Integrated Watershed Management Planning Protecting our water is important to everyone. An abundance of high quality water is essential to sustain life and maintain healthy communities, economies and ecosystems. That is why Manitoba Water Stewardship is committed to Integrated Watershed Management Planning (IWMP). About IWMP Watershed planning is a process that brings together: • watershed residents • government representatives • stakeholder organizations It ensures water, and its related resources, are effectively managed and maintained, now, and for future generations. What is a watershed? A watershed is an area of land that drains to a common point. For example, the Lake Winnipeg watershed spans four provinces and two U.S. states, but eventually all drains to Lake Winnipeg. More importantly, a watershed performs many important functions. It captures water from the atmosphere, stores snow and rainwater and releases water slowly, or in floods. It is these functions that provide the abundant and clean water so necessary for us all. Healthy floodplains, which are well-vegetated, slow the flow of water, allow it to spread and soak in effectively. Water speeds over floodplains with poor vegetation health, with channelized portions or cutoffs, and does not linger long enough to fill the underground “sponge”.
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Integrated Watershed Management PlanningProtecting our water is important to everyone. An abundance of high quality water is essential to sustain life and maintain healthy communities, economies and ecosystems. That is why Manitoba Water Stewardship is committed to Integrated Watershed Management Planning (IWMP).
About IWMPWatershed planning is a process that brings together:
• watershed residents• government representatives• stakeholder organizations
It ensures water, and its related resources, are effectively managed and maintained, now, and for future generations.
What is a watershed?A watershed is an area of land that drains to a common point. For example, the Lake Winnipeg watershed spans four provinces and two U.S. states, but eventually all drains to Lake Winnipeg. More importantly, a watershed performs many important functions. It captures water from the atmosphere, stores snow and rainwater and releases water slowly, or in fl oods. It is these functions that provide the abundant and clean water so necessary for us all.
Healthy fl oodplains, which are well-vegetated, slow the fl ow of water, allow it to spread and soak in effectively.
Water speeds over fl oodplains with poor vegetation health, with channelized portions or cutoffs, and does not
linger long enough to fi ll the underground “sponge”.
What is an Integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP)?An IWMP is a document prepared by members of the watershed community. It describes the actions needed, over time, to achieve a sustainable, healthy watershed. An IWMP is a roadmap for managing our resources for the future.
Recent water policy in ManitobaManitoba’s Water Protection Act was proclaimed in January of 2006. The Act provides the basis for initiating, developing and fi nancing IWMPs.
The goal of the IWMP process is to provide a plan that will guide the protection, maintenance and restoration of the watershed while balancing environmental, social and economic needs.
Watershed planning will serve the primary functions of preserving water quality and ensuring the effi cient use and management of water to meet local and provincial needs
The benefi ts of planningThere are many benefi ts to watershed planning, including:
• providing local boards with a framework to prioritize limited resources • providing community members with an opportunity to discuss watershed issues and concerns,
and have an active voice in protecting and restoring watershed resources most important to their communities
• ensuring groups with a good watershed plan will also have access to a greater number of resources to implement their action plans
• providing a baseline or benchmark from which to measure success due to watershed activities
Why plan on watershed boundaries?Upstream affects downstream. All activities that have an impact on water quality, quantity, or rate of fl ow at locations upstream, have impacts downstream. Because of this, watersheds are logically the most appropriate units for managing water.
The watershed-based management provides a way to consider a wide range of issues along with the community’s vision for the future of the watershed under a single framework. Working within watersheds rather than political boundaries, such as towns or municipalities, the planning process can address water quality, quantity, community and habitat issues beyond the scope of single jurisdictions like towns or municipalities.
The planning processThe watershed planning process is community-driven and requires support, opinions and knowledge of the residents of the watershed. It also needs technical information from provincial and federal government agents.
Throughout the planning process the following documents will be made available to the public:
• State of the Watershed reportThis report outlines the current health status of the watershed. In addition to the state of the watershed report, a watershed report card will be made available to evaluate watershed health indicators at a glance.
• Drinking Water Protection PlanThis plan will identify and assess threats to domestic drinking water supplies throughout the watershed. It will then outline steps to protect the source of our drinking water.
• Integrated Watershed Management PlanThe plan must identify issues relating to the protection, conservation or restoration of water, aquatic ecosystems and drinking water sources in the watershed. It must contain objectives, policies and recommendations and must link water management and land use planning and identify ways to implement the plan.
Ten Years
Pre-planning
Designate a water planning authority
Form watershed planning advisory team and project
management team
Compile State of the Watershed Report, report card, and Source Water
Assessment
Public Consultation
Draft Plan
Public Review
Finalize Plan
Implement Plan
Monitor and EvaluatePlan Review
Yellow box indicates an opportunity to get involved.Yelopp
Take part in a watershed plan near youThere are many good reasons to get involved in watershed planning. The process gives you an active voice in protecting and restoring watershed resources that are important to the community. It is also an excellent opportunity to learn more about watersheds and provide creative and innovative strategies for dealing with issues that matter to you.
Contact informationWatershed Planning and Programs is the section within Manitoba Water Stewardship responsible for working with local watershed communities towards developing integrated watershed management plans. For more information, contact your regional watershed planner at the following address and phone number:
BrandonBox 13-1129Brandon, MB R7A 1L9Ph: 204-726-6633 Fx: 204-726-6301
DauphinBox 9, Room 225, 27 2nd Ave. SW,Dauphin, MB R7N 3E5Ph: 204-622-2069 Fx: 204-638-8626
WinnipegBox 11, 200 Saulteaux Cr.,Winnipeg, MB R3J 3W3Ph: 204-945-7408 Fx: 204-945-7419
SteinbachBox 2019Building #1118, 284 Reimer Ave,Steinbach, MB R5G 1N6Ph: 204-346-6060Fx: 204-326-2472
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