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Public Consultations on Managing Land and Water on a Watershed Basis

Government asked the Environmental Advisory Council to carry out public consultations on managing land and water on a watershed basis. The council is appointed under the PEI Environmental Protection Act to advise the minister responsible on issues of environmental concern. The committee that conducted the consultations wass co-chaired by Sherra Profit, a Summerside lawyer, and potato producer Elmer MacDonald of Augustine Cove. Other members were Dr. Jim Kemp, a professor in the UPEI biology department; and Don Matheson, a Christmas tree grower from Oyster Bed Bridge. Dr. Don Mazer, retired UPEI professor, served as facilitator for the public consultations and assisted the committee in preparing its report to the Minister.


Province Releases Report on Watershed Public Consultations ~ Significant New Funding Allotted for Watershed Planning and Management


Report of the Environmental Advisory Council

We are all downstream. We are all upstream. We are all part of a watershed.


Watersheds and Watershed Planning

All land in PEI can be divided into areas called watersheds. Each watershed consists of all the land that water flows over or through to get to a particular river or stream. For example, the Winter River Basin, located northeast of Charlottetown, is a watershed. All of the water on or under the basin flows to the Winter River. Because the water within the watershed is interconnected, the actions of each and every individual living in the watershed combine to affect the health of the watershed. Watershed planning is a process where everyone who lives and works in a watershed can work together to identify environmental issues within the watershed, talk about possible solutions, and set out a plan for the future of their watershed.

The Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry has a Watershed Management Section that includes watershed coordinators located throughout the province. They work closely with organizations and community groups involved in watershed planning, and conservation and enhancement projects. The department also has a Watershed Management Fund that provides financial assistance and technical support to community-based watershed organizations involved in watershed planning and management, as well as groups carrying out habitat enhancement projects. Watershed groups also access funds from other federal, provincial and non-governmental programs.


The Public Consultations

Islanders were asked to share their views on several questions related to community-based watershed planning and management including the following:

  • Priority environmental issues related to watersheds

    PEI is the most densely populated province in Canada and has the highest percentage of non-forest land use. These factors can impact on the environment. Some of the environmental issues that Islanders have identified include an increase in nitrate levels in groundwater and surface water; siltation of streams and its impact on fish habitat; and closures in shellfish harvesting areas due to bacterial contamination. What are the environmental issues in your watershed? What are the opportunities for environmental improvement?

  • Public support for community-led watershed planning and management

    Since the actions of everyone living in a watershed combine to affect the health of the watershed, many believe that planning and managing our land and water on a watershed basis is the most effective way to address environmental issues within a watershed. Do you believe community-led watershed planning and management has a strong potential to address environmental issues?

  • Level of financial support that would be necessary to implement watershed planning and management across PEI

    Implementing watershed planning and management requires resources beyond that available to a group of volunteers only. How much financial support would watershed groups require if the goal were to implement watershed planning and management throughout PEI?

  • Suggestions on where funding should come from

    There are many benefits from an improved environment – such as enhanced water quality and improved fish habitat – and many people enjoy some positive influence from these benefits. Where should funding support for watershed planning and management come from?

  • Technical support required by watershed groups

    Watershed groups are generally volunteer organizations that generously work on behalf of everyone in the watershed. Due to the technical nature of activities that need to be done, they often need advice and other assistance. How much and what types of support are needed by watershed groups in order to be effective in their activities?

  • Structure of watershed groups

    Watershed groups vary in structure from a few interested neighbours to incorporated organizations with bylaws, elected officers and permanent staff. As well, the areas that the groups cover vary widely in size and sometimes overlap one another. How should groups be structured – especially with respect to representing all those who live and work in a watershed? Given that there are over 250 watersheds on PEI (some of which are very, very small), how many watershed groups are needed to cover the Island?

  • Governance on a watershed basis

    In order to be effective in resolving water issues, decisions for a wide variety of activities need to be made within the context of the connected flowing nature of water, that is, a watershed. Currently, planning boundaries in PEI are organized around incorporated municipalities. Should governance decisions be made on a watershed basis? If so, how can this be achieved it in a practical fashion? Should authority for some decision making be transferred to watershed groups?


Meeting Schedule

The Environmental Advisory Council hosted five public meetings across PEI.

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