Setting a new course in British Columbia : POLIS Water Sustainability Project

We would also like to acknowledge the generous financial and program support for this project by the Ministry of Environment’s Water Stewardship Division, the University of Victoria and the Eco-Research Chair of Environmental Law and Policy, the Pacific Salmon Foundation and the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation. [...] Water governance in the province currently Governance is the process of decision making – who lacks clarity in roles and responsibilities, and does decides and is accountable for the decision, what the not effectively or transparently align resources to parameters of the decision are, and how decisions the maximum benefit of integrated water resource are made. [...] Setting The analysis outlined in this discussion paper is based British Columbia’s water governance on a new course on a global literature review of water governance is critical to addressing current water use conflicts and models and a comprehensive understanding of ensuring the long-term health of watersheds and water the legal framework of water governance and 8 resources across the province. [...] Each of the key • fisheries and the “salmon culture;” characteristics of the models is explored through these • population growth, demographic change and tables and supporting discussions, allowing decision increasing water demand; makers, sector and community leaders and policy • lack of groundwater regulation; analyst to understand the application and implications • vested water rights and the q [...] Agency and Regional District Leadership – represents The Regional District model devolves water a potential governance and institutional arrangement management and aspects of governance to existing with distinct characteristics to illustrate the range of regional districts, and includes only minor provincial options available when considering strategic water involvement to enable devolution and en