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WPACs are stand-alone, incorporated societies with a mandate for effective watershed management. Throughout the Water for Life public consultation process, Albertans expressed a strong interest in playing a significant role in managing Alberta’s water resources and influencing change within watersheds by directly influencing policy and legislation development, tracking, and reporting on the condition of watersheds.

To accomplish this, WPACs have been established throughout the province to involve communities and stakeholders in watershed management.

WPACs participate in many activities in their respective watersheds. WPACs:

  • Report on and raise awareness about the state of the watershed
  • Lead in watershed management planning
  • Develop best management practices
  • Make recommendations to water/land use decision-making authorities
  • Foster stewardship activities and support Watershed Stewardship Groups
  • Educate community members about the watershed

Alberta’s Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils Summary 2023-2024

Map of WPACs

 

 

Know your WPACs

Currently there are 11 WPACs in Alberta. From North to South:

Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance

Lesser Slave Watershed Council

Athabasca Watershed Council

Beaver River Watershed Alliance

North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance

Battle River Watershed Alliance

Red Deer River Watershed Alliance

Bow River Basin Council

South East Alberta Watershed Alliance

Oldman Watershed Council

Milk River Watershed Council Canada

Water For Life

Alberta’s Strategy for Sustainability

Our quality of life and life itself depends on having a healthy and sustainable water supply for the environment, for our communities, and for our economic well-being. Water for Life has been the vehicle for managing Alberta’s water resources since 2003.

water for life has three main goals:

  • Safe, secure drinking water
  • Healthy aquatic ecosystems
  • Reliable, quality water supplies for a sustainable economy

To help meet these goals, the Government of Alberta identifies three types of partnerships that are integral to achieving stewardship of our water resources:

  • Provincial Water Advisory Council, known as Alberta Water Council
  • Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils
  • Watershed Stewardship Groups, such as the Pigeon Lake Watershed Association

Each of these partnerships have different but compatible roles, and each involves interested Albertans in the planning and implementation of improved water management throughout the province.

The Battle River Watershed Alliance was created in 2006 as a non-profit society, and soon after, was selected by the Government of Alberta under the Water for Life: Alberta’s Strategy for Sustainability (2003) as the designated Watershed Planning and Advisory Council (WPAC) for the Battle River and Sounding Creek watersheds within Alberta. The BRWA appreciates all of the support and funding provided by the Government of Alberta, Environment and Parks since our formation.

Events Stewardship Projects