Water, agriculture, and climate change: the Okanagan example

Transcription

1 Water, agriculture, and climate change: the Okanagan example Nelson R. Jatel, OBWB Water Stewardship Director LGMC, BSc (freshwater), MA candidate (water governance)

2 Okanagan Basin Water Board: 42 Years Serving the Okanagan

3 Okanagan Basin Water Board

4 Staff

5 Guiding Principles 1. Think regionally and think long-term. 2. Protect nature for the benefit of all. 3. Anticipate change Plan accordingly. 4. Balance multiple priorities. 5. Clear communications.

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7 Okanagan Basin Watershed 200 km long Narrow Valley 79 Tributaries

8 3 Regional Districts 13 Municipalities 7 First Nation communities 59 improvement districts responsible for delivery of irrigation and domestic water

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11 Science-based. Basin approach. Data Science: Frame & Interpret Decision Management Tools Okanagan Water Policy: - Sustainable - Ecologically Resilient

12 Annual Net Inflow (million cubic metres) Okanagan Lake - Annual Net Inflow Volume ( ) Year

13 Okanagan water users The largest 21 water suppliers according to estimated water use extract water from 12 tributaries plus the valley lakes & Okanagan River No. Utility Average Annual Water Use (ML/yr) 1 Greater Vernon Water Utility 35,745 2 City of Kelowna 17,906 3 Black Mountain Irrigation District 12,402 4 South East Kelowna Irrigation District 11,878 5 Town of Oliver 10,849 6 City of Penticton 10,064 7 District of Lake Country 9,999 8 Corp. of the District of Summerland 9,982 9 Glenmore Ellison Improvement District 9, Town of Osoyoos 7, Westbank Irrigation District 4, Lakeview Irrigation District 2, Municipality of Peachland 2, Former Naramata Irrigation District (RDOS) 2, City of Armstrong 2, Grandview Waterworks District 1, Bylaw Sunnyside (RDCO) 1, Kaleden Irrigation District Meadow Valley Irrigation District Bylaw West Kelowna Estates (RDCO) Bylaw Pritchard/Shanboolard (RDCO) 234

14 85% Outdoor Use 15% Indoor Use

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16 Water connects everyone and everything in the valley

17 Fundamentals Everyone needs water Communities are connected by the lakes We can only use what is replenished Even patchy shortages affect the economy Need to look at the whole system and work together

18 Water is a foundation of the Okanagan s economy Agriculture Supports tourism, local food production, real estate values, quality of life Tourism Hotels, water recreation, fishing Real Estate and Retirement Healthy living, beauty, amenities

19 Building a high Performing Okanagan Region Graph Source: ICF Consulting Graph Source: ICF Consulting

20 Location Quotient (Canada base) Okanagan's Clusters Drivers of the Regional Economy Forestry and Wood Products 3.0 Wine & Beverages* Tourism 2.0 Aviation** Life Sciences Know ledge Services Value- Added Agriculture -2% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% Average annual grow th rate,

21 Leadership role for business community Semi-arid reality Focus on outdoor irrigation Make best use of resources Change water ethic

22 Leadership role for Agriculture Make best use of resources Change water ethic Raise awareness about working water Focus on landscaping

23 Relevance of Basin-wide water management to business community Maintain our quality of life for kids and grandkids Minimize surprises Measure it to manage it Adaptation to variability

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25 Better decisions with better information Hard science - hydrology Social science - surveys Management tools drought plans Policy model bylaws Knowledge networks technical groups, grantees, local government staff

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27 Climate Change More rain Less snow Earlier melt Hotter summers More evaporation

28 Managing water in the Okanagan Annual Net Inflow (million cubic metres) Population Growth in Okanagan ( ) 330, , , , , , , ,000 Okanagan Lake - Annual Net Inflow Volume ( ) Year

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30 Hind sight is 20 / 20. If government doesn t negotiate (support a process of reaching agreement) on behalf of: - The environment - Future generations Who does?

31 Challenges facing sustainable water management Climate change Mountain Pine Beetle Wildfires

32 Preliminary Scenario Results Demand Scenarios to 2040: Climate change will increase irrigation needs. If efficiency improves, it will help reduce demand. Higher than expected population growth and increase in irrigated land can increase demand faster than climate change

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34 Irrigation Water Demand Model B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Sustainable Agriculture Management Branch Ted van der Gulik, P.Eng. Senior Engineer Stephanie Tam, P.Eng. Water Management Engineer

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36 Where do we go from here?

37 Coordinated Basin-wide Drought Planning How would you prepare for a 3- year drought? Mechanisms for working together

38 Groundwater Bylaws Toolkit: What Local Governments Can Do to Protect Groundwater Tools for planners Jurisdiction primer Groundwater science handbook Model bylaws

39 BC Water Use Reporting Tool All large extractions Surface and Groundwater Okanagan pilot Replace current system

40 Okanagan WaterWise

41 Thank you Contact info: