Water Policy Fellowships

Tim's work as a Gordon Fellow noted the recent increase in groundwater use in the Great Lakes Basin, which has led to an increase in conflicts among users, environmental degradation (including reduced baseflow in streams, loss of aquatic habitat and damage to riparian systems) and economic costs. His research pinpointed the key gaps and uncertainties in the recent Great Lakes Annex 2001 Agreements relating to allocating groundwater.

Tim was hired by the Sierra Club of Canada as their National Water Campaigner in 2007 to work on water policy issues relating to the implementation of the Great Lakes Annex 2001 and the reinvigoration of federal water policy. He is also continuing to work on a PhD that examines the connections between urban growth, water rights and land use controls in terms of adapting to the impacts of climate change on water resources.

Tim's work as a Gordon Fellow influenced his work at the Sierra Club, as his research as a Fellow was directly linked to their work on water policy in the Great Lakes Basin. The Fellowship funding allowed him to concentrate on water policy research, and the symposiums and events organized by the Gordon Foundation provided important links to the Great Lakes water policy community. This has led to other opportunities to act as rapporteur at conferences and co-author journal articles.

Tim is now Programme Officer of the Foundation's Fresh Water Resources Protection programme.