Importance of mountain headwaters to Alberta
INARCH Inaugural Workshop
October 22 - 24, 2015
John Diiwu, PhD, P.Eng, EP
Forest Management Branch
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
Why are Alberta Headwaters Important
• Source of 75% of water supply to Prairie Provinces
• Some of the water also flows to the Arctic via the PeaceAthabasca Delta
• Habitat for many wildlife species (eg bighorn sheep, grizzly
bears, elk, deer, mountain caribou etc)
• Several timber species are found in the headwaters
• Habitat for several fish species (eg cutthroat trout, rainbow trout
etc)
• Rangeland management is practiced in the headwaters
• Mineral and petroleum extraction is undertaken in the
headwaters
Eastern Slopes Forest Conservation
Board
• Operated under joint federal and provincial legislation from 1948
to 1973
• Provided a watershed management policy and planning
framework for the Rocky Mountains Forest Reserve
• This was the first version of the Eastern Slopes Policy
• Headwaters region was recognized as critical for the Prairie
Provinces
• Public recreation was also considered as a priority
• Provided guidelines for the management of renewable and nonrenewable resources to optimize water quality and quantity.
Eastern Slopes Management
• In 1975 a Provincial policy for Integrated Resource Management
in the Eastern Slopes was announced
• In 1977 the government approved the original policy and
published it as “A Policy for Resource Management of the
Eastern Slopes”
• This ensured that all public lands and resources in the eastern
slopes are protected and managed under integrated resource
management
• The natural resources managed included: water, wildlife,
fisheries, recreation, timber, rangeland, agriculture, tourism,
mineral resources and cultural resources
Eastern Slopes Policy (Revised 1984)
• The 1977 policy was revised in 1984 to include protection of the
unique characteristics of the eastern slopes
• Also recognized existing development and provided for future
site-specific development
• It still recognized watershed management as the highest priority
• Required natural resources to be developed, managed and
protected in a manner consistent with the principles of
conservation and environmental protection
Eastern Slopes Policy (Revised 1984)
• Provided for 8 land use zones
• Protection: Prime protection, critical wildlife zones
• Resource Management: Special Use, General Recreation,
Multiple Use, Agriculture
• Development: Industrial, Facility
• Government also approved 10 integrated resource plans for the
region
• They represent Government of Alberta’s resource management
policy for public lands and resources
Land-Use Framework
• Alberta’s Land-Use Framework was released on December 3,
2008 following promulgation of Alberta Land Stewardship Act
• Goal: Provide strong provincial leadership and clear direction
for sound land-use planning and resource management in
Alberta
• Alberta Land Stewardship Act is the legislation under which
regional planning is carried out
• Cabinet ensures integration of provincial land-use related
policies and legislation (eg Water for Life Strategy, Public Lands
Act, Forest Act etc), and
• Ensures regional plans are implemented to achieve provincial
outcomes
Land-Use Framework
• Provides for 7 land use planning regions following the major
drainage basins:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
South Saskatchewan
Red Deer
North Saskatchewan
Upper Athabasca
Lower Athabasca
Upper Peace
Lower Peace
• Regional Plans are being developed for each of the 7 land-use
regions
• The mountain headwaters are within South Saskatchewan, North
Saskatchewan, and Upper Athabasca Regions
Land-Use Framework
• Establishes three desired outcomes:
– A healthy economy supported by our land and natural resources
– Healthy ecosystems and environment
– People-friendly communities with ample recreational and cultural
opportunities
• Achieving the Land-Use Framework objectives requires tradeoffs and decision-making based the 7 land-use regions.
Land-Use Secretariat
• Created under the Alberta Land Stewardship Act
• Supports development of terms of reference for regional plans
• Leads development of regional plans, in conjunction with
departments whose mandate includes resource management
• Ensures application of cumulative effects assessment
• Regional Advisory Councils provide advice to Government for
regional planning.
Regional Plans
• Two regional plans completed: Lower Athabasca Regional Plan,
South Saskatchewan Regional Plan
• The North Saskatchewan Regional Plan is in the process of
being developed
• There are four plans remaining to be developed
• The headwaters of the North Saskatchewan and Athabasca
River Basins are in the Northern Eastern Slopes: the Banff
National Park and two Provincial Parks – Kakwa Wildland and
Wilmore Wildland Parks
• The headwaters of the South Saskatchewan River Basin are in
the Southern Eastern Slopes
Northern Eastern Slopes
Southern Eastern Slopes
South Saskatchewan Regional Plan
(SSRP)
• Developed in 3 phases of public and stakeholder consultation
• Phase 1: Five key areas of focus
–
–
–
–
–
Priorities for SSRP
Economic growth in the SSRP
Balance between public benefits and private property rights
Identification of landscapes to be conserved
High value tourism and recreation lands
• Phase 2: Feedback on SSRP Regional Advisory Council advice
to Government
• Phase 3: Feedback on draft plan
• Approved on July 23, 2014 and became effective on September
1, 2014
South Saskatchewan Regional Plan
(SSRP)
• Establishes a long-term vision for SSR
• Aligns provincial policies at regional level to balance economic,
environmental and social goals
• Includes responsible energy development, sustainable farming
and ranching, forest management, and nature-based recreation
• Creates four new and expanded conservation areas:
– 54,588ha Castle Wildland Provincial Park
– 34,356ha Pekisko Heritage Rangeland
• Ensures watershed management and headwaters protection in
the Eastern Slopes
• Establishes environmental management frameworks for air and
surface water quality, including strict environmental limits
Public Lands Management Legislation
•
•
•
•
Lands Act
Forests Act
Provincial Parks Legislation
Other Tools
–
–
–
–
Integrated land management plans
Access management plans
Forest management plans
Water for Life Strategy
Conclusions
• Historically, watershed protection has been the management
priority of the Eastern Slopes
• Source water protection helps to ensure reliable, quality water
resources for society, ecosystems and the economy
• Environmental threats such as climate change result in
droughts, floods, forest insects and diseases and wildfire
Conclusions
• Natural resources are to be developed, managed and protected
in a manner consistent with the principles of conservation and
environmental protection
• Data and tools are needed to inform management decisionmaking
• Research and innovation are important to support regional
planning and other resource management policies and
legislation
Academic Partnerships
Questions