How are we working together?
The Province is committed to building trust and fostering sustained dialogue on watershed security through multiple pathways, including directly engaging with First Nations throughout the Watershed Security Strategy (the Strategy) development process. As this Strategy was developed, all First Nations in B.C. were invited to work with each other and with the Province in the ways of their choosing.
The B.C.-First Nations Water Table (Water Table) was convened in June 2022. This collaborative structure, made up of First Nations delegates and representatives from the Province, makes consensus-based, co-developed recommendations to decision-makers. The First Nations Fisheries Council and the Province form a Joint Secretariat supporting the Water Table and its subcommittees. The leadership and ongoing work of the Water Table is key to reconciliation and a new way forward for protecting and sustaining watersheds.
Pathways for direct partnership on the Strategy between Treaty First Nations and the Province continue to be built and set the stage for strengthened relationships around watershed stewardship. The Province works with Modern Treaty Nations in ways of their choosing, including government-to-government conversations, joint meetings and facilitated workshops.
Engagement with First Nations is unique to each watershed planning project. The Province continues to work in partnership with First Nations to collaborate on developing water sustainability plans, setting community-based priorities and objectives and supporting shared decision-making.
Are there challenges?
The Province remains committed to strengthening watershed stewardship across B.C. and achieving the long-term vision proposed under the Watershed Security Strategy. Capacity and budgetary resource constraints may present barriers to the Province in implementing goals and actions outlined in this proposed strategy.
Despite these challenges, the Province will continue working with First Nations and other partners to prioritize key actions and support ongoing implementation. The Province is receiving a growing number of expressions of interest and requests for support in the use of water sustainability planning and watershed governance tools. Limited capacity may be an obstacle in meeting current demand. Projects will need to be prioritized and correspond to available resources.
With current resources, the Province supports six watershed projects in collaboration with First Nations. Adequate scoping of water sustainability planning projects remains a priority. Capacity constraints within Nations and the Province and overlap with other ongoing planning initiatives relating to water sometimes means that water discussions are included in other planning tables. This increases the overall effectiveness of planning efforts but may mean that the work proceeds at a slower pace.
Highlights
The Water Table and the First Nations Water Caucus were critical spaces for co-developing the Watershed Security Strategy while advancing reconciliation and implementing the Declaration Act. Co-developing a Watershed Security Strategy sets the stage for a transformative approach to watershed stewardship and shared decision-making. Continued collaboration with First Nations (i.e., through the Water Table, First Nations Water Caucus, Treaty First Nations and other First Nations) is critical to addressing watershed security issues of shared concern.
Work on the Watershed Security Strategy has shifted to implementation planning. The Water Table and First Nations Water Caucus have also begun to shift to implementation planning specifically identifying their role in the Watershed Security Strategy implementation and potentially expanding the focus. First Nations and communities continue to identify priority actions for watershed security including strengthening drought response and flood resilience, protecting drinking water, and streamlining permitting processes.
The Watershed Security Fund was established in 2023 with an initial endowment of $100 million. Investment yields are used to grant $3-5 million annually in watershed security projects. The fund is currently co-managed by the Real Estate Foundation of BC and the First Nations Water Caucus with support from the First Nations Fisheries Council. An initial 26 grant projects were announced in 2024, with future grant intakes expected to follow once a year.
Another priority is to strengthen local watershed governance and planning processes in collaboration with First Nations, watershed interest holders and communities. The Koksilah Water Sustainability Plan is under active co-development with Cowichan Tribes. The Nicola Watershed Governance Partnership is working towards designating the watershed for a water sustainability plan that will be co-developed with the Nicola 5 (Upper Nicola, Lower Nicola, Coldwater, Nooaitch and Shackan Band).