The Grand River watershed drains an area of 6,500 square kilometres to Lake Erie in southwestern Ontario just to the west of the Greater Toronto area. Land use within the basin is varied, with agricultural and rural land used dominant in the northern and southern portions, and urban land uses concentrated in the central region. The natural beauty, cultural diversity and recreational opportunities of the river system have been officially recognized through the designation of the Grand River as a Canadian Heritage River. The bulk of the population resides in the Cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and Brantford, and places high demands and stresses on the natural resources of the watershed, particularly the surface and groundwater resources of the central basin.
The Grand River Basin Water Management Study, completed in 1984, dealt with issues of flooding, water quality, and water supply at the watershed scale. Recurring and new watershed scale questions are being asked about such things as:
Integrated watershed planning is active at the subwatershed scale, but beyond these limited areas, resource program delivery is still focused on addressing specific problems and issues. An integrated ecosystem approach to water-related resource management is needed with priorities established on a watershed basis.
During the Heritage River nomination process, a management plan was developed for the heritage and recreational resources of the Grand River watershed. The Grand Strategy for Managing the Grand River as a Canadian Heritage River was facilitated by the Grand River Conservation Authority and developed with the assistance and support of watershed residents and agencies. It focuses on the management of heritage and recreational resources, and provides a framework of shared vision, beliefs and values, and a growing commitment to actions which strengthen the knowledge, stewardship and enjoyment of the Grand River valley's resources.
During the development of The Grand Strategy, participants indicated that pressing watershed issues must be addressed in a comprehensive manner. The development of an integrated management plan for the Grand River watershed represents the next stage in the evolution of The Grand Strategy. The Grand Strategy for Shared Management of the Grand River Watershed provides a mechanism for a joint work program among groups, individuals, municipalities and government agencies. To ensure that future resource management in the Grand River watershed is undertaken with broad-based participation, the Grand River Conservation Authority is acting as custodian. The Grand Strategy Coordinating Committee is developing a range of opportunities for all watershed residents to contribute to The Grand Strategy.