Under the province of Alberta’s Water for Life strategy, strategic goals are accomplished through partnership. The Alberta Government has defined three basic partnerships to support the Water for Life strategy.

• Provincial level partnership is expressed through the Alberta Water Council (AWC).
• Regional level partnersip is expressed through the establishment of a Watershed Planning and Advisory Council (WPAC) for each major watershed in the province.
• Local level partnership is expressed through Watershed Stewardship Groups (WSG).

Alberta Water Council

 In 2004, to support Alberta’s Water for Life strategy, the government of Alberta established the Alberta Water Council (AWC). It is a multi-stakeholder partnership with 24 members from governments, industry, and non-government organizations. AWC monitors and stewards implementation of the Alberta’s Water for Life strategy and champions achievement of its three outcomes.

1. Safe, secure drinking water supply.
2. Healthy aquatic ecosystems.
3. Reliable, quality water supplies for a sustainable economy

Watershed Planning & Advisory Councils (WPACs)

In Alberta, the provincial government awards Watershed Planning and Advisory Council (WPAC) status to multi-stakeholder, non-profit organizations. WPACs assess the conditions of their watersheds and develop plans and activities to address watershed issues. As of January 2009, nine watersheds in Alberta have recieved formal designation as WPACs.

• Battle River Watershed Alliance - officially designated as the WPAC for the Battle River watershed in  2006. Battle River Watershed Alliance (BRWA)  http://www.battleriverwatershed.ca/
• Beaver River Watershed Alliance – officially designated as the WPAC for the Cold Lake/Beaver River watershed in 2007. Beaver River Watershed Alliance (BRWA) http://www.lica.ca/
• Bow River Basin Council - officially designated as the WPAC for the Bow River watershed in 2004. Bow River Basin Council http://www.brbc.ab.ca/
• Lesser Slave Watershed Council – officially designated as the WPAC for the Lesser Slave Lake/Lesser Slave River watershed in 2007. Lesser Slave Watershed Council (LSWC) http://www.lswc.ca/
• Milk River Watershed Council Canada - officially designated as the WPAC for the Milk River watershed in 2006. Milk River Watershed Council Canada (MRWCC) http://www.milkriverwatershedcouncil.ca/
• North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance - officially designated as the WPAC for the North Saskatchewan River watershed in 2005. North Saskatchewan Watershed    Alliance (NSWA) http://www.nswa.ab.ca/
• Oldman Watershed Council - officially designated as the WPAC for the Oldman River watershed. Oldman Watershed Council (OMC) http://www.oldmanbasin.org/
• Red Deer River Watershed Alliance - officially designated as the WPAC for the Red Deer River   watershed in 2005. Red Deer River Watershed Alliance (RDRWA) http://www.rdrwa.ca/
• South East Alberta Watershed Alliance - officially designated as the WPAC in 2008. South  East Alberta Watershed Alliance (SEAWA)  http://www.seawa.ca/

Watershed Stewardship Groups (WSGs)

• Watershed stewardship groups take community-level action to safeguard water sources. They are community and volunteer-based groups that include individuals, organizations, agriculture, industry, municipalities and other forms of local government.
• WSGs In the North Saskatchewan River watershed (list in preparation)