The Columbia River Basin is a complex system with a number of federal, provincial, First Nation and local governments involved in the management of the river system. CBT helps create and support mechanisms for Basin residents to actively and meaningfully participate in water management decisions at local and regional levels.
Water Governance Projects
The Columbia Wetlands is one of the largest wetland complexes in the world stretching from Canal Flats in the south to Golden in the north, along the Upper Columbia River. It is the only portion of the Columbia River that does not have dams regulating its flow and is recognized as a wetland of international importance by the United Nations' RAMSAR Treaty (www.ramsar.org).
The Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners is a partnership of 35 groups and agencies representing Federal and Provincial agencies, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), First Nations, Industry, and local governments from communities along the wetlands. The Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners is committed to maintaining the integrity of the Columbia Wetlands and working cooperatively as stewards and managers of this unique and valuable natural resource. The group is working on a broad range of projects such as education and stewardship, scientific studies, signage, boating regulations, monitoring and baseline inventories. By taking a community-based approach to managing the wetlands, the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners are striving to provide a balanced management perspective and ensure local communities and stakeholders are involved in the process. Columbia Basin Trust is helping to build effective partnerships in the Basin to work cooperatively on Basin-wide water-related initiatives.
The Canadian Columbia River Forum (CCRF) is made up of seventeen Canadian federal, provincial, regional and First Nation agencies committed to collaborating on water-management initiatives in the trans-boundary reach of the Canadian Columbia River Basin. In 2007 participating groups signed a Memorandum of Understanding (will need to post in resources and then link to here) and committed to collaborating on transboundary water management issues through the Canadian Columbia River Forum.
This forum brings together decision-makers to help establish and maintain a dialogue on transboundary water issues, collaborate on existing and emerging water management issues that influence the Columbia River Basin in Canada, and to try and resolve potential conflicts in a forward-thinking manner. The CCRF activities include examining the Columbia River Treaty structure and content, Canadian uses of the Columbia River, bi-national forums and many other water management issues. The CCRF is working on several initiatives to address the transboundary water management issues facing the Canadian Columbia Basin including examining the Columbia River Treaty structure and content, Canadian uses of the Columbia River and hosting bi-national forums. Columbia Basin Trust is helping to build effective partnerships in the Basin to work cooperatively on Basin-wide water-related initiatives. Through the CCRF CBT is facilitating participation in major decisions related to water in the Columbia Basin.
For more information please visit the CCRF website at www.ccrf.ca or contact Kindy Gosal Director Water and Environment at 1-800-505-8998 or kgosal@cbt.org.
