POLIS Project recently released a new report Illumination: Insights and Perspectives for Building Effective Watershed Governance in B.C. is a forward looking and in-depth analysis of perspectives, emerging trends and opportunities associated with watershed governance and water sustainability in British Columbia. It specifically highlights capacity needs and practical tools required to implement watershed governance across B.C. but also shows a model for the legal and institutional evolution of water, watersheds and governance across Canada—and indeed globally.

 

First Nations across the province demonstrate leadership around watershed governance, and recent Supreme Court decisions affirm First Nations’ critical role in resource decision-making. The future evolution of watershed governance is clear and it will centrally involve co-governance between the Province and First Nations in a specifically local context. Numerous regional collaborative watershed initiatives are starting down this path by leading planning, monitoring, and stewardship projects that are changing the ways society interacts with and stewards fresh water.

 

This research confirms that although a genuine window of opportunity exists to kick-start a world-class watershed governance regime in British Columbia, considerable knowledge and capacity gaps still exist for fully turning the concept into practice. Through an extensive investigation involving interviews, surveys, and a First Nations Roundtable, the Illumination study provides critical insights into the question: "What is needed NOW to make watershed governance work in British Columbia?"

 

Key findings and insights offered in the report include:

 

• The current system is not working. Substantial appetite exists for a concerted move towards watershed governance—85% of e-survey respondents agreed that local watershed entities are needed to ensure B.C.’s new Water Sustainability Act is implemented to its fullest potential.
• Collaborative watershed governance is the future. Collaborative approaches are seen as critical for better decision-making.
• Watershed governance happens one step at a time. Multiple stages to collaborative watershed governance exist.
• Numerous capacity gaps revealed. Communities are seeking help and support to implement collaborative watershed governance.
• A catalyst is needed to spark action. A potential role has emerged for a province-wide capacity builder.

"Decision-makers, communities, rights holders, licensor holders, and stakeholders cannot operate in silos," says Natasha Overduin, Watershed Governance Project Manager and Research Associate with the POLIS Water Sustainability Project. "Rather, they must develop a collective, shared vision for their local watersheds and how to better manage resources for the benefit of users, local economies and nature to achieve long-term watershed health."