Adaptation in response to multiple stressors in the Okanagan region of British Columbia

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Adaptation in response to multiple stressors in
the Okanagan region of British Columbia

• James Tansey, Philippa Shepherd and Hadi
  Dowlatabadi

Adaptive Research and Governance in Climate
Change Conference 30-31 October, 2003
Supported by CIS-HDGEC, Carnegie Mellon
University, Pittsburgh. NSF Center of Excellence,
SBR-9521914
Supported by the Federal Climate Change Action
Fund
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• Current multiple stresses
• Population/urban growth, tourism, forestry,
  agriculture - ecological, water quality
  impacts, supply availability
• Semi-arid environment, southern interior of BC
• Average annual precipitation 300-450 mm,
  majority of net annual runoff occurs in spring
  melting winter snowpacks (lt 1200 metres)
• Okanagan Lake Surface Area of 34,000 ha,
  Drainage Area 6090 km2
• Tributary to Columbia River (US)
• Limit on supply expansion
• Costs of expanding supply are rising
• Upland supplies/sites for new reservoir
  development are limited (Kerr Wood Leidal
  Associates, 1990)
• License capacity is dwindling (Obedkoff 1994)
  e.g. most tributaries fully recorded
• Future CC impacts
• Increased average temp of 2.5 to 5C by 2080
• Earlier spring freshet by approx 6 weeks
• Increased crop water demand, longer growing
  season

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Context

• Interest in regional climate change impacts
• Previous study developed impacts scenarios to
  2080
• Stakeholders asked about impacts and adaptation
  options
• Learned that near terms issues appeared far more
  pressing

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Advancing the agenda objectives

• Move beyond idealized models of adaptation
• Recognise that current and near term activities
  may affect long term vulnerability
• Examine case studies to understand institutional
  functioning within the region

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Overlapping studies

• Population growth scenarios structural choices
  that affect water demand
• Irrigation scenarios technologies that reduce
  water demand
• Study contemporary policy interventions related
  to water demand and quality management in the
  region through interviews

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Case studies
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Lesson 1 process and leadership

• Domestic metering in Kelowna - awareness of
  need for change among staff, public and council-
  mock billing to introduce rate structure-
  enlightened approach to deferred costs
• Vernons water reclamation project- multiple
  technical solutions to phosphorous problem-
  staff promoted water reclamation solution (not
  without opposition)
• Mayors behind creation of regional GVWU
• Strong staff and board support in SEKID

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Lesson 2 Top-down intervention

• Provincial regionalisation agenda financial
  incentives for Greater Vernon Water Utility
• Agricultural metering in SEKID (not pricing)
  stalled until province intervened
• Availability of Federal Green Plan funding
  created incentives for metering
• SEKID gag order limited opposition but created
  distrust

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Lesson 3 Entrenched interests

• Progress achieved mostly in residential sector
  Ag is largest user and most variable for
  instance, water for cooling (1987)
• GVWU separated users and protected historic low
  rates to make the deal
• Grand-fathered rights remain and dominate demand
  profile.

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Lesson 4 perceptions matter

• We dont want Vernons sewage
• Theres nothing wrong with that water
• Big state vs. little farmer
• Dont poison our lake (with our waste water)

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Dilemmas

• Slow response 10- 20 year histories
• Population growth seen as inevitable weak
  municipal incentives to limit them
• Path of least resistance emphasis on residential
  interventions when agriculture still the largest
  user
• Scale of democratic accountability wins over
  regional or bioregional management