Participatory water management modelling in the Athabasca River Basin

Abstract

Water is often used for a variety of conflicting purposes. Furthermore, as water is a dynamic resource, its equitable allocation across boundaries often poses problems for involved stakeholders. Integrated water resource management (IWRM) aims to promote the coordinated management of water across all boundaries. In theory IWRM is an effective solution to address multiple conflicting uses: however, in practice it is difficult to implement. This paper presents a case-study of an IWRM initiative in which the key component of participatory modelling is played out. Other important processes are integrated as well, such as problem structuring, social learning, and stakeholder engagement. In 2016-2017, approximately 30 stakeholders representing industry, municipalities, environmental NGOs, and federal/provincial government collaborated in order to explore opportunities to achieve sustainable watershed management in the Athabasca River Basin, Alberta Canada. Stress scenarios (including potential changes in climate, land use, and water use) were developed and used to test a series of water management strategies throughout the basin. These strategies were simulated within an integrated modelling tool in a live setting. Through this interactive process, promising strategies for sustainable water management were explored, and a series of recommendations for policy makers were identified. Recommendations include, but are not limited to, identifying areas for land conservation and reclamation priority, establishing in-stream flow need targets, and reducing water navigation limitations in the lower basin. Outlined through this paper, this case-study shows that examples of real-world participatory modelling efforts are in fact possible.

RÉSUMÉ

L'eau est souvent utilisé pour une variété d'objectif contradictoires. De plus, l'eau est une ressource dynamique, et donc son allocation équitable a traverse les frontieres pose souvent des problèmes aux parties impliquées. La gestion intégrée des ressources en eau (GIRE) vise à promouvoir le développement coordonné et la gestion de l'eau à travers des frontières. En théorie, la GIRE est une solution efficace, mais dans la pratique, il est souvent difficile à mettre en oeuvre. Cet article présente une étude de cas d'une initiative de GIRE réussie dans laquelle la modélisation en direct est emplois. Du plus, autres composants clés du processus sont intégrés, tels que la structuration des problèmes, l'apprentissage social, et l'engagement des intervenants. En 2016–2017, environ 30 intervenants représentant l'industrie, l'environnement, les municipalités, les ONG et les gouvernements fédéral et provinciaux ont collaboré afin d'explorer comment atteindre la gestion intégrée des ressources en eau dans le bassin de la rivière Athabasca, en Alberta, au Canada. Des scénarios de stress (comprenant les changements potentiels du climat, de l’utilisation des terres et de l’utilisation de l’eau) ont été construits et utilisés pour tester une série de stratégies de gestion de l’eau dans le bassin. Ces stratégies ont été simulées dans un outil de modélisation intégré dans un environnement réel. Grâce à ce processus interactif, des stratégies prometteuses pour une gestion durable de l’eau ont été explorées et une série de recommandations pour les législateurs ont été identifiées. Les recommandations incluent, mais ne sont pas limitées à, l'identification de sites hautement prioritaires pour la conservation et la remise en état, l'établissement d'objectifs de besoins en matière de débit dans le cours d'eau et la réduction des limitations de navigation dans le bassin inférieur. Décrite dans cet article, cette étude de cas montre qu’il est en fait possible de trouver des examples véritable de la modélisation en direct, dedans le context de GIRE .

Keywords:

• Integrated water resource management
• participatory modelling
• Athabasca River Basin
• stakeholder engagement
• social learning
• problem-structuring

Acknowledgements

The Sustainable Water Management in the Athabasca River Basin Initiative (ARB Initiative) was enabled through core funding provided by Alberta Innovates and matching funds contributed by the Alberta Energy Regulator, Alberta Environment and Parks, ATCO, Repsol Oil and Gas, Suncor Energy, and Westmoreland Coal Company. The final report is available and may be freely downloaded from http://albertawatersmart.com/featured-projects/collaborative-watershed-management.html.

Alberta Innovates (Al) and Her Majesty the Queen in right of Alberta make no warranty, express or implied, nor assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information contained in this publication, nor that use thereof infringe on privately owned rights. The views and opinions of the author expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of AI or Her Majesty the Queen in right of Alberta. The directors, officers, employees, agents and consultants of AI and the Government of Alberta are exempted, excluded and absolved from all liability for damage or injury, howsoever caused, to any person in connection with or arising out of the use by that person for any purpose of this publication or its contents. We would also like to that Matthew Chernos and Courtney Clarkson for contributing to figures.

Additional information

Funding

This work was enabled through core funding provided by Alberta Innovates as part of their Water Innovation Program, with matching funds contributed by the Alberta Energy Regulator, Alberta Environment and Parks, ATCO, Repsol Oil and Gas, Suncor Energy, and Westmoreland Coal Company.