{"id":3241,"date":"2023-06-08T11:53:42","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T18:53:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peachlandwpa.org\/?p=3241"},"modified":"2023-11-21T14:02:06","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T22:02:06","slug":"meeting-with-the-ministry-of-water-lands-resource-stewardship-wlrs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peachlandwpa.org\/meeting-with-the-ministry-of-water-lands-resource-stewardship-wlrs\/","title":{"rendered":"Meeting with the Ministry of Water Lands Resource Stewardship (WLRS)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Update on PWPA initial meeting with the Ministry of Water Lands Resource Stewardship (WLRS)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

July 2023 in Vicotria BC<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since its inception in 2016, the PWPA has consistently reached out to all three levels of government in our continual pursuit of or mandate: the preservation and protection of all watersheds in our community, with a goal of providing a consistent quantity, quality and timing of flow of water for all species. In our dedication to ecosystem research, watershed watch and sharing this knowledge with the public, we have encouraged local provincial and federal governments to adapt site sensitive, ecologically based forestry practices in the public forests located in Peachland\u2019s watersheds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This political outreach is often unanswered, however, in a letter of congratulation to newly elected premier, David Eby, the PWPA was buoyed to receive a reply and invitation to speak with the newly formed WLRS Ministry.  After much back and forth, between the Premier, Minister Nathan Cullen, his Assistant Deputy Minister and the ADM\u2019s assistant, it was decided PWPA send a delegation to Victoria to meet in person with WLRS staff, Julia Berardinucci, MSc., and her team of policy analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julia is Director, Water Resources Stewardship for the Water Protection and Sustainability Branch of the Water, Fisheries and Coastal Policy and Planning Division of the newly formed B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.  She recently transferred from a similar position with the Ministry of the Environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this was a live meeting, we were surprised to be joined by Ministry of Forests, Tony Zanotto via zoom and also had last minute regrets from our local District Manager of the Natural resource Operations department Okanagan Shuswap, Ray Crampton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Somehow a congratulatory note to the Premier, turned into a community watershed water meet and greet with the new WLRS ministry staff then turned into a status quo discussion on continued forestry practices in our Peachland watershed.  It was surprising to see the forestry ministry personal at this watershed meeting, after years of trying to debate multi-use watershed issues with that ministry we have had very limited success in in-person negotiations, yet they turn up at our WLRS introductory meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of this surprise, we held a long informative discussion, Julia Berardinucci was an excellent chair, facilitated the meeting deftly, she appeared genuinely interested in our concerns, empathetic to community watershed multi-use issues and was very knowledgeable overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you wish to read more, find the links to the 3 documents PWPA presented to the WLRS ministry here:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. A letter of introduction<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Briefing Notes including topics for discussion and PWPA\u2019s three asks<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. The updated version of PWPA recent Budget Consultation submission for a Sustainability Plan recommendation for the Watershed Security Strategy and Watershed Fund<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    What we discussed-<\/h2>\n\n\n\n