Surface Water Management Strategy. What We Heard ... Summit Two November 20, 2012 Viscount Gort, Winnipeg

Transcription

1 Surface Water Management Strategy What We Heard Summit Two November 20, 2012 Viscount Gort, Winnipeg Wayne Hildebrand, P. Ag. MNRM Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship

2 Surface Water Strategy Summit April 3, 2012 hosted by Water Council Kick-off to stakeholder engagement Excellent feedback - posted on our website 130 stakeholders Conservation Districts Agriculture Environmental NGO s Universities First Nations Fed, Prov, Mun Governments website: 2

3 3 Purpose The Surface Water Management Strategy will: provide a framework of strategic policy direction that will provide local authorities and government officials with a consistent rationale for decision-making on water management for all scales of watersheds. enable management of water across the province in a more holistic and integrated way. identify innovative new approaches that need to be taken to ensure success identify critical tasks, timelines, partnerships and responsibilities

4 Goals of the Strategy Environmental stewardship Water management that integrates environmental, social, economic and infrastructure aspects Climate change adaptation Sustainable management Underlying Principles: Holistic, Integrated, Stewardship, Sustainability, Shared Governance, Watershed-focused, Interlinked Initiatives, Coordinated Responsibility, Planning, Decision Support 4

5 Stakeholder Engagement When: May to November, 2012 How Many: 50 + Stakeholder Organizations 6 written submissions 130 attended kickoff summit 180 attended municipal workshop 200 invited to Summit Two 5

6 Organizing What We Heard What We Heard Summary Document First Section: Ideas and Perspectives = Principles Second Section: Solutions, Issue Specific 6

7 What We Heard: Overall Consensus Stakeholders appreciate process and opportunity Provincial leadership on hard decisions is encouraged Stakeholders are seeking clear direction on actions and outcomes Collaboration, communication, local knowledge are important Regional differences important to recognize Greater coordination between government departments is desired Needs to be cost effective Acknowledgement of resource and capacity issues Desire to protect environment and an openness to new approaches 7

8 What We Heard: Main Ideas and Perspectives Holistic, Coordinated and Integrated Basin & Watershed Planning Collaboration Provincial Leadership Science Based Aboriginal Engagement Clear Direction Fiscal Responsibility Communication Education 8

9 What We Heard - Planning Integrated planning is critical to holistic surface water management Watershed approach - best water planning model Better integration of provincial policy with local development plans Coordinate Planning Districts and CDs planning efforts Restrict development in identified high flood risk areas Lack of proper tools (LiDAR, GIS, data) 9

10 What We Heard - Governance Local empowerment is preferred Collaborative approaches are needed Watershed based boards CD model supported Basin planning with watershed-scale program delivery Province should support basin objectives and local watershed boards Inter-jurisdictional coordination is important Strong provincial legislation, policy and programs are necessary for success 10

11 What We Heard: Science and Information LiDAR needed as top priority tool Need to prioritize studies of cumulative impacts Water monitoring data is important Water quality information and analysis is important Provincial data should be accessible and free Coordinate with universities & other research institutions 11

12 What We Heard: Communication and Coordination Improvement at all levels should continue Make sure decision making is coordinated Collaboration with partners and across government departments is key Public needs water management education and outreach 12

13 What We Heard: Ecosystem Resilience Climate Change Adaptation: A priority Water Storage: Needed at all scales Wetlands: Important, protect, stop draining where possible. Riparian Areas & Shorelines: Protect, stronger regulations. Terminal Basins: Water management and ecological protection Biodiversity: Important to protect Flood 2011 Drought

14 What We Heard: Flood Preparedness & Planning Need plan and policy for flood risk land development Provincial flood operations education would be helpful Explore basin flood reduction models No future development in high hazard lands 14

15 What We Heard: Water Retention and Storage Integrated into landscape Multi purpose multi scale Manage existing reservoirs Protect and restore natural storage areas and wetlands too 15

16 What We Heard: Drainage & Infrastructure Needs to be better controlled and planned on a watershed scale Licensing needs controls and enforcement Agriculture requires planned drainage Improved coordination and communication between provincial and municipal systems is needed Tile Drainage: Growing. Impacts? Need policy Water system infrastructure: upgrades needed On-farm drainage should be more balanced with water retention and with watershed environmental impacts 16

17 17 What We Heard - Drought Drought plan needs to be in strategy Drought: worst economic impact scenario Perception: not prepared for extended drought Chronic Water Deficit Areas Both basin-wide & small watershed approaches needed More balance with drainage needed

18 What We Heard - Water Supply Sustainability and water conservation needed Protect drinking source waters - essential Source Water Plans in IWMPs are a positive step forward 18

19 Priority public issue What We Heard - Water Quality City of Winnipeg needs to do its part to remove nutrients and upgrade combined sewer overflow system Confusion about the relative magnitude of source and non-point source pollutants Drainage and land use are negatively impacting groundwater Health of our lakes must improve. Need goals and performance measures for saving Lake Winnipeg Nutrient loading a priority issue 19

20 20 What We Heard - Crown Lands Should be managed to support provincial priorities Land & water management must be integrated in the surface water management strategy systems approach Crown lands administration needs review

21 What We Heard: Terminal Basins Should be managed within context of natural variability Integrate land use with water and watershed plan principles Long term view, including climate change impacts is needed Constructed outlets: proposed for management not drainage Benefit-cost: important and should include ecosystem values Shoal Lakes Whitewater 21

22 Perspectives website: 22

23 23 Next Steps Draft Surface Water Management Strategy Winter Review and Final Strategy Spring 2013 Water Strategy

24 Thank you 24