OBWB Goals and Objectives for 2009

March 3, 2009

The purpose of the OBWB is to provide leadership to protect and enhance quality of life in the Okanagan Basin through sustainable water resource management. The overall objective of the organization is to undertake strategic projects and programs at the Basin scale that meet the collective needs of Okanagan citizens for long-term sustainable water supplies while supporting member jurisdictions to meet their own water management goals.

I. Goal: Appropriate Water Policy.  Improve water management policy in the Okanagan by working with local governments and organizations and First Nations to identify needs and opportunities.

 

Objective 1: Build political support for improved water management by maintaining clear communication and good working relationships with senior and local governments and key stakeholder groups.

 

 

Action 1A: Send delegation to each regional district and municipal council once a year to provide an update on OBWB activities, and receive information on local needs and concerns.

Action 1B: Build relationships between the OBWB and senior government politicians and staff to communicate about Okanagan water needs and identify opportunities for partnerships.

Action 1C: Maintain active role of and strong connections with Water Stewardship Council member organizations and other water stakeholders.

Action 1D: Strengthen connections with UBC-Okanagan, Okanagan College, and the community of water professionals to add to our network of expertise.

Action 1E: Strengthen connections with the Okanagan Partnership, Chamber of Commerce chapters, Community Futures and other business organizations. Identify common goals and interests and areas for mutual support.

 

 

Objective 2: Provide workable and rigorous recommendations to senior governments and local jurisdictions for improving Okanagan water management policies.

 

 

Action 2A: Refine water policy needs and alternatives identified in the Sustainable Water Strategy with participation of the Water Stewardship Council.

Action 2B: Work with Ministry of Environment staff to improve provincial water policies for the Okanagan, including pilot groundwater regulations and updates to the Water Act.

Action 2C: Work with Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and Integrated Land Management Bureau staff to change policies on land tenure grants that affect water quality and supply, better considering local public interest and needs.

Action 2D: Participate in Southern Interior Regional Drinking Water Team with BC Ministries and Interior Health to improve policies protecting water sources.

Action 2E: Finalize the Groundwater Bylaws Toolkit, develop and promote other water conservation and quality improvement bylaws, and initiate an outreach program to local government to facilitate their adoption.

Action 2F: Stay apprised of water issues and policy development occurring in other basins and provinces, as well as trans-boundary international concerns.

Action 2G: Develop agreements for collaborative water conservation policy, and collaborative action on other basin-wide water management concerns such as coordinated drought response planning.

Action 2H: Participate in the governance process for the Okanagan Hydrometric Monitoring Network. Ensure senior governments meet commitments for expanding the network.

 

 

Objective 3: Continue water governance review, in partnership with Okanagan local governments and BC ministries.

 

 

Action 3A: Co-host UBC-Okanagan workshop on water governance to bring new perspectives on specific governance models operating in other regions.

Action 3B: Participate in the Collaborative Watershed Governance initiative sponsored by the Fraser Basin Council and Living Rivers Trust to assess alternative governance models province-wide.

Action 3C: Provide information and input as requested to the Ministry of Community Development Interregional Governance Review.

Action 3D: Facilitate water governance reviews by Okanagan Nation Alliance member bands to develop protocols for collaborating on water resource planning.

Action 3E: Review and update OBWB procedural and administrative policies to reflect water management activities.

 

 

II. Goal: Collective Water Literacy. Raise the awareness of Okanagan citizens about local water issues. Connect people and programs in the watershed and with broader networks in BC, Canada, and abroad. Develop credibility as a source of reliable information on water issues.

 

Objective 1: Improve public communication and support to raise awareness about important Okanagan water issues and the work of the OBWB and Water Stewardship Council.

 

 

Action 1A: Develop an OBWB Communications Plan, which includes communication strategies for all projects and programs, with clear, consistent messages to be shared with all partners.

Action 1B: Seek out opportunities for public speaking engagements to key stakeholder and user groups and the broader public.

Action 1C: Further develop websites, brochures and other outreach materials.

Action 1D: Continue to distribute media releases and monthly Board Reports and meeting minutes to communicate about OBWB and Water Stewardship Council projects and developments.

Action 1E: Pursue a Basin-wide community engagement strategy about the value of water, the interconnection and interdependence of Okanagan water, and the need for water conservation and source protection.

Action 1F: Post historical OBWB minutes from 1968-2000 on website.

 

 

Objective 2: Improve communication with and between Okanagan elected leaders, and local government staff.

 

 

Action 2A: Meet regularly with individual community leaders to stay informed about local water concerns and share information about successful water initiatives in the Basin.

Action 2B: Encourage local government staff involvement in Water Stewardship Council committees and other planning efforts.

Action 2C: Coordinate activities of the Okanagan Water Conservation Professionals group, where municipal staff share information and collaborate on conservation programs.

Action 2D: Prepare an Annual Report on the OBWB’s progress and planned initiatives. Complete the report by September 2009.

Action 2E: Host an “AGM” in September 2009, to coincide with the release of the OBWB Annual Report. Invite all elected politicians in the Basin to share information, hear concerns and discuss policy.

 

 

Objective 3: Strengthen understanding about First Nations’ traditional values and build partnerships to address mutual water resource issues in the Okanagan.

 

 

Action 3A: Seek out opportunities for the OBWB to participate in First Nations’ cultural events focused on water and fisheries.

Action 3B: Identify areas of mutual interest for collaboration with ONA and member Bands, such as the Endocrine Disrupter project.

Action 3C: Hold one or more OBWB meetings at the ONA office or at a facility of ONA member bands.

 

 

III. Goal: Make Improvements on the Ground. Support water quality and management goals by channeling resources and political support to key research, restoration and infrastructure improvements.

 

Objective 1: Improve water quality in Okanagan lakes and tributaries by providing sewerage infrastructure funds to local governments through the Sewerage Facilities Grant program.

 

 

Action 1A: Finalize Phase I Master Wastewater Management Plan assessing the current status of sewage facilities and water quality in the Okanagan. 

Action 1B: Undertake a consultation process with Okanagan municipalities to report on the results of the assessment, and to solicit input on future community needs.

Action 1C: Pursue funding for Phase II Sewerage Facilities Grant program review to identify how the program can further improve water quality and meet community needs.

Action 1D: Review Sewerage Facilities Grant program terms of reference to determine whether it is necessary to address densification in areas with small lots on septic.

Action 1E: Update and formalize grant process to streamline applications from communities.

 

 

Objective 2: Use the OBWB’s Water Conservation and Quality Improvement Grant program to support key research, data collection and water management projects.

 

 

Action 2A: Target awards to tangible projects that help meet Basin-wide water management goals and objectives, leveraging local-scale efforts.

Action 2B: Use Water Stewardship Council member’s expertise in evaluating select applications.

Action 2C: Streamline process for grant-recipient progress reporting to improve quality of information for websites while using staff time efficiently.

 

 

Objective 3: Increase the level of external grant funds and research into the Basin.

 

 

Action 3A: Build relationships between the OBWB and senior government staff and politicians. Communicate with senior government about water issues and needs in the Okanagan Basin.

Action 3B: Actively promote the benefits of sponsoring and conducting projects in the Okanagan – target senior government politicians, staff at granting agencies, and federal and academic researchers.

Action 3C: Support external academic and government researchers by connecting them with local resources and networks.

Action 3D: Seek out opportunities for external grant programs that meet the OBWB’s water management objectives.

 

• Action 3D-i: Pursue Infrastructure Canada funds to support completion of Phase II of the Water Supply & Demand Project, building a data management system for Project data, and establishing a Streamlined Water Use Reporting system. 
• Action 3D-ii: Identify funding opportunities for a joint ONA-OBWB proposal supporting water planning and water governance coordination with Okanagan First Nations.
• Action 3D-iii: Become active in the Environmental Grant Maker’s Network to build relationships with national funding agencies.

Objective 4: Engage in long-term strategic planning and studies for future projects and programs to build the Okanagan’s water information infrastructure and increase water sustainability.

 

Action 4A: Implement highest-priority projects identified by the Sustainable Water Strategy.

• Action 4A-i: Initiate a groundwater management planning process.
• Action 4A-ii: Coordinate utility drought response plans to develop a Basin-wide drought agreement.

Action 4B: Complete the Water Supply & Demand Project – Phase II, which develops a water budget for the Basin.
Action 4C: Initiate Phase III of the Water Supply & Demand Project, which uses the results of Phase II to develop policy and regulations, and establishes the information management system for the Project.
Action 4D: Participate in efforts to expand First Nations’ capacity for water planning and hydrology, to coordinate planning and data collection on band lands with initiatives such as the Water Supply & Demand Project. 

IV. Goal: Manage Eurasian Watermilfoil. Manage Eurasian watermilfoil to acceptable levels in high-value public areas while protecting aquatic habitats and maintaining a cost-effective program.

 

Objective 1: Maintain current control program; evaluate options for program assessment.

 

 

Action 1A: Finalize the Eurasian Watermilfoil Management Plan in partnership with the BC Ministry of Environment to communicate treatment priorities and identify practices that minimize impacts to aquatic life.

Action 1B: Investigate methods for monitoring treatment effectiveness and impacts.

 

 

Objective 2: Preserve high standards for operator safety and equipment maintenance.

Action 2A: Repair equipment as necessary. Rebuild the Marooka Carrier for shallow-water rototilling. Update OBWB signage on machines.

Action 2B: Complete staff training and certifications to meet new Work Safe BC standards.

Action 2C: Conduct regular Health & Safety meetings and review communications protocols with field staff.

 

 

V. Goal: Strengthen the OBWB Organization. Maintain a strong staff and harmonious work environment with focus on creativity and productivity; prepare for future needs.

 

Objective 1: Foster a positive working environment with good communication.

 

 

Action 1A: Conduct individual staff reviews twice a year.

Action 1B: Hold weekly staff meetings.

Action 1C: Hold regular staff gatherings.

Action 1D: Hold summer retreat or social event that brings together Board Directors, Water Stewardship Council members, and Water Board staff.

 

 

Objective 2: Increase the effectiveness and capacity of the organization by encouraging staff to learn new skills and take initiative in their areas of expertise.

 

Action 2A: Identify training opportunities for individual staff members including relevant courses and workshops, and support their participation.

 

Objective 3: Plan ahead for staff transitions and retirements.

 

 

Action 3A: Assess future staffing needs for water management and watermilfoil programs.

Action 3B: Train staff to prepare them for future responsibilities.

 

 

Objective 4: Encourage a healthy workplace

 

 

Action 4A: Support staff efforts at exercise and healthy eating.

Action 4B: Reduce stress and encourage self care by utilizing flex days, taking vacation time and limiting overtime expectations.

Action 4C: Encourage staff to take First Aid training.