The document addresses key issues in water management, including jurisdictional fragmentation and the need for coordinated decision-making involving multiple stakeholders. It emphasizes the importance of collaborative water governance principles, such as transparency and inclusivity, to manage diverse interests and ecological needs. Additionally, it outlines the objectives of a guide aimed at enhancing understanding and capacity for effective watershed planning in British Columbia.

1. Thinking Like a Watershed
Keepers of the Water VI – September 2012

2. Key Issues to Address
• Jurisdictional fragmentation and conflicting mandates in water
management across the country
• Need for coordination and a common framework for decision-
making
• Consistent data and models to address growing risks of
surface and groundwater depletion
• Focus on effective adaptation to current
and future climate-related stresses on
water
• Public awareness of limitations on water
availability and the need for conservation
and careful management

3. What is Collaborative Water Governance?
• Collaborative water governance may be broadly defined as
the involvement of non-state actors in decision-making for
water management
• Delegation by government of water governance to a
council, committee, or basin organization
• Involves multiple agencies and organizations (greater
participation by a wide variety of non-state actors)
• Use collaboration, dialogue and consensus to inform
decision-making (also involves trust-building)
(Nowlan, Bakker)

4. Principles of Effective
Collaboration
• Transparency and
accountability
• Equity and inclusiveness
• Effectiveness and efficiency
• Responsiveness
• Collaborative decision-making

5. Collaborative Water and Watershed Planning
Who are the Participants / Stakeholders?
• Those with jurisdictional authority and management
responsibilities:
– All orders of government (Provincial, Federal, First
Nations, Local (municipalities and regional districts)
– Water suppliers
• Those with title, rights and interests:
– Aboriginal title and rights
– Water licensees / water use “sectors” such as
agriculture, recreation
– Water and watershed stewards

6. Collaborative Water and Watershed Planning
Who are the Participants / Stakeholders?
• Water users / in stream flows for fish
and aquatic ecosystems
• Those who may impact or influence
water and watershed health
– Users of other watershed
resources (land, forests, minerals,
etc.)
– Sources of pressures on water
quantity, quality and watershed
health

7. Why is Water / Watershed Planning,
Management and Governance Important?
We need planning, management and
governance arrangements to
effectively manage water and
watersheds, including:
• Managing the use and allocation of
water
• Resolving conflicts among diverse
interests
• Mitigating pressures on water from
diverse sources

8. Water and Watershed Planning Guide
- Project Objectives
The purpose of this guide is to help communities, stakeholders,
organizations and individuals:
• Understand the value of water and watershed planning
• Navigate through the web of current and emerging water
issues
• Understand the range of planning options that are available in
BC
• Build capacity to develop and implement plans that will
strengthen watershed health, community resilience and
sustainability

9. Collaborative Watershed
Governance Initiative
• FBC is helping to bring together BC’s
watershed users (e.g., loggers, farmers,
ranchers, miners, developers) and the
four orders of government
• Tackling the question: How can we
achieve the sustainability of watersheds
for the benefit of diverse users and
ecosystem integrity?
• This group will look at new and better
ways to collaborate on watershed
management and look at current
initiatives

10. CWGI Draft Accord:
Guiding Principles for Watersheds
• Existing agreements, rights and obligations will be respected
• Ecological, social and economic considerations will be
integral parts of decision-making
• Transparency, accountability and inclusivity are essential for
effective watershed governance
• Effective working relationships will be developed
and maintained through trust and cooperation
• Decisions will be based on the best available
information, both traditional and scientific