Watershed Planning & Advisory Councils

Under the Government of Alberta’s Water for Life Strategy in 2005, eleven Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils (WPACs) have been established. These independent, non-profit organizations report on watershed health, and facilitate collaborative planning, education, and stewardship. 

The three main goals of the Water for Life Strategy are: 

  1. Safe, secure drinking water 
  2. Healthy aquatic ecosystems 
  3. Reliable, quality water supplies for a sustainable economy

One of the most important ways that we can effectively manage our water is to change the way we manage our land. Land use has many impacts on our watersheds, from encroachment of development on riparian areas and wetlands to creation of impervious surfaces that cause storm-water issues to environmentally damaging uses that leech contaminants into our groundwater. It is vitally important to combine land use management with watershed management to ensure that both our land and water are protected. 

"Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils (WPACs) have a lot to offer municipalities. Their Watershed Management Plans provide a blueprint for watershed management that aims to be environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. Also, WPAC-based information and expertise help raise awareness of the broad watershed, as well as a host of more specific issues relating to, for example, water quality, water quantity, groundwater, wetland management, storm water management, flood and drought planning, and species at risk. For municipalities, WPACs can ultimately inform municipal decision-making concerning watershed management and planning." 

- Source: Nicol, Lorraine A. Ph.D., Nicol Christopher J. Ph.D., (2021). Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils, Their Impact on Municipal Watershed Management and Planning, University of Lethbridge