Title
Sturgeon River Watershed Alliance Watershed Management Plan
Proposed Motions
1. That Council accept the Sturgeon River Watershed Alliance Watershed Management Plan for information, as presented.
2. That Council resolves to continue to work collaboratively with other municipalities and the Sturgeon River Watershed Alliance to implement the plan.
3. That Council resolves to consider the plan recommendations in the decision-making of the municipality including development of new or updated statutory and other documents.
Body
Administration Recommendation
Administration supports the proposed motions.
Purpose
To achieve its vision and address a number of stakeholder concerns, the Sturgeon River Watershed Alliance (SRWA) has developed a Watershed Management Plan (WMP) that identifies priority goals and performance measures to maintain the health of the watershed and the services it provides to local communities.
Summary
The SRWA was established in 2014 to address concerns identified by municipalities and other stakeholders in the watershed. It is an inter-municipal committee consisting of staff, technical experts and municipal Councilors; that addresses regional topics in watershed health in a collaborative setting. Administrative capacity, including financial support through grant seeking, for the group is provided by the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance. Over the past few years the group has been developing a Watershed Management Plan to compile technical knowledge and identify/prioritize issues affecting watershed health and the services it provides to local communities. The plan also outlines potential implementation and performance measures for addressing these issues. The plan is meant to be a guiding document for stakeholders and any implementation will be done on a voluntary basis, as capacity and funding allows. The plan will also inform higher level regional documents such as the North Saskatchewan Regional Plan. Over the next five years the SRWA will focus on priority implementation measures that can be supported by grant funding or in-kind contributions from various organizations. In Spring of 2020 $200,000 was obtained from the Alberta Community Partnership grant to begin this endeavor. The SRWA is asking municipal Councils to support the document by passing the above-mentioned three motions.
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications:
Strategic Plan-Guiding Principle 3.1, Broad Objective: Ensuring the completion of watershed plans and developing practical, reasonable implementation schedules.
Integrated Community Sustainability Plan-Broad Objective: Quality water supplies supported by healthy and resilient watersheds. Recommended Action: Continue to participate in inter-municipal watershed planning activities.
Municipal Development Plan-Policy 10.2.2 Integrated Regional Planning: c. The County will continue to participate in regional watershed alliance groups to support regional watershed planning initiatives and management plans.
Financial Impact:
Cost: $0
Source of Funding: N/A