Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable - Moving Forward


Year 2011
Proponent Cities of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam and Kwikwetlem First Nation
Project type Governance
FSWP funding source Living Rivers
Grant amount $40,575
Total project value $93,342
ID number FSWP11-LR15-G

Location: Coquitlam River watershed

Project Summary

SUMMARY

Building on the successful completion of four years of stakeholder and community collaboration, this project will allow a newly formed Coquitlam River Watershed (CRW) Roundtable to move forward.  Project goals are to:  continue to build relationships and foster effective collaboration between the Roundtable members; establish and fill a watershed coordinator position; successfully implement some projects and activities; and, prepare a budget and funding strategy that will provide support of the Roundtable in future years.

DESCRIPTION

The purpose of this project is to provide the newly formed Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable with the resources it needs to move forward.  The Roundtable’s purpose and Terms of Reference have been developed over the course of four years of stakeholder and community collaboration (see section 4.2).  The key issue for the Roundtable is improving the health and long term sustainability of the Coquitlam River watershed.

The Coquitlam River Watershed (CRW) Roundtable will be a multi-interest body with members representing the various sectors with interests in the watershed.  Governments and government agencies will be represented on the Roundtable, but the Roundtable will be an independent entity, not under government direction.  Representation on the Roundtable will come from entities with legislative authority in the watershed such as the City of Coquitlam; the City of Port Coquitlam; the Kwikwetlem First Nation; Metro Vancouver; a Province of BC Ministry i.e., Natural Resource Operations and/or, Environment; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; and BC Hydro.  Important non-government sectors that will be represented on the team include the aggregate industry, real estate developers, outdoor recreation, stewards involved with monitoring, enhancement, restoration and salmon, regional non-government organizations, education and culture, residents-at-large.

The Roundtable will not have authority to make decisions related to the jurisdictional authority or legislative responsibilities of governments or government agencies.  The types of activities the Roundtable might undertake could involve coordinating a watershed-wide monitoring program, preparing a plan for the watershed, or working towards consensus on issues that affect the watershed.  Because of its broad-based membership, the Roundtable will gain credibility through its actions and become an important voice in support of a healthy watershed.  At the same time, it should help reduce conflict and make decision-making based on shared values of the watershed more efficient.

The Roundtable will be comprised of a Core Committee (administrative body), comprising 11-13 members, a Coordinator, and a Funders Group.  The Roundtable is not intended to preplace existing groups and organizations working on issues related to the watershed, but rather provides a structure to further facilitate this work in a collaborative way.

In considering what type of new organization would best serve the interests of the Coquitlam River watershed, participants in previous year’s meetings studied the effectiveness of approaches used in other watersheds, such as the Cowichan Stewardship Round Table on Vancouver Island, the Salmon River Watershed Project in the Interior, and the Nisqually River Council in Washington State.

OBJECTIVES

  • To build partnerships and strengthen relationships between diverse members of the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable
  • To share information and encourage communication about the watershed through meetings, the project Web site and email list, and local news media
  • To improve the health and long term sustainability of the Coquitlam River watershed
  • To secure funding and in-kind support to continue the operation of the Roundtable in future years

METHODS

The methodology for this project is best illustrated by describing the activities of the Roundtable which will be to:
1. Hold at least two Roundtable meetings which will be open to the general public.
2. Hold up to three Roundtable Core Committee meetings.
3. Hire and supervise a paid coordinator.
4. Share information and encourage communication about the watershed through meetings, the project Web site and email list, and local news media.
5. Define and implement up to three projects and activities, including preparing a business plan.


BENEFITS

If the Roundtable is successful, its decisions, projects and activities will have a direct and positive impact on the health of the Coquitlam River watershed and the long-term sustainability of salmon in the watershed.  The capacity of governments and non-government organizations to work on issues related to the watershed either collectively through the Roundtable or individually will be enhanced by the existence of this new coordinating body.