What is a watershed management plan

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The Bow Basin Watershed Management Plan
Gary Kindrat AQUALITY ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING
LTD.
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Presentation Outline

• State of the Bow River Basin Report
• Bow Basin Watershed Management Plan
• Tid Bits and Take Home Messages

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What Is the Bow River Basin Council (BRBC)?

• a multi-stakeholder, charitable organization
• improvement and protection of the waters of the
  Bow Basin

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Report Approach

• State of the Bow River was determined by
  evaluating trends in four major areas
• Water quantity (hydrology)
• Water quality
• Natural ecosystems
• Stewardship

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Report Facts

• 12 Chapters 201 pages
• Reach by reach assessment
• Provincial records
• Input from membership
• Watershed approach
• Benchmark intention
• Used new technology

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Reaches 1 3 Issues and Pressures

• Implications of climate change on flows
• Long-range pollutants in Bow Lake
• WWTP upgrades
• Projected population increases
• Source water protection

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Reaches 4 6 Issues and Pressures

• Total loading triggers
• Water quality and quantity monitoring
• WWTPs largest source of pollutants
• Wetland conservation plan
• Increased demand for water

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Reaches 7 8 Issues and Pressures

• Over-allocation of water
• Irrigation improvements
• Wetland projects
• Tri-Community Watershed Initiative

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Recommendations
1. Development of the Bow River Integrated
Watershed Management Plan 2. Appropriate use and
sharing of technology 3. Preparation of a water
balance sheet 4. Continued research and
monitoring 5. Public consultation and
engagement 6. Pro-active contingency planning
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Bow Basin Watershed Management Plan
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What is a watershed management plan?

• Watershed management includes
• the protection and conservation of water and
  aquatic ecosystems
• their associated riparian areas
• land use activities on the uplands of the
  watershed
• Involves trying to find the correct balance
  between environmental, social and economic
  factors

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What is a watershed management plan?

• Watershed management plans may examine
• Water quality
• Water quantity
• Aquatic ecosystems
• Groundwater
• Wetlands
• Riparian areas
• Land use issues that impact water

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Who is leading the watershed management plan for
the Bow Basin?

• The BRBC recognized by the provincial government
  as the Watershed Planning and Advisory Council
  for the Bow Basin
• Roles of WPACs are varied and include
• preparing watershed management plans that
  identify issues and recommend the best course of
  action to address them.

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Has a Steering Committee been formed?

• Formed in September 2005 - members include
• Upstream and downstream municipalities
• City of Calgary
• Environmental consulting companies
• Provincial government departments (AAFRD, ASRD,
  AENV)
• Federal departments (DFO)

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Has a Steering Committee been formed?

• First Nations
• Irrigation districts
• Watershed stewardship groups (Nose Creek, Elbow
  River and Highwood River)
• University of Calgary
• STILL MISSING SOME SECTORS

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What are the key components of the proposed
process?

• The planning process includes the following key
  components
• Outcomes
• Indicators
• Thresholds and targets
• Recommendations
• Implementation
• Evaluation

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What are the next steps in the planning process?

• Need to identify and agree on
• Key attributes for BRBC member and general public
  involvement
• Outcomes and priorities
• Planning process
• Terms of Reference for Phase One

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• Contact
• Gary Kindrat, Chair, BBWMP at gary.kindrat_at_aqualit
  y.ca or
• Chris Vermeeren, Vice-Chair, BBWMP at
  cvermeer_at_eidnet.org

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Tid Bits And Take Home

• Bow River
• Land use and water quality managed together
• 68 of the Bow is allocated (Oldman 70)
• Provincial Apportion Agreement (50 - natural
  flow)
• Basin is showing signs of stress
• Recommendation Stop issuing water licenses
• Establish water market (Phase I of SSRB)
• Recommend Withhold up to 10 of transfers

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Tid Bits And Take Home

• Bow River
• Efforts to restore flow for the aquatic
  environment should be taken
• First In Time First In Right
• What About First Nations Treaty Rights?
• We know very little about groundwater in Alberta
• Climate change is clouding the crystal ball

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Tid Bits And Take Home
Natural Flow
Instream Flow Need
Water Conservation Objective
How much water should be left in the rivers?
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How Allocated Bow Water Is Used
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Suggested Reading

• State of The Bow River Report
• http//www.brbc.ab.ca/
• Land Use Bylaw Template
• Gary.kindrat_at_aquality.ca
• SSRB Water Management Plan Background Info
• http//www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/regions/ssrb/pdf/
  Background_Information_SSRB_Plan.pdf
• Water for Life Strategy
• http//www.waterforlife.gov.ab.ca/
• SSRB Water Management Plan Background Info
• http//www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/regions/ssrb/dra
  ft_plan.html
• Draft SSRB Plan
• http//www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/regions/ssrb/pdf/
  Draft_SSRB_Plan.pdf

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Thank you!!

• Questions???