Municipal Natural Asset Initiative: Pilot for the Region of Peel Latornell Conservation Symposium November 16, 2016 Tatiana Koveshnikova
Outline Natural Capital and Its Civic Functions Municipal Natural Asset Initiative (MNAI): an overview Region of Peel MNAI Pilot: Project Rationale Scope of the Pilot: Area, Services and Assets of Interest Key Steps and Timelines Expected Outcomes Challenges and Lessons Learned
Natural Capital Natural Capital Generates Ecosystem Services Contributes to Wealth and Well-being Protection from floods Waste assimilation Water supply Air filtration Carbon storage Rivers Forests Wetlands Meadows Recreation Physical Mental Social Economic 3
Key Pressures on Green and Grey Infrastructure Climate change Seasonal water supply Frequency & intensity of extreme rainfall events Flooding frequency Land use change Natural assets Population Impervious surfaces Pressure on grey infrastructure
Need for Municipal/Regional Natural Capital Asset Management: Grey infrastructure is under stress and needs investment Natural assets are under stress Solution? A strategy to conserve and enhance natural capital by measuring and managing it within asset and financial management frameworks and processes This would: Reduce the risk, capital and operating expenses of related grey infrastructure (as some natural assets can deliver equivalent services at lower cost/risk) Improve infrastructure climate resiliency Assist in maintaining the desired level of service
Municipal Natural Asset Initiative (MNAI) The premise: asset management provides a new and powerful mechanism to measure and manage natural capital in a systematic manner and supports transparent, replicable and evidence-based decision making The goal: to support municipalities in recognizing, measuring and managing the contribution of natural systems to people and municipal service delivery using municipal asset management business processes Natural capital must absolutely be brought in to asset management business processes. Doing so will give municipal councils a more accurate and holistic picture of their assets, liabilities and opportunities (Wally Wells, Executive Director of Asset Management BC)
MNAI Pilot Partners: 4 Convening Partners: Brooke & Associates, David Suzuki Foundation, Smart Prosperity, and Town of Gibsons, BC 5 Pilot Projects: City of Grand Forks, City of Nanaimo, District of West Vancouver, Region of Peel, and Town of Oakville Support from: Real Estate Foundation of BC, Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, Salamander Foundation + Contribution from Pilot Participants Timeline: April 2016 to December 2017 MNAI Pilot, Region of Peel: Region of Peel: Public Works (Transportation, Water Division and Infrastructure Planning), Asset Management and Strategic Planning Conservation Authorities (CVC and TRCA) Area Municipalities (City of Brampton, Town of Caledon, and City of Mississauga)
Region of Peel MNAI Pilot: Rationale MNAI team looking for participants with demonstrated leadership and competency in both natural capital valuation and municipal asset management CVC s expertise and resources: - expertise in core areas ranging from hydrology modelling to economic valuation of natural capital (EGS program since 2006) - extensive database, including GIS, climate, water quality, hydrology and economic valuation data The Region of Peel s corporate asset management and state of good repair programs employing leading best practices Interest in producing results of analysis that could be Region-wide/watershedwide in scope vs. site-specific Interest in issues related to water quality and the linkage to water treatment plant operations (water quality loading at Lake Ontario) as well as water quantity, flood mitigation and erosion mitigation and the corresponding benefits to stormwater management infrastructure
\\hqcvca\cvc2\corporateservices\kamal\totatiana\mnai\updated\mnai_map4_eastcredit_fletchers_2016_11x85_updated.png Pilot Scope: Fletcher's Creek (urban) and East Credit (rural) Need to test the model before scaling up Size of the Pilot Area Fletcher s Creek: 45 km 2 East Credit: 51 km 2 Scope of the Natural Assets Scope of the Services Wetlands, Woodlands, Other NAs Flood Mitigation, Water Quality and Quantity
Region of Peel MNAI Pilot: Key Questions What is the value of the services in financial terms provided by selected natural assets with respect to avoidance of flooding/erosion, maintenance of water quality and water quantity? What are the management options with a view of maximization of these services? How will the observed climate change trends impact the natural assets and the services they provide?
Region of Peel MNAI Pilot: Tasks and Timelines Task Sub-tasks Timeline ta Preparation Model Set Up (SWMM) Scenario Development Economic Valuation (Avoided Damage and/or Replacement Cost) Applying Results to Inform Asset Management Work plan development Inventory of natural assets, services & conditions assessment Beneficiary considerations Modeling existing conditions Calibration Model review Scenario discussion Scenario modelling: Climate change Scenario modelling: Management options Uploading data Discussing results of hydrology model with MNAI team Economic valuation see next slide Sep-Dec 2016 Jan-March 2017 March-Aug 2017 Sep-Nov 2017 Dec 2017 and beyond
Region of Peel MNAI Pilot: Expected Outcomes Determination of value of services provided by existing natural assets Assessment of natural asset management and/or enhancement options to minimise local flooding, as well as address water quality and quantity issues Understanding the value of the natural asset features in terms of avoiding a built (engineered) stormwater system Development of a process to incorporate natural assets into the Region of Peel s existing asset management framework Understanding of O&M costs of management options for the natural assets under each scenario Understanding of how data from Pilot could support Stormwater Management Plans Determining communications and outreach material to engage local population in understanding the value of natural assets to promote behavioural change
Challenges and Lessons Learned Challenges High level of effort required given the pilot scope Tight timelines and the need to get feedback from many staff and partners on the key project documents and communication materials Other communication challenges (exchange of information, time zones, varying approval processes) Gains Understanding of model limitations and proper use of pilot results to inform decision-making Gained insights into model selection for these types of projects Promotion of NA valuation approaches and relevance to asset management
Questions