Is Drought in Your Future? Provincial and Local Government Response and Preparedness

Transcription

1 Is Drought in Your Future? Provincial and Local Government Response and Preparedness

2 IS DROUGHT IN YOUR FUTURE? Provincial and Local Government Preparedness and Response UBCM Workshop Tuesday, September 27, 2016

3 OUTLINE Climate change and future drought Marcus Schnorbus, PCIC Provincial Drought Actions Valerie Z Cameron, MFLNRO Canary in a Coal Mine the Salt Spring Island experience Meghan McKee, North Salt Spring Waterworks District Working Towards Okanagan Drought Resilience Anna Warwick Sears, OBWB Interactive Session: Preparing for future drought: what do local governments need to improve drought resiliency?

4 Markus Schnorbus, M.A.Sc Lead, Hydrologic Impacts Theme

5 Runoff Change in Spring and Summer 2050s A1B, Median Change Spring (MAM) Summer (JJA)

6 Soil Moisture Change in Summer 2050s A1B, Median Change June September

7 Projected Streamflow For various basins, emission scenarios and timeframes

8 2015 versus Historical Discharge Daily Flow

9 2015 versus Historical Discharge Seasonal Flow Spring Summer

10 Provincial Drought Actions Valerie Z Cameron, P. Geo. Interagency Drought Working Group

11 Drought 2015

12 Drought 2016

13 What are the Impacts of Drought? Dropping stream, lake, reservoir and groundwater levels Less water for community needs, agriculture and industry, including fire protection Water quality impacts due to less dilution, more treatment may be necessary Ecosystem impacts

14 2016 Provincial Actions Activation of strategic and regional working groups Tracking, analyzing drought; forecasting scenarios Monitoring of field conditions streams, wells, fish, agriculture Liaison with local communities, agencies, industry sectors and First Nations. Economic Impact Assessment Vulnerability Study for community water supplies Provincial Drought Strategy

15 How can local governments plan and prepare for drought? Get to know your water supplies assess and plan. Think long term, consider climate change Improve water use efficiency conserve, conserve, conserve Communicate, educate and participate

16 What Provincial tools are available to help local governments plan and prepare for drought?

17

18 Plan2Adapt - Web tool for future climate conditions 1. Choose Region, Time & Season 2. Choose Climate Variable 3. Choose Impact & Sector 4. Start the conversation. For example: Capital Region, 2080 s, Impacts Tab - Reduced water supply, Possible Impacts

19 BC Adapts Videos: Water Conservation Adaptation Videos Series (14) includes: Backgrounder and Water Conservation, Coastal Flood Management & Rainwater Management

20 Infrastructure and Planning Support Gas Tax Fund Community Work Fund Strategic Priorities Fund Asset Management Planning Grant Program

21 Infrastructure Planning Grant Program Who can apply: Local Governments What projects are eligible: long term plans & feasibility studies Access: year round intake for applications, January and June deadlines, up to $10,000 on a cost shared basis Who to contact: CSCD staff main point of contact, administer the program, reviews applications

22 MOVING FROM PLANNING AND PREPARATION TO RESPONSE

23 Role of Province Coordinate provincial interagency preparedness and response Monitor provincial conditions Determine drought levels, issue streamflow advisories Implement regulatory restrictions, if required Provincial communications Support local emergency preparedness and response efforts Role of Local Government Front line for community support Monitor local conditions Manage community water supplies Implement water conservation strategies Communicate with residents, local media Lead for emergency preparedness and response efforts; liaison with province

24 A word about provincial drought levels and local drought stages. Level 1 - Normal Stage 1 Restrictions Level 2 Dry Level 3 Very Dry Level 4 Extremely Dry? Stage 2 Restrictions Stage 3 Restrictions Stage 4 Restrictions Stage 5 Restrictions

25 Resource Management Emergency Management Water Sustainability Act Drinking Water Protection Act Emergency Program Act

26 Where can local governments get more information? BC Drought website and portal:

27 Meghan McKee Environmental Manager, North Salt Spring Waterworks District

28 Governance complex, fragmented Water supply limited, fully allocated Water quality toxic algal blooms Water licensing other licensees use NSSWD storage Climate change changing rainfall patterns Drought severe summer drought in 2015 & 2016

29 St. Mary Lake supply insufficient for future development Need to raise the lake level to increase storage in order to receive an additional water licence on St. Mary Lake Over cost concerns from flooding private land, the weir is built 29 cm below the historical level maintained by beavers, effectively lowering the lake level and decreasing storage

30 Neither lake has enough storage to support withdrawal of full licenced volume Both lakes are at risk of not refilling in a severe or multi-year drought There may not be enough to serve what has already been planned by Islands Trust

31 If there isn t any rain during the summer, it doesn t matter how much NSSWD is licenced to withdraw because the water isn t actually there Changing timing of rainfall means less water available in summer when it is needed most Need to change the way we manage water more storage

32 NSSWD moratorium - no new demand or zoning fulfilled until total potential demand at build-out is known Some local officials reluctant to accept the conclusions No response to NSSWD requests for information on total potential demand at full build-out NSSWD Sustainable Water Management Strategy

33 Water licencing & allocation 10/3/2016

34 Modelling shows lakes refill only if average or greater rainfall No drought management plan No alternate supply But fully-metered with existing inclined block rate pricing Introduced first watering restrictions bylaw June 2015 Increased rates as of July 2015 Implemented proactive awareness campaign Applied for short term licence to draw down lake

35 summer consumption 27% less than summer consumption 23% less than 2014 Prevented excessive drawdown and negative impacts to WQ, riparian species & habitat

36 Financial impacts to NSSWD: $280,000 in lost revenue and extra costs (~10% of annual budget) Impacts to community: Developments can t proceed Loss of school playing fields for fall/winter High level of conflict over water and development

37 Must adapt to climate change now Understanding of source capacity is vital Metering and conservation-oriented pricing are critical tools Community planning must involve and respect water supplier knowledge and authority Governance and local politics can be significant barrier to sustainable water management

38 Anna Warwick Sears, PhD

39 Unpredictable supply

40 15 local govts, 19 large water suppliers, 14 water restriction definitions 4 provincial drought levels??

41 Greater Vernon Water Triggers Reservoirs Snow pack River Forecast Center Irrigation demand

42

43 Current status of drought readiness Drought plans 6 Water conservation plans 4 Drought plans in progress 4 Watering restriction bylaws 18

44 Organization through collaboration! 15 local govts, 19 large water suppliers, uniform water restriction definitions? Valleywide outreach?

45 Triggers and decision trees

46 Common triggers for valley lakes?

47 Working with the Province Sub-watershed drought level declarations Water supply analyses Environmental and critical flow assessments Improved province/water supplier communications

48

49 Discussion Preparing for future drought: What do local governments need to improve drought resiliency?

50 How many of you have a drought plan? How many don t have a drought plan? How many don t know if you have drought plan? Have you built water shortage climate change scenarios into your development Discussion plans, official community Questions plans or regional growth strategies? What kinds of supports do you need from the Province to improve future drought resiliency? What kinds of barriers, obstacles or gaps are preventing you from building more drought resiliency? Is the province responsible for any of these? Should the province just get out of the way?

51 Please share your feedback with us! THANK YOU!

52 Is Drought in Your Future? Provincial and Local Government Response and Preparedness

53 Regan Purdy Infrastructure Resource Officer, Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development

54 Is Drought in Your Future? Provincial and Local Government Response and Preparedness

55 In appreciation of today s speakers, UBCM has donated to KidSport, which provides assistance to allow children across Canada to play sports, regardless of their financial circumstances.