ADAPTING TO CHANGE AND UNCERTAINTY LESSONS FROM THE WEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA Chad Day School of Resources & Environment Simon Fraser University Dave Marshall Fraser Basin Council Vancouver, British Columbia

PLANNING, MANAGEMENT, IMPLEMENTATION Compare Columbia Basin with three large- scale governance systems How effective are our decision-making systems? –policy options, predicting risk, acting early, responding to uncertainty? –Promote sustainability in basin? Examples: CALFED, PSWQ Action Team, Fraser Basin Council, Columbia

Evaluative Criteria Legislation –Comprehensive – prioritized – enforceable – public involvement Adaptive planning, implementation, monitoring –Clear goals, priorities, targets –Range of initiatives –Public evaluation of outcomes –Ecosystem based

Evaluative Criteria Representation –All interests at decision table Financing –Sustainable and adequate Leadership –Innovative, political support Outcomes –Promoting social, economic, & environmental sustainability

CALFED Bay-Delta Program Problems –Ecosystem Quality –Water supply and quality –Levee reliability 1995 FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION – coordinated approach to CA economy, water, & environment

CALFED Legislation Adaptive Representation Financing Leadership Sustainability Promising program Yes Agencies decide Stakeholders advise $879 MM in 2000 Strong political, support Time will tell? Too late?

Puget Sound Ecological Problems 7million now; 9 in 20 years Marine species: 220 fish, 26 mammals, 100 birds 3 listed fish, many fish and bird declining 70% of tidal wetlands lost, 33% shorelines changed, shellfish beds down 25%, sediments contaminated in urban areas Public education and research Action Team implements

Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team Restore and protect biological health and diversity –Wetlands & aquatic habitats –Pollutant elimination Partnership framework-all interests –12 counties, 122 cities Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan (CWA)-6th iteration since 1987 Biannual PSWQ work plan Sound + basin

Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team Legislation Adaptive Representation Financing Leadership Sustainability Focused, clear, supportive Yes Agencies decide, public advise Adequate Innovative, inventive, adaptive Impressive beginning, Time will tell?

A Few Statistics The Fraser Basin: Headwaters commence high in the Rocky Mountains and flow 1377 km to sea Constitutes 25% of the land mass of BC Is home to 2.7 million people - and growing! Produces 80% of the provincial economic output & contributes 10% of Canada’s GDP Is undammed on its main stem and major tributaries

FBC Vision... “Social well-being supported by a vibrant economy and sustained by a healthy environment”

The Council is Governed by Four Directions:

The Fraser Basin Council: A Unique Model of Governance A balanced and flexible partnership, comprised of: “4 Orders” of Canadian Government (Federal, Provincial, Local, First Nations) + Private Sector + Civil Society

Board Structure 36 Director Board: Federal Government (3) Provincial Government (3) Local Government (8) First Nations (8) Regional Representatives (10) Basin-Wide Representatives (4)

What makes the Council Unique? Brings broad range of individual perspectives together to achieve common ground toward sustainable solutions Acts as catalyst, sustainability educator, facilitator, and jurisdiction and conflict resolution agent Develops new modes of co-operative decision-making No legislated “teeth” - instead, uses dialogue toward decision-making

What does the Council DO (and not do) Typically the Council is invited to become involved Issues are often long-standing unresolved sustainability challenges Solutions demand inclusive and representative participation carried out in a safe and equal environment Focus on meaningful action on the ground NOT a think-tank NOT an academic exercise or research unit NOT a regulator

FRASER BASIN COUNCIL Legislation Adaptive Representation Financing Leadership Sustainability None, done through Council Partners Definitely Consensus Based Decision- Making Innovative and growing Influential and effective Fundamental

COLUMBIA BASIN How to Consider Threats like Climate Change? 1961 Columbia Basin Treaty-industrialized Hydroelectricity, flood control, navigation, irrigation, urban, industrial, recreation lower priority Recently ecology Federal-provincial dominance: Corp, BPA, BCH, BoR, Forestry and BLM 55% of U.S. basin

COLUMBIA BASIN INSTITUTIONS NPPC: States and tribes –Fish policy secondary now to ESA under NMFS + U.S. Fish & Wildlife –Power policy Which forum(s) should consider climate change in Columbia?

Technical Management Team TMT Guidelines 5j (dam & reservoir operations) “Member of the public may comment on an issue or agenda item at the end of the meeting. They may also comment outside the TMT process.” No nongovernmental interest group members on TMT NPPC and Montana are not members Does not reflect diversity of interests in basin

Addressing Climate Change? No forum where all interests can work toward consensus decisions on such questions No international forum where all interests meet on regular basis Have all parts of orchestra but no conductor No coordinating institution like CALFED, PSWQAT, CBC Difficult to achieve consensus, not impossible

Columbia Basin Legislation Adaptive process Representation Financing Leadership Sustainability Not yet integrated Yes generally; climate? No Adequate Need coordinating body shared decision making Time will tell?