Implementation of the Approved Water Management Plan for the South - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Implementation of the Approved Water Management Plan for the South Saskatchewan River Basin - A Southern Alberta WPAC Review Project - Mike Murray, Program Manager Bow River Basin Council Presentation to SEAWA April 5, 2019

Approved Water Management Plan for the SSRB (2006)  Intended to address water allocation issues in the basin  Acknowledged that detrimental effects on the aquatic environment were evident  Recognized the need to move towards a more sustainable environment and economy  Incorporated stakeholder feedback from an extensive public consultation process 1

 The Plan directed that as new information comes to light or situations sufficiently change, WPACs can review any aspect of the Plan.  Why this review?  10+ years have passed  growing need to establish a baseline understanding of current conditions  many issues impacted by the allocation limit are of increasing importance  interested and knowledgeable volunteers! 3

PROJECT TIMELINE 3

Similar to consultation approach in original SSRB WMP planning process: PROJEC T APPROACH  Participation from Basin Advisory Committees (BACs) from the four sub-basins  BACs met individually and in plenary  Multi-sectoral representation  Each BAC used a common background information package to inform their discussions 4

 The limit on water allocations from the Bow, Oldman and South Saskatchewan sub-basins PROJECT  Future water allocation limit in the Red Deer SCOPE River sub-basin  Recommended Water Conservation Objectives (WCOs)  Use of water allocation transfers, water conservation holdbacks, and Matters and Factors that must be considered when making decisions  Water management strategies 5

 Water quality Out-of-Scope TOPICS  Groundwater  Master Agreement on Apportionment (1969)  Repeal of the South Saskatchewan Basin Water Allocation Regulation (1991)  Suggested changes to the Water Act  Climate change 6

 Surface water allocations (interim/full and temporary): number, volume and purpose DATA  Recorded flow data  Groundwater allocations (interim/full and temporary): number, volume and purpose  WCOs: locations and values  Transfers: number, volume and volume held back  Existing reports (e.g., Alberta Water Council reports) 7

How have trends in surface water allocation and/or use changed in the years before and since implementation? VISUAL DATA 8

Example: Number and volume of transfers completed in each sub-basin since 2007 KEY FINDINGS Red Deer Bow Oldman South Sask South Sask Sub-basins Sub-Basin Basin Number of 2 57 131 20 210 transfers in each basin, from Plan implementation to June 2017 Volume (M m 3 ) 0.4 12.5 22.8 3.5 39.2 transferred, from implementation to June 2017 Source: Data provided by AEP and the analysis conducted for this review. 10

Facts about water Red Deer River Bow River Sub- Oldman River Sub-Basin South Saskatchewan South management in the SSRB Sub-Basin Basin River Sub-Basin * Saskatchewan River Basin Mean natural annual flow at 1,666 3,829 3,343 7176 * 8,842 the mouth of the river (m 3 ) ** Estimated number of 15,038 5,025 7,332 3,701 31,096 currently active or revised licences (term and temporary) in the basin (#)*** Cumulative volume of 295 2,664 2,266 259* 5,484 currently active surface water allocated in the basin as of 2017 (m 3 ) Estimated percent of ~18% ~70% ~68% ~4% * ~62% surface water allocated in the basin (%)

Transfers within the SSA Volume Transfer From Transfer To Transferred (dam3) Volume Held Back (dam3) Irrigation (Crop (Grain)) Irrigation (Crop (Grain) 810487.3 73494.7 Irrigation (Crop (Grain)) Agricultural (Stockwatering) 20105 0 Irrigation (Crop (Grain)) Municipal (Single-Multi- Homes/Farmsteads (not subdivision) 296667 32963 Municipal (Single-Multi- Municipal (Village/Summer Homes/Farmsteads (not subdivision) Village/Town/Hamlet/City) 704938 0 Municipal (Village/Summer Municipal (Village/Summer Village/Town/Hamlet/City) Village/Town/Hamlet/City) 118071 0 Municipal (Subddivisions (Rural)) Municipal (Village/Summer Village/Town/Hamlet/City) 8445 0 Total 1958713.3 106457.7

South East Alberta Water Alliance “A healthy watershed that provides balance between social, environmental and economic benefits.” Key Findings  The rate of increase in ‘Interim’ and ‘Full’ groundwater allocations appears to follow a similar, or slightly lower rate compared to the allocated surface water  The proportion of allocated volume that is withdrawn, utilized or returned by individual licence holders was identified as a data gap  Adaptation by irrigators, municipalities, and industry within the South Saskatchewan sub- basin has increased water use efficiency  Relatively few crown licences have been issued within the SSA sub-basin  AEP (ESRD) is predominant approval agency for both surface and groundwater allocation within the SSA sub-basin 14

Key Findings Continued  Following implementation of the SSR WMP, Water Conservation Objectives (WCOs) are not a significant proportion of allocated flow volume within the SSA sub- basin  The InterbasinWater Coordinating Committee (IWCC) reports are provided as to projections of water supply to the participating stakeholders  Municipal allocations are by far the largest allocation in the South Saskatchewan Sub Basin  The 10% holdback appears not to be applied across all transfers within the SSA sub-basin  AEP has personally pushed for and undertaken increased water quality monitoring efforts in the South Saskatchewan river tributaries 15

The review confirmed that many of the Plan’s recommendations have been KEY FINDINGS implemented: Plan Recommendations  Limit on water allocation from Bow, Oldman and South Saskatchewan sub-basins  Future water allocation limit in the Red Deer sub- basin  Water Conservation Objectives  Inter-Basin Water Coordinating Committee  A water market, created through licence transfers  Many water strategies undertaken with WPAC involvement 9

KEY  Some of the Plan’s more complex and FINDINGS open-ended aspects require a more in- depth review.  BAC discussion of these aspects led to the identification of emerging themes, challenges and opportunities. 11

EMERGING THEME 12

EMERGING THEME 13

This project resulted in two important KEY outcomes: OUTCOMES  A comprehensive discussion and a fuller understanding of the successes that have been achieved through the Plan’s implementation to date.  Significant players in Alberta’s water management regime came together to build relationships and capacity for future initiatives in the SSRB. 14

Several next steps are identified, including: NEXT STEPS  Hold a joint AEP -WPAC workshop to prioritize opportunities to improve aquatic and riparian health.  Revitalize existing advisory groups (e.g., IWCC).  Continue to involve collaborative groups in watershed planning!  Convene a workshop with AEP staff in Approvals to work through a case study of a water license transfer from beginning to end 15

This is the start of the discussion WPACs may find areas of focus that they will work on in future

CONTACT: Mike Murray QUESTIONS? Mike.Murray@calgary.ca (403) 268-4597 Final Report and Appendices available at: www.brbc.ab.ca