Islanders are being asked over the coming weeks to share their views on protecting water resources by managing land and water on a watershed basis.
Premier Pat Binns and Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry Jamie Ballem announced the public consultations today while releasing A Guide to Watershed Planning on Prince Edward Island, a resource for Island watershed groups. PEI has about 250 watersheds. Each one consists of all the land that water flows over or through to get to a particular river or stream. Watershed planning is a process where everyone who lives and works in a watershed can work together to identify environmental issues within the watershed, talk about possible solutions, and set out a plan for the future of their watershed.
“Watershed planning is really about the power of a community working together to address environmental challenges,” said Premier Binns. “We want to hear whether this is an approach Islanders support and, if so, how PEI can more effectively implement community-based watershed planning.”
Minister Ballem said the PEI Environmental Advisory Council has been asked to carry out the public consultations. The council is appointed under the PEI Environmental Protection Act to advise the minister responsible on issues of environmental concern. The committee conducting the consultations is co-chaired by Sherra Profit, a Summerside lawyer, and potato producer Elmer MacDonald of Augustine Cove. Other members are Dr. Jim Kemp, a professor in the UPEI biology department, and Don Matheson, a Christmas tree grower from Oyster Bed Bridge. Dr. Don Mazer, retired UPEI professor, will be facilitator for the public consultations and will assist the committee in preparing its report to the Minister.
“I want to thank the Environmental Advisory Council for taking on this project and I encourage Islanders to share their views,” said Minister Ballem. “This is a subject that affects all of us. We all live in a watershed and all of our actions impact on the health of the watershed. So, I hope that as many Islanders as possible will take an active role in the discussion over the coming weeks.”
The subcommittee has scheduled five public meetings:
• January 29 at West Royalty Community Centre;
• January 31 at the Kanata Club in Kinkora;
• February 5 at The Whim Inn, Pooles Corner;
• February 7 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Miscouche; and
• February 13 at Westisle Composite High School, Elmsdale.
All meetings will be 7-9 p.m.
Groups or individuals who would like to make a presentation at one of the meetings are asked to register at least two days in advance by calling (902) 368-5044 or toll-free 1-866-368-5044. Groups must provide a written summary of their presentation (no more than three pages). All submissions will be posted on the consultation website: www.gov.pe.ca/go/watershedconsultations
Individuals unable to attend a public meeting may also send comments by email to environment@gov.pe.ca or by mail to Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry, Environmental Advisory Council Public Consultations, 11 Kent Street, PO Box 2000, Charlottetown, PEI, C1A 7N8. The deadline for written comments is February 14, 2007.
For more information on the consultations and to access A Guide to Watershed Planning on Prince Edward Island, visit www.gov.pe.ca/go/watershedconsultations
BACKGROUND
PROTECTING OUR WATER RESOURCES
Public Consultations – Managing Land and Water on a Watershed Basis
Watersheds and Watershed Planning
All land in PEI can be divided into areas called watersheds. Each watershed consists of all the land that water flows over or through to get to a particular river or stream. For example, the Winter River Basin, located northeast of Charlottetown, is a watershed. All of the water on or under the basin flows to the Winter River. Because the water within the watershed is interconnected, the actions of each and every individual living in the watershed combine to affect the health of the watershed. Watershed planning is a process where everyone who lives and works in a watershed can work together to identify environmental issues within the watershed, talk about possible solutions, and set out a plan for the future of their watershed.
The Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry has a Watershed Management Section that includes watershed coordinators located throughout the province. They work closely with organizations and community groups involved in watershed planning, and conservation and enhancement projects. The department also has a Watershed Management Fund that provides financial assistance and technical support to community-based watershed organizations involved in watershed planning and management, as well as groups carrying out habitat enhancement projects. Watershed groups also access funds from other federal, provincial and non-governmental programs.
The Public Consultations
The PEI Environmental Advisory Committee has been asked to carry out public consultations on the concept of managing land and water on a watershed basis. The council will report to the Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry this spring.
Islanders are being asked to share their views on several questions related to community-based watershed planning and management including the following:
• Priority environmental issues related to watersheds
PEI is the most densely populated province in Canada and has the highest percentage of non-forest land use. These factors can impact on the environment. Some of the environmental issues that Islanders have identified include an increase in nitrate levels in groundwater and surface water; siltation of streams and its impact on fish habitat; and closures in shellfish harvesting areas due to bacterial contamination. What are the environmental issues in your watershed? What are the opportunities for environmental improvement?
• Public support for community-led watershed planning and management
Since the actions of everyone living in a watershed combine to affect the health of the watershed, many believe that planning and managing our land and water on a watershed basis is the most effective way to address environmental issues within a watershed. Do you believe community-led watershed planning and management has a strong potential to address environmental issues?
• Level of financial support that would be necessary to implement watershed planning and management across PEI
Implementing watershed planning and management requires resources beyond that available to a group of volunteers only. How much financial support would watershed groups require if the goal were to implement watershed planning and management throughout PEI?
• Suggestions on where funding should come from
There are many benefits from an improved environment – such as enhanced water quality and improved fish habitat – and many people enjoy some positive influence from these benefits. Where should funding support for watershed planning and management come from?
• Technical support required by watershed groups
Watershed groups are generally volunteer organizations that generously work on behalf of everyone in the watershed. Due to the technical nature of activities that need to be done, they often need advice and other assistance. How much and what types of support are needed by watershed groups in order to be effective in their activities?
• Structure of watershed groups
Watershed groups vary in structure from a few interested neighbours to incorporated organizations with bylaws, elected officers and permanent staff. As well, the areas that the groups cover vary widely in size and sometimes overlap one another. How should groups be structured – especially with respect to representing all those who live and work in a watershed? Given that there are over 250 watersheds on PEI (some of which are very, very small), how many watershed groups are needed to cover the Island?
• Governance on a watershed basis
In order to be effective in resolving water issues, decisions for a wide variety of activities need to be made within the context of the connected flowing nature of water, that is, a watershed. Currently, planning boundaries in PEI are organized around incorporated municipalities. Should governance decisions be made on a watershed basis? If so, how can this be achieved it in a practical fashion? Should authority for some decision making be transferred to watershed groups?
Meeting Schedule and Instructions to Presenters
The Environmental Advisory Council will host five public meetings across PEI.
Charlottetown, West Royalty Community Centre, January 29; Kinkora, Kanata Club, January 31; Pooles Corner, Whim Inn, February 5; Miscouche, Miscouche Legion, February 7; Elmsdale, Westisle High School, February 13.
All meetings will be 7-9 p.m.
Instructions for Groups
• You must register in advance to make a presentation at one of the public meetings. Please call 368-5044 or 1-866-368-5044.
• You must provide a written summary of your presentation (maximum three pages), prior to the meeting if possible. It can be sent by email to: environment@gov.pe.ca or by mail or in person to: Environmental Advisory Council Public Consultations, c/o Dept. of Environment, Energy and Forestry, 11 Kent Street, PO Box 2000, Charlottetown, PE C1N 7N8.
• Written submissions will be posted on the consultation website: www.gov.pe.ca/go/watershedconsultation
Instructions to Individuals
• You may make a presentation or join in the discussion at the meeting.
• If you would like to register in advance, call 368-5044 or 1-866-368-5044.
• If you would like to provide a written summary of your presentation (maximum three pages), it can be sent by email to: environment@gov.pe.ca or by mail or in person to:
Environmental Advisory Council Public Consultations, c/o Dept. of Environment, Energy and Forestry, 11 Kent Street, PO Box 2000, Charlottetown, PE C1N 7N8.
• Written submissions will be posted on the consultation website: www.gov.pe.ca/go/watershedconsultation
• Written comments will also be accepted until February 14, 2007 at the email address or mailing address above.