FRESHWATER CONSERVATION CANADA
Freshwater Conservation Canada, formerly known as Trout Unlimited Canada
Established in 1972, we remain dedicated to volunteer-led resource conservation and hands-on initiatives, which have expanded in both scale and influence. Our programs and projects are carried out by our staff, alongside local chapters, volunteers, and partners, concentrating on watershed assessment, monitoring, and restoration to promote healthy water quality, quantity, habitats, and wildlife communities.
While our mission remains the same, Freshwater Conservation Canada will continue to evolve to meet the growing challenges of water quality, water quantity, climate change, and biodiversity loss across Canada’s streams, rivers, and lakes.
Mission: To conserve, protect, and restore Canada’s freshwater ecosystems and their coldwater resources for current and future generations.
Vision: Canada’s respected leader, educator, and trusted advisor in the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of freshwater resources. We empower Canadians to become stewards of their rivers, lakes, and streams.
Values: We value the contributions and input of our members, chapters, and other like-minded partner organizations. Our values help guide our core business and how we implement our programming. As an organization, we are Action-Oriented, Volunteer-Driven, Inclusive and accessible, Science-Based, Solution-Driven, and Consensus Builders.
Our work is guided by four main conservation themes:
- Water Quality – All organisms require a reasonable supply of clean water to maintain their life cycles. Coldwater organisms are extremely sensitive to poor water quality and are therefore good indicators of the relative quality of water for other organisms, including people.
- Water Quantity – In aquatic systems the need for water quantity varies by species, process, season, and water quality. While minimum flows are required for basic ecosystem function, diverse and changing flows are also needed for ecosystem diversity, stability, and longevity.
- Habitat – The physical structure of a river, lake or stream creates the basis for aquatic habitat and can often impact local water quality. A healthy balanced ecosystem requires a dynamic and healthy structure to ensure adequate habitat for aquatic life.
- Aquatic Community – Native aquatic communities comprising invertebrates, fish, and other aquatic species are essential to the health and biodiversity of Canada and the well-being of Canadians. Healthy aquatic communities are an expression of the health and resiliency of their local watersheds.