Water Policy 7 (2005) 509-522

Watershed management: review of Canadian diversity

Catherine Senecal and Chandra A. Madramootoo

*Corresponding author. Brace Centre for Water Resources Management, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Ste Anne de Bellevue, QC, Canada, H9H 3V9. chandra.madramootoo@mcgill.ca

Watershed management combines the concept of the watershed as the most appropriate spatial management unit for water resources and the concept of integrated water resources management. The movement toward this form of management has resulted in the emergence of new forms of governance in Canada. The Canadian water management context has resulted in various forms of river basin management organizations co-existing within the same country. Four examples are presented of river basin management organizations as they have evolved in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec and the Prairies, with emphasis on government policy, organizational structure, roles and responsibilities, sources of funding and implementation of integrated watershed management programs and policies. These case studies are selected because they range from government institutions to organizations partially supported by government, to grass roots and stakeholder involvement models, reflecting different levels of funding and stakeholder participation.

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