Fraser Basin Council

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4.5 Other Organizations

Many other organizations have important roles to play when it comes to water. The following are some of these organizations and their roles and responsibilities in water management and planning:

Industry

  • includes hydroelectricity, agriculture, ranching, forestry, mining, oil and gas, transportation, manufacturing and a variety of other businesses;
  • relies on water as a vital component of production; and,
  • develops plans, policies, procedures and practices regarding water use, efficiency and wastewater for individual business operations.

BC Hydro

  • is licensed to use the largest amount of surface water in the province, with operations that depend on reliable, carefully managed water supplies;
  • works to reduce the need to expand hydropower operations by encouraging consumer energy conservation; and,
  • develops Water Use Plans, which modify hydropower dam operations to mitigate their impact on downstream fish habitat and other values.

Academic Institutions

  • conduct critical research on topics such as water quality and quantity, impacts of climate change, watershed functioning, groundwater and aquifer function, governance policy, demand management; and,
  • provide education and training to future water managers.

Professional Associations

  • Provide policy advice, planning support, technical support, knowledge sharing and a wide range of services related to water planning, management, and operations (e.g. BC Water and Wastewater Association, the BC Ground Water Association, and the Canadian Water Resources Association, geo scientists, engineers, planners, biologists, geographers and many other professionals.

Community Organizations and Individuals

  • provide vital services through outreach, conservation, restoration of source water, and maintenance or restoration of aquatic habitat;
  • are enabled to take greater responsibility for water stewardship through new, collective shared stewardship approaches; and,
  • work to advance sustainability across local and regional watersheds, help resolve stakeholder conflicts and educate the public about water issues.

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READ MORE ABOUT:
WHO DOES WHAT IN WATER 

About Rethinking our Water Ways

This website is a guide to help BC communities learn more about planning for local watersheds and water resources, navigate current planning processes, consider relevant issues and challenges — including regional climate change impacts —  and build capacity to develop and implement plans.

Acknowledgements

The Rethinking our Water Ways guide and website are possible thanks to funding support from the BC Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Canada's Regional Adaptation Collaborative Program. The guide and website were launched and distributed through a series of regional workshops throughout BC, with funding contributions from the Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program, Environment Canada and the Real Estate Foundation of BC. Learn more about our funders and advisors.

We want to hear from you

Share your suggestions for this website, and ideas for future water workshops, with:

Steve Litke
Senior Program Manager
T: 604 488-5358
.

About the Fraser Basin Council

Rethinking our Water Ways is an initiative of the Fraser Basin Council (FBC), a charitable non-profit society that advances sustainability in the Fraser River Basin, across BC, and beyond. Established in 1997, FBC brings people together from multiple sectors to learn about sustainability and find collaborative solutions to current issues. Learn more about FBC by visiting www.fraserbasin.bc.ca.