Dimple Roy’s work is focused on the areas of integrated water resources management, watershed governance, adaptive policy-making and sustainable agriculture.
As Director, Water Management, Ms. Roy is the lead researcher on projects on watershed management in the Lake Winnipeg basin, watershed governance, the use of economic instruments for nutrient management in agricultural watersheds, and community-based adaptation in the Canadian prairies.
In addition, she works in partnership with provincial and federal agencies to develop programs and delivery mechanisms in water and agricultural management.
Before joining IISD, she was a policy analyst with Manitoba Conservation, conducted policy and legislative analysis and coordinated the Manitoba Round Table for Sustainable Development. She has also been an environmental consultant on issues ranging from environmental education, sustainable community development to governance structures for effective resource management.
All Publications
- Geography Matters: Targeting "hotspots" for cumulative environmental benefits
Briefing Note - June 6, 2019
Using open data from a variety of sources, we demonstrated how Manitoba can target its limited resources to deliver public programming to agricultural regions and gain better outcomes. - Advancing Natural Infrastructure in Canada: A forum report
Report - February 21, 2019
The Advancing Natural Infrastructure in Canada forum convened Canadian experts to discuss how natural infrastructure can build climate-resilient cities/landscapes. This report highlights forum presentations, discussions, insights and next steps. - IISD’s Response to Manitoba’s Proposed New Water Rights Regulations to Protect Wetlands and Make Drainage More Sustainable in the Province
Discussion Paper - January 28, 2019
IISD's response to the Government of Manitoba's proposed drainage regulations aimed to ensure no net loss of wetland benefits while streamlining the drainage permitting process. - Case Study Research on Offsets for Water Quality Management
Report - January 8, 2019
This case study research examines six water quality trading/offset programs from Canada, the United States and New Zealand and provides lessons relevant to offsetting nutrients, specifically phosphorus and nitrogen, in Manitoba. - City Voters Should Keep Lake Winnipeg in Mind
Commentary - October 11, 2018
Unfortunately, sewage treatment infrastructure doesn’t tend to rank among the most popular of campaign topics in Canadian elections. - Water Transfers: What they are and why they need to be better managed
Blog - September 21, 2018
One of the most ambitious responses to the unequal distribution of water around the globe is the large-scale physical transfers of water from one source or basin to another—otherwise known as water transfers. We explore why they happen and how we can manage them better. - Adaptive and Inclusive Watershed Management: Assessing policy and institutional support in Kenya
Report - September 4, 2018
This report explores existing institutional linkages between gender, water and climate change in Kenya. - The Multiple Benefits of Natural Infrastructure
Blog - August 27, 2018
We explain exactly what natural infrastructure is and all the multiple benefits that it brings to humans and to the environment. - Adaptive and Inclusive Watershed Management: Assessing policy and institutional support in Uganda
Report - July 19, 2018
This report looks at how Uganda’s various institutions and policies incorporate climate change and gender considerations into planning, budgeting and monitoring in the water sector. - The Social and Environmental Benefits of Manitoba's Community Pastures
Report - March 13, 2018
A total economic value analysis of Manitoba's community pastures, demonstrating the private and public benefits of sustainable grazing management. - How to Best Manage Water Retention Sites to Protect Manitoba's Environment
Policy Brief - December 19, 2017
Water retention sites—vital for protecting Manitoba from floods—must be well managed so Manitobans can enjoy the abundance of additional environmental benefits they can bring. - Manitoba Bioeconomy Atlas
Interactive - November 20, 2017
The Manitoba Bioeconomy Atlas demonstrates the economic and ecological value of common wetland plants as a marketable feedstock for biomass energy—all with the goal of creating a healthier Lake Winnipeg basin and developing a Manitoba bioeconomy. - The Adaptive Watershed: Training program for inclusive, ecosystem-based watershed management
Report - October 23, 2017
The Adaptive Watershed (TAW) is watershed-based ecosystem management that explicitly addresses the need to understand and manage for a rapidly changing climate, while also incorporating the needs of vulnerable communities and women. - Towards Sustainable Development in Manitoba: Recommendations for Manitoba's Watershed-Based Policy Framework
Report - October 10, 2017
IISD's recommendations to strengthen proposed programs under Manitoba's Watershed-Based Policy Framework aim for net gains through geographic targeting, an evaluation framework to assess cumulative impacts and value for money, as well as coordination of local level-actions through aligned metrics with other programs related to land and water management. - Manitoba Prairie Lakes: Mass balance budget for nutrient management at Pelican Lake, Manitoba
Report - October 10, 2017
This study documents the variance and relative importance of different nutrient sources and internal lake processes for a Prairie lake (Pelican Lake, Manitoba). - Canada Advancing Global Efforts on Mercury Management
Briefing Note - April 5, 2017
This brief summarizes the state of knowledge on mercury management in Canada based on recent reports, as well as decades of research at the IISD-Experimental Lake Area (IISD-ELA). - Large Area Planning in the Nelson-Churchill River Basin (NCRB): Laying a foundation in northern Manitoba
Report - November 23, 2016
This report explores two trends—the growing tendency towards large basin management and consideration of ecosystem services in decision making—for the northern portion of the Nelson-Churchill River Basin in Canada. - Large Area Planning in the Nelson-Churchill River Basin (NCRB): Laying a foundation in northern Manitoba (Summary)
Report - November 23, 2016
This document summarizes a longer report that explores two trends—the growing tendency towards large basin management and consideration of ecosystem services in decision making—for the northern portion of the Nelson-Churchill River Basin in Canada. - Benefit Sharing and the Boreal Forest: Insights from case studies examining resource management and governance
Report - November 1, 2016
We explore case studies from across the globe of forest management models and determine their ability to successfully maintain ecological and cultural services in areas of resource growth. - Building Transboundary Water Security
Commentary - May 31, 2016
This article highlights a new generation of transboundary agreements that aim to integrate wider freshwater benefits, notably ecosystem functions. It also points to the need for holistic approaches to freshwater management moving forward, as countries turn towards implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. - Manitoba Prairie Lakes: In-lake remediation treatment summary
Report - May 30, 2016
This is a summary of a comprehensive research study (Manitoba Prairie Lakes: Eutrophication and In-Lake Remediation Treatments Literature Review) in which IISD examines in-lake remediation treatments. - On World Water Day, Dimple Roy Proposes Phosphorus Targets for Manitoba's Lakes
Video - March 22, 2016
"We need phosphorus targets for Manitoba's lakes" - Manitoba Prairie Lakes: Eutrophication and in-lake remediation treatments Literature Review
Paper - December 21, 2015
Eutrophication—the enrichment of ecosystems with chemical nutrients—has deteriorated water quality in many of Manitoba’s lakes. - Water Quality Monitoring System Design
Paper - October 22, 2015
Hydrologic Information systems (HISs) are systems for measuring, processing, storing and disseminating interlinked aspects of watershed data including the quantity and quality of climate, surface water, and groundwater. This research highlights the crucial role of HISs in the wise management of water resources. - Water-Energy-Food Security and Mining in Suriname: A project overview
Paper - September 27, 2015
Water, energy and food security constitutes critical components of human well-being and includes aspects of supply, demand and access to all three. - Water-Energy-Food Resource Book for Mining
Paper - September 27, 2015
This manual briefly explains IISD’s water-energy and food security framework. - WEFsat-Mining Tool User-Guidance Manual: Water, energy and food security analysis tool for mining
Paper - September 27, 2015
Water, energy and food (WEF) security are interlinked and co-dependent components of security and ranked by the World Economic forum as a key... - How Going Glocal Could Help Fix Our Water Troubles
Blog - July 29, 2015
The need for water management has never been more critical. In North America, the media spotlight has focused most acutely on California, which is facing one its most severe droughts on record. - Strategic Large-Basin Management for Multiple Benefits: Submission to the Manitoba Clean Environment Commission
Paper - March 14, 2015
This paper was submitted to the Manitoba Clean Environment Commission (CEC) for consideration in its review of the regulation of Lake Winnipeg... - Cattail Biomass in a Watershed-Based Bioeconomy: Commercial-scale harvesting and processing for nutrient capture, biocarbon and high-value bioproducts
Paper - February 2, 2015
One of the fundamental insights of the Watershed-Bioeconomy research is that phosphorus, the nutrient responsible for fouling Lake Winnipeg and... - Water-Energy-Food Security: What are the potential contributions of the mining industry?
Brochure - January 29, 2015
On the event of the 2014 Annual General Meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), the... - Water-Energy-Food for Policymakers: What does it mean?
Brochure - January 29, 2015
In developed and developing countries alike, there is increasing demand for water, energy and food (which combine to form what is called the WEF... - Watershed Indicators
Brochure - January 29, 2015
A common barrier to effective planning In watersheds around the world is the complexity of the multi-faceted issues, incomplete and inaccessible... - Bioeconomies at a Watershed Scale (brochure)
Brochure - August 30, 2014
This brochure provides an overview of IISD’s watershed-focused approach to the bioeconomy.To do so, it details two case studies of watershed-based... - Adaptive Policy Analysis of Saskatchewan's 25-Year Water Security Plan
Paper - July 22, 2014
The Adaptive Design and Policy Assessment Tool (ADAPTool) is an Excel-based online tool developed by the International Institute for Sustainable... - Adaptive Policy Analysis of Mining Policies in Saskatchewan
Paper - July 22, 2014
The Adaptive Design and Policy Assessment Tool (ADAPTool) is an Excel-based online tool developed by the International Institute for Sustainable... - Adaptive Policy Analysis of Mining Policies in Manitoba
Paper - July 19, 2014
The Adaptive Design and Policy Assessment Tool (ADAPTool) is an Excel-based online tool developed by the International Institute for Sustainable... - Strengthening Adaptive Capacity in Two Canadian Provinces: ADAPTool analysis of selected mining policies in Manitoba and Saskatchewan: A synthesis report
Paper - July 19, 2014
The Adaptive Design and Policy Assessment Tool (ADAPTool) is an Excel-based online tool developed by the International Institute for Sustainable... - GovernAbilities: The nexus of sustainability, accountability and adaptability. Essential tools for successful governance in the 21st century
Paper - June 26, 2014
Governments today are challenged more than ever in three operational areas: pursuing sustainable development, being accountable to the public for... - Water-Energy-Food Nexus and Agricultural Investment: A sustainable development guidebook
Paper - March 28, 2014
The nexus between water, energy and food (WEF) security is a critical component of human well-being, and billions of dollars are spent annually on... - 2013 ADAPTool Application Strengthening Adaptive Capacity in Four Canadian Provinces: ADAPTool analysis of selected sectoral policies. A synthesis report
Paper - March 27, 2014
The Adaptive Design and Policy Assessment Tool (ADAPTool) is an Excel-based online tool developed by the International Institute for Sustainable... - ADAPTool: Beta version for creating new policies
Brochure - March 22, 2014
Policies that cannot perform effectively under today's complex, dynamic and uncertain conditions run the risk of not achieving their intended... - ADAPTool Guidebook: V2.0 for Existing Policies
Paper - March 22, 2014
The Adaptive Design and Policy Assessment Tool (ADAPTool) is an Excel spreadsheet developed by the International Institute for Sustainable... - 2013 ADAPTool Application Adaptive Policy Analysis of Forestry and Wetlands Policies in Manitoba
Paper - March 22, 2014
The Adaptive Design and Policy Assessment Tool (ADAPTool) is an Excel-based online tool developed by the International Institute for Sustainable... - Cattails Harvesting for Carbon Offsets and Nutrient Capture: A "Lake Friendly" greenhouse gas project
Paper - September 20, 2013
The Cattail Biomass Harvesting project is pursuing and evaluating the commercial-scale harvesting of cattail (Typha spp.) for its multiple co... - Cattail (Typha spp.) Harvesting in Manitoba: A legislative and market analysis for operationalization and carbon emission offsets
Paper - July 24, 2013
Research findings from the Netley-Libau Nutrient-Bioenergy project are encouraging replication of the cattail harvesting concept in areas in the... - The Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus: Towards A Practical Planning and Decision Support Framework for Landscape Investment and Risk Management
Paper - February 27, 2013
In recent decades, researchers and policy-makers have increasingly emphasized the importance of the complex relationships between water, energy and... - Lake Winnipeg Basin Summit Follow-up Meeting: Our Lake, Our Solutions
Paper - March 22, 2012
On November 30 and December 1, 2010, approximately 150 scientists, policy-makers, business leaders, civil society members and other stakeholders... - Ecological Goods and Services: A Review of Best Practice in Policy and Programing
Paper - September 3, 2011
This research paper provides a review of programing and research in ecological goods and services (EGS) internationally and in Canada.The... - Ecosystem Approaches in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM): A Review of Transboundary Basins
Paper - August 24, 2011
Integrated water resources management (IWRM) combines land and water management through broad-based stakeholder participation to realize multiple... - Netley-Libau Nutrient-Bioenergy Project Video
Video - August 16, 2011
This video was produced by Red River College interns, Sarah Doerksen (Animator) and Amanda Hope (Narrator)—hosted by IISD in March and April, 2011... - Evaluation of Integrated Management Initiatives
Paper - June 7, 2011
This paper summarizes key definitions of the integrated place-based approaches applied in Canada and internationally, followed by an overview of... - Netley-Libau Nutrient-Bioenergy Project
Brochure - May 31, 2011
This brochure provides an overview of the award-winning and internationally recognized Netley-Libau Marsh Nutrient-Bioenergy Project and describes... - Water Security in Canada: Responsibilities of the federal government
Paper - May 26, 2011
In taking on the responsibility of governing Canada, the federal government agrees to a social contract—that it will protect Canadian citizens from... - Agricultural Participation in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Canada: Four case studies
Paper - May 14, 2011
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) has been recognized as an effective means of integrated landscape and regional planning in Canada and... - Principles of a Desired Future
Video - February 12, 2011
Dimple Roy of the Water Innovation Centre presents at the Lake Winnipeg Basin Summit (Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2010) on case studies from within... - Water Quality Trading in the Lake Winnipeg Basin: A multi-level trading system architecture.
Paper - July 13, 2010
Lake Winnipeg is an iconic feature on the Canadian Prairie landscape and its multi-jurisdictional basin covers the majority of Western Canada's... - Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Canada: Recommendations for Agricultural Sector Participation
Paper - January 12, 2010
Integrated water resources management (IWRM) approaches are gaining popularity as an effective means of integrated landscape management around the... - Understanding Adaptive Policy Mechanisms through Farm-level Studies of Adaptation to Weather Events in Saskatchewan, Canada
Paper - July 23, 2009
This case study examines the adaptive policy features of the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association's Extension Activities for Minimum Tillage.