A Grand Way to Work Together

Water knows no boundaries. In this same spirit, boundaries fade when water managers collaborate. With shared goals to improve water quality, ensure sustainable water supplies, reduce flood damages and build resilience to deal with a changing climate, water managers across the Grand River watershed used Collective Impact as the framework to guide the updating of the Water Management Plan for the watershed. The Grand River Conservation Authority provided the support and facilitation to bring partners together.

The project charter outlined their common agenda and, over a period of five years, partners met regularly to discuss challenges and opportunities and then to align their work plans. Partners agreed to work toward voluntary targets. Decision support tools helped to set milestones for measuring progress. Water Managers continue to meet quarterly to report on progress and Plan implementation. Details of the collective progress of the watershed partnership can be found in their annual report.

Learn More

• View the Grand River Water Management Plan
• Contact Sandra Cooke, Chair Water Managers Working Group, GRCA
• Find more resources for implementing Collective Impact at www.tamarackcci.ca