Interactive Map - Simpler Format

   Interactive Map 2 - Technical Format

The federal government has legislative authority over fisheries, navigation, shipping, international boundary waters and federal lands.


   Canadian Department of Justice - Laws - This site provides a listing of all federal statutes (Laws, Acts, Codes, etc.) and regulations including amendments.

   Environment Canada - Water Legislation - Legislation administered by Environment Canada in its water-related activities

The provinces manage water resources within their borders. The provinces legislate virtually all aspects of water demand and supply, pollution control, hydroelectric and other non-nuclear power and irrigation. They are responsible for providing safe drinking water, overseeing municipal water and sewer infrastructure and operating and maintaining major irrigation projects. The provinces own and operate or license most water development and control projects.


   Province of BC Act/Ministry Responsibilities - Each provincial Act is administered by a lead Ministry and the associated Minister. This site links each provincial Act with the Ministry and Minister responsible for the administration of that Act.

   The Revised Statutes and Consolidated Regulations of BC - This provincial site provides a complete alphabetical listing of all provincial statutes (Laws, Acts, Codes, etc) with their associated regulations.

Municipalities manage the infrastructure related to water treatment and delivery, and they plan, finance, and control the operations related to it. They carry out these operations following legislation in place in each province or territory.


   Centralized Systems Legislative Database - The information contained in this database serves to provide users with a starting point to identifying the Acts, Regulations, Guidelines, Best Management Practices (BMPs), etc. available in the management of municipal water and wastewater treatment facilities in Canada.

   Freshwater Website - Find out all there is to know about fresh water in Canada.

   Department of Fisheries and Oceans - This web site is intended to provide the public with information about the role, activities and resources of the Habitat and Enhancement Branch (HEB) in BC and the Yukon. The HEB is responsible for: - the protection and restoration of fish habitat - Salmonid Enhancement Programs (SEP) - integrated resource management planning - Stewardship and community involvement programs - School programs

   Georgia Basin Action Plan - The Georgia Basin Action Plan (GBAP) is a multi-partnered initiative working to improve sustainability in the Georgia Basin. The GBAP partnership has undertaken many projects ranging from research studies, planning initiatives, monitoring, outreach and education.

   Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program - The Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (CBFWCP) is a joint initiative between BC Hydro, the Ministry of Water, Land & Air Protection and Fisheries & Oceans Canada to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife populations affected by the construction of BC Hydro dams in Canada¹s portion of the Columbia Basin.

   Columbia Kootenay Fisheries Renewal Partnership - CKFRP mission is to engage the broad range of fisheries perspectives in a cooperative, community-based partnership to prioritize regional fish and fish habitat conservation and restoration needs and opportunities and to guide delivery of available funding to maximize environmental, social, and cultural benefits in the Columbia Kootenay Region.

   Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative - Once abundant, the white sturgeon has suffered a serious decline in numbers due to environmental impacts. Now, the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative (UCWSRI), a coalition of American and Canadian stakeholders, is engaged in an effort to bring this ancient fish back from the brink.

   Columbia Power Corporation - The Columbia Basin Trust and Columbia Power Corporation are joint venture partners for CBT's power project developments.

   BC Hydro - BC Hydro's home page.

   BC Hydro Water Use Planning - Water use planning was developed by the BC government in response to ever-increasing competing demands on the province’s abundant water resources, and BC Hydro has embarked on a new program focussing on water management at BC Hydro facilities.

   BC Hydro Power Smart - Power Smart was introduced in 1989, and electricity savings now average 2500 GWh/year. That’s enough to power 250 000 homes, or every home and business in Prince George and Victoria combined.

   Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources National Water and Climate Centre - The National Water and Climate Centre is dedicated to lead the development and transfer of water and climate information and technology which support natural resource conservation.

   US Army Corps of Engineers North Pacific Region Water Management Division - This is the home page for the North Pacific Water Management Division, Northwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This site outlines the Corps' river and reservoir regulation activities in the Columbia River Basin.

   Salmon Recovery - Fish and wildlife recovery in the Columbia Basin. Building a basin-wide strategy with habitat, hatcheries, harvest and hydropower

   National Geographic - "A River Dammed - tamed for power, stripped of salmon: what next for the Columbia River?"

   Selkirk College Geospatial Centre - The Selkirk Geospatial Research Centre (SGRC) is a leading-edge research centre specializing in mapping technologies to aid in solving critical issues pertaining to environmental and socio-economic problems. Experienced and capable researchers apply the best technology to help approach decisions with greater understanding.

   University of British Columbia Institute of Resources, the Environment and Sustainability - The Institute for Resources, the Environment and Sustainability (IRES) is both an interdisciplinary research institute and a major interdisciplinary graduate education program at the University of British Columbia. It is the mission of IRES to work to foster sustainable futures through integrated research and learning about the linkages among human and natural systems, to support decision making for local to global scales.

   University of Toronto Munk Centre for International Studies Program on Water Issues - The Program on Water Issues (POWI) creates opportunities for members of the private, public, academic, and not-for-profit sectors to join in collaborative research, dialogue, and education. The Program is dedicated to giving voice to those who would bring transparency and breadth of knowledge to the understanding and protection of Canada's valuable water resources. Since 2001, The Program on Water Issues has provided the public with analysis, information, and opinion on a range of important and emerging water issues.

   Fraser Basin Council - The Fraser Basin Council (FBC) is a unique organization that is focused on advancing sustainability throughout the entire Fraser River Basin. The long-term vision of the FBC is to ensure that the Fraser Basin is a place where social well-being is supported by a vibrant economy and sustained by a healthy environment.

   Bow River Basin Council - The Bow River Basin Council (BRBC) is a multi-stakeholder, charitable organization dedicated to conducting activities for the improvement and protection of the waters of the Bow River Basin, considering: -riparian zones -aquatic ecosystems -quality and quantity of water, and -effects of land use on surface and groundwater.

   Canadian Heritage Rivers System - The Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS) is Canada's national river conservation program. It promotes, protects and enhances Canada's river heritage, and ensures that Canada's leading rivers are managed in a sustainable manner. Responsible river stewardship is the ethic it engenders. Cooperation and public support are the strengths it builds upon.

   MacKenzie River Basin Board - The Mackenzie River Basin has cultural, political, geographic and environmental characteristics, which are unique and significant by world standards. The Basin is huge at a staggering 1.8 million square kilometers, or over one-sixth of the area in Canada, but with only a small population of 360,000 people. The Mackenzie River Basin Board was established to implement the Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Waters Master Agreement.

   Ottawa Riverkeeper - Beginning in 2000, a group of concerned citizens met regularly to discuss models of protection for the Ottawa River. In 2001, they formed a board of directors and started Ottawa Riverkeeper, the third waterkeeper program in Canada to be licensed by the international Waterkeeper Alliance. Two years later Ottawa Riverkeeper became a registered charity and secured funding for a full time Riverkeeper.

   Peace River Watershed Council - The Peace River Watershed Council is a non-governmental forum for the protection and enhancement of the Peace region's watersheds and fisheries resources for the benefit of present and future generations. Considerable effort is directed at determining regional and local priorities for habitat conservation and stewardship. Since 2000, the Watershed Council have administered over $200,000 of funding to support various initiatives.

   Pacific Climate Change Consortium - The Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium (PCIC) is dedicated to stimulating collaboration and building capacity to produce practical climate information for education, policy, and decision-making in the Pacific Northwest.

   Columbia River Treaty and Basin: Canadian Perspective in the 1990's - by Nigel D. Bankes - Review of current issues involved in U.S.-Canada Columbia River Treaty negotiations.

   Wildsight - Wildsight is a registered non-profit, charitable society operating in the south-east corner of British Columbia. The group, and its network of branches throughout the region, works to protect biodiversity and create sustainable communities.

   Alberta Environmental Network - The AEN is a non-profit, non-partisan umbrella organization dedicated to helping preserve and protect Alberta's environment. Membership in the AEN is open to any non-profit, non-governmental organization demonstrating sincere concern and action toward a healthier environment.

   International Joint Commission - The International Joint Commission is an independent binational organization established by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909. Its purpose is to help prevent and resolve disputes relating to the use and quality of boundary waters and to advise Canada and the United States on related questions.

   Northwest Energy Coalition - The NW Energy Coalition is an alliance of more than 100 environmental, civic and human service organizations, progressive utilities and businesses in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and British Columbia. We promote development of renewable energy and energy conservation, consumer protection, low-income energy assistance, and fish and wildlife restoration on the Columbia and Snake rivers.

   Northwest Power and Conservation - The Northwest Power and Conservation Council was created by Congress to give the citizens of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington a stronger voice in determining the future of key resources common to all four states â€" namely, the electricity generated at and fish and wildlife affected by the Columbia River Basin hydropower dams.

   American Rivers - American Rivers is dedicated to the protection, restoration and enjoyment of rivers and watersheds throughout America. Their core programs are the Corps Reform Program, the Watersheds Program and the Dams Program.

   Columbia Basin Research - Columbia Basin Research (CBR) is a joint effort of scientific research projects through the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington. CBR investigates issues surrounding salmon biology in the Columbia and Snake River basins.

   Pacific Institute - Founded in 1987 and based in Oakland, California the Pacific Institute is an independent, nonpartisan think-tank studying issues at the intersection of development, environment, and security.

   Puget Sound Action Team - The purpose of the Puget Sound Action Team partnership is to protect and restore Puget Sound and its spectacular diversity of life now and for future generations.

   MacKenzie Watershed Council - It is the Mission of the MacKenzie Watershed Council to foster better stewardship of the McKenzie Watershed resources through voluntary partnerships and collaboration. The Council's Vision is that the McKenzie River Watershed supports exceptional water quality and habitats in balance with human economic livelihood and quality of life.

   Pacific Northwest Economic Region - (PNWER) is a Public-Private Partnership consisting of the American states and Canadian provinces of Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and the Yukon. PNWER's mission is to foster sustainable economic development throughout the entire region.

   Great Canadian Rivers - Explore the history, ecosystems, culture, recreation and economy of Canadian waterways. Find out more about Canadian river facts and figures, including length and location, natural environment, fish and wildlife, and salmon species, habitat, history, culture and conservation.

   HCI Publications - The leading provider of hydro information from all over the world.

   Water Tech Online - United States water-related resources.