Who’s it FITFIR?

Alberta’s Water Allocation Review: Who’s it “FITFIR”?

January 13, 2010Jason Unger, Staff Counsel

Who’s it FITFIR?

About the ELC• Incorporated in 1982

• Registered charity

• Mission: To ensure that laws, policies and legal processes protect the environment.

Who’s it FITFIR?

About the ELC

Public Programs• Information and referral

• Community outreach

• Law reform

Who’s it FITFIR?

Outline• A brief history of water allocation in Alberta

• Where we are

• Where we are headed – government review and advice

• Who’s it FIT FIR?

• Are there better fits?

Who’s it FITFIR?

Brief History

Riparian rights

NRTA (1930)(and amendments)

Northwest Irrigation Act(1894) (federal)

Water Resources Act (1931)

Water Act (1996)

Water Act amendments 2010??

Who’s it FITFIR?

The current framework• Current licences

– priority - FIT FIR …but a variety of conditions may attach

– Statutory rights to alter licences are limited• Emergencies, or • significant environmental affects (leading to

compensation)

• Transfers enabled by AWMP or by Cabinet order

Who’s it FITFIR?

Current framework -transfers

Licence holder applies to Director for transfer of part or

all of licence

Director’s discretion directed by Water Act (s.82) and

matters and factors in AWMP

Notice and “public review” is required

Triggers public participation and appeal rights

Director may require a 10% holdback (s.83)

Transfers prohibited – •Significant impact on the

environment•Impairs other users rights

Who’s it FITFIR?

The current situation• Pressures on southern basins

– Master agreement on apportionment– Overallocation– Planning

• SSRB Approved Water Management Plan http://environment.alberta.ca/documents/SSRB_Plan_Phase2.pdf – No more application for surface water licences

(Red Deer exception)

– Water Conservation Objectives (WCO) set at 45% of the natural rate of flow • impacts new (at May 2005) and renewable

licences

Who’s it FITFIR?

The current situation • SSRB enables transfers

• Matters and factors that must be considered (at p. 14 of AWMP)

• SSRB closure - available water?– Transfers– Purchase land with licence– Assignments in some instances

• Lower Athabasca – water management framework contemplates staged decreases in withdrawals

Who’s it FITFIR?

The government review

• Minister’s Advisory Group, Recommendations for Improving Alberta’s Water Management and Allocation– http://environment.gov.ab.ca/info/library/8239.pdf

• Alberta Water Council (with non-consensus) Recommendations for Improving Alberta’s Water Allocation Transfer System– http://www.albertawatercouncil.ca/Portals/0/pdfs/WA

TSUP_web_FINAL.pdf

• Alberta Water Research Institute, Towards Sustainability: Phase I - Ideas and Opportunities for Improving Water Allocation and Management in Alberta– http://www.waterinstitute.ca/pdf/summary_report_fut

ure.pdf

Who’s it FITFIR?

Common themes

• Protected water

• Transfer system streamlining

• FIT FIR is accepted

Who’s it FITFIR?

Protected waterWhat is it?• Water for the environment• Not available for allocation

How much?• Interim level to be set by department or cabinet• To be replaced by a level determined through the

planning process

How is it reached and protected?• mechanism - WCO

– Licence them (MAG)– Use holdbacks

Who’s it FITFIR?

Protected water -How is it reached and protected?• Water trusts/private organizations could hold

instream licences– 2% cap over WCO – AWC –non-consensus

• Transfers would be prohibited if there is a “significant harm to the aquatic environment” (currently in s.82)

• WCOs - sub basins & “umbrella” – Holdbacks would go toward specific WCOs

(MAG)

• Operational changes

Who’s it FITFIR?

TransfersWhat is it we want?• Facilitate efficient and transparent transfers• Minimize transaction costs

How do we get there?• Independent facilitator (or body) to administer

transfer system

• Information systems & public registry– An “MLS” for water licences– Reporting on actual use– Uniform documentation and conditions

Who’s it FITFIR?

Transfer process -amendments• Director’s discretion determined by level of risk

and complexity

• Would impact participatory rights in some cases

Who’s it FITFIR?

Approval of transfers• AWC contemplates three classes

– Class 1 “no harm zone” – permitted – transfer is approved – no government discretion

– Class 2 & 3– “do no significant harm” test – Class 3 “full review” – Class 2 “some discretion”

– Class depends on potential harm & includes changes in the point of diversion, the provision of compensatory flows, rate of diversion.

Who’s it FITFIR?

Transfers and unused water• Allow for unused water to be available to others

(MAG)…depending on circumstances (AWC) with graduated holdbacks (non-consensus)

• Should not penalize those who have reduced consumption (MAG)

• Still must meet “no significant harm” test– How will this be defined?

• In an overallocated basin when would a transfer of previously unused water do no harm?

Who’s it FITFIR?

Other advice• Integration of groundwater

• Drought/water shortage planning

• AWRI– Define an amount for “critical human use”– consider “right sizing” municipal licences or regionalize

management of water– Consider collective approach to oilsands water

management

• AWC – Minimize amending purposes to 2% of original allocation– Approach to unused water and amnesty to cancellation

(non-consensus)

Who’s it FITFIR?

Who’s it FITFIR?• Prior allocation system

– Certainty vs. flexibility for growth– Resolve by allowing transfers

• Higher valued uses will obtain the water

– Transfers may impact other rights holders, downstream users & the environment

Who’s it FITFIR?

Who’s it FITFIR?

• Senior licence holders – equity of transfers?

Who’s it FITFIR?

Who’s it FITFIR?

• Environment– Many northern basins (w/ right PW/WCO)– SSRB

• Environment has the risk• Relies on environment licence buy backs

Who’s it FITFIR?

Who’s it FITFIR?

• New users – Can access water for a price– Equitable access & fairness are not a part of

the picture

Who’s it FITFIR?

Who’s it FITFIR?

• Rural residence/communities (Edwards, Cheers,& Bjornlund) licence holders have additional assets of

value rural economies and culture may be

significantly altered – “loss of water…loss of farms…loss of local wealth”

– Private benefit, potential for community loss

Who’s it FITFIR?

Who’s it FITFIR?

• Remaining questions– Will there be enough willing sellers?

• e.g. irrigation and municipalities– Will there by mechanisms for temporary sales?– Where’s the wiggle room?

Who’s it FITFIR?

Where’s the wiggle room?• Question for the SSRB’s aquatic environment

• Water use intensity– Unused water– Water reuse –where non-consumptive becomes

consumptive –reduced return flows

• Reaching WCO – no plan, strategy or budget– Holdbacks of minimal impact (AWRI)

• Flexibility to deal with droughts– Licences based on volumetric supply – People might pay and be cut off anyway

Who’s it FITFIR?

Better fits?• Share based system

– Annual water budgets (ideally with environmental and social allocations set aside)

– Licencees receive their share of the budget and shares are tradable

• See Share the Water – Water Matters & Ecojustice (http://www.water-matters.org/docs/share-the-water.pdf)

• Environmental set aside– Avoid issues of proof of “no significant harm”

Who’s it FITFIR?

Better fits?• Drought or permanently reduced supply should be

focus– offstream storage is likely to play role

• Transfer limitations– Limit of transfers to within specific purposes – to

maintain social/economic continuity

• Market restart – to deal with equity issues & to reduce monopolies

Who’s it FITFIR?

• Government review• http://www.waterforlife.alberta.ca/563.html

• Water Act amendments on the way ?

• Consultation to take place – summer 2010

Questions & Comments?

Who’s it FITFIR?

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or 1-800-661-4238 Fax: 780-424-5133

E-mail: elc@elc.ab.caWeb: www.elc.ab.ca

For further information contact

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