The Arctic Environmental Strategy action on water: Challenges, responses and achievements

The period leading up to the 1990s saw a rapid growth in the number and complexity of northern resource management issues including the call for expanded, integrated programs to address emerging transboundary water issues, the emergence of new land owners through land claim settlements with government commitments related to protection of water quantity and quality and the general deficiencies of data programs geared to collection of water quantity or water quality information. The Arctic Environmental Strategy as one of the cornerstones of Canada's Green Plan responded to these issues through four action programs: Action on Water, Action on Waste, Action on Contaminants, and Action on Environment and Economy. These programs were intended to preserve and enhance the integrity, health, biodiversity and productivity of Arctic ecosystems for the benefit of present and future generations. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the development and implementation of the Action on Water Program. To set the context for this paper, the regional setting of the Northwest Territories and Yukon is first described in terms of bio-physical, socio-cultural and economic features. The management and science issues and challenges faced by the Action on Water Program are then reviewed followed by a discussion of the management response to them. Achievements of the Water Component are described in general terms.