Watershed Governance
Watershed governance is a manifestation of ecological governance as it relates to water. It includes the institutional and legal shift toward ecologically-based water allocations, ecosystem-based land and water use decisions, comprehensive demand management and soft path approaches. The overarching goal of watershed governance is to provide alternatives to current systems of water governance and planning that are focused too narrowly on water in isolation from its broader interactions across sectors and within the ecosystem. As an applied concept, watershed governance can help guide Canada's senior governments in their efforts to develop water sustainability through institutional, legal and governance reform.
Discussion Papers, Briefing Notes and Case Studies
An introductory briefing note by POLIS CWN partners at the University of Waterloo, Rob de Loe and Georgia Simms, launching the multi-year Governance for Watershed-Based Source Water Protection in Canada research initiative.
A report that provides concise direction on how citizens expect governments to manage freshwater resources.
A working paper, first presented at the Canadian Water Resources Association 59th Annual Conference in in Toronto, Ontario, June 4-7, 2006. The concept of ecological governance is applied to investigate why and how current approaches to water allocation must evolve to address scarcity and protect ecosystems.
