Water Stewardship Information Sources
| ID | 1601 |
|---|---|
| Citation | Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Process. No Date. Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Process (SLIPP) Strategic Plan for Shuswap and Mara Lakes. Fraser Basin Council |
| Organization | Fraser Basin Council |
| URL | http://www.thinksalmon.com/reports/SLIPP_Strategic_Plan_Final.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | The Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Process (SLIPP) was launched in response to the intense pressure the surrounding area is experiencing as a result of increased development, waste water discharge and conflicting demands on recreational resources. These challenges are set against a complicated regulatory environment where public agencies from every level of government have legal jurisdiction over some aspect of the region. In early 2007, a number of government agency representatives began to explore the viability of undertaking a multi-agency strategic planning process as a means to addressing these challenges. Fundamental to the approach had to be the involvement of elected officials, First Nations and the public. Fourteen public agencies from the four levels of government have been engaged in the development of SLIPP. Depending on their jurisdiction and expertise, agency staff were aligned to one of the three technical work streams: Foreshore Development; Water Quality and Waste Management; or Recreation Management. The efforts of the work streams were guided by a Steering Committee comprised of locally elected officials and First Nations, and by the public through a series of open public meetings and selected individual participation on one of three Public Advisory Committees (PAGs) aligned under each technical work stream. At the forefront of developing this Plan was the recognition that it must compliment and enhance the region's various Official Community Plans (OCP) and Liquid Waste Management Plans (LWMP) that are already completed, underway or in preparation. This has been facilitated by involving the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) throughout the development of SLIPP and by having many of the participating agencies in the technical work streams making contributions to the OCPs and LWMPs. Although significant progress has been made, it is recognized that more work needs to be done throughout the implementation of SLIPP. A strategic framework, consisting of a vision statement and three goals, was developed to identify the desired outcomes of SLIPP. This framework was built from a set of 11 Guiding Principles, which were identified by the Technical Teams and PAGs, and agreed to by the Steering Committee. The vision statement of SLIPP is Working together to sustain the health and prosperity of the Shuswap and Mara lakes. This recognizes the contribution that the natural environment, surrounding communities and local economy play in making the area a highly desirable place to live, work and play. Each one of the goals is aligned to the three work streams, which are Foreshore Development, Water Quality and Recreational Use. Under each goal a series of strategies were identified to address the issues raised via the public input process and agency concerns. There was also a need for a number of strategies that cut across each of the Goal areas. In total 12 strategies were identified, many of which focused on enhancing the working practices of public agencies. This is expected given the complex and fragmented jurisdictional structure that exists when all levels of government and so many agencies have jurisdictional interest in one area. Moving forward, it will be necessary to secure long-term funding for the strategies contained within this Plan in order to realize the full potential of SLIPP. Already progress is being made across a number of strategies, including the Conservation Officer Service appointing an additional full-time resource to concentrate on the region. In addition, a governance structure that appropriately involves the capabilities and capacity of the public, First Nations, stewardship groups and elected officials, is required. The Steering Committee is currently reviewing the various options available and will continue its efforts to ensure the success of this collaborative effort. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Shuswap |
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| Comments | |
| Project status | complete |
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