Presentation by BC Ministry of Environment Water Strategies& Conservation Manager Ted White at Keepers of the Water VI in Fort Nelson, BC.

1. BC’s proposed
Water Sustainability Act
Keepers of the Water
Ted White
Manager Water Strategies and Conservation
Ministry of Environment
September 28, 2012

2. Overview
• Context for the proposed
Water Sustainability Act
• Policy Directions for the
proposed Water
Sustainability Act
• Opportunities for
collaboration

3. Water Act Modernization
“By 2012, water laws will improve the
protection of ecological values, provide for
more community involvement, and provide
incentives to be water efficient.”
“By 2012, government will regulate
groundwater use in priority areas and large
groundwater withdrawals.”
“Legislation will recognize water flow
requirements for ecosystems and species.”
“By 2012, new approaches to water
management will address the impacts from a
changing water cycle, increased drought risk,
and other impacts on water caused by climate
change

4. Timelines
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Living Water
Smart
Engagement
Analysis and Review
Government Direction
Legislation

5. Water Act Modernization Goals
• Protect stream health
• Improve water governance
• Improve flexibility and
efficiency
• Regulate groundwater

6. Proposed policy directions
1. Protect Stream Health and
Aquatic Environments
2. Consider Water in Land Use
Decisions
3. Regulate Groundwater Use
4. Regulate During Scarcity
5. Improve Security, Water Use
Efficiency, Conservation
6. Measure and Report
7. Enable a Range of Governance
Approaches

7. Water Management Reform:
Lessons from Elsewhere
• Senior government direction and engagement
• Decentralized (watershed/regional) decision making
including clear accountability and responsibility
– Emphasize collaborative engagement with a variety of
stakeholders/key players in the watershed
• Attention to and management of cumulative impacts
– Important role for water conservation
• Resources and funding
– Monitoring, compliance and enforcement, protection and
restoration and investment in green infrastructure
– Independent oversight and implementation support
• Embed conflict avoidance and dispute resolution
Courtesy of Oliver Brandes

8. Opportunities for
Collaboration
• Watershed Sustainability Plans &
input to guidance documents
• Enabling delegation/distribution of
decision-making
• Integration across sectors
• Awareness & communication
• Dispute resolution

9. Workshop Discussion
Points
• Collaborative approaches – where
to start?
• What information do you need to
better facilitate collaboration?
• How can the collaboration be made
sustainable?

10. Thank you!
www.livingwatersmart.ca