Introduction to NCRB A Summary of the NCRB in Northern Manitoba

© 2014 The International Institute for Sustainable Development IISD.org 5

2.0 A Summary of the NCRB in Northern Manitoba

2.1 Introduction to NCRB

Section 2 compiles existing comprehensive information to describe biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics of the northern NCRB to facilitate understanding of the basin’s characteristics. Ecosystem services are being assessed in many regions globally as an approach to address local sustainability challenges Wong et al., 2015. This summary explains key beneits or ecosystem services that we receive from the basin and identiies ecosystem and socioeconomic priorities and trends. This literature review was conducted through online catalogues, database searches for technical reports, academic theses, peer- reviewed articles and grey literature. The section begins with a general description of the geography and climate of the basin, focusing on changing conditions and a need for managing future risks. It also discusses the rationale for combining the two basins together as an integrated watershed, providing a brief history of the two rivers based on the understanding that historical trends are often a guide for future planning. A summary of the social and economic information for the northern Manitoba portion of the basin follows; it includes demographics and major economic sectors such as mining, forestry, hydroelectricity, commercial isheries and subsistence economies. Finally, we present a general review of the hydrologic regime of the basin with emphasis on the major alterations of the system e.g., water lows, water levels, erosion that have occurred. Following the general overview, we introduce a selection of major studies that outline the environmental impacts on the two rivers. While these studies have been carried out mostly in the context of hydroelectric development, the intent here is to simply demonstrate the range of studies that can help develop an integrated management framework for the NCRB. Included is a brief description of the concept of ecosystem services and some examples from the NCRB to be initially considered for management.

2.2 General Overview of the Basin