Trans-boundary Issues in Water Quality Management - Multi-jurisdictional Approaches in Canada and the U.S
Ontario Branch
Burlington, Ontario
February 05, 2010
Water quality concerns continue to command attention and resources across North America and the globe. Finding
effective means to recover and sustain good water quality is especially challenging in basins that cover multiple
jurisdictions. In all its forms, water knows no boundaries. Boundaries issues can span across physical, natural,
surface water, groundwater, atmospheric, institutional, political, theoretical, perceived, organizational,
technological and temporal scales. Boundary issues can confound or enhance the success of projects, science,
methods and performance in water quality management. There is a lot going on in the field of water-quality management.
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States is under review, as is the Canada-Ontario
agreement on Great Lakes water-quality management. Canada and the United States are currently dealing with
multi-jurisdictional challenges, preparing policies and adopting new practices to achieve water-quality objectives
for the Great Lakes.
What is clear is that boundary considerations provide both opportunities and challenges. Speakers from both Canada and
the United States will present case studies to emphasize the lessons learned about what to do and what not to do in making
progress toward a policy framework capable of producing sustainable water-quality outcomes. This workshop will explore
differences and similarities in approaches and results in Canada and the US focusing on water quality management and
transboundary issues to address the workshop objectives.