermetal orgaizatios have bee ivolved i draftig these documets. Developmet of this policy is o target. This actio ca have a direct impact o the health of aquatic ecosystems. It ca also cotribute to the other two strategic outcomes uder the Water for Life strategy. It ca cotribute to the protectio of private ad public drikig water sources ad improve the availability of water supplies required to support a sustaiable ecoomy. Medium- ad Log-Term Perspective The medium-term actios for this outcome deped directly o the timely completio of the iitial assessmets ad the developmet of ogoig assessmet tools. I the cotext of watershed plaig, the settig of objectives for aquatic ecosystems is a critical requiremet. The dager is that evirometal plaig tools will ot be ready by the time they are required by Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils ad other plaig bodies. Observatios ad Opportuities The Coucil is struck by the complexity ivolved i developig the support tools for future decisio makig. The shortterm actios for this elemet have received attetio, but i hidsight, the timelies set for them were too ambitious. It is apparet that the research ad moitorig work will take time to geerate meaigful data ad assessmet tools. I November 2006, the Govermet of Alberta allocated $30- millio i fudig for water research. The purposes for which the research fudig is available iclude meetig the strategic kowledge ad research eeds of the Water for Life strategy. This presets a timely ad excitig opportuity for reassessig the developmet of the research ad moitorig projects required to assess aquatic eviromets. It is appropriate to ow redefie the eeds ad set a pla, with realistic timelies, to coordiate, prioritize ad resource the work to be completed. 13

16 This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, I the meatime, there is a eed to focus attetio o the immediate protectio of critically sesitive aquatic ecosystems. This was the specific short-term objective for this outcome of the Water for Life strategy. It does ot deped solely o the rigorous sciece beig developed uder the assessmet ad moitorig tools discussed above. There is existig kowledge upo which soud decisios ca be based. Iitiatives, may ivolvig muicipalities, First Natios, Métis settlemets, o-govermetal orgaizatios ad idustry, could iclude the followig examples that were suggested to Coucil members durig the review process: The immediate settig of specific Water Coservatio Objectives uder the rage of water maagemet plas curretly beig defied i Alberta. There has bee progress toward this goal through the work uderway o a wetlad policy ad the settig of coservatio objectives uder the South Saskatchewa River Basi Water Maagemet Pla (see the Parterships directio). However, the Water for Life strategy was largely defied i Sice that time, there have bee major icreases i the pace of Alberta growth ad developmet, may of which are accompaied by evirometal pressures. Riparia ad source protectio iitiatives ivolvig ladowers ad evirometal groups. A immediate opportuity exists to defie a protectio framework that utilizes existig iformatio, resources ad legislatio to protect sesitive areas. Iitiatives could ivolve o-govermetal stakeholders, which could further emphasize their direct stake i the success of the Water for Life strategy. Examples iclude the followig: The use of coservatio easemets to protect critical riparia habitat. 14 Critically sesitive areas could be idetified at this time through the North America Waterfowl Maagemet Pla iformatio o wetlads, available research o provicial Class A watercourses, systems available through Alberta Eviromet such as a desktop istream flow eeds tool, maps of sesitive flood plai ad riparia areas, ad Prairie Farm Rehabilitatio Admiistratio groudwater surveys. Source protectio, flood cotrol ad emergecy respose plaig ivolvig muicipalities, First Natios, Métis settlemets ad idustry. The idetificatio, i coordiatio with muicipalities, First Natios ad Métis settlemets, of groudwater source poits i eed of protectio. Use of traditioal kowledge from First Natios ad Métis settlemets to support water stewardship ethic ad coservatio iitiatives. The edorsemet of the recommedatio uder the South Saskatchewa River Basi Water Maagemet Pla to amed the Water Act to eable private orgaizatios to hold water coservatio objective liceces. This has the potetial to ehace istream flow protectio to specific areas of watersheds throughout the provice.

17 April 2007 The Alberta Water Coucil believes that Albertas would welcome a high-priority, resposible ad participatory approach to protectio measures. A loger-term opportuity for coordiated protectio exists through the work curretly uderway by the Govermet of Alberta to develop a ew framework for lad use. It is aticipated that this iitiative will balace the ecoomic, evirometal ad social uses of lad. Watersheds have bee likeed to Russia stackig dolls that have itercoected smaller compoets cotaied iside the larger whole. From a water perspective, itegrated plaig could assist with source water protectio, watershed plaig, ad a uderstadig of the cumulative impacts of developmet o surface ad groudwater resources. Specific plaig policies to stregthe the strategic outcomes of the Water for Life strategy could be a key result of the iitiative. 15

18 Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, Commitmet: Albertas will be assured their water is maaged effectively to support ecoomic developmet. This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. Short-Term Target: A broad rage of water maagemet tools ad techiques are implemeted. Medium-Term Target: Water maagemet objectives ad priorities to support sustaiable ecoomic developmet are established through watershed plas. Log-Term Target: Water is maaged ad allocated to support sustaiable ecoomic developmet ad the strategic priorities of the provice. Reliable, Quality Water Supplies for a Sustaiable Ecoomy Itroductio To esure cotiuatio of a high quality of life for all Albertas, a reliable supply of water must be available to support sustaiable ecoomic activity. This outcome recogizes that the future maagemet of the resource must go beyod traditioal regulatory ad maagemet mechaisms. The short-term actios uder this outcome are iteded to develop a uderstadig of the dyamics of future supply ad demad, to uderstad the true costs associated with supplyig ad storig water to meet demad, ad to facilitate the effective reallocatio of water to the most beeficial purposes. Review of Short-Term Actios 1. Determie the full cost of providig water through Alberta s water maagemet ifrastructure. This iitiative is o track. Alberta Eviromet has completed a cost accoutig study of govermet-owed water ifrastructure. A additioal study for drikig water treatmet facilities ad irrigatio districts works is uderway. These studies are iteded to provide basic iformatio o uderstadig the relatioship betwee the cost of providig water ad the value received from its use. I additio, a full uderstadig of costs will help with the plaig of log-term resources for future requiremets. 2. Authorize water allocatio trasfers withi all watersheds. This actio is receivig careful attetio. Trasfers have bee authorized i the South Saskatchewa River Basi sice Phase 2 of the South Saskatchewa River Basi Water Maagemet Pla, approved i 2006, cotiues this authorizatio. Trasfers i other basis will deped 16

19 April 2007 o progress i defiig water maagemet plas ad submittig them for approval by the Govermet of Alberta. Although they are ulikely to be completed withi the shortterm timelies, work is curretly uderway o four plas. 3. Develop ad implemet trasboudary agreemets i cooperatio with eighbourig jurisdictios. This actio is well maaged. Several maagemet ad research projects with the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewa ad British Columbia are uderway. Work is beig doe to develop bilateral agreemets betwee Alberta ad British Columbia ad betwee Alberta ad the Northwest Territories regardig the Mackezie River. Trasboudary agreemets have a major impact o Alberta water maagemet practices. The Govermet of Alberta recogizes that, i order to meet its commitmets uder all of these agreemets, usage ad storage withi the provice must be moitored o a real-time basis. This iformatio will, i tur, ehace the ability to maage future demads withi the provice. The Govermet of Alberta s obligatios o eastward flowig streams ad o iteratioal streams are beig met. 4. Cotiue to maage water resources o the first-i-time, first i right priciple, ad i accordace with the Water Act. Efforts uder this actio are focused o improvig the support tools upo which liceces, approvals ad eforcemet are admiistered uder the Water Act. Alberta Eviromet has udertake to develop a automated decisio support system for temporary diversio liceces uder the Water Act. The prelimiary feasibility assessmet study has bee completed. The itet is to develop a prototype by March 2007 to test how the issue of temporary diversio liceces could be accomplished automatically. If successful, this system would allow staff to quickly assess applicatios ad shift from the traditioal approach of issuig liceces for specific sites to maagig the water eeds of a etire basi. The project could lead to the availability of completely automated hydrological assessmets of water availability. This project is iteded to become a itegral part of a automated support system for the licesig process across the provice. I additio, Alberta Eviromet is cosiderig a webbased system for collectig ad commuicatig provicewide data o water supply ad usage. Some of this data ca be used to calculate the water available for a specific locatio ad time. These are valuable projects because they have the potetial to allow iformatio to be readily available for a rage of timely maagemet decisios. The ultimate goal ivolves extesive data collectio o water availability ad usage. The Govermet of Alberta is still i the early stages of this capability. Full implemetatio is likely to be techologically challegig. 5. Evaluate, as part of the watershed plaig process, water maagemet ifrastructure eeds. This project is o track for short-term completio. A ivetory list of potetial water storage sites i Alberta has bee completed. I the comig year, criteria for rakig the sites will be developed. A demad ad supply study will also be coducted to provide support for prioritizatio criteria. 17

20 Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. Medium- ad Log-Term Perspective A goal of reallocatio is to ecourage the trasfer of water to the most beeficial purposes. This is ecessarily a discretioary process ivolvig a assessmet of the risks of chagig water use ad diversio locatios. This is referred to as the o harm priciple ad guidelies for decisio makig uder it will be cotaied i water maagemet plas. Accordigly, i the future, if trasfers are to be effective, water should be appropriately available i the areas it is most eeded. Should the govermet choose to adopt this priciple as part of the Water for Life strategy, it could base future ifrastructure ad storage plaig upo the capacity to properly facilitate trasfers withi this priciple. The short-term specific actios uderway are geerally o track. Some good foudatio pieces have bee put i place. I our view, however, the scope of the actios falls short of the potetial strategic itet of this outcome. At this time, actios ted to ehace existig mechaisms rather tha develop ew ad iovative tools ad capabilities for maagig supply ad demad. A secod compoet of reallocatio ivolves the use of temporary assigmets for the seasoal trasfer of water allocatios. They provide a device to allow water to be trasferred to more beeficial uses for short-term periods. Should the goal of reallocatio be adopted, there is a opportuity to explore tradig mechaisms ad market regulatio to facilitate this activity. The recet approval of the South Saskatchewa River Basi Water Maagemet Pla restricted the issue of ay ew diversio liceces i the basi because of the heavy allocatio of existig supplies. I a growig ecoomy, this has emphasized the realities of a fiite water supply. It uderscores the eed to eergize work withi this strategic elemet. By workig with Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils, idustry, muicipalities, First Natios ad Métis settlemets, the govermet could promote a more holistic approach to water maagemet amog users. This could ivolve sharig ad volutary restrictios i critical periods, the maagemet of storage flows for evirometal purposes, ad the use of appropriate Water Act provisios ad amedmets to maximize water availability. The medium- ad log-term actios for this outcome are based o effective reallocatio ad storage. They are very geeral i ature. The recet South Saskatchewa River Basi Water Maagemet Pla has emphasized the costraits of limited supply. This may become a commo theme i other watersheds. Demad maagemet ad coservatio measures across the provice should be based o a clear uderstadig of future supply capabilities. There is a eed to defie a clear visio ad uderstadig of log-term supply capabilities i Alberta. Observatios ad Opportuities Possibilities for a chage of focus could iclude: 18 The Govermet of Alberta has committed sigificat research fudig to support the kowledge ad research eeds of the Water for Life strategy. This could provide the resources to support full developmet of the iformatio systems required to provide automated assessmets of water availability ad demad. Overall, the Alberta Water Coucil believes the potetial of this outcome should be to strive for world class capabilities i water maagemet tools ad techiques i the cotext of a clearly stated visio of supply limitatios.

21 April 2007 Directios This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. Commitmet: Albertas will have the kowledge eeded to achieve safe drikig water, efficiet water use ad healthy watersheds. Short-Term Target: Comprehesive water research ad educatio programs are established Medium-Term Target: Mechaisms are i place to trasfer water-related kowledge to Albertas. Log-Term Target: Albertas have the kowledge, tools ad motivatio to implemet actios that will maitai or improve the provice s water resources. Kowledge ad Research Itroductio The Water for Life strategy clearly idetifies that iformatio ad kowledge of our provicial water resource are the most critical elemets of our ability to maage water effectively. Geeral kowledge is o loger a adequate base for maagemet. We must uderstad the dyamics of such factors as surface ad groudwater, climate chage, the impacts of a growig ecoomy o water quality ad emergig techologies to improve the water system. There are three compoets to this directio: 1. The scietific kowledge of Alberta s water resource 2. A uderstadig of emergig water issues ad opportuities 3. The provisio of the kowledge ad tools ecessary to make effective maagemet decisios The short-term actios are iteded to provide a framework for the acquisitio of iformatio ad the capability to use it. The strategy also idetifies specific research ad iformatio eeds, may of which i tur have bee assiged as specific actios uder the appropriate elemets. 19

22 Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. Review of Short-Term Actios 1. Develop a provicial water research pla. This actio is complete, ad the research pla is ow fuded. The Alberta Water Research Strategy was completed by the Alberta Sciece ad Research Authority ad approved by the Govermet of Alberta i February The strategy idetified research areas ad discussed the importace of developig good liks betwee kowledge brokerage ad research fuctios. I November 2006, the Govermet of Alberta allocated $30-millio i fudig for water research. A Water Maagemet Kowledge Broker Fuctio Project Team, idetified as a key strategy to develop the water research system, was established by the Alberta Water Coucil. Implemetatio of the Alberta Water Research Strategy will geerate mechaisms to icrease uderstadig of Alberta s water resources ad to better maage these resources. The Alberta Water Coucil will ow work o a brokerage fuctio that effectively makes kowledge ad research products available for strategic iitiatives. 2. Establish a provicial, multi-discipliary water research cetre. The Govermet of Alberta has set a high priority o this actio. The Alberta Water Research Istitute has bee established i partership with Alberta Igeuity. A multi-stakeholder Maagemet Advisory Board ad a Iteratioal Research Advisory Committee will advise the Istitute. The Alberta Water Research Strategy will the be implemeted through the Istitute. The goals of the research strategy are to: 20 Provide sciece-based iformatio, aalysis ad techologies to iform ad support effective water maagemet i Alberta; ad Develop a water research system focused o meetig the strategic kowledge ad research eeds of the Water for Life strategy. This iitiative has potetial to coordiate research, set priorities ad access the expertise required for specific projects. It has bee specifically structured to ivolve a rage of o-govermetal stakeholders i its goverace. 3. Establish a public awareess ad educatio program to esure Albertas have easy access to water resource iformatio ad services. Several programs have bee developed ad are ogoig. The secod Alberta Water Quality Awareess Day, desiged to heighte awareess ad stewardship of Alberta s water resources, attracted over 2,700 people. The Govermet of Alberta ad idustry also met with residets i 13 Alberta commuities to discuss coalbed methae ad groudwater cocers. More tha 1,200 people atteded these meetigs. The Govermet of Alberta has show some commitmet to public educatio ad outreach projects. We believe the public is also lookig to idustry ad o-govermetal orgaizatios to provide educatio ad outreach o key water issues. This actio has ot yet resulted i a comprehesive ad sustaied program.

23 April Complete a assessmet of Alberta s surface water quality. This actio requires a reewed focus. Water quality is assessed uder the existig moitorig programs of the Govermet of Alberta ad its parters. Uder the Water for Life strategy, the first year of study focused o etwork ratioalizatio. Additioal parameters ad moitorig statios are beig added as issues emerge, such as pharmaceuticals i drikig water. The curret focus is o ambiet moitorig; this eeds to be expaded to iclude athropogeic iflueces. There is also potetial to raise the moitorig to a strategic level. It could be coected to performace measuremets ad progress idicators that help establish ad moitor water maagemet goals, such as water coservatio. Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils could provide iput o their requiremets for these assessmets. Medium- ad Log-Term Perspective It is otable that some of the medium- ad log-term actios are beig developed ahead of schedule. This is a recogitio of the importace ad potetial of this directio. The Alberta Water Iformatio Cetre is uder developmet, ad a data warehouse is complete. Sigificat fudig has bee committed. The Govermet of Alberta recogized the eed to develop sophisticated measures o flood forecast ad warig systems. To this ed, 36 commuities have bee studied for flood risks, ad 37 flood risk maps are available olie. Work is uderway to obtai iformatio about the quatity of all surface water i the provice. Two key mappig projects are beig completed. Pressure to maage the groudwater resource cotiues to icrease ad a focus o this area was recommeded i our previous review. Two key groudwater mappig projects are uderway. There has bee a major focus o protectio durig coalbed methae productio. The Govermet of Alberta Eergy Iovatio Fud recetly committed $3-millio for groudwater mappig ad assessmet. Observatios ad Opportuities There has bee a sigificat commitmet of over $30- millio to the kowledge ad research directio uder the Water for Life strategy. The govermet is to be commeded for this support. There is ow a framework i place for developig ad distributig kowledge of our water resource. Alberta is i a positio to achieve world class capabilities. It is importat to ote that the developmet of may of the research eeds arisig uder the strategy is extremely complex ad log term. The eed to have the ecessary kowledge ad research i place is icreasig. The sigificat fudig of the research strategy ad creatio of the Alberta Water Research Istitute allows immediate focus o the specific eeds ad gaps arisig from the various actios uderway i the Water for Life outcomes ad key directios. The advisory boards of the Istitute will provide a structure to ivolve a broad rage of stakeholders i addressig these eeds. The kowledge ad research directio has become a key stregth of the Water for Life strategy. 21

24 Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. Commitmet: Citizes ad stakeholders will have opportuities to actively participate i watershed maagemet o a provicial, regioal ad commuity basis. Short-Term Target: Provicial parterships for watershed maagemet ad stewardship are established. Medium-Term Target: Commuity watershed parterships are established ad operatig. Log-Term Target: Commuities are demostratig leadership i watershed maagemet. Parterships for Watershed Maagemet ad Stewardship Itroductio The focus of Water for Life is to adopt a watershed approach to water maagemet. This allows attetio to be placed upo the specific issues ad dyamics of a geographic regio. This directio recogizes that the most effective solutios ca be defied by those who are immediately affected by the rage of issues affectig their area. The purpose is to develop capacity for effective iput from three types of parterships: 1. The Alberta Water Coucil to oversee the overall implemetatio of the Water for Life strategy. 2. Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils to ivolve commuities ad stakeholders i the maagemet of all major provicial watersheds. The goal is to evolve toward a Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucil-led plaig process. 3. Watershed Stewardship Groups to provide plaig iput ad programs for local watersheds throughout the provice. The short-term actios are directed toward a ambitious ad comprehesive developmet of capacity ad output from these three stakeholder groups. 22

25 April 2007 Review of Short-Term Actios 1. Complete a partership framework, outliig the roles, resposibilities ad relatioships betwee govermet ad its parters. The partership framework, whereby the relatioships betwee the Govermet of Alberta ad its parters are outlied, is complete. Work is ow uderway to further defie the madate, capacity, authority ad accoutability of the parters, uder a revised shared goverace framework. This will be reviewed ad updated i 2007 by the Alberta Water Coucil workig with Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils ad the govermet. This foudatio piece is critical to the success of parterships ad plaig. 2. Establish the Alberta Water Coucil. The Alberta Water Coucil was established i August A Busiess Pla ad Operatig Pla have bee completed. The Alberta Water Coucil has stewarded the Water for Life strategy ad made prelimiary progress o outliig a process to defie water coservatio, productivity ad efficiecy. The Coucil is ow workig o substative advisory ad policy projects. I 2007, the Coucil plas to icorporate as a ot-for-profit society ad operate at arm s legth from the govermet. 3. Establish Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils for the Milk, Oldma, Bow, Red Deer, Battle, North Saskatchewa, Cold Lake Beaver River ad Lesser Slave Lake watersheds. This actio is focused ad o track. Seve Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils have ow bee established for: the Bow, the North Saskatchewa, the Battle, the Oldma, the Red Deer, the Lesser Slave ad the Milk rivers. The coucil for the Cold Lake-Beaver River is expected to be established i Work is also uderway for a Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucil o the Lower Athabasca. The establishmet of the remaiig coucils will ecourage the ivolvemet of First Natios ad Métis settlemets i the implemetatio of the Water for Life strategy. For example, 50 percet of the area of the provice ad 23 Treaty 8 First Natios lie withi these watersheds. There have bee growig pais i the developmet of Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils ad their roles ad capabilities. The madate review curretly uderway is iteded to address this. 4. Establish water coservatio objectives for the South Saskatchewa River Basi. This actio has bee completed. Specific istream flow objectives have bee established for the major rivers withi the South Saskatchewa River Basi. They were approved by the Govermet of Alberta i 2006 uder Phase 2 of the Water Maagemet Pla for the basi. The pla recogizes that souther rivers are heavily allocated ad there is a eed to protect deterioratig aquatic eviromets. The pla places major restrictios o the expaded use of water i the basi. Uder the pla, reallocatio amog users is strogly ecouraged through a licece trasfer system. 23

26 Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. It should be oted that, because of the heavy allocatio i the basi, the water coservatio objectives set by the pla are subject to the rights of prior licece holders. Accordigly, the objectives will ot provide additioal flow preservatio for evirometal protectio withi most areas of the basi. They may prevet further deterioratio i some areas. I the South Saskatchewa River Basi, it is thus importat to cotiue with a strog program of alterative measures to restore ad protect istream flow. This may iclude cooperative measures betwee users, maximum coservatio holdbacks uder future licece trasfers, the licecig of private users for istream preservatio purposes i specific stream reaches ad the maagemet of storage facilities for flow purposes. Water coservatio objectives are a importat tool to utilize i those basis of Alberta that are ot yet fully allocated. This is a ideal time to set them uder other watershed maagemet plas. Future stadards of istream flow preservatio will therefore form the basis upo which future allocatios to users i these basis ca be set. The Alberta Water Coucil believes the South Saskatchewa River Basi Water Maagemet Pla uderscores the challeges of future watershed plaig i the provice. Uder the restrictios set by the pla, it is critical that Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils have the tools for future plaig i the basi; that future supply capabilities ad demad dyamics are clearly uderstood; ad that coservatio, efficiecy ad productivity targets are set ad met. Iovative ad cooperative water maagemet tools will be required. The South Saskatchewa River Basi will, i may ways, become the test basi for the Water for Life strategy Complete watershed maagemet plas for the South Saskatchewa, Battle, Cold Lake- Beaver River ad Lesser Slave Lake watersheds. The South Saskatchewa River Basi Water Maagemet Pla has bee approved by the Govermet of Alberta. The other plas are beig completed but are likely a year or more behid schedule. It is to be oted that all these plas are water maagemet plas ad ot comprehesive watershed maagemet plas. They represet iitial maagemet steps util the Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils develop the full capacity to establish comprehesive watershed plas. It is importat to recogize that the completio of watershed plas will evolve over time. The iitial shortterm targets were very aggressive ad are beig redefied. Give the complexities, the Govermet of Alberta is to be commeded for its commitmet to the plaig led by the Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils. This area uderscores the eed for the coordiated maagemet of the actios of all the Water for Life outcomes ad key directios Medium- ad Log-Term Perspective There is mometum ad work uderway to complete the targeted establishmet of the remaiig Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils ad watershed plas. The capabilities curretly beig built i parterships will lead to sophisticated watershed plaig across the provice. The Govermet of Alberta is also a parter i this process. It will be importat for the govermet to be aware of gaps betwee the structural existece of parters ad their capabilities to steward ad implemet the Water for Life strategy.

27 April 2007 Observatios ad Opportuities Partership is a ambitious ad importat area. It represets a sigificat chage i policy developmet ad implemetatio. Success will ivolve a substatial level of support by the govermet ad commitmet by stakeholder groups. The short-term progress, uder this directio, is ecouragig. The scope ad importace of partership capability is show by the aticipated structure ad role of Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils. They are iteded to be collaborative, commuity-based, voluteer-led orgaizatios that take resposibility for the log-term plaig withi a watershed. Their most importat roles will be: Moitorig ad reportig o the state of the watershed Establishig water coservatio ad water quality objectives for specific areas Creatig ad promotig a ope dialogue aroud water withi the watershed Reachig out to egage stakeholder groups to egage them ad elist their iput. At full capacity, each coucil could possibly comprise several hudred members, a elected board, ad dedicated staff who deliver membership services ad support active, voluteerbased committees. Strog voluteer support will be the key to success. The ivolvemet of member orgaizatios i iitiatives could provide the potetial to lever core fudig by a factor of three to five times. Voluteer commitmet will deped upo the ogoig capacity of the coucils to lead plaig. There is a eed for the Govermet of Alberta to provide sustaiable support for the resources the coucils require. A model for sustaied fudig eeds to be defied. The ivolvemet of First Natios ad Métis settlemets i all of the parterships, through their role as stewards of their lads, is recogized ad welcomed. Their meaigful ivolvemet is importat to watershed plaig. This is a iovative goverace model for policy developmet ad stewardship. It is also very ambitious. The iitial ethusiasm beig show by stakeholders to participate i coucils idicates that their role ad potetial could go far beyod the basic priciples outlied i the Water for Life strategy. 25

28 Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, Commitmet: Albertas will be leaders i coservatio by usig water efficietly ad effectively. This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. Short-Term Target: Albertas uderstad the value of water to its ecoomy ad quality of life. Water Coservatio Itroductio This key directio i water maagemet aticipates major shifts i how we value, use ad allocate a icreasigly scarce resource. Improvemets i water use ivolve three factors: 1. Coservatio (reduced use, loss or waste, or preservatio for uses that beefit people or the eviromet); 2. Efficiecy (usig the miimum amout of water feasible for specific applicatios) ad; Medium-Term Target: All sectors are demostratig best maagemet practices ad improvig efficiecy ad productivity associated with water use. 3. Productivity (productive use i relatio to the value of the activity beig udertake). Log-Term Target: The overall efficiecy ad productivity of water use i Alberta has improved by 30 percet from 2005 levels by 2015 (firm targets to be determied by the Alberta Water Coucil). The short-term actios for coservatio are iteded to provide a better uderstadig of how much water we use, what we use it for, its ecoomic value, its evirometal value ad its importace to our quality of life from a social perspective. As the strategy evolves, this iformatio will provide a base for the followig: The cumulative impact of these factors ca result i major reductios i the amout of water required to meet the eeds ad values of a growig populatio ad ecoomy. Best maagemet practices A assurace that all uses of water are valued ad are icluded i decisio makig A public awareess of the importace of coservatio Ogoig measuremet ad improvemets The overall objective is to achieve a 30 percet improvemet i the cumulative coservatio, efficiecy ad productivity of water use i the provice betwee 2005 ad

29 April 2007 Review of Short-Term Actios 1. Establish a system to moitor ad report actual water use by all sectors o a ogoig basis. A electroic water use reportig system became operatioal i The system allows licece holders to report their water use iformatio electroically. Selected licece holders have bee asked to iput their water use volutarily ito the system. These licece holders represet the majority of large water users. Participatio was ot as robust as hoped; oly about 30 percet of requested data was received. Aalysis of the iformatio submitted to date will be udertake i 2007 to determie where problems were ecoutered by licece holders usig the system ad to facilitate greater participatio i the system. This system is a good start. It is importat to quickly improve participatio. This iformatio will determie the baselies agaist which future improvemets i coservatio, efficiecy ad productivity will be measured. 2. Determie ad report o the true value of water i relatio to the provicial ecoomy. Phase I of the multi-phase Value of Water to the Alberta Ecoomy study has bee completed. The project was led by Alberta Employmet, Immigratio ad Idustry with guidace from a cross-miistry steerig committee (icludig Eviromet Caada). Phase I valued surface water (i recogitio of its multiple uses evirometal, ecoomic, ad social) i the South Saskatchewa River Basi. Followig a comprehesive review of the results of Phase I by the steerig committee, Phase II, which ivolves expadig the project to the rest of the provice, will proceed. From a coservatio perspective, promotig the full value of water ca ecourage a greater coservatio ethic if Albertas realize water is ot a free ad ulimited resource, ad that it has value beyod our daily ad ecoomic eeds (e.g., water has itrisic values such as for sceic ejoymet). This is a complex ad valuable exercise that ca serve as a template for all Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils i the provice that are cosiderig udertakig similar studies to determie the full value water has i their watershed. The results will provide iformatio for better decisio makig for watershed plaig objectives, allocatio, ad efficiecy ad productivity improvemets. 3. Complete a evaluatio ad make recommedatios o the merit of ecoomic istrumets to meet water coservatio ad productivity objectives. This actio is a major iitiative. Sigificat progress has bee made i the past year. Alberta Eviromet has assembled a cross-miistry team with represetatio from Alberta Agriculture ad Food to udertake a prelimiary assessmet of ecoomic istrumets curretly i use i Alberta, such as water allocatio trasfers ad wetlad compesatio. A work pla has bee defied for 2007, ad the team will udertake a more i-depth aalysis (stregths, weakesses, opportuities, threats) o potetial ecoomic istrumets i 2007 that may be used to ehace coservatio, efficiecy ad productivity. Optios iclude water pricig, rebates ad icetives ad/or pealties. 27

30 This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, The Alberta Water Coucil established a Water Coservatio, Efficiecy ad Productivity Project Team to address three areas: 1) defie the terms coservatio, efficiecy ad productivity; 2) determie baselie water coservatio, efficiecy ad productivity iformatio, ad gaps by sector; ad 3) determie appropriate methodologies for reportig progress o coservatio, efficiecy ad productivity. The team has defied the terms; set priciples to guide improvemets i coservatio, efficiecy ad productivity; ad idetified reportig methods. The itet is for these efforts to address may of the gaps idetified i last year s review. The Water Coservatio ad Ecoomics Task Group of the Caadia Coucil of Miisters of the Eviromet completed three reports o coservatio measures, ecoomic istrumets ad performace idicators for selected sectors. For 2007, a framework for a pilot study will be developed that uses several performace idicators to measure water coservatio ad efficiecy i selected idustries. 4. Establish a public educatio ad awareess program o water coservatio i Alberta. Alberta Eviromet s water coservatio website is live ad is updated regularly. The Miistry has also developed a educatioal framework that supports Water for Life educatio ad public awareess. The delivery of specific water coservatio awareess campaig is behid schedule. The Alberta Water Coucil believes there would be beefit i ivolvig other stakeholders i the process. 28 Medium- ad Log-Term Perspective The medium-term actios are largely depedet o the availability of results from the short-term actios. Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils require the iformatio ad recommedatios i order to set appropriate objectives uder watershed plas. There is strog potetial for sectors usig water to pla their operatios aroud the expectatios arisig from the short-term recommedatios. The expectatios of improvemets resultig from this ew directio are high. We believe that broad stakeholder ivolvemet ad a strog resolve to evolve from a cosumptio to a coservatio ethic are ecessary. Observatios ad Opportuities There has bee strog progress o this directio after a slow start i the first year. Because of its broad scope, this directio will ot be o track i the short term. However, it does have good mometum ad complex iitiatives are beig pursued. It is importat to recogize that there will be challeges i implemetig ew coservatio, efficiecy ad productivity objectives; best maagemet practices; ad appropriate ecoomic istrumets. They ivolve chages i public expectatios ad behaviour. As a matter of public policy, it may be appropriate to facilitate chage through specific policy. We believe that the Govermet of Alberta ca develop regulated coservatio, efficiecy ad productivity activities through such measures as compulsory coservatio plas by licece holders, ameded buildig codes ad riparia protectio stadards. This directio is a strog driver of the uderlyig visio of Water for Life. The Alberta Water Coucil believes that, i the log term, the wise use of water, through the effective maagemet of demad, is a critical compoet i the developmet of a true coservatio ethic i the provice.

31 April 2007 This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. Coclusio ad Commo Themes This review covers the first three years of the te-year implemetatio program plaed for the Water for Life strategy. Progress has bee achieved i all of the short-term actios defied i the strategy. There is mometum i most areas. I geeral, the Water for Life strategy is o track. The foudatio for specific strategic commitmets ad programs i water maagemet is comig ito place. Water for Life is a ambitious ad complex strategy. Successful implemetatio will ecessarily be difficult, require a ivestmet of resources ad require a log-term commitmet by all parters. To place this i cotext: Thirtee miistries ad boards of the provicial govermet ad umerous stakeholders have shared resposibility for its success. The stakeholders iclude Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils, idustry, evirometal o-govermetal orgaizatios, First Natios, Métis settlemets, stewardship groups, federal govermet departmets ad the Alberta Water Coucil. All these stakeholders must be egaged ad have the capacity, focus ad willigess to cotribute. There is a high degree of iterdepedece amog the capacities beig developed through the various actios that are takig place. Therefore, these actios require coordiatio ad timely completio. There is always a dager that ad hoc programs ad icremetal chage will occur rather tha the comprehesive solutios available uder a cohesive strategy. The strategy takes water maagemet practices i the provice to a ew ad world class level. The availability of sciece-based decisio makig tools, the effective use of stakeholder parterships i watershed plaig, ad the developmet of a coservatio ad productivity ethic i the use of water will oly develop from a substative resolve ad a clear visio of the stated strategic outcomes. Fiacial support is curretly fragmeted betwee the aual budgets of the various provicial departmets ivolved i the actios. Log-term priority iitiatives require coordiated ad sustaiable fudig. The pace of growth i Alberta is uprecedeted. There is a eed to maage such diverse factors as populatio growth, ecoomic chages ad climate chage. The Water for Life strategy, beig evolutioary i ature, must be adapted to chagig times. This is a ideal time to reew ad resource the Water for Life strategy. The dyamics of the strategy ow require reewed visio, leadership ad fudig. I this review, the Coucil oted a umber of commo themes i this regard. 1. Goverace ad Maagemet The Water for Life strategy recogizes that comprehesive watershed plaig goes beyod the traditioal direct maagemet practices for the resource. It also ivolves lad use practices, ecoomic developmet policies ad the developmet of stakeholder ivolvemet. A itegrated approach is required. This is a visioary strategy ad actios should be directed accordigly. At this stage of implemetatio, progress uder may of the actios rus the risk of becomig icosistet ad somewhat fragmeted. There is ow a eed for strog overall directio ad visio. There is a opportuity to review the appropriate structure for the log-term implemetatio of the Water for Life strategy. This could iclude a specific ad seior leadership resposibility to maage, drive ad be accoutable for the visio ad all elemets of the strategy. 29

32 Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, Fudig There are two compoets to the Water for Life strategy fiacial requiremets. This copy is for archival purposes oly. Please cotact the publisher for the origial versio. May of the strategic actios are clearly the resposibility of idividual govermet miistries ad require appropriate fuds uder their aual budgets. Accordigly, a rage of departmetal priorities are competig for fuds with the priorities specifically applicable to the Water for Life strategy. The secod compoet relates to the resposibility that has bee give to o-govermetal stakeholders uder the Water for Life strategy. Orgaizatios such as the Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils require the assurace of sustaied fudig if they are to develop ad provide leadership for watershed plaig. A overall pla to provide sigificat ad sustaiable fudig for the Water for Life strategy is required. We have two suggestios: (i) The Treasury Board Secretariat should udertake a aual review of all Water for Life iitiatives for which the Govermet of Alberta is resposible ad cofirm that fudig is coordiated, prioritized ad meets the eeds of the strategy. (ii) Cosideratio should be give to the establishmet of a Water for Life edowmet fud. Icome from such a fud could be allocated to those stakeholders requirig sustaied log-term fudig for their success. This would iclude the operatig budgets for the Alberta Water Coucil, Watershed Plaig ad Advisory Coucils ad the Alberta Stewardship Network, which represets ad provides support to commuity Watershed Stewardship Groups. The fud could also be used to provide fudig for projects udertake by o-govermetal stakeholders i support of the Water for Life strategy actios ad outcomes Icreasig Public Awareess The Water for Life strategy caot be implemeted i isolatio from public awareess of the issues. It is critical to foster a uderstadig of water topics ad issues ad to provide opportuities for Albertas to develop a stewardship ethic for the resource. This will ot occur through icremetal ad isolated educatio programs. Public awareess ad the uderstadig that it creates ca provide a driver for other elemets of the strategy, icludig leadership, fudig ad accoutability. A comprehesive approach to promotig public awareess of water maagemet issues would be a timely additio. This approach could iclude modules aliged to the three goals ad three key directios of the Water for Life strategy. It could iclude basic priciples of ecology; the relatioship betwee water ad ecoomic developmet; guidelies of drikig water safety; coservatio, productivity ad efficiecy iitiatives; the dyamics of watershed maagemet; ad outlies of the kowledge gaied from research iitiatives.

33 April 2007 Notes 31

34 Alberta Water Coucil Review of Implemetatio Progress of Water for Life, Notes 32

35

36 Alberta Water Coucil c/o Alberta Water Coucil Secretariat Mai Floor, Oxbridge Place Street Edmoto, AB T5K 2J6 Tel: (780) Dial for toll-free access throughout Alberta Web: This report was prited o FSC paper.