Surface Water Management Strategy

Transcription

1 Interim Report for the Surface Water Management Strategy WHAT WE HEARD SUMMARY November 2012

2 INTRODUCTION The surface water management strategy will outline a strategic plan to improve the management of surface water in a sustainable and holistic way that considers the needs of people and the importance of water to sustain the environment and ecosystems. The strategy will provide a framework and clearly state the principles, goals, and policy direction that will allow Manitoba to improve the management of surface water into the future. An extensive stakeholder engagement process was initiated in April More than 50 stakeholder groups and others have shared their perspectives in face to face meetings to date. Six written submissions were received, 130 stakeholders attended the kickoff summit and 180 municipal officials attended a surface water management strategy workshop. WHAT WE HEARD: FREQUENTLY CITED IDEAS AND PERSPECTIVES Holistic Surface Water Management Must Be a Priority o surface water management needs to be a political priority for all levels of government. o a holistic approach to surface water management, considering all aspects of land and water management in an integrated manner, is a key direction for the future. Watershed and Basin Level Planning is Needed to Deal with Problems Proactively o a watershed and basin approach is the correct model for surface water management. o planning must be improved and coordinated to deal with issues in a proactive manner. o an empowered local watershed governance model was preferred for planning and coordination of surface water management. o watershed boundaries should be considered in planning district plans. Strong Provincial Leadership is Required to Ensure Co-operation, Co-ordination and Collaboration o the province needs to make the tough decisions and must provide strong, clear, and transparent direction. o increased co-operation is needed between conservation districts, municipalities, provincial government departments and neighbouring jurisdictions with the provincial government taking a lead role, and conservation districts playing a more significant role in surface water management. o transboundary issues are critical to Manitobans, and that neighbouring jurisdictions must be engaged in basin-level decision-making. Aboriginal Communities Must be Engaged in Surface Water Decisions We heard that the management of water can be improved through the development and implementation of new shared governance, coordination, and collaboration initiatives with Aboriginal communities. Page 1

3 Decision Making Must be Based on Sound Science and Local Knowledge We heard that technical, financial and human resources must be allocated to ensure that long- term water science and monitoring activities are maintained. Strong decisions still need to be made even when science is contradictory or incomplete. Policy and Legislation Must Provide Clear Direction for All Decision Makers A clearly defined vision backed by policy and legislation will help the province to move ahead with integrated actions to manage surface water. Existing legislation and regulation needs to be enforced consistently and effectively. We heard that development of new regulations must be undertaken with stakeholder involvement as is consistent with a shared governance model. Education and Communication Must be Improved to Ensure Better Informed and Coordinated Decision Making We heard that improving communication is key to allow for better management and integration and to ensure that everyone is working together. Education is necessary to provide everyone with a better understanding of the complex issues underlying surface water management. Resources Must be Allocated and Used Effectively o financial resources are needed to support innovative programming for land and water management. o meaningful incentives and tax credits are effective tools for influencing land use decisions. o new funding models are needed to support programming. Limited resources must be allocated to maximize efficiency and results. Enhancing local technological capacity must be a priority. WHAT WE HEARD: SOLUTIONS ARE NEEDED Ecosystem and Landscape Resilience is Necessary to Adapt to Extremes We must improve the resiliency of the landscape for adaptive management in the face of future extreme events and uncertain conditions. We also heard that wetlands, riparian areas and sensitive uplands are integral to watershed functioning, and their ecosystem functions must be better understood, protected and restored. Flood Preparation and Planning Must Continue to be a Priority We heard that flood-prone areas need to be identified, and that development in these areas needs to be based on an assessment of site-specific flood risk with clear policy direction provided by the province. We heard that planning and coordination are needed to prepare for flood events and to provide a better response to flood events. We heard that there is public misunderstanding about the operation of provincial flood protection infrastructure. Some believe that operating plans should include multiple benefits, whereas others do not. Page 2

4 We heard that basin scale flood reduction models need consideration. Innovative Water Retention and Storage Must be Integrated into the Landscape o innovative water retention should be an integral part of surface water management in Manitoba. Multi-purpose, multi-scale, local projects will provide many benefits, including adaptive capacity for climate change, landscape resiliency, flood mitigation, water supply and ecosystem resilience. o management of existing water reservoirs must be well defined, well communicated, and could be improved in some situations. o existing wetlands need protection as they are critical natural features that provide multiple benefits for both the environment and for surface water management. Drainage Infrastructure Must be Better Co-ordinated and Planned on Watershed Principles o drainage needs to be planned on watershed principles. Maintenance and management of provincial, municipal, and private drains need to be better coordinated. o the economics behind public and private drainage needs to be integrated into planning and decision making. o agriculture will continue to be the dominant land use throughout municipal Manitoba. Adequate surface drainage has been and will continue to be integral to maintaining productivity of crop land. Subsurface drainage is likely to become increasingly popular. o many different opinions on drainage licensing and enforcement, in particular with regard to wetlands, the current drainage licensing review effort, and development of new policy direction. o the cumulative impacts of on-farm drainage must be reviewed with consideration to overall watershed health including downstream impacts on agriculture, flooding, groundwater, water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Manitoba Must be Adequately Prepared to Deal with the Impacts of a Large-scale, Long-term Drought We heard that innovative solutions to deal with the impacts of drought are needed. Providing water security for all Manitobans is necessary, as the economic impact of a prolonged drought would be devastating. We also heard that Manitoba needs to proactively plan for drought, as we may not be adequately prepared to deal with the consequences of a long term drought. Water Supply Must be Allocated Sustainably, Delivered Efficiently and Allow for Adaptive Management We have to be proactive in allocating water resources for irrigation and public drinking water to ensure a sustainable and safe supply during extreme events or climate change. We heard that source water protection plans should continue to be part of the watershed planning process. Maintaining Water Quality Must be One of Our Highest Priorities We heard opposing viewpoints on the importance of point-source vs. non-point source contributions to impaired water quality in Manitoba s rivers and lakes. Page 3

5 We also heard that reduction of nutrient loading and recycling of nutrients, primarily phosphorus, is a top priority. Crown Lands Must be Managed to Maintain Provincial Priorities We heard that the management of Crown Lands should be improved to address integrated surface water management with land use. Drainage on Crown Lands should be integrated into an overall surface water management plan for each watershed. Water Level Fluctuations in Terminal Basins Must be a Consideration in Local Surface Water and Land Management Planning We heard that terminal basins need to be managed within the context of naturally variable water levels. Long term sub-basin surface water management plans should be developed that integrate land and water management within terminal basins. Page 4