Prairie Provinces Water Board

Jan 29, 2013 Alberta - Saskatchewan - Manitoba - Canada 1

Prairie Provinces Water BoardPrairie Provinces Water Board

19691969

Master Agreement on ApportionmentMaster Agreement on Apportionment


WESTTO

EAST


PPWBPPWB OriginsOrigins - History- History

Western Water Board 1930Western Water Board 1930 Federal government didn’t ratifyFederal government didn’t ratify

Prairie Provinces Water Advisory Board Prairie Provinces Water Advisory Board -1945-1945 Federal government not involvedFederal government not involved

Prairie Provinces Water Board Prairie Provinces Water Board Agreement 1948Agreement 1948 Federal and Prairie ProvincesFederal and Prairie Provinces


An Evolving Mandate... An Evolving Mandate...

• SK, AB, MB and Canada formed the PPWB in SK, AB, MB and Canada formed the PPWB in 1948 to recommend the best use and 1948 to recommend the best use and allocation of interprovincial waters. allocation of interprovincial waters.

• By 1960s, provinces began requesting large By 1960s, provinces began requesting large allocations of water and the PPWB approach allocations of water and the PPWB approach could not adequately plan for the long-term. could not adequately plan for the long-term.

• Perception provincial powers lost.Perception provincial powers lost.• In 1969, Master Agreement on Apportionment In 1969, Master Agreement on Apportionment

(MAA) addressed this issue and more.(MAA) addressed this issue and more.


Master Agreement on Master Agreement on ApportionmentApportionment

October 1969October 1969


AGREEMENT - COMPONENTSAGREEMENT - COMPONENTS

a master agreement between Canada , Alberta, a master agreement between Canada , Alberta, Saskatchewan, ManitobaSaskatchewan, Manitoba

SCHEDULES TO AGREEMENTSCHEDULES TO AGREEMENT an apportionment agreement between Alberta and an apportionment agreement between Alberta and

SaskatchewanSaskatchewan an apportionment agreement between Saskatchewan an apportionment agreement between Saskatchewan

and Manitobaand Manitoba a Prairie Provinces Water Board agreementa Prairie Provinces Water Board agreement A previous allocation agreementA previous allocation agreement a water quality agreement (1992)a water quality agreement (1992) a groundwater agreement (Future)a groundwater agreement (Future)


MAA ConditionsMAA Conditions

Surface water quantity/quality & groundwaterSurface water quantity/quality & groundwater Principle of cooperation-coordinationPrinciple of cooperation-coordination Monitoring - federal governmentMonitoring - federal government Disagreements to Federal Court of CanadaDisagreements to Federal Court of Canada Alteration/cancellation of Agreements in Alteration/cancellation of Agreements in

writing by all 4 partieswriting by all 4 parties No termination clauseNo termination clause


Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles• Equitable sharing of water in interprovincial

streams, lakes, and aquifers; • Acceptable levels of water quality at

interprovincial boundaries; • Consensus approach to resolving

differences and making recommendations; • Science-based approach used to assess

compliance with the Agreement; and • Co-operation in the effective, economical

and beneficial use of waters flowing from one province to another (no regulatory powers).

Prairie Provinces Water BoardPrairie Provinces Water Board



PPWBPPWB• Reports to federal-provincial MinistersReports to federal-provincial Ministers• Senior officials that administer water in the Provinces of MB, Senior officials that administer water in the Provinces of MB,

SK, AB, Environment Canada and AAFCSK, AB, Environment Canada and AAFC• Monitors achievement of the MAAMonitors achievement of the MAA• Exchange information on development and water managementExchange information on development and water management• Conduct joint studiesConduct joint studies• Make recommendations to jurisdictionsMake recommendations to jurisdictions• Consensus basedConsensus based

• Cost-shared: 50% fed & 50% prov (17% each) Cost-shared: 50% fed & 50% prov (17% each) • Supported by Secretariat and Standing Committees of Supported by Secretariat and Standing Committees of

Hydrology (COH), Water Quality (COWQ) and Groundwater Hydrology (COH), Water Quality (COWQ) and Groundwater (COG)(COG)


Alberta AESRD

Saskatchewan WSA

Manitoba MIT & MCWS

Canada EC

(chair)

Canada AAFC

Secretary PPWB

Executive Director

Committee on Groundwater

Committee on Water Quality

Committee on Hydrology

Secretary COH & COG

Vir Khanna

Secretary COWQ

Admin Asst

Eng Adv COH & COGMegan Garner


Within the MAA framework, Board members will:Within the MAA framework, Board members will:

• Cooperate to achieve the best management of Prairie Cooperate to achieve the best management of Prairie water while representing their own jurisdictional interests; water while representing their own jurisdictional interests;

• Inform the Board of potential projects or policies that Inform the Board of potential projects or policies that could impact other jurisdictions and analyze implications could impact other jurisdictions and analyze implications if requested; if requested;

• Share policies, programs and practices of mutual interest; Share policies, programs and practices of mutual interest; • Inform senior officials and Ministers about significant Inform senior officials and Ministers about significant

issues considered by the Board; issues considered by the Board; • Direct the PPWB Executive Director and Committees; Direct the PPWB Executive Director and Committees; • Distribute the PPWB annual report to Ministers; and Distribute the PPWB annual report to Ministers; and • Appoint representatives for Board committees.Appoint representatives for Board committees.

Board Member Responsibilities


PPWB CharterPPWB CharterVision• Effective interprovincial water management on the

Prairies

Mission1. To ensure that interprovincial waters are protected and

equitably apportioned in accordance with the MAA;

2. To provide a forum for exchange of information in order to prevent and resolve conflicts; and,

3. To promote cooperation in interprovincial water management.


Strategic Plan: GoalsStrategic Plan: Goals1.1. Agreed interprovincial apportionment of water is achieved.Agreed interprovincial apportionment of water is achieved.2.2. Interprovincial groundwater aquifers are protected and used Interprovincial groundwater aquifers are protected and used

in a sustainable manner.in a sustainable manner.3.3. Agreed interprovincial water quality objectives are achieved.Agreed interprovincial water quality objectives are achieved.4.4. Jurisdictions are informed about emergency and unusual Jurisdictions are informed about emergency and unusual

water quality conditions.water quality conditions.5.5. Conflicts and disagreements over interjurisdictional water Conflicts and disagreements over interjurisdictional water

issues are avoided.issues are avoided.6.6. Ministers, senior managers and appropriate staff of Ministers, senior managers and appropriate staff of

jurisdictions are informed about PPWB activities.jurisdictions are informed about PPWB activities.7.7. Information, knowledge and research are shared among Information, knowledge and research are shared among

jurisdictions.jurisdictions.8.8. PPWB affairs administered effectivelyPPWB affairs administered effectively


Direction From MinistersDirection From Ministers

Condition of Lake Winnipeg is an issue for all Condition of Lake Winnipeg is an issue for all within the basin – PPWB directed to be within the basin – PPWB directed to be involved in solutionsinvolved in solutions

Future flows, climate change, demands – Future flows, climate change, demands – PPWB to determine if the Master Agreement PPWB to determine if the Master Agreement able to deal with these issuesable to deal with these issues

The Committee on HydrologyThe Committee on Hydrology


COH MandateCOH Mandate

investigate, oversee, review, report and recommend on matters pertaining to hydrology of interprovincial basins

may consider such things as natural flow; forecasting; network design; collection, processing and transmission of data; basin studies and other items of interprovincial interest involving hydrology

COH will engage the Committee on Groundwater and the Committee on Water Quality on items of mutual interest or when the expertise of those committees will assist the COH


COH MembershipCOH Membership

Ron Woodvine (Canada - AAFC)Ron Woodvine (Canada - AAFC) Brian Yee (Alberta)Brian Yee (Alberta) Bart Oegema (Saskatchewan)Bart Oegema (Saskatchewan) Mark Lee (Manitoba)Mark Lee (Manitoba) Anthony Liu (Canada – EC Met.)Anthony Liu (Canada – EC Met.) Vacant (Canada – EC WSC)Vacant (Canada – EC WSC)


COH – Secretariat SupportCOH – Secretariat Support

Mike Renouf – EDMike Renouf – ED Vir Khanna – Secretary, Senior AdvisorVir Khanna – Secretary, Senior Advisor Megan Garner – Eng AdvisorMegan Garner – Eng Advisor Leslie Rankin – Admin Asst.Leslie Rankin – Admin Asst.


COH - Work PlanCOH - Work Plan

Steamflow ApportionmentSteamflow Apportionment Compute & ReportCompute & Report Basin ReviewsBasin Reviews Network ReviewNetwork Review Software Renewal (RBAT)Software Renewal (RBAT)

Ministers AssignmentMinisters Assignment MAA ResiliencyMAA Resiliency


River Basin Assessment ToolRiver Basin Assessment Tool

(RBAT)(RBAT)


Eastward Flowing StreamsEastward Flowing Streams

MAA apportions streams 50%-50%MAA apportions streams 50%-50% Middle/Lodge/Battle Creek Basins – 25%/75%Middle/Lodge/Battle Creek Basins – 25%/75% Cold Lake Basin – 68.4%/ 31.6Cold Lake Basin – 68.4%/ 31.6

12 river basins are reported monthly, 12 river basins are reported monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, annual basisquarterly, bi-annual, annual basis

14 basins reviewed periodically14 basins reviewed periodically


SituationSituation

Apportionable flows – Project Depletion Apportionable flows – Project Depletion MethodMethod

Computer programs – developed in-Computer programs – developed in-house starting in 1970’shouse starting in 1970’s

Program language - FORTRANProgram language - FORTRAN Programmer retired in 2009Programmer retired in 2009


RBAT Phase-IRBAT Phase-I

Contract issued to Optimal SolutionsContract issued to Optimal Solutions Delivered in 2010 - intended to meet S Sask needs.Delivered in 2010 - intended to meet S Sask needs. Flexible configuration -Flexible configuration - a platform that can be applied to any a platform that can be applied to any

river basinriver basin Optional Optional use of Google Earth API as GUIuse of Google Earth API as GUI Flexible Time Step Length (hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, Flexible Time Step Length (hourly, daily, weekly, monthly,

custom)custom) Three modes of operation – steady state, node dependent time Three modes of operation – steady state, node dependent time

lag, SSARR routinglag, SSARR routing


RBAT Phase-IIRBAT Phase-II

Contract issued to Optimal Solutions in fall 2012Contract issued to Optimal Solutions in fall 2012 Improve Visual display; Improve Visual display; Add Visual Layers in Schematic View; Add Visual Layers in Schematic View; Improve Ease-of-Use; Improve Ease-of-Use; Improve portability; Improve portability; Improve Functionality; Improve Functionality; Improve output - report generationImprove output - report generation Improve Installation; automated installationImprove Installation; automated installation Product Delivery - December 2013Product Delivery - December 2013


MAA ResiliencyMAA Resiliency


Ministers’ QuestionMinisters’ Question

How resilient will the MAA be in the How resilient will the MAA be in the future given:future given: Continued development;Continued development; Climate change;Climate change; Improved knowledge of paleo-hydrologyImproved knowledge of paleo-hydrology


ApproachApproach

Use paleo-hydrology reconstructionUse paleo-hydrology reconstruction Statistically identify droughts of varying Statistically identify droughts of varying

severityseverity Link to recorded record (surrogate year Link to recorded record (surrogate year

approach)approach) Assemble met and hydromet dataAssemble met and hydromet data Test water management responseTest water management response


ScenariosScenarios

For 6 Rivers – N Sask, Battle, S Sask at For 6 Rivers – N Sask, Battle, S Sask at AB/SK; Churchill, Sask, Assiniboine at AB/SK; Churchill, Sask, Assiniboine at SK/MBSK/MB

Droughts of 3, 6 and 10 year durationDroughts of 3, 6 and 10 year duration

With 1:50, 1:100, 1:200 returnWith 1:50, 1:100, 1:200 return



ConclusionsConclusions

““The most significant The most significant interjurisdictional water interjurisdictional water management arrangementmanagement arrangement in Canada is the in Canada is the Master Agreement on Apportionment” Master Agreement on Apportionment”

The 1986 Inquiry on Federal Water Policy The 1986 Inquiry on Federal Water Policy

(Pearse Inquiry)(Pearse Inquiry)

Further Information:Further Information:

www.ppwb.cawww.ppwb.ca

Prairie Provinces Water Board

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