Fresh Water
Flowing Rivers, Healthy Watersheds.
Canada has 20% of the world’s fresh water, a huge global endowment and an abundance that has led to a false sense of security. Like blood pressure in the human body, it is the flow and movement of water, as opposed to only the raw quantities, that provide insight into the availability of fresh water and the health of ecosystems. According to this vital sign Canada’s rivers are coming under increasing pressure. Globally, freshwater species populations have fallen by at least 35% in the past 40 years. Nature needs fresh water to flourish and communities need healthy rivers and watersheds to prosper.
WWF-Canada is working to protect and restore environmental flows coursing through Canada’s rivers – using our accomplishments ‘in the water’ to catalyze lasting change in water policy on a national scale.
WWF is leading an innovative approach to freshwater conservation, focusing on environmental flows at the watershed scale to protect and restore the quantity, quality and timing of river flows so that we can meet the water needs of people and nature, securing Canada's freshwater future.
WWF-Canada is working to protect and restore environmental flows coursing through Canada’s rivers – using our accomplishments ‘in the water’ to catalyze lasting change in water policy on a national scale.
WWF is leading an innovative approach to freshwater conservation, focusing on environmental flows at the watershed scale to protect and restore the quantity, quality and timing of river flows so that we can meet the water needs of people and nature, securing Canada's freshwater future.
Jacques-Cartier River in Fall
Rivers at Risk Report
What are the pressures affecting environmental flows in the nation’s rivers? From the Mackenzie to the South Saskatchewan to the St. Lawrence, climate change, water withdrawals, diversion and flow fragmentation are threatening these rivers. Find out what WWF is doing to protect and restore them.
What is your water footprint?
Water conservation involves much more than the water we drink and wash with. Our biggest footprint comes from the volume of water used to produce the goods and services we consume, like the water used to run factories, raise animals and grow crops. Through this lens, we begin to see that our total water needs amount to much more than the water we use directly.
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Flowing into the Future
British Columbia is poised to amend its more than century-old Water Act, first passed in 1909. This gives the province the opportunity to be a national leader for water law across Canada – by protecting water rights for nature in new legislation. See the brochure and report below to find out why environmental flows need our protection to keep Canadian rivers healthy.
A New Water Act for British Columbia – What is environmental flow? Why is it important? Find out how WWF is working to keep our rivers healthy.
WWF and BC Government Co-Host Environmental Flows Workshop – In November , 2011, WWF-Canada’s Pacific region office co-hosted a workshop with two B.C. Ministries (Environment, and the new super-Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations) titled “Environmental Flows in the Proposed BC Water Sustainability Act.” The workshop was another step in making e-flows a key part of the proposed new B.C. provincial water law, and continued our collaboration with the province, environmental groups and other partners.
Linda Nowlan, WWF’s conservation director for the Pacific region, sits on the province’s technical advisory group for the development of the new Act. The action packed workshop was a great success, and attracted over 60 water practitioners. WWF’s Freshwater Ambassador, Scott Niedermayer, opened the workshop with a welcoming message.
Flowing into the Future: WWF Comments – British Columbia’s Water Sustainability Act Policy Proposal - Read our recommendations to government for protecting B.C. rivers in new provincial water law – and why this is important for rivers across Canada.
A New Water Act for British Columbia – What is environmental flow? Why is it important? Find out how WWF is working to keep our rivers healthy.
WWF and BC Government Co-Host Environmental Flows Workshop – In November , 2011, WWF-Canada’s Pacific region office co-hosted a workshop with two B.C. Ministries (Environment, and the new super-Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations) titled “Environmental Flows in the Proposed BC Water Sustainability Act.” The workshop was another step in making e-flows a key part of the proposed new B.C. provincial water law, and continued our collaboration with the province, environmental groups and other partners.
Linda Nowlan, WWF’s conservation director for the Pacific region, sits on the province’s technical advisory group for the development of the new Act. The action packed workshop was a great success, and attracted over 60 water practitioners. WWF’s Freshwater Ambassador, Scott Niedermayer, opened the workshop with a welcoming message.
Flowing into the Future: WWF Comments – British Columbia’s Water Sustainability Act Policy Proposal - Read our recommendations to government for protecting B.C. rivers in new provincial water law – and why this is important for rivers across Canada.
WWF-Canada's Athabasca River Report
Report on Securing Environmental Flows in the Athabasca River. View report (1.44MB, PDF)
The Mackenzie River
One of the world's few remaining completely wild rivers. Find out how to protect it...