An assessment of local-level capacity for integrated water management in Kings County, Nova Scotia.

摘要

As resource management fields expand spatially and temporally, there is a concurrent shift towards local scale administration. However, often little is known about the capacity of the local-level to manage resources with an integrated approach. The goal of this study was therefore to identify opportunities and constraints for local capacity to undertake integrated water management in Kings County. Kings County was chosen for the study site because of an increasing population, the cumulative effects of land-use activities on water quality, and escalating conflicts over the allocation of water supplies. An evaluative framework to identify the factors that facilitate or constrain local capacity was developed from a literature review. Data sources included information obtained from semi-structured interviews with key experts and stakeholders involved in water management, and documents, such as legislation, policies and programs relevant to water management. Data was analysed using the evaluative framework in terms of the extent to which indicators of integrated water management were being met in policies, legislation, planning, management and/or other activities in Kings County. The results were organized into institutional capacity, social capacity and resource capacity categories. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)