Cooperation on shared waters

Learn how Canada works with its partners to manage shared waters, address cross-border water issues, and uphold international agreements.  

A ferry boat with a Canadian flag.

Search federal freshwater-related programs across Canada.

Freshwater agreements

Legal or cooperative frameworks designed to manage, protect, and allocate shared water resources across borders, such as lakes, rivers, and groundwater.

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Canada and the United States share numerous waterways and have agreements in place to manage water resources along their shared border.

Transport Canada

Ballast Water Regulations help protect Canadian waters and ecosystems by preventing the spread of invasive species while allowing vessels to operate safely.

Acts concerning navigable waters, Navigation Protection Program, Common Project Search, and research on water navigability.

Freshwater coordination

Collaboration with federal, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners to manage water resources.

  • Canada Water Agency
  • List of partners and formal agreements that support freshwater quality monitoring and collaborative water stewardship across jurisdictions and organizations.

    Environment and Climate Change Canada

    Preserving the health of Canadian waters is a responsibility shared by different organizations across Canada and in the United States. This shared responsibility assures the collaboration with many different partners to deliver our programs effectively.

    Contact us

    If the links provided do not address your needs, assistance is available.
    Please contact us at Water-Eau@cwa-aec.gc.ca, and we will help connect you with the appropriate information to answer your questions.

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    2026-03-20