MRBB Meeting 53, May 31 – June 1 2016SOAER Update

MRBB SOAERStatus Update, May 31, 2016

Indicators Update

SOAER Indicator Working Group Members

Celine Davis, British Columbia
Jennifer Fresque-Baxter, Northwest Territories
Erin Kelly, Northwest Territories
Gongchen Li, Alberta
Gary Neil, Saskatchewan / Sharon Peter, Yukon
Cleo Reece, Alberta
Tyler Williams, Yukon
Cecilia Wong, Environment Canada

Key Activities:

  • The SOAER Indicators Working Group met five times since MRBB Meeting 51.
  • The Working Group collaboratively recommended that the GNWT complete a contribution agreement with the International Institute for Sustainable Development.
  • IISD assessed the list of Indicators from the 2013 Hatfield workshop.

Notes:

  • Robert Smith from IISD will participate by phone to brief the MRBB on the SOAER Indicators Work.
  • Tab 08b is a summary of the methodology used to recommend the indicators list, and includes a summary of the indicators. The summary is based on the project report.
  • Tab 08c is a summary of IISD advice to the MRBB to help ensure that TK is used appropriately. The summary is based on the project report and has been included for reference.
  • Tab 08d is the IISDIndicators Project Report.
  • Tab 08e is the complete table of Indicators. The list also includes indicators that are conceptually valid but not currently feasible.
  • Tab 08g is the Powerpoint Presentation that will guide the Indicators discussion.

The MRBB will decide to either direct the SOAER Indicators Working Group to continue work on the Indicators list, or to move forward with the SOAER.

SOAER Project

SOAER Structure:

  • The SOAER is intended to be a high level overview document that describes the state of the Mackenzie River Basin.
  • The SOAER will be informed by and contain links to the following Technical Documents:
  • Technical report on Water Quality
  • Technical report on Water Quantity
  • Technical report on Groundwater
  • Technical report on Ecosystem Health
  • Technical report on Local and Traditional Knowledge
  • The SOAER technical reports will be posted to the MRBB Website.
  • Where possible and appropriate, SOAER information will be conveyed using GIS-based graphics.

Content of SOAER 2017:

 Overview of Basin

 Traditional Knowledge in the Basin

 Current Activities in Basin

 Environmental Response to Activities

 Indicators

 Management Response and Governance

 Observations and Advice

 Emerging Issues

  • The complete draft Table of Contents can be found at the end of this document (Annex 1)

Basic Assessment Structure to be used in SOAER 2017:

 Recommendations 2003/2012

 What has been done

 How any recommendations are addressed in bilateral water management agreements

SOAER Tasks and Timelines

Contracting

  • A statement of work for the SOAER work will need to be completed. It is anticipated that tendering a contract of this size will require several months.
  • The TKSP Steering Committee will also convene a contract to collect Traditional Knowledge information in the Basin.
  • Prior to the awarding of the SOAER contract:
  • MRBB members/Technical Committee Members can ensure that research and monitoring data, as well as analytical work, is available for use in the SOAER and can be made available to the contractor.
  • Demographic, socio-economic, and habitat data are available from a number of sources. This information can also be collected while the SOAER contract is being tendered.
  • Tab 08f is a draft terms of Reference for the SOAER Project
  • The Terms of Reference outline the responsibilities of the MRBB, the SOAER Steering Committee, the Traditional Knowledge and Strengthening Partnerships Steering Committee, the Technical and Communications Committees, ad hoc working Groups, and the MRBB Secretariat.

Support Requested of the MRBB

  • Please Nominate and Appoint a Board Champion.
  • Board Champion: Please appoint a Chair for the SOAER Steering Committee.
  • Please designate staff to serve on the Traditional Knowledge and Strengthening Partnerships Steering Committee.
  • Please designate staff to serve on the Technical Committee.
  • Please collect and share Monitoring information.

Budget Ask, 2016-2017

  • $155K: SOAER Report (additional funds next fiscal year)
  • $30K: Traditional and Local Knowledge SOAER Workshop
  • $50K: SOAER Traditional and Local Knowledge Report
  • Total: $235K

SOAER Steering Committee Action Items:

Action 51.9-1Government of the Northwest Territories to manage contribution agreement for work to collate and analyze indicators. The amount will be prorated from the 2016-2017 NWT annual contribution to the MRBB. - Complete

51.9-2Erin Kelly to send email to SOAER Indicators Working Group regarding outcomes of MRBB Meeting 51 and potential academic or NGO candidates who can collate and analyze indicators lists as provided by the jurisdictions. - Complete

51.9-3Don Pittman to send placeholder invitation for SOAER call on Tuesday December 15 at 11:00 am MST. - Complete

51.9-4Mike Renouf and Don Pittman to scope agenda for SOAER call. - Complete

51.9-5Don Pittman to add Sharon Peter on SOAER Indicator Working Group Distribution list. - Complete

51.9-6Celine Davis to send note to academics/NGOs identified by the SOAER Indicator Working Group outlining the tasks the Board would like completed on the SOAER Indicators. - Complete

50.9-2Secretariat to send monthly updates to the Board regarding the progress of the SOAER. - In progress

Annex 1: Draft SOAER Table of Contents

  • Message from Chair
  • Executive Summary
  • Figures
  • Tables
  • Introduction/Purpose

SOAER Context – Master Agreement to now

Governance (brief)

  • Basin Characterization

-Snapshot of Biophysical and socioeconomic setting (including what’s happening in the basin)

-include and highlight Traditional Use, land claims, etc

-Include/highlight Jurisdictions

-Governance

-Relationship between Board and bilaterals

  • Traditional Knowledge
  • “State Of” Overview

-SOAER 2003 – the initial start (very brief)

-Issues Report 2012 – major issues in basin (very brief)

-Indicator selection

-Assessment of the state of the environment against the indicators

-Methodology for indicator selection and assessment (brief and refer to technical reports)

-Indicator framework for future consideration and developing advice

-Emerging Issues / Looking Forward

  • Summary of Observations and Advice / Next Steps

Board assessment of the State of the Basin (include a graphic based on report outcomes)

Linkages to information provided by jurisdictions

Western science and Traditional Knowledge

  • Acknowledgements
  • References

1

Tab 08a