Under the new Alberta Water For Life Action Plan, the province has renewed its commitment to integrating water and land management and there is now a renewed focus on watershed management intended to include all aspects of watershed health (water quality and quantity as it is influenced by land-use activities). The Land Use Framework identifies a need for cumulative effects management (CEM), which at the local level will require threshold based ecosystem management[i]. The setting of regional thresholds for ecosystems in regional plans enables WPACs and Watershed Stewardship Groups to assess management options, develop detailed watershed objectives for each of the indicators that support the high level thresholds, and do this with multiple stakeholders which will enable long-term sustainability.

Regional Watershed Objectives & WPACs

WPACs in Alberta are being directed by the Government of Alberta to develop a multi-stakeholder and participatory approach to water management through development of watershed management plans at the watershed basin level. The process for developing these management plans include; the engagement of basin stakeholders in the identification of watershed issues of concern (state of the watershed), the development of water quality objectives (targets and thresholds), and implementation plans as developed by stakeholders

As the Regional Planning Objectives become defined by the Land Use Framework’s Regional Plans, there will be an opportunity for WPACs to implement aspects of the Regional Plans that pertain to water. Water Quality Objectives are being set for all main-stem and sub-basin watersheds in each of the seven planning regions (as per the pending Water Quality Management Framework[ii]). Wetland, riparian, ground water, and source water thresholds and objectives may also be established at the regional planning level. Once the Regional Plans are approved in Cabinet, they may identify key “integration points” at which each of the regional objectives will need to be incorporated by municipalities, industry, lease-holders, and provincial government land managers.

The unique role that Watershed Councils play in the province with regards to the multi-stakeholder relationships, planning abilities, education and stewardship function provides an important opportunity to assist with the implementation of water-related regional objectives through the ongoing activities of basin councils, community partners and stewardship groups[iii].

Under the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA), Watershed Management Plans (and their contents with regards to objectives) may be “recognized” by government and subject to all approvals, reviews, and amendments at the municipal and provincial levels. This new level of “authority” could provide the impetus for engaging relevant and critical stakeholders in the development of watershed management plans, open the door to more opportunities for shared governance of watershed resources, enable a broader dialogue about resourcing the activities and mandate of WPACs and by associated partnership, municipalities engaged in watershed management in Alberta.

Municipal Government, The Land Use Framework, and Water Management

Municipal Governments have powers imposed by the Municipal Government Act and other enactments, that pertain to land use planning and development which includes the power to pass bylaws protecting the natural environment. The Municipal Government Act provides powers for municipal governments to prohibit, regulate and control land use planning and development within their municipal boundaries[iv]. This includes lands that are subject to flooding, low lying, marshy and land adjacent to or within a specified distance to the bed and shore of any lake, river, stream or other natural body of water.

Throughout the past several years, municipalities who are engaging in watershed management, wetland conservation, and riparian management – there is a recognized need to strengthen the municipal role in water management, conservation and enforcement. Although municipal governments expected to take an active role in environmental regulation and management, the provincial ‘Water for Life’ policy is not a plan for land use planning and development of water bodies, but a ‘strategy’ for the management of water and does not negate municipal government responsibilities for land use planning and development and “the other enactments”.

The integration of regional watershed objectives (whether in a Watershed Management Plan or in a Regional Plan under the Land Use framework) may require municipal land use planning and development to be consistent with objectives defined and supported by regional stakeholders and approved by a regional body, or perhaps by the provincial government. Under the Land Use Framework (and once approved – Regional Plans) Municipal governments may be compelled to establish Municipal Development Plans and bylaws that maintain, improve, support and enforce all the conservation objectives identified for surface water, riparian areas, wetlands, and ground water.

Sustainability Resources by Sustainability Resources is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada License.
Based on a work at www.sustainabilitycircle.ca.