Pooling Shared Information and Knowledge Governance

This document states the importance of trusted, shared information to create trusted processes, informed decisions and ultimately better outcomes for watersheds in British Columbia. A variety of models for managing and supporting local water and watershed information exist in B.C. They are examples of how Crown and Indigenous governments, local communities, and industry are collaborating to “pool” and integrate various forms of water and watershed data. These initiatives recognize a critical point: that for effective watershed planning, policy/ regulation, programs, and decision-making, there needs to be agreement on how a shared foundation of credible information and knowledge is effectively being built and managed. Three places in particular demonstrate the characteristics of effective knowledge creation and sharing in action are the Columbia Basin Water Monitoring Collaborative, Skeena Knowledge Trust (SKT), and Coast Information Team (CIT).