This symposium looked at Integrated Watershed Management from
a variety of perspectives. International speakers presented information
about advances made globally in IWM while Canadian speakers provided
examples of IWM approaches taking place in Canada.
Participants examined some of the tools that help ensure successful IWM
implementation: ‘Management Instruments’, ‘Enabling Environments’ and ‘Institutional Frameworks’. As well, a number of individual sessions featured specific scientific and analytical assessments needed to improve our watershed studies and highlighted the key shifts that need to take place in Ontario.
Speakers and Presentations
Plenary
Speaker
Honourable Donna Cansfield, Minster of Natural Resources
Biography
Donna Cansfield was elected as MPP for Etobicoke Centre in 2003 and re-elected in 2007. Appointed Minister of Natural Resources in October 2007, Ms. Cansfield made effective a new Endangered Species Act which tripled the number of protected species in Ontario. She is responsible for an initiative to plant 50 million trees in southern Ontario, and is currently implementing a strategy for the province’s far north that will see at least 225,000 square km of land protected, in the fight against climate change. Minister Cansfield is also working with her Manitoba counterpart and First Nations to have a 40,000 square km boreal forest declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Don Pearson, General Manager, Conservation Ontario
Biography
Don Pearson is the General Manager of Conservation Ontario, the association that represents the province’s 36 Conservation Authorities. Prior to joining Conservation Ontario Mr. Pearson spent two years as Chief Administrative Officer of the County of Perth. As well, from 1981 until 2003, Mr. Pearson served as the General Manager of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, where under his leadership the Authority earned a reputation for excellence and innovation in environmental management with particular emphasis on water quality, soil conservation and community involvement programs.
Summary
The concept of IWM is not new to Ontario. This presentation will document the evolution of IWM over the years and provide a perspective of who has been involved. Current day approaches will be described and a brief description of the recent IWM Initiative (a partnership of Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Environment, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Conservation Ontario) will also be provided. The information collected from this work was used to design the IWM Symposium.
Hazel Breton is a Professional Engineer that has been working in the Water Resources field for over 25 years. She has spent about 5 years working for private consultants and about 21 years working for Conservation Authorities in Ontario in the water resources field. She has played key roles in directing water resource professionals in designing integrated watershed management plans which included working with a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, members of the public, politicians and special interest groups, in order to successfully implement many watershed and subwatershed plans. Currently she is a Project Manager with Conservation Ontario, working for a partnership of MNR, DFO, MOE and CO updating and refreshing the Integrated Watershed Management concept for Ontario.
Summary
This presentation will cover how the concept of IWM is considered globally. More details will be provided using the results of recent data and information collected from a series of workshops, interviews and surveys on Ontario’s approach to IWM.
Dr. Ken Genskow, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Biography
Dr. Ken Genskow is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He holds a joint appointment with University of Wisconsin-Extension, where he serves as a specialist on water resources and director of Extension’s statewide Basin Education Initiative.
Ken has a BSc in General Engineering from the University of Illinois, a Masters in Urban Planning, also from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
His research, teaching and extension work emphasize water resources planning and policy, program evaluation, and collaborative approaches to resource management.
As director of UW-Extension’s Basin Education Initiative, Ken leads a team of 15 extension educators located in areas defined by Wisconsin’s major river basins. The program applies integrated approaches and involves long-standing collaboration among agencies and organizations at multiple levels.
Dr. David Pearson, Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, Laurentian University
Biography
Dr. David Pearson is a Professor of Earth Sciences, a member of the Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit at Laurentian University with an interest in Sudbury lakes, and Co-Director of the Laurentian University / Science North Graduate Diploma program in Science Communication. He is also one of the co-Chairs of Ontario’s Expert Panel on Climate Change Adaptation which will provide the province with adaptation strategies to address the impacts of climate change in our communities and our ecosystems. From 1980-86 David was the Project Director for Science North, the science centre in Sudbury. He has hosted two TV series: "Understanding the Earth" (TV Ontario) and "Down to Earth" (MidCanada TV); and was the scientist for CBC Northern Ontario's weekly Radio Lab" from 1982 to 1997. He is currently Chair of the Ontario Office of the Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network.
Dr. John FitzGibbon, Professor, Rural Planning and Development, University of Guelph
Biography
Dr. John FitzGibbon is a professor in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph and is the Chair of the Ontario Farm Environment Coalition. He is a professional planner and teaches in the areas of water resources planning and management, land use planning and management resources policy and environmental and land use law.
Dr. FitzGibbon has been a member of a number of national and provincial committees including the Technical Committee on watershed based source water protection, the National Advisory Committee on Agriculture and the Environment
Summary
The concept of Social Learning has developed out of the study of both psychology and sociology as applied to educational processes. It is now used in a wide range of management disciplines from product development and innovation, organizational management and to resources management.
Social Learning forms a critical process in moving from the top down agency centered approach to one of co- management and collaborative management of planning, development and operations. The essential components are communication, socialization, deliberation, and action.
This approach is a critical component of organizational development and a key element in capacity building at the community level. It plays a critical role in the evolution of social capital in a community or organization.
As such it is a tool which is essential for managers as the role of public and stakeholders as partners in the management of watersheds increases. In using this tool a good understanding and use of a set of skills that support the process are necessary.
Professor Steven Renzetti, Professor, Department of Economics, Brock University
Biography
Dr. Steven Renzetti is a Professor of Economics at Brock University. His research is concerned with the economics of water resources and he is the author of The Economics of Water Demands and coauthor of Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources. Dr. Renzetti’s current research is concerned with modeling industrial water recycling decisions and measuring water utility efficiency. He is also an Associate Editor of the Journal of Great Lakes Research and currently serves on the Council of Canadian Academies’ Expert Panel on Groundwater.
Summary
Dr. Renzetti’s presentation examines the areas in which economic analysis can contribute to Integrated Water Resources Management as well as the challenges facing the use of economics. Examples to be discussed include the application of cost-benefit analysis, water pricing and the valuation of water's many contributions to our economy and environment.
Nicole Kranz, Senior Fellow, Ecologic - Institute for International and European Environmental Policy
Biography
Nicole Kranz has been a Senior Fellow with Ecologic Institute Berlin since 2002. Her work mainly revolves around sustainable water management in the European and international context.
Nicole has worked on projects related to the implementation of the EC Water Framework Directive, including the selection of cost-effective measures, hydro-morphological alterations and public participation. Recently, she has lead research on transboundary water governance for an EU-sponsored project on ‘Approaches to Adaptive Water Management under Uncertainty’, focusing on case studies in Central Asia and Southern Africa.
Nicole is currently developing key performance indicators for transboundary river and lake basins in Africa. Her presentation is entitled The EC Water Framework Directive – Guiding IWRM in Europe
Summary
This presentation examines the European approach to water resource management as established by the EC Water Framework Directive almost a decade ago, using illustrative case studies from Germany and other EU member states. What is the current status of implementation? What are the main challenges in terms integrating water with other policy areas and preparing the adaptation to climate change impacts? A further focus will be placed on the role of public participation in European river basin management.
David Trew, Executive Director, North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance
Biography
David Trew is the Executive Director of the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance (NSWA). The NSWA is incorporated as a not-for-profit society and provides a forum for sharing information about issues affecting the North Saskatchewan River watershed in Alberta. The NSWA was recently designated as the official Watershed Planning and Advisory Council for this river basin. Prior to the NSWA, David worked with the government of Alberta as Head of the Water Science and Standards Section
Summary
Watershed planning is a fundamental activity and goal endorsed by the Government of Alberta under Water for Life: Alberta’s Strategy for Sustainability (2003) and the partnership model was identified as the main vehicle for implementation. The progress, challenges and opportunities facing the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance in the development of the IWMP is outlined in this presentation.
Steve Turgeon is an advisor in Integrated Watershed Management with the Ministry of Environment of Québec. He is a graduate from Sherbrooke University in Geography (B.Sc) and has a Master’s degree in Land Planning and Regional Development from University Laval (Quebec City). He also graduated with an MSc in Water Science from the National Institute of Scientific Research in Quebec City.
Summary
With the Québec Water Policy (QWP) (adopted in November 2002), watershed organizations were created for 33 major watercourses. Their mission is based on concerted efforts by local and regional stakeholders, on the coordination of actions that could have an impact on water and on the participation of the population. The main mandate of watershed organizations is to establish a Master Plan for Water (MPW) by informing and having the public participate in its implementation. On March 5th 2009, the minister announced that the IWM was extended to all the meridional part of the Province and divided into 40 districts. New funds are also provided to implement this extension.
Plenary
Speaker
Bob Lambe, Regional Director General - Central and Arctic Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Biography
Bob Lambe is the Regional Director General, Central and Arctic Region for Fisheries and Oceans Canada. He has been in this position since 2004. He holds an MBA from the University of Western Ontario’s Ivey School of Business, and he is a graduate of the Electronic Engineering Technology Program of the Cabot Institute of Applied Arts and Technology in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Most of Bob’s career has been spent in Public Service with Transport Canada and Industry Canada, finally settling mainly with the Coast Guard in various capacities.
For a short period of time, Bob also worked in management within the electronics sector in Eastern Canada.
Dr. John FitzGibbon, Professor, Rural Planning and Development, University of Guelph
Biography
Dr. John FitzGibbon is a professor in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph and is the Chair of the Ontario Farm Environment Coalition. He is a professional planner and teaches in the areas of water resources planning and management, land use planning and management resources policy and environmental and land use law.
Dr. FitzGibbon has been a member of a number of national and provincial committees including the Technical Committee on watershed based source water protection, the National Advisory Committee on Agriculture and the Environment
Summary
The development of adaptive approaches to management was initiated through the work of Hollings and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. Since those early days it has evolved to be applied not only to systems analysis but to management and policy development. In its most simplistic terms it has been described as learning by doing and adjusting management to respond to lessons learned. It is however more involved than that. This presentation will focus on the requirements for adaptive management as applied to policy and program management in the context of Ontario’s watersheds. It will identify the requirements both in terms of management activities and skills needed and what is required in interactions with the public and decision makers. Finally the presentation will discuss the advantages and issues related to use of an adaptive approach to watershed management in Ontario.
Dianne Ramage, Salmon Programs Coordinator, Pacific Salmon Foundation (BC)
Biography
As the Director of Salmon Recovery at the Pacific Salmon Foundation, Dianne Ramage works with government, First Nations, business and community to make a positive difference for salmon in the wild.
The Pacific Salmon Foundation is a non-for profit organization that has granted over $15 million to 1400 community led projects valued at over $70 million, including 7 watershed level recovery plans. Dianne is a Streamkeeper on Maple Creek in Coquitlam BC and is chair of the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation. She is also a regional representative on the Salmon Enhancement and Habitat Advisory Board.
Summary
BC is on the cusp of change. There is a strong desire by many well informed individuals and groups to embark on participatory watershed management. There is an equal level of interest by the Province of BC to do things differently. The Water Act, the primary water management legislation for managing the diversion and use of provincial water resources is under review. The community, industry, local government and First nations, as well as the Provincial and Federal governments each have key rolls as we work toward comprehensive watershed management that will ensure the sustainability of British Columbia’s water resources. Changes in climate, population and water use has made this time now.
This presentation will share some of the challenges, successes and insights gained from the experiences of community and NGOs actively involved in watershed conservation and integrated watershed management in BC.
Doug Cuthbert is currently engaged in the Ontario Drinking Water Source Protection Program as Chair of the Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee. During his career with the federal government as an engineer and science manager Doug chaired many Canada-US water boards and study committees for the International Joint Commission.
Summary
Proposed goal and target setting rules will follow a philosophy on Target Setting. Targets for IWM will be drawn from the provincial “Healthy Great Lakes” initiative. Suggestions for IWM targets will be discussed.
Brian Hindley, Senior Environmental Specialist, Aquafor Beech Limited
Biography
Brian has extensive experience in aquatic and terrestrial ecology, environmental planning, impact assessments and preparation of Master Plans and Environmental Study Reports. He has held senior policy/planning positions with Toronto Region Conservation Authority, Ministry of Natural Resources and Ontario Hydro. Brian has participated in a number of components of the Credit River Water Management Strategy Update Study including the natural environmental and goals/objectives/targets components and was responsible for the development of all environmental targets for all five study areas for the City of Toronto Wet Weather Flow Management Plan.
Brian also provides ecological input and design for stream restoration projects, has undertaken numerous EIS studies for municipalities within the GTA and provides environmental permitting and specialized construction supervision on stream projects. He is currently working with Aquafor’s team on the Highland Watershed Geomorphic Systems Master Plan.
Dr. Dan Shrubsole, Associate Professor and Chair, Dept of Geography,
University of Western Ontario
Biography
Dr. Dan Shrubsole is the Acting co-Director of the Environment and Sustainability Program where he also teaches courses on Planning and Management. He is the Professor and Chair of the Department of Geography at The University of Western Ontario and he has served as a Provincial and National Director of the Canadian Water Resources Association. Dr. Shrubsole is currently a national director of the Canadian Association of Geographers.
In addition to many research papers and articles around water resource management in Canada, Dr. Shrubsole has published or participated in the publication of a number of books including:
Eau Canada: The Future of Canada’s Water (2007, edited by Karin. Bakker)
Practicing Sustainable Water Management: Canadian and International Experiences (1997)
Canadian Water Management: Visions for Sustainability (1994)
Every Drop Counts (1994) and
Ontario Conservation Authorities: Myth and Reality (1992)
Dr. Dan Walters is an assistant professor in the department of geography at Nipissing University.
His teaching and research interests focus on water governance and physical hydrology. Dr. Walters’ program of research examines the capacity of First Nations to implement multi-barrier protection of drinking water systems, and the underlying determinants of safe water and well-being. This research is funded through a strategic grant from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council.
Dr. Walters is also a member of technical advisory committee for the North Bay-Mattawa Source Water Protection Region Water Budget and Water Quality Stress Assessment.
Dr. Isobel Heathcote, Professor of Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering,
University of Guelph
Biography
Dr. Isobel Heathcote is Professor of Environmental Engineering and Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph. Dr. Heathcote's research centers on environmental management policy, integrated water management and watershed restoration. She has served on many advisory committees, including advice to six Ontario Ministers of the Environment on the development of water management policy.
Jack Imhof, Senior Aquatic Ecologist, Fisheries Section OMNR and National Biologist,
Trout Unlimited Canada
Biography
Jack Imhof is an aquatic ecologist with over 30 years of experience and presently cross appointed part-time with Fisheries Section, OMNR and Trout Unlimited Canada as their National Biologist. Jack is also an adjunct professor through two faculties at the University of Guelph and at Waterloo. He is a watershed scientist and has been involved in the development and implementation of a number of watershed/subwatershed plans.
Phil Beard, General Manager, Maitland River Conservation Authority and
Sonya Meek, Manager, Watershed Planning, Toronto Region Conservation Authority
Biography
Phil Beard is the General Manager/Secretary -Treasurer for the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. Phil has worked for MVCA in a variety or roles for 30 years and is also a Registered Professional Planner.
Summary
The presentation outlines the major issues in the watershed, collaborative approach to strategy development, impacts of climate change and the need to focus on building watershed resiliency as a response to the stresses being placed upon the watershed, the importance of scale, lessons learned, and approach/resources needed to implement integrated watershed management.
Sonya Meek, Manager, Watershed Planning, Toronto Region Conservation Authority
Biography
Sonya Meek is Manager of the Watershed Planning Group at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. She and her colleagues have been working with watershed partners to update management plans for the region’s major watersheds over the past five years. She is now applying integrated planning techniques to guide sustainable retrofit designs at a neighbourhood catchment scale. Sonya is also the National President of the Canadian Water Resources Association.
Summary
This presentation illustrates how integrated watershed management plans can be used to guide strategic land use decisions and regeneration actions towards urban sustainability.
It highlights unique urban watershed management challenges and opportunities, with an emphasis on available implementation mechanisms at all scales.
Dr. Fraser MacLeod, Executive Director, Natural Resource Management
in the Murray-Darling Basin Authority
Biography
Dr. Fraser McLeod is the new Executive Director of Natural Resources Management with the Murray-Darling Basin Association. He is responsible for a wide range of programs including environmental water recovery and delivery, water quality and salinity, water trading rules, and water accounting across the Murray-Darling Basin. Dr. MacLeod has over 15 years of experience spanning European agricultural and environmental policy, integrated rural development, research and information management; and more recently in integrated natural resources management in Australia.
Summary
Briefly, the effects of climate change, climate variability (drought) and the legacy of past water allocation decisions by governments has led to a situation where the Murray-Darling basin, Australia's largest and most significant catchment, is imploding environmentally, socially and economically. The Australian Government's response was to create a new independent Authority, which came into effect on 15 December 2008, with responsibilty for planning the integrated management of water and environmental resources as a whole through a legally enforcable Basin Plan. The presentation will outline the situation confronting Australia and the solution.
