Integrated Water Resources Management in Canada: the experience of watershed agencies

Abstract

Water agencies from 7 of the 10 Canadian provinces shared their experiences regarding history, successes, challenges and lessons learned with integrated watershed management. Based on these contributions, it is clear that an integrated approach does not mean ‘all-encompassing’. Rather, it proposes desirable and feasible solutions through a systems approach based on sound technical information (e.g. biophysical and socio-economic), public engagement and monitoring. The roles of all participants must be clearly defined in order to promote success and facilitate implementation. Enduring and emerging challenges, such as adequate capacity and financing, engagement with Aboriginal communities and other stakeholders, and successful implementation, are identified.

Keywords:

• Integrated water management
• Canada
• watershed agencies
• public participation
• Aboriginal peoples
• water planning
• monitoring
• implementation

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge and thank the many people who made this special issue possible. We are very grateful to all the contributors, particularly those employed in the various water management agencies. They have very responsible and busy job descriptions, and we thank them for making the time to write the initial draft and to follow up on required revisions and edits, and requests for additional information. This special issue would not have been possible without their cooperation. Karen Vankerkoerle, cartographer for the Department of Geography at the University of Western Ontario, worked very diligently in redrafting many of the figures and maps. We also thank Cecilia Tortajada, editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Water Resources Development, for her encouragement, constructive advice and support through the publishing process.