Towards watershed governance: emerging lessons from community-based water governance approaches in British Columbia

This research project explores watershed governance approaches in British Columbia in order to assess the implications of the watershed scale for the governance of local water resources. Specifically the research objectives are to: characterize watershed governance approaches in selected communities as exemplified in (though not limited to) recent watershed management planning activities in British Columbia analyze and compare selected examples in terms of governance changes, as well as barriers and enabling factors to watershed governance, and explore the implications of the watershed scale for governance, including its relevance to water governance principles and a conceptual framework. The Cowichan, Kiskatinaw, and Nicola River watersheds were selected for this study, and data gathered through a document review and key informant interviews in each case study watershed. The data were subsequently analyzed using a content analysis approach, and findings presented and discussed in relation to the literature. Major barriers identified in the research include restricted local mandates (for water management) and/or a lack of mechanisms for local collaboration and input into decision-making, as well as funding constraints and access to watershed-specific information. Enabling factors identified included leadership from local governments, community and stakeholder groups, as well as cooperation from stakeholders and the provincial government through resourcing and partnerships. The watershed scale was found to have complicated inhibiting and enabling roles in governance approaches, which are discussed, as are its implications for commonly accepted water governance principles. Additional governance considerations for watershed-based approaches are proposed in relation to a conceptual framework. --Leaf vii.