Call for Expressions of Qualifications for Research. Canadian Watersheds Research Consortium

Transcription

1 Call for Expressions of Qualifications for Research Canadian Watersheds Research Consortium Research to Develop Regional Monitoring Frameworks to Support Cumulative Effects Assessment NWT Slave River and Delta Partnership (Deadline for Submission: October 29, 2012) The Canadian Water Network is soliciting Expressions of Qualifications (EoQ) for research from university-based research teams interested in being invited to submit a proposal to conduct a two-year, multi-disciplinary research project that will develop and produce as their project output a recommended sampling strategy to inform best design of a regional watershed monitoring framework to support cumulative effects assessments and underpin adaptive management strategies for the Slave River and Delta in the Northwest Territories. This recommended sampling strategy would incorporate the minimum requirements for establishing a cumulative effects monitoring program, resulting in a legacy tool for community based sampling. The research is being driven by key community concerns and priorities to develop research and monitoring that will address community questions and build on the existing work of the Slave River and Delta Partnership. The recommended sampling strategy will be used by the Slave River and Delta Partnership to standardize their monitoring, and will ultimately include details such as sample station selection, appropriate biotic end points, sampling methods, frequency, and timings. The research strategy may include an integrated watershed ecosystem-based study incorporating research related to hydrology, water quality, and fish and benthic invertebrates, which will ultimately tease out effects of anthropogenic influences and natural variability. Traditional and local knowledge are foundational to the development of the monitoring program, and will be incorporated in all stages of research and monitoring design and implementation. At this EoQ stage, CWN is assessing the qualifications of interested teams to conduct the desired research through the process described below. Those teams selected through this qualification process will be invited to attend a workshop in Yellowknife in December to discuss the project goals prior to development of full proposals. Only those teams who are both invited to this next stage and have a key team representative (who can adequately speak to all facets of the work being proposed) attend the workshop will be eligible to submit a proposal. CWN will cover the eligible travel costs for the key team representative to attend the workshop, but any other team members who wish to attend the workshop will need to cover those costs. Through this process, CWN anticipates funding one research project (although multiple subprojects may be integrated into an over-arching body of work), with a total contribution from

2 CWN of up to $500,000 over two years (April 2013 to March 2015). CWN funding is only available to eligible researchers as outlined later in this document. The ability of research teams to leverage existing resources and bring in additional partner support to augment the CWN funding will be considered an asset. Description Deadline Expressions of Research Qualifications Due October 29, 2012 Notification of Requests to Submit Full Proposal November 22, 2012 Workshop of Qualified Research Teams December 6 th and 7 th, 2012 Full Proposals Due January 24, 2013 Notification of Decisions on Funding March 4, 2013 Research Project Timeline April 1, 2013 March 31, 2015 Call Context: Development of NWT Node within CWN s Canadian Watersheds Research Consortium The Canadian Water Network ( plays a vital role in ensuring that Canada benefits from its investments in research to manage our water resources more effectively and becomes a world leader in water management. CWN catalyzes and supports partnerships among the water research community, water managers and government regulators necessary for robust water research and delivery of tangible health, social and economic benefits. Development of our research programs begins by articulating the needs of end-users, so our research is relevant and outcomes are implemented. This results in not only better application and adoption of knowledge, but strengthens our relationships with our partners and their decision-making communities to expand involvement and further investment. CWN established the Canadian Watershed Research Consortium (CWRC) to support and catalyze groups committed to improving science-based decision-making for watershed management activities within a regional environmental framework. The initial phase of research projects conducted within the CWRC initiative is aimed at supporting monitoring frameworks to support cumulative effects assessments and better underpin longer-term strategies for adaptive management. CWN established a pilot watershed consortium node in Saint John Harbour, NB in Subsequently in 2011, CWN established four additional regional watershed nodes within the CWRC program through a competitive proposal process that was designed to identify groups with a strong interest and capacity to identify shared end-user needs and collectively establish and manage a research program to address them. In 2012, CWN and the Government of the Northwest Territories conducted a workshop to bring western monitoring experts together with local and aboriginal representatives to provide input into the development of an aboriginal-led cumulative effects community-based monitoring framework for the Northwest Territories, using the Slave River as a pilot program. This call for EoQs is a direct outcome of that meeting, and the goal of this process is the development of a 2

3 new CWN watershed node for the Slave River and Basin. Ultimately, the monitoring framework developed for the Slave River will be adapted in other watersheds in the NWT, taking regional issues and local community concerns into consideration. This new CWN watershed node will have a local node management team, made up of representation from the Slave River and Delta Partnership (which includes local communities, aboriginal groups, academic institutions, Federal government agencies, and the Government of the Northwest Territories). This team will be responsible for determining the overall needs, design, structure and application context of the monitoring framework within which the outputs of the research will be implemented and so help determine what outputs will be most useful. The team will also provide CWN with advice on the local context and needs of the partnership. Additional context on the overall goals of CWN s Canadian Watershed Research Consortium is provided in Appendix A. Background to the Slave River and Delta Partnership The Slave River is the largest Alberta-NWT transboundary river and an important part of the Mackenzie River Basin. The Slave River is 420 kilometres (km) long and flows from northeastern Alberta into the Northwest Territories (NWT), as shown in Figure 1. It draws its flow from the very large Slave River catchment located in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. All of the water flowing through this catchment area ultimately flows into the Slave River and the Great Slave Lake. Figure 1. Mackenzie River Basin The Slave River 3

4 Delta lies on the southeastern portion of Great Slave Lake immediately northeast of Fort Resolution. It covers an area of 640 square kilometres (km 2 ). The active portion of the Delta covers an area of approximately 75 km 2. The Slave River and its Delta draw flow from a catchment area of km 2, with three sub basins; the Peace River, the Athabasca and the Slave River sub-basins. About 66% of the total Slave River catchment area is located within Alberta with 24% in British Columbia and10% in Saskatchewan. Less than 1% of the Slave River catchment area is located within the NWT. Northerners inhabiting downstream areas of the Slave River and Slave River Delta have raised concerns for many years about the cumulative impacts of upstream activities. Industrial activity in the upstream portion of the Slave River catchment is extensive and has increased during the past decade. Predominant activities include oil sands operations, other mining activities (including coal and uranium mining), forestry, pulp and paper mills, hydro development, conventional oil and gas development and agricultural activity. Limited understanding of the role and implications of climate change and natural disturbances on the watershed are also of concern and complicate reliable determinations of cumulative impacts of upstream anthropogenic activities. An ecosystem-based approach is a holistic approach to monitoring. An ecosystem-based approach considers the whole ecosystem as its unit of analysis, and addresses uncertainty and complexity, by focusing on processes, structures, functions, and interactions between all components of the system. Ecosystem-based approaches are inter-disciplinary and consider the environment while integrating the economy and society. This is similar to, and reflected in, Aboriginal people s connections to the land and the holistic view of the land, where water, plants and animals are not separate from one another. Within aquatic monitoring, an ecosystem-based approach includes: physical indicators (i.e. water flow, water level, sediment deposition, water temperature), chemical indicators (i.e. heavy metals, dissolved oxygen, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)), biological indicators (fish, benthic invertebrates, aquatic plants, aquatic mammals), and the use of traditional knowledge (TK). Traditional knowledge can be defined as the knowledge held by First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, the Aboriginal peoples of Canada. Traditional knowledge is specific to place, usually transmitted orally, and rooted in the experience of multiple generations. It is determined by an Aboriginal community s land, environment, region, culture, and language. It may also [be] new knowledge transmitted to subsequent generations (Glossary to Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans). Traditional Knowledge is knowledge and values, which have been acquired through experience, observation, from the land or from spiritual teachings, and handed down from one generation to another (GNWT Traditional Knowledge Policy 53.03), and is both a way of knowing and information (Berkes, 2008). Traditional knowledge plays an important role in completing the picture of the health of the aquatic ecosystem by providing information about what the ecosystem looked like in the past; humans relationship to the land and the water; and, how the ecosystem has changed over time due to natural and man-made impacts. To understand cumulative impacts to the Slave River, components such as upstream activities - including future activities - must be considered together. In 2010, the Slave River and Delta Partnership (Partnership) was formed to support communities in developing community-based monitoring programs. The Partnership is a group comprised of federal, territorial, municipal and aboriginal governments, and non-government representatives, including aboriginal organizations, academics, etc. The Partnership promotes and supports research and monitoring activities to address concerns and questions raised by 4

5 community members. In 2011, through the Partnership, a State of the Knowledge Report on the Slave River and Delta that included both western science and traditional and local knowledge, and a vulnerability assessment report were developed which identified and prioritized key areas for future research. Communities within the Partnership want to be involved and have an interest in monitoring the Slave River and Delta. Researchers are expected to work collaboratively with the Partnership to ensure their research complements and directly informs efforts to design a cumulative-effects monitoring program for the Slave River and Delta. Strong, clear communication between researchers and the Partnership will bridge between western and traditional knowledge and result in a successful and a trustworthy monitoring program. The development of a communitybased monitoring program that complements and works in conjunction with existing government, agency and academic-led monitoring must be considered. Existing work, such as that conducted by the Northern Contaminants Program, should act as a valuable resource as complementary work for this program. Further details on expectations of researchers are outlined in a later section. The challenge: Managing cumulative impacts on water resources and aquatic ecosystems In this EoQ stage, the following explanation of topics, determined to be of interest to local groups through the 2012 workshops process, is provided for context, as this information is essential to understanding which areas of expertise will be needed when developing research teams in response to this EoQ. At the full proposal stage, successful teams will be expected to demonstrate how they will address these topics in their research plan, and how the topics will be integrated to ensure complementarity of the pieces. The intent of this call process is to develop research that will provide the basic requirements for establishing a cumulative effects monitoring program. This research will address the question of What is needed, in terms of an ongoing monitoring program and changes in existing monitoring requirements, to allow us to effectively deal with the issue of cumulative aquatic effects in watersheds. This work will ultimately aid the Partnership in determining if change is occurring over a variety of areas of concern for the Slave River and Slave River Delta due to stressors such as climate change, effects of contaminants, river regulation and water withdrawals by upstream activities. These stressors are causing concerns in communities along the Slave River and Slave River Delta. To determine if/how these stressors are causing change, CWN and the Partnership are interested in research related to each of the four overarching areas described below: 1. Hydrology The Slave River Delta was identified as a critical and culturally important location where ecosystem responses to hydrological changes may be most sensitive. Specific sub-topics of interest are: Identification of natural and anthropogenic induced changes to the river o Effects of flow regulation on the Peace River o Effects of industrial water withdrawals and climate change in the basin on Slave River and Mackenzie River flows, and levels of the Slave Delta and Great Slave Lake 5

6 o Methods to separate natural and anthropogenic influences to the hydrologic system Identification of the range of natural variation within the system, including extremes (e.g., high water and low water events) Identification of reference sites with rivers and deltas that can be compared to the Slave River and Delta to help identify trends and patterns Identification of the amount of seasonal flow change that can be sustained without negative impacts on ecosystems and traditional lifestyles within the Slave River and Slave River Delta o Wildlife such as muskrat, beaver, mink and frogs are all affected by water levels. Is there evidence of negative effects on populations? Little information is available about aquatic and riparian vegetation along the Slave River and Delta. What is the role of hydrology and climate change in vegetation composition and succession, and how have these processes changed from previous last decades? River ice: o What are the impacts of climate change and withdrawals on ice break-up and freeze up patterns (e.g. timing, safety of ice, changes in ice properties, nature of break-up and freeze-up)? o What are the impacts of hydro flow regulation on composition and stability of ice? o How might changes in ice due to flow regulation impact aquatic life? o What are the broader impacts of changes to ice from flow regulation on the system as a whole? A vulnerability assessment conducted by the Slave River and Delta Partnership identified several key questions with respect to hydrologic changes that may be associated with these stressors: o Why are river flows and water levels in the Delta declining? o Why are seasonal patterns of flows changing (higher winter flows, lower summer flows)? o What are the seasonal impacts of flow variations on ecosystem responses (fish, vegetation, aquatic mammals)? o What changes are occurring within the groundwater and permafrost and what roles do these changes have on the Slave River and Delta habitat? The CWN research is expected to result in the development of integrated science- and community-based monitoring tools that can be incorporated into a community-led monitoring program capable of tracking changes in hydrology, contaminants and ecological conditions. Proposals should include specific training and capacity-building activities. 2. Water Quality One priority that has emerged from communities is water quality as it relates to the health of aquatic resources and drinking water safety. Many people who have been drinking water from the land their entire lives will no longer do so, and this has been very hard on people who are intimately tied to the water. Some aspects of water quality have changed in the past 20 to 30 years. Water monitoring has indicated metals and contaminants in the water, mostly associated with sediment, and mostly at low levels. Some metals and contaminants (arsenic, copper, lead, PAHs, dioxins and furans, PCBs and some pesticides) have increased slightly over the past 50 6

7 to 60 years. Specific research is required to address this concern through a watershed cumulative effects assessment approach. Specific sub-topics of interest include: Identification of the linkages between water quality and water quantity Characterization of the best type of program that could be established to address community concerns with regards to water quality o Determination of the proportions of chemicals (such as PAHs) in the river that are from natural sources versus from human activities o Determination of how water quality changes at various points in the landscape (spatially) Quantification of changes in water quality and sediment quality and how they are related to natural and human-induced (e.g. both local and upstream development) changes in the landscape o Determination of how changes in water quality are affecting aquatic life, and the extent of those changes An outcome of this work will be to develop sensitive indicators of change that can be traced from the headwaters through the entire river. A predictive understanding of the changes in river and delta water quality is critical. Historical and contemporary data mining, including both science and traditional knowledge, is needed to understand change and provide the basis for assessing future changes. 3. Fish and Benthic Invertebrates A) Cumulative Impacts of Environmental Change on Fish and Benthic Health Communities are concerned with the health of fish and fish populations. Local residents have noted a decline in fish harvest in the last 20 years, and have reported more unhealthy or abnormal fish. As well, there have been few studies on the benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the system, but these are important because they are food for fish and some wildlife, and can provide information about water quality. Specific sub-topics of interest are: Identification of sentinel species and development of standardized indicators of fish health for assessing cumulative effects. o Indicators should consider both western science and traditional knowledge perspectives. Characterization of the health of the fish populations in Great Slave Lake, Slave River and Delta. Migration locations of fish within the Great Slave Lake and Slave River and the type of contaminant exposure. Examination of the role of environmental variability in the quality of the fish. (i.e, potential effects of water temperature on flesh firmness) Examination of contaminants in fish, including aspects of trophic structure of the aquatic food web and how it may impact contaminant levels (especially in common food fishes). Classification of the benthic invertebrates in the system and identification of what these invertebrates can indicate regarding the health of the ecosystem. Anticipated outcomes include protocols that communities can use to assess and understand cumulative effects on the health of fish and fish populations. 7

8 B) Fish Palatability Fish palatability is also a concern in the communities. Specific sub-topics of interest are: Spatial, temporal, and inter-species differences in fish palatability, including how palatability is perceived to have changed over time. Identification of environmental and social drivers that affect palatability, including data on changing habits of fish consumption. Examination and integration of the relationships between fish ecology, fish movement, and social/harvesting variables to palatability. Anticipated outcomes are preferred that include both western science and traditional knowledge-based methods that communities can use to assess and understand past and future changes in fish palatability. 4. Human Dimensions of Aquatic Ecosystem Change and Community-Based Monitoring One priority that has been identified by communities is the need for research that addresses the human dimensions of aquatic ecosystem change and community-based monitoring, using social science methods and traditional and local knowledge. Though traditional and local knowledge is expected to be used in all areas of research developed under this call, community members expressed a need for specific research that addresses how such knowledge can be best used in a community-based monitoring program. Research in this priority area could also seek to address capacity building at the community level and development of training and education initiatives. Specific sub-topics of interest include: How water is valued by communities. The role of traditional and local knowledge in developing methods for community-based monitoring. o i.e. Best practices for using traditional and local knowledge in research and monitoring design. o Ways of linking traditional and local knowledge and western science. o Development of traditional and local knowledge protocols for water-based research. Water-based education initiatives and community-focused communications mechanisms (i.e. the best ways to disseminate research to communities in messages that are accessible and meaningful for decision-makers). The role of youth in promoting and protecting watersheds. o Youth-Elder knowledge exchanges. Improving governance for integrated watershed management that involves multiple users, jurisdictions and resource sectors. Increasing capacity for community participation in community-based monitoring. Strong partnerships with community members and Aboriginal governments would be an expectation of research under this priority area. Communities would be instrumental in the 8

9 design and implementation of research that addresses traditional and local knowledge and the human dimensions of water-related change (using a social science perspective). For each of these four overarching areas, researchers should maximize use of data that is already available, and link local and traditional knowledge into the research. Research Team Qualification What are we looking for? At the EoQ stage, research teams should be developed with a clear understanding of how the proposed team could work towards addressing the goals of the Slave River and Delta Partnership. Ideally, teams will be large enough to address all of the areas of challenge identified above, although we recognize that it will be challenging to address all of these topics within one team. Alternatively, teams who choose to respond to only selected areas of challenge as identified above should indicate their willingness and strategy to integrate their work with others to ensure the full range of areas of challenge are addressed. Expression of Qualifications Evaluation Criteria Research teams wishing to respond to the request to demonstrate their qualifications to conduct the proposed research project will have their EoQ submissions assessed against the following criteria: Quality of Overall Concept/Response: The proponents demonstrate a clear understanding of the kind of team and overall anticipated project approach that would be appropriate to the task. Multi-disciplinary and Multi-institutional Composition of Research Team: CWN projects require that teams show broad disciplinary composition. The process strongly favours teams that combine researchers from multiple institutions, encouraging crossregional and national collaboration to best meet the goals of the consortium. Demonstrated Competence and Research Excellence in all Areas of Required Expertise. The proposed research team demonstrates both research excellence and established competence/experience in the areas required by the selected research topic/s. Demonstrated Experience in Integrated Watershed/Cumulative Effects Monitoring Research: The proposed team has demonstrated success at integrated watershed management and cumulative effects monitoring research design, with previous history of incorporating community based or traditional knowledge. Knowledge of Applicable Conditions, Approaches and Appropriate Design: The team demonstrates experience and knowledge of the conditions (including understanding of traditional knowledge and social considerations specific to Aboriginal and Northern communities) and existing monitoring resources in the area, sufficient to 9

10 enable them to both develop a strong project design and implement their project effectively in a Northern setting. Experience with Traditional Knowledge: The team demonstrates experience incorporating traditional and local knowledge into their work in a meaningful way, and a concrete understanding of how they will incorporate traditional and local knowledge into this work. Capacity for Data and Knowledge Management and Transfer: The team demonstrates the capacity for effective design and delivery of both data and knowledge management and knowledge mobilization plans to both the Partnership and community groups (as appropriate) as part of a research program. Access to Relevant Resources for Leveraging: Access to relevant research, student, data, equipment, and infrastructure resources pertinent to the work that can be leveraged through university or partner affiliations or collaborations provide particular advantages for the proposed work. Innovative Opportunities for Students/Training: Demonstrated interest in and ability to integrate innovative opportunities for HQP and training community members in research projects. Training and/or integration of local community members into research projects is considered essential. Expectations for researchers responding to EoQ The work expected to arise from this research call will represent work within one node of the Canadian Watershed Research Consortium. As such, the research will be conducted within and augmented by parallel activities being conducted within the Consortium as well as the Slave River and Delta Partnership. Researchers are expected to respond to this call with a team capable of addressing as many of the concerns as possible, and should explicitly state which concerns they will be focusing on, and how they have adjusted their budgets accordingly. Researchers will be expected to work collaboratively with the consortium to ensure their research complements and directly informs efforts to design a cumulative-effects monitoring program for the Partnership. As a minimum, selected researchers will be expected to attend meetings with consortium members both at the outset of their projects and at regular intervals during their funded research programs. The purpose of these meetings will be to ensure that members understand the research, and have an opportunity to discuss, review, and, if necessary, re-focus the scope of proposed studies before they begin. These meetings will also help clarify expectations related to sharing of research and monitoring information. CWN defines knowledge mobilization as any activity through which people who use research as part of the decision making process (may be referred to as end users or decision makers ) and people who produce research ( researchers ) are involved together in the research process, from design through to dissemination. Researchers are required to incorporate Traditional Knowledge (TK) and knowledge mobilization as underlying facets of their workplan, and follow ethical conduct during their 10

11 research with Aboriginal peoples. A best practices guide will be developed and provided to researchers prior to the start of project funding. This guide may cover topics such as ensuring meaningful participation of a variety of partners such as youth or elders to link TK or community based knowledge with scientific knowledge, and ensuring that information is disseminated in a manner that allows for future use in different projects or in different areas. This also means that budgets must take into account any additional time and resources needed for face-to-face meetings, ethics approval (if required), building relationships over time, and ensuring that their work is integrated into the program as a whole. Project Reporting Requirements Researchers are also expected to complete reporting to CWN both directly and through the local node management team. The research team will be required to provide the following reports to CWN over the lifecycle of the project: 1. Progress report. The research team will submit a progress report 12 months after the project start date. 3. Final report. One month after the project end date, the research team will be required to submit a final report detailing project outcomes and applications in a format which will be specified by CWN. 4. End-user oriented applications report. An end-user oriented applications report is to be submitted by the research team, and developed in collaboration with project partners and supported by CWN. This report will provide an end-user oriented summary of the research and information about the implications, application and implementation of the research for project partners and/or other end users across Canada. This report will be due one month after the project end date and must be submitted in a format to be specified by CWN; the research team should account for the development of this report in the budget. 2. Annual Statistical Report. CWN is asked to provide the Networks of Centres of Excellence with an Annual Statistical Report of CWN-funded projects. These reports are used to determine whether grants are being used for the intended purpose and to monitor progress against objectives. As such, a contractual obligation for all researchers receiving CWN funds is to provide the required information about their project during and after project completion. The local node management team will determine the appropriate reporting method and schedule for their needs, so that they have sufficient information to assess the research against local needs. As a minimum, researchers will be expected to attend meetings with the consortium node management team both at the outset of their projects and at regular intervals during their funded research programs (a minimum of twice yearly). The meetings will take place either in Yellowknife, Fort Resolution, or Fort Smith, and the estimated costs of these meetings should be clearly included in the budget. The purpose of these meetings will be to ensure that the node team can become familiar with the research, and has an opportunity to discuss, review, and, if necessary, re-focus the scope of proposed studies before they begin, to ensure that the research addresses community concerns and priorities and will contribute to a useful cumulative effects monitoring program for the partnership. The lead project investigator may also be required to attend an annual meeting with investigators from the other Canadian Watershed Research Consortium nodes to share ideas, progress, and challenges relevant to the other nodes and building a community of practice around cumulative effects monitoring. 11

12 All funded projects will be reviewed annually and continued funding will be contingent on acceptable progress towards identified outcomes. What does CWN mean by Decision Makers, End Users and Partners? CWN activities strive to identify, involve and serve the needs of those groups and individuals who make investment, management action or regulatory decisions with respect to water, as well as those directly involved in supporting and providing options and solutions for those decision needs. Within the context of this call, we use the following terms: Decision Makers: End Users: Partners: Those who must make a key decision with respect to making an investment, implementing an action, or formulating a policy or regulation in the area of water management (public and private sector). Those making direct use of the outcomes of research projects (including decision makers, service and technology providers and others) to support or influence the outcomes of decisions and actions related to water management. Organizations or individuals from the end-user community who are committed to support of, and who will participate in, the proposed project. EoQ and Full Proposal Process In this initial stage, CWN is seeking Expressions of Qualification (EoQ) from interested teams to conduct the research. Keep in mind that collaboration (more than competition) is strongly encouraged to develop a larger well-rounded team that is able to meet the goals of the consortium in all areas of interest. Based on the desired outcomes as described above, and considering the evaluation criteria below, the interested team should submit an application outlining the research team you would bring together to conduct the project based on what you indicate would be the most effective approach. The EoQ form is not a research pre-proposal, but it will require you to articulate at a high level your overall research approach to the project and what you feel is the appropriate scope and mix of expertise as a result. The review committee will not be looking for a research plan at this stage, but your overall proposed approach to the challenge will be evaluated and team evaluation will examine the construction of the team and the background experience insofar as it demonstrates your understanding of the kinds and breadth of expertise required by the task. The submitted Expressions of Qualifications for Research will be reviewed by CWN and the Partnership. Only those teams deemed to exhibit the strongest potential to execute a high quality research project matching the needs of the end users for the defined project, as assessed against the criteria listed earlier, will be invited to submit a full proposal. 12

13 During the proposal stage, submissions will be forwarded using a standard form, and will be assessed against criteria similar to the following: 1. Potential to Contribute to the Consortium and Partnership Goals 2. Excellence of Research Plan and Approach 3. Strength and Excellence of the Project Team (Including Partners) 4. Experience with Traditional Knowledge and Appropriate Design 5. Development of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) 6. Knowledge Mobilization Plan 7. Project Networking and Management Capacity 8. Appropriateness of Budget See Appendix B for further details on what may be expected during the proposal stage. Instructions for Submittal of EoQ EoQs must be submitted by as an attached PDF or Word file to jlevangie@cwn-rce.ca no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Saving Time October 29, Confirmation of receipt of EoQs will be sent within one business day. If a confirmation is not received, contact Janice Levangie at jlevangie@cwn-rce.ca or by telephone at ext EoQ Form Only EoQs submitted using the Expressions of Qualifications Form will be considered. Carefully read the instructions included on the Expressions of Qualifications Form, and complete the form as directed. The EoQ should be no longer than 9 pages; submissions exceeding 9 pages in length will be rejected. Tables or figures may be used if desired, but must be legible and accommodated within the 9 page limit. Proponents may copy and paste text into the form, but text must be in an easily legible, minimum 11-point, font. Letters of interest from additional partners may be included along with the EoQ form, and do not count toward the 9 page limit. The form is available at: Link to Form Inquiries and Assistance For administrative inquiries about submissions, please Janice Levangie at jlevangie@cwn-rce.ca or telephone at ext For technical inquiries about the current call, please Kelly Munkittrick krm@cwn-rce.ca or telephone at Eligibility to Receive CWN Funds As a condition of the funding received from the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence 13

14 (NCE) Directorate, only the following persons can receive research funds from CWN as part of this process: Any person employed or otherwise given academic status by a university, post-secondary educational institution, hospital, institute or other organization eligible to receive research funds from any one of the federal granting agencies: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and / or the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Please visit the NSERC Eligibility Guidelines CRSNG/eligibility-admissibilite/index_eng.asp for a complete explanation of eligibility. Although only researchers meeting these criteria may receive funds directly from CWN, projects are encouraged to include additional researchers and project collaborators from other sectors if they can be supported by non-nce (i.e., non-cwn) funding through matching or leveraged funding generated by the project teams. See Appendix C for further details on matching and leveraged funding. Please go to the NSERC Eligibility Guidelines CRSNG/eligibility-admissibilite/index_eng.asp for a complete explanation of eligibility. Intellectual Property Those submitting expressions of interest and / or proposals should read the NSERC Policy on Intellectual Property, found at This policy applies to CWN funding. 14

15 Appendix A: Additional context on the Canadian Watershed Research Consortium The Challenge: Managing Cumulative Impacts on Water Resources and Aquatic Ecosystems Watershed management has begun to incorporate the intrinsic value of ecosystems and the critical role of aquatic ecosystem health in the sustainable management of water resources. Managing water quality and aquatic ecosystem health on a watershed basis requires the identification and consideration of the various relative threats to sources of water and related aquatic systems, as well as possible mitigation measures to limit environmental degradation. Supporting Assessments of Cumulative Impacts and Assimilative Capacity for Aquatic Ecosystem Health Methodologies to assess the cumulative impacts of various contaminant sources and the assimilative capacity of aquatic systems have not adequately matured for widespread use to inform decisions. Many different monitoring programs currently operate in basins; including programs for licenses and permits, regional monitoring programs, status and trends, environmental impact assessments, and environmental effects monitoring, yet we still are faced with challenges of how to deal with the cumulative effects. This is due to a variety of factors including a lack of overarching framework, common philosophy, common methodologies, integration, or consistency in timing between programs, as well as the fact that decision-making and responsibility is split into different areas. There are several challenges with the current practice of cumulative effects assessment (CEA), including considerable challenges with terminology in the area. Inconsistency between the intent and the practice of the CEA process creates barriers to: achieving/maintaining environmental sustainability, supporting effective watershed management, and clarifying accountability and roles for best result. A lack of a common framework or approach to study/monitoring design further limits cumulative effects assessment. CWN s Approach This watershed consortia program is aimed at developing the research needed to influence the development of monitoring programs in a number of priority areas across Canada so that they could be adequately linked to enable the development of cumulative effects assessments regionally, and through that process help to change the community of practice around what is considered in an EIA (or CEA), and to increase the capacity to deal with cumulative effects. In addition, the consortia were intended to support regional assessments of cumulative impacts and assimilative capacity for aquatic ecosystem health. 15

16 The main goal of the Canadian Watersheds Research Consortium program is to support science-based decision making for watershed management activities within a regional environmental framework. A regional monitoring framework is defined as a strategic, integrated, regional monitoring design and decision-making strategy for the measurement of regional ecosystem change while incorporating site-specific monitoring needs. It is necessary that the monitoring fit within the context of an adaptive management framework with a design that extends beyond any single project-specific needs in order to understand site-specific conditions or changes in the context of conditions in the larger system. The first phase is aimed at supporting cumulative effects frameworks and supporting more effective practice with respect to Environmental Impact Assessments. This framework would enhance the effectiveness of the cumulative effects assessment process while respecting the site-specific differences appropriate to consider in addressing unique conditions in each watershed area. The framework will provide guidance on monitoring design approaches and techniques and facilitate open and continuous communication amongst stakeholders. The key is the concept of developing appropriate site-specific parameters and thresholds that allow the framework to be properly implemented consistently in a given study area. The benefits of framing a cumulative effects assessment approach within the context of a regional monitoring framework are the ability to quantify thresholds for environmental management, and the ability to provide a basis and mechanism for (re-)assessment of conditions over time, enabling adaptive management. These benefits are likely to be missed in site or project specific assessments. The consortium process seeks to link regional watershed users and decision-makers in a process that examines existing monitoring approaches, and defines what is limiting the appropriate regional application of cumulative effects assessments. It seeks to develop linkages between monitoring programs to look for efficiencies, and to develop a co-investment strategy and definition of research that would lead to a change in the community of practice for cumulative effects assessment. It would also integrate programs into a regional monitoring consortium and framework capable of beginning to look at the issue of cumulative effects. Research is required to determine the implications of different inputs to watersheds on cumulative impacts, and identifying the role of key indicators in defining and assessing relevant changes. In addition to assessing the ecological considerations of impacts on water resources and ecosystems, application of any cumulative impacts management strategy needs to fuse with sociological and economic assessment and include concepts of ecological value that have been poorly integrated in the past. Research is also required to provide tools and approaches to better enable decision makers to integrate sociological, economic, and environmental assessments. In doing so, decision makers will establish goals and select management options that are technically feasible, affordable, protective, and socially acceptable. 16

17 Appendix B: What to expect at the proposal stage At the proposal stage, invited teams should demonstrate: a clear indication of how the proposed team and its work could address the goals and needs of the Slave River and Delta Partnership, as well as contribute to the overall NWT Water Strategy and Mission, clear understanding of the intended research and knowledge mobilization path that can lead to the ultimate outcomes desired by end users/decision makers being implemented, scientific excellence of both the proposed methodology and project team, multi-institutional teams with established research excellence and the broad multidisciplinary scope sufficient to contribute to the target issue, a history of successful partnered research in this area with potential for continued relevant networking and partnership, established links to other leading research groups whose work contributes to the topic area, project networking and management capacity, and opportunity for unique training experiences and development of experience and capacity of Highly Qualified Personnel involved in the project, as well as training and/or integration of local community members into research projects. Scientific excellence is essential for successful proposals but not sufficient as all criteria will be considered. Proposals will be peer reviewed by an expert panel assembled for the purpose of this call and by members of the Slave River and Delta Partnership; final selection will be based on approval of the CWN Board of Directors. Proposal Evaluation Criteria The proposals will be assessed against criteria similar to the following: 1. Potential to Contribute to the Consortium and Partnership Goals The proposed research represents a strong potential to contribute to the goals of the Consortium and its capacity to achieve the desired advancement in development of a regional environmental monitoring framework to support cumulative effects assessment, as well as the strong potential to address the goals and needs of the Slave River and Delta Partnership. 2. Excellence of Research Plan and Approach The proposed research plan and methodology demonstrate research and scientific excellence and are appropriate in the context of the current state of scientific knowledge and understanding. The research approach is innovative and achievable, demonstrates an understanding of how the proposed research will directly address real world 17

18 conditions and can meaningfully advance decision making capacity in the selected area/s of impact. 3. Strength and Excellence of the Project Team (Including Partners) The proposed research team (including extended project partnerships) and their respective roles demonstrate the necessary excellence and breadth of experience and skill sets required to conduct the work and establish a leading national or regional multiinstitutional team. The team demonstrates the necessary collective experience in userrelevant research conducted in close collaboration with users in the area of the proposed contribution. 4. Experience with Traditional Knowledge and Appropriate Design The proposed research team demonstrates experience and knowledge related to incorporating traditional and local knowledge into their work, and conditions in Northern settings to enable appropriate design and execution of the research plan. The team demonstrates knowledge of existing monitoring resources in the local area. 5. Development of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) The project includes a significant component that offers opportunities for students or others to obtain unique cross-disciplinary training and exposes them to partner interactions that will contribute to broadening the experience and capacity of those involved in the project. The project also incorporates training and/or integration of local community members into research projects. 6. Knowledge Mobilization Plan The project demonstrates a clear knowledge mobilization plan that recognizes the importance of engaging with the project s direct end users and research partners, as well as the broader end-user community, throughout the life of the project to ensure continued relevance of the work to the end users decision contexts. The proposed knowledge mobilization plan contains provisions for scoping and adapting to end-user needs throughout the life of the project and balances traditional academic means of research dissemination (such as conference presentations and academic publications) with tailored communications to targeted end-user audiences (such as end-user oriented workshops and publications). 7. Project Networking and Management Capacity The project indicates a clear plan and capacity to manage the various elements of the project, both to ensure networking among project components and with the larger Consortium group, and to ensure the project proceeds on time and on budget, addresses key milestones, and ensures appropriate integration. The approach has the proper scale and underlying principles that will ensure the work can be integrated into a cumulative effects framework appropriate for the Northwest Territories and commensurate with the overall approach of the Canadian Watersheds Research Consortium. 8. Appropriateness of Budget The budget request is appropriate to the proposed scope and intended outcomes and effectively leverages existing resources. Teams which attract additional resources for the planned work will be considered favourably. 18