Chile Clean Lakes Seminar

Planning and Sustainable Development of Lacustrine Basins of Chile

Type: Environmental and Social Initiatives
Year: 2018
Location: Panguipulli, Region de los Lagos, Chile
Area: Lagos Araucanos
Organized: LAND Architects and Corporación de Adelanto Amigos de Panguipulli - Casona Cultural (CAAP) 
Support: Municipality of Panguipulli, Austral University of Chile, United State Embassy in Chile, Desafío Levantemos Chile, Fundación Luksic, Fundación Alerce 3000, Sur Realista, Mountain Water, Chile California Council, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, UC Davis, Keep Tahoe Blue, Contexto, Lafkenmapu Photography, MOLDEABLE, AOA Asociación de Oficinas de Arquitectura de Chile, Siete Lagos Panguipulli Chile.
Graphic Design: Maca Cisternas G. 
Video and Photogrphy: Macetero Produciones
WEB: http://chilelagoslimpios.cl/

Problematic
The explosive and continuous urban / tourist growth added to the scarce regulation and limitations of existing planning instruments, specifically in the lake basins of the zone included as "Lagos Araucanos" [1], has unleashed important environmental and social challenges, resulting in a direct risk to the national water resource, a strategic asset for the country as defined by the Agency for Sustainability and Climate Change.

Seminar
"Chile Lagos Limpios" is the first seminar on sustainable management of lake basins conducted in Chile. This will present a comparison between the successful case of Lake Tahoe, California, and the case of Lake Panguipulli [2], at risk, and the potential opportunities to adopt good practices that ensure the sustainability of the water resource and development associated with it.

The event, to be held in Panguipulli between May 29 and June 1, will have the participation of 3 international experts from Lake Tahoe, who will present the experience and best practices related to the model of governance successfully established 50 years ago. and the current Management Plan implemented for the basin area.

At the same time, work tables will be developed with national key actors to discuss the challenges and opportunities to transfer these experiences to the case of the Panguipulli Lake basin.

The main result of the Seminar will be the signing of a collaboration agreement for the implementation of a governance model and Panguipulli Lake Basin Management Plan, replicable in lakes that present similar conditions.

Goals
Present an example of a world class planning, governance and sustainable development of a lake basin.
Establish the exchange of knowledge and concrete experiences between the organizations of Lake Tahoe and Panguipulli.

Engage local and central authorities, private sector, academia and civil organizations with the preservation and planning of water resources in Chile, taking as a case study the Lake Panguipulli watershed.

Expected results
Sign a binding collaboration agreement between Lake Tahoe organizations (Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, UC Davis, League to Save Lake Tahoe, Chile-California Council, University of Nevada) and Panguipulli (Friends of Panguipulli Advancement Corporation, Universidad Austral de Chile , NGO Connect for Conservation and Municipality of Panguipulli), with the objective of laying the foundations and starting the planning of the Lake Panguipulli basin (the Plan). Additionally, the sponsorship and signing of this same document is expected by the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, Intendencia de Los Ríos, Gobernación de Los Ríos, DIRECTEMAR and SERNATUR.

A first working session will be facilitated with key actors to gather relevant information for the development of a basin governance model in Chile and the specific Plan for Lake Panguipulli. Among the topics to be discussed are anticipated: organizations to be involved; possible models of governance; main impacts that affect Lake Panguipulli; existing regulation; major gaps and challenges for the creation of the Plan; possible sources of financing.
Define next steps and a schedule of activities with responsibilities and execution times.

Impact

Initiate a transformational change in the way in which the development of the lakes in Chile is planned. Through a pilot plan for the Panguipulli basin, consolidate a methodology and governance model that can then be replicated in other lakes in Chile, thus generating an impact at the country level. The goal is to influence the design of public policies that determine the "rules of the game" of urban planning, the development of tourist, commercial, industrial and cultural activities in the lakes of Chile.

[1] Important area of ??the tourist lakes called "Lagos Araucanos" which includes 12 glacial lakes between 30º and 42º of latitude S and 71ª and 72ª longitude W, and at an altitude between 117 and 590 meters above sea level.

[2] Lake Panguipulli is part of the area called "Lagos Araucanos" and has one of the most developed coasts of the 12 lakes considered in the district. It supports important economic activities for the region, such as tourism and fly fishing (considered one of the most visited basins by SERNATUR).