Water connects us all. It flows through every ecosystem, community and industry. That is why Alberta Ecotrust Foundation is excited to announce the launch of the Alberta Coalition for Watershed Security. The Coalition aims to unite and amplify the diverse voices of all who have a stake in Alberta’s water, facilitating collaboration across sectors. The Coalition will work to restore and protect Alberta’s watersheds through coordinated advocacy, capacity-building and long-term systems change.

In this post, we’ll share why this work matters, the Coalition’s vision and governance, Indigenous engagement, priority resources and how to get involved.

Why this work matters

Watersheds in Alberta face increasing demands from population growth to land and resource development. Additionally, changing climate conditions contribute to floods, droughts and wildfires, which have cost over $4 billion since 2020. These challenges affect not only water security but also the forests, fish, wildlife and food systems that support quality of life, livelihoods and cultural traditions across the province.

Albertans have a long track record of working together across sectors to support healthy watersheds. We acknowledge and celebrate this legacy. Whether it is a farmer planting a shelterbelt, a scientist taking water samples, or a watershed council convening a necessary conversation, many people have played a part in Alberta’s water management efforts..

Investments in watershed and nature-based solutions are essential to reducing risks, safeguarding water security and protecting the foundations of Alberta’s prosperity, health and survival. Yet funding for this work is uncertain and inconsistent. 

We believe a coordinated coalition will strengthen collaboration, provide credibility, amplify diverse voices and build the case for maintaining and growing long-term investment in healthy watersheds that support people, the economy and nature for generations to come.

The origin story

The coalition concept began in late 2024 when several leading watershed, sustainability and land stewardship organizations came together with a shared concern: the need for a unified voice for water in Alberta.

These partners approached Alberta Ecotrust to convene and lead a province-wide coalition, focused on:

• Amplifying advocacy,

• Strengthening relationships across sectors and regions, and

• Increasing investment and enabling collective impact on watershed health.

In May 2025, Alberta Ecotrust hosted a visioning session with interested organizations to shape the water coalition’s future. The session focused on defining the vision, mission, guiding principles,  governance and structure, setting the foundation for the Coalition. These findings now drive how the Coalition will operate and pursue its strategic goals and core objectives, summarized below. 

Our vision, mission and guiding principles

Our vision statement is a clear, inspiring and long-term picture of what the Coalition hopes to achieve or happen in the future. It represents the ideal future state and provides direction and purpose for strategies and actions. 

A trusted coalition advancing watershed security in Alberta by aligning science, policy and people - amplifying shared efforts and unlocking lasting investment for future generations.

Our mission statement defines the Coalition's core purpose, the reason for its existence, and the actions it will take to achieve its vision. It provides clear guidance on what the organization does, with a nod to who it serves and how it intends to make an impact.  

We bring together Alberta’s water and nature-based solutions community to unlock stronger long-term investments, effective policy and amplify collective action. We advance watershed security, climate resilience, and a renewed relationship with water alongside land stewards, rights-holders and decision-makers. 

Our guiding principles are clear statements on how we will work together to sustain the relationships that make our long-term success possible. The Coalition's guiding principles are: 

• Shared purpose and big-picture thinking: We will prioritize watershed health in all decisions by focusing on collective impact over individual interests. We recommit to shared purpose in times of challenge and stay nonpartisan and credible.

• Relationships and respect: Collaboration is essential — come as you are in a coalition of the willing, with flexible levels of engagement while honouring Indigenous rights, relationships and knowledge. Build trust through reciprocity, lead with generosity, assume good intent and present as one unified voice.

• Process and accountability: Strong, transparent processes lead to strong outcomes. Show up, follow through, share the load and remain adaptable as the work evolves.

• Inclusivity and diversity: The Coalition welcomes diverse voices and holds space for difference. We blend science with story and build shared ownership by prioritizing trust over control.

• Constructive conflict and adaptability: Conflict is part of progress — navigate it with openness, stay grounded in shared purpose and adapt through uncertainty together with honesty and flexibility.

Current focus 

The Coalition is currently focused on two closely connected priorities: 

• Securing the renewal of the Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program (WRRP) and, 

• Laying the groundwork for a sustainable, long-term water fund for Alberta. 

Together, these efforts aim to strengthen the health and resilience of Alberta’s watersheds and communities, helping them adapt to climate change while supporting the province’s ecosystems, economies and people for generations to come. 

Through these priorities, the Coalition aims not to duplicate the efforts of other watershed-focused organizations in Alberta. It is not intended to address individual issues directly. The Coalition’s focus is on the broader systems that influence watershed security, advancing sustainable frameworks where gaps currently exist. 

Governance and structure

The Coalition structure, inspired by the BC Watershed Security Coalition, was designed to be flexible, balance strategic leadership, incorporate diverse voices and foster broad participation. The governance structure aims to provide different engagement levels, where members engage based on their expertise, interests and capacity while contributing to the Coalition’s shared vision and mission. 

• Secretariat (Alberta Ecotrust Foundation): Responsible for coordinating the Coalition’s administrative tasks, operations and communication efforts. 

• Steering Committee: Governing body providing strategic leadership and decision-making of the Coalition. 

• There will be opportunities to develop working groups under the steering committee to facilitate initiatives, projects, research, etc. based on evolving coalition priorities and member interest. 

• Knowledge Council: Advisory body that offers guidance and input to the steering committee and secretariat. It ensures the Coalition’s actions and initiatives align with its vision and mission, drawing on its collective expertise and insights. 

• Coalition members: Water or watershed-related organizations that support the Coalition's vision, mission and initiatives.

The Coalition will use a consensus-based decision-making model, as defined by the Alberta Water Council (AWC, 2005). This approach emphasizes collaboration, with members working together to develop decisions and recommendations that balance diverse perspectives and build shared agreement.

Engagement with Indigenous Nations and communities

The Coalition is committed to authentic, respectful and ongoing engagement with Indigenous Nations and communities in Alberta. We recognize that water holds cultural, spiritual and practical significance for Indigenous Peoples and that their leadership, knowledge and rights must also be centered in this work.

We are in the early stages of building relationships and listening to understand how Indigenous partners would like to be involved. As this work evolves, we aim to ensure:

• Co-development of engagement principles with interested Indigenous communities that reflect mutual respect, reciprocity and consent.

• Indigenous leadership and representation in coalition development and governance, as interested.

• Alignment with Indigenous rights, knowledge systems and data sovereignty.

• A commitment to building trust over time and ensuring that involvement happens at the pace and in the manner determined by Indigenous communities themselves.

Our intent is not to define the relationship in advance, but to create space for Indigenous Nations and organizations to shape their role in ways that reflect their interests, values and priorities.

Priority resources

To achieve our vision and mission, the Coalition will develop a suite of foundational resources that will guide strategy and strengthen advocacy efforts. The resources listed below were identified in response to the question: “What key resources are needed to advance and sustain our work together?”

The following resources will be developed collaboratively and as funding opportunities present themselves:

• Foundational Document: A comprehensive stocktaking of existing work in Alberta to identify gaps, risks and opportunities, providing a roadmap to guide the Coalition’s future workplan.

• Position paper for a sustainable water fund: Outline of the case for establishing a dedicated fund, including estimated financial requirements for a long-term watershed investment.

• Sustainable funding strategic directions: A summary identifying potential funding opportunities in Alberta, including a strategic framework of how the fund could operate, and recommendations on how to bring the vision to life.

• Major outcomes report: A report quantifying the environmental, social and economic benefits of watershed investment, including impacts on job creation, climate resilience and alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), while also identifying unmet funding needs.

• Indigenous-led water initiatives and knowledge: An inquiry of Indigenous-led water stewardship efforts and research, with a focus on recognizing and centering Indigenous perspectives and leadership.

Staying connected

To learn more, stay informed, and find out how to get involved:

• Visit the Alberta Coalition for Watershed Security website

• Sign up for the Alberta Ecotrust newsletter, where we will share the Coalition’s updates

• Contact Breanna Sayles (connect@albertawatershedsecurity.com), Program Specialist, Water Coalition, Alberta Ecotrust Foundation

This Coalition’s work wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of the Calgary Foundation, which shares the Coalition’s vision for a resilient, water-secure Alberta.