Assiniboine River Basin Initiative

Qu’Appelle, Souris & Assiniboine

Red River Basin Commission1979 Flood Catalyst for Action: Mtg. Fargo

▫Local Leaders (Mayors)Int’l Flood Coalition (MN, ND, MB)1981 Int’l Coalition for L &W Stewardship

RRBReorganized (TIC)

1996-1997: RRBB2001-2002: RRBC

Reorganized (TIC, RRBB)

ARB Workshop - 2008• Province of Manitoba commissioned a

study on the ARB.

• RRBC conducted the research, then initiated a meeting in Brandon in 2008.

• Invitees from MB, ND, SK.▫ RM’s, counties, conservation and

water districts, provincial and state government

• Discussed issues, determine need for a formal organization, developed recommendations for the future.

• Steering committee formed, but did not proceed for a variety of reasons.

ARB Initiative resurrected in 2013 by Prairie Improvement Network with support from RRBC

Who is Prairie Improvement Network (PIN)?

•Previously know as Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council (MRAC).

•Administered AAFC rural innovation & adaption funds from 1997 to March 31, 2014.

•Focus on Manitoba projects.

Prairie Improvement Network•Why we exist……we believe the long-

term health and prosperity of our grandchildren, both urban and rural, depends on the sustainable stewardship of our food growing resources.

•How we operate……by connecting ideas and opportunities, our network creates and facilitates initiatives that improve the future quality of rural life.

Why the Assiniboine River Basin Initiative?•Scenario tree planning exercise – looking

for our “niche”.•Agriculture/environment interface.•Focus on cooperative approaches to water

management as a recurring theme to rural growth.

•Refined focus on the Assiniboine River Basin.

•Form follows function – enunciate a problem statement, design the organization to address it.

Assiniboine River Basin (ARB)

• The Basin encompasses the:• Qu’Appelle,• Souris,• Assiniboine,• & their tributaries.

• Crosses over 3 jurisdictions:• Saskatchewan,• Manitoba,• North Dakota.

• And, the international boundary of the United States & Canada.

ARB Contributions to Prairie Assets

• 3 million people 1

▫ Saskatchewan 1,100,000▫ North Dakota 700,000▫ Manitoba 1,265,000

• Economic Output 1

▫ Manitoba farm cash receipts $5B▫ Sask farm cash receipts $12B ▫ ND Agriculture GDP $3B

• Area 1 ▫ Manitoba – 647,797 km2

▫ Saskatchewan – 651,036 km2

▫ North Dakota - 183,272 km2

(70,761 miles2 )

1 Estimates only, exact calculation required

>50% live in the Assiniboine River Basin

Assiniboine River Basin is a core agricultural production

area.

Assiniboine River Basin is 294,100 km2 or 136,000

miles2.

Why No Basin Management for ARB?

Assiniboine River Basin

Org?

International Souris River Board

International Red River Board

Why Work at a Basin Level?• Are the Assiniboine, Qu’Appelle and Souris river

basins dependent or independent?

• If there is an event in one, does it have an affect on the other two?

• How (well) do we work together on issues related to them today?

• Will working cooperatively in the three river basins as one system work better for us all?

Assiniboine River Basin Initiative

•Assiniboine River Basin Initiative (ARBI) resurrected by Prairie Improvement Network (PIN) in fall of 2013 with support from the Red River Basin Commission (RRBC).

•The goal – to facilitate and support a coordinated approach to water related issues in the basin.

Assiniboine River Basin Initiative – Phase I

•Engaged a ARBI Planning Committee with representation from all 3 jurisdictions (ND, SK, MB) comprised of members from local government, agricultural, conservation, water and science-based organizations as well as government departments.

•Developed and delivered a multi-stakeholder workshop to revisit basin approach and gather consensus on next steps.

ARBI Workshop•Grassroots multi-stakeholder workshop was

held on March 26, 2014 in Virden, MB. Over 130 representatives in attendance from all 3 jurisdictions representing a broad cross-section of stakeholders.

•Agenda topics included:▫Bob Sanford – “Integrated Watershed Approach”,▫Lance Yohe – “Trans-Boundary Cooperation

Models”,▫Consensus building break out sessions.

ARBI Mandate from Workshop

• Consensus by those in attendance was to work towards the development of an agency that would unify the basin by working cooperatively on water and related issues.

• PIN & ARBI Planning Committee tasked with the development & delivery of a 2014 fall conference to present a model for a sustainable organization.

• Agenda t0 include: Governance options, Sustainable membership base options.

Key Needs Identified

Assiniboine River Basin Initiative

1. Continue leadership towards a unified water agency structure.

2. Build the stakeholder base (territory, sector).3. Improve communication (frequency, quality). 4. Water quantity.5. Water flow, storage and diversion.6. Improve water quality. 7. Environmental challenges – wetland

conservation, eco-system health.8. Science research – augment and expand.9. Funding and leadership.

The Flood of 2014• Historical event in

that:▫ it was a rainfall not a

spring run-off event,▫ new flood levels were set

on the Assiniboine River,▫ overland flooding was

unprecedented.

• Is this to going to be the new normal?

Early estimates of impact of 2014 flood

•Early reports indicate:• Approximately 3 to 3.5 mil acres of seeded crops, forages &

pastures loss due to flooding in Manitoba & 2 to 3 mil in Saskatchewan.

The oil business in MB estimate the losses could be as much as $5 million per day.

•This does not include impacts to: businesses/industry, infrastructure, or other areas such as personal losses.

ARBI – Phase 2•To date, the following steps have been taken

in Phase 2:

Final report developed & circulated on Phase 1 activities & workshop. This report is also posted to the ARB portal on the PIN website.

ARBI Planning Committee expanded -new members continue to join as identified. Committee meets on a regular basis and will be holding a face-to-face meeting in Minot on Aug. 6, 2014.

ARBI – Phase 2 cont’d

• Interim Executive Committee appointed by consensus. Members included:

Dr. Allan Preston, Chair, Prairie Improvement Network, Dan Mazier, Vice-Chair, Keystone Agricultural Producers, Patrick Fridgen, North Dakota State Water Commission, Aron Hershmiller, Saskatchewan Assiniboine Watershed

Stewards Association, Heather Dalgleish, Manitoba Conservation Districts

Association.

ARBI – Phase 2 cont’d

•To assist the ARBI Planning Committee and PIN the following two individuals joined the PIN/ARBI team:

Lance Yohe, former ED with RRBC, as Senior Advisor,

Wanda McFadyen as ARBI Project Manager/Champion,

PIN staff also lend support to the initiative.

Phase 2 Consensus Building Process

• To date meetings have been held with the Min. of Conservation & Water Stewardship in MB, as well as representatives of the State Water Commission in ND.

• Meetings with Brandon-Souris MP, Larry Maguire, and Dauphin/Swan River/Marquette MP, Robert Sopuck have taken place.

• Attended as invited guests in meetings with WED Minister, Michelle Remple, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Standing Committee Chair, Bev Shipley.

• Presentation to APAS Environment & Food Safety Committee.

Consensus Building Process cont’d•Meeting with Federal MP’s as well as

MLA’s from both SK and MB.

• A number of meetings are pending confirmation with various government departments in all 3 jurisdictions and organizations such as WSA, SARM, AMM, City of Minot officials and a host of others.

•The ARBI Chair, Senior Advisor and Champion have attended various meetings and events.

Communications & Resources

• PIN hosts the ARB portal on their website where all Phase 1 reports and current information on the ARBI is hosted as well as the ARBI blog.

• A fact sheet has been developed for general distribution.

• News releases issued as may be required and interviews conducted as requested.

• Electronic updates are circulate from time to time to those individuals who have indicated they wish to receive the information.

Funding SupportPhase 1 Phase 2

• PIN invested $100,000.

• GF2 funds were secured through MAFRD to assist in offsetting associated workshop expenses.

• Sponsorships and registration fees also assisted in offsetting workshop expenses.

• PIN has committed to investing $260,000.

• Sponsorships and registrations for the fall conference to assist in defraying associated expenses.

• Funding applications have been submitted to:▫ Western Economic Diversification

fund,▫ Advancing Canadian Agriculture

and Agri-food Saskatchewan (submitted by APAS on behalf of ARBI)

▫ Other applications may be sourced.

ARBI Fall Conference• The conference will be hosted in Regina on

November 12th thru 14th, 2014, at the Travelodge Hotel & Conference Centre.

• Agenda topics are currently being finalized. Feature speakers will include Robert Sanford and Lance Yohe along with panel discussion and working break out sessions.

• The primary agenda topic will be the presentation of the organizational model and sustainable funding structure.

Discussion