Program

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Thursday Morning – Biophysical Challenges

This portion of the program reviewed the biophysical stresses on prairie water resources ranging from climate change, agricultural challenges, industrial requirements and urban demands. Presentations by experts from across the prairies addressed the supply and demand issues that exist and are emerging. IISD provided a synthesis using a GIS approach to map the varied supply, consumptive and polluting stresses on prairie water resources. The mapping analysis illustrated where these varied water resource stresses compound, and illustrated the "hot spots" where the need for progressive policy and governance may be most acute.

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Thursday Afternoon – Water Management at Multiple Scales

Existing experience with multi-scale water governance was examined in this session. Experts looked at the sub-watershed, regional watershed, municipal, provincial and First Nations experiences—as well as inter-provincial and international experiences and issues. IISD provided a synthesis of the challenges and innovations of the existing policy framework for water management at a provincial level in the prairie water basin.

Friday Morning – The Institutional Framework for Integrating Best Practices

Day 2 continued with presentations from the three Prairie Province governments outlining their key water strategies, and an exploration of best practices for integrated water resources management in Canada and internationally. Issues addressed included the use of economic instruments for best-management practice in agricultural watersheds for water quality protection, community-based water quality monitoring and assessment, and policy lessons learned from water policy reform in countries such as Australia.

Friday Afternoon – Critical Policy Innovations and Gaps

The conference concluded with a moderated policy workshop exercise to capture some of the critical issues for accelerating the transition to integrated water resources management on the prairies. The goal of the session was to capture from the assembled group of about 100 experts their thoughts regarding the critical water issues facing the prairies and best practices in integrated water resources management. Topics included issues like community engagement strategies and watershed planning, policy coherence among multiple scales of water governance, and the prospect of linking Canada's climate change plan to integrated water resources management. This wide-ranging and expert discussion helped clarify research, policy and institutional reform priorities for water resources management on the prairies in light of the current stressors and emerging issues.