Pond Near Elk River, Brazeau subwatershed. photo: Bill Trout.
Under the Government of Alberta’s Water for Life Strategy, the Alberta Water Council provides watershed leadership, expertise and knowledge at a provincial level. As one of eleven Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils (WPACs), NSWA provides watershed leadership, expertise and knowledge at a regional level.
Subwatershed alliances
NSWA facilitates three municipal-led watershed stewardship groups that focus on local solutions for local watershed issues. Each of these groups determines their own governance structure and watershed priorities while NSWA provides administrative and technical support.
The three Alliances include collaboration by 33 municipalities, 11 non-governmental groups and five different government agencies.
Headwaters Alliance
Sturgeon River Watershed Alliance
Vermilion River Watershed Alliance
Watershed Partnerships
NSWA participates on several key provincial initiatives that support the management and monitoring of water quality, water quantity and watershed health. These multi-stakeholder partnerships support the development of regional land use and water quality frameworks for the North Saskatchewan River watershed.
WaterSHED Water Quality Monitoring Program
Industrial Heartland / Capital Region Water Quality Framework
Watershed Programs
Wetlands and Riparian Areas are two key indicators of watershed health. NSWA has taken a basin wide approach to gathering information and developing strategies for these areas. Partners in these programs include the provincial government, subwatershed alliances and non-governmental organizations such as Cows and Fish, Ducks Unlimited and ALUS Canada.
