PPWB Strategic Plan

The Strategic Plan for the Prairie Provinces Water Board (PPWB) was revised in 2006. The Plan is summarized below and a brochure can be downloaded from the right side bar menu.

Preamble

The Master Agreement on Apportionment was signed by the governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Canada in 1969 in order to ensure the equitable apportionment and protection of eastward flowing interprovincial streams. The Agreement defines the apportionment of these streams and provides water quality objectives at the provincial boundaries. The Agreement also provides for the cooperation of the parties in interprovincial water management.

The Agreement established the Prairie Provinces Water Board (PPWB) to administer the Agreement. The Board, which works by consensus, has over the years established a culture of information sharing and cooperativeness. While the Agreement provides a core foundation for the sharing and protection of interprovincial waters, the Board understands the need to ensure the Agreement is current. Consequently, over the years the Board has recommended amendments to the Agreement and revised its work program to respond to new challenges. This is exemplified by the addition in 1992 of both the Agreement on Water Quality (Schedule E) to the Master Agreement and the inclusion of a groundwater mandate.

The purpose of the Strategic Plan is to identify the current priorities and how these priorities will be achieved. The Strategic Plan will be implemented by the Board through its secretariat and committees and by the affiliated jurisdictions.

Challenges

  • Authorities over water are shared amongst jurisdictions;
  • Actions in one jurisdiction may affect other jurisdictions;
  • The volume and timing of flows in streams that originate in the Prairies are highly variable throughout the year and from year to year;
  • Water use and consumption in southern Alberta and south-western Saskatchewan is a large percentage of available supply;
  • Population and economic activity are increasing;
  • Climate variability will affect timing and volume of available water;
  • Monitoring must be rationalized within existing budgets;
  • Threats to surface water and groundwater quality are increasing; and,
  • Need for knowledge related to transboundary aquifers.

Master Agreement on Apportionment

  • Established the Prairie Provinces Water Board of senior water resource officials;
  • Defines apportionment and methods to calculate apportionment at the interprovincial boundaries;
  • Sets out agreed-to water quality objectives for river reaches at the interprovincial boundaries and a method to review and revise objectives;
  • Considers interprovincial groundwater quantity and quality;
  • Encourages co-operation in the development and use of water and related resources to support economic growth; and
  • Fosters interprovincial water quality management that promotes the protection and restoration of the aquatic environment.

Vision

Effective interprovincial water management on the Prairies.

Mission

  1. To ensure that interprovincial waters are equitably apportioned and protected in accordance with the Master Agreement on Apportionment;
  2. To provide a forum for the exchange of information to prevent and resolve conflicts; and,
  3. To promote cooperation in interprovincial water management

Guiding Principles

  • Equitable sharing of water in interprovincial streams, lakes, and aquifers;
  • Acceptable levels of water quality at interprovincial boundaries;
  • Consensus approach to resolving differences and making recommendations;
  • Science-based approach used to assess compliance with the Agreement; and
  • Co-operation in the effective, economical and beneficial use of waters flowing from one province to another.

Goals

  1. Agreed interprovincial apportionment of water is achieved.
  2. Interprovincial groundwater aquifers are protected and used in a sustainable manner.
  3. Agreed interprovincial water quality objectives are achieved.
  4. Jurisdictions are informed about emergency and unusual water quality conditions.
  5. Conflicts and disagreements over interjurisdictional water issues are avoided.
  6. Ministers, senior managers and appropriate staff of jurisdictions are informed about PPWB activities.
  7. Information, knowledge and research are shared among jurisdictions.

Strategies

Goal 1 - Agreed interprovincial apportionment of water is achieved.

  • 1-a Apply agreed-to methodology for determining natural flows.
  • 1-b Measure surface water flows.
  • 1-c Calculate natural flows.
  • 1-d Compare recorded and natural flows at boundaries to determine apportionment.
  • 1-e Report to jurisdictions and governments on apportionment.
  • 1-f Provinces consult and cooperate to ensure the terms of apportionment are met.
  • 1-g Assess the adequacy of monitoring for PPWB purposes.

Goal 2 - Interprovincial groundwater aquifers are protected and used in a sustainable manner.

  • 2-a Define and quantify aquifers along the boundaries.
  • 2-b Develop a method to apportion the water within transboundary aquifers.

Goal 3 - Agreed interprovincial water quality objectives are achieved.

  • 3-a Develop and regularly review water quality objectives for boundary reaches.
  • 3-b Collect and analyse water quality samples.
  • 3-c Compare water quality samples to objectives, including assessing trends.
  • 3-d Report to jurisdictions and governments on the effectiveness in meeting water quality objectives and on trends.
  • 3-e Undertake measures to protect and restore the quality of interprovincial streams if objectives are not met.
  • 3-f Assess the adequacy of monitoring for PPWB purposes.

Goal 4 - Jurisdictions are informed about emergency and unusual water quality conditions.

  • 4-a Agencies report emergency and unusual water conditions expeditiously to the Board and affected jurisdictions.
  • 4-b Monitor water at boundary reaches to identify impacts of unusual events.
  • 4-c Jurisdiction in which the event occurred prepares an evaluation report.

Goal 5 - Conflicts and disagreements over interjurisdictional water issues are avoided.

  • 5-a Encourage and facilitate consultation and the exchange of information on interprovincial water issues.
  • 5-b Inform jurisdictions about water projects being planned.
  • 5-c Develop consensus on recommendations to governments.

Goal 6 - Ministers, senior managers and appropriate staff of jurisdictions are informed about PPWB activities.

  • 6-a Develop a PPWB Charter.
  • 6-b Prepare Vision statement and update communication strategy.
  • 6-c Use Charter to inform Ministers and officials of PPWB role.
  • 6-d Board members brief their governments on PPWB.
  • 6-e Promote scientific research and transfer scientific knowledge and information through workshops and fora.
  • 6-f Publish and share annual reports.

Goal 7 - Information, knowledge and research are shared among jurisdictions.

  • 7-a Science investigations and research activities of mutual interest are shared among jurisdictions.
  • 7-b Promote scientific research and transfer scientific information through workshops and fora.
  • 7-c Continue to enhance the PPWB water-use database.
  • 7-d Provide information to the public where an interjurisdictional approach is appropriate.
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Page last modified: 20 August 2010

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Paper copies of PPWB Charter and Strategic Plan brochures are available upon request.