Introduction
The Water Act (2000) and the Framework for Water Management Planning (2001) provide the policy and legislative framework for watershed planning envisioned under the Water for Life program. A watershed management plan is non-regulatory and has no statutory authority. It provides management advice to governments and agencies that have policy and approvals decision-making authority for land and resource management. The plan also documents the agreed-upon decisions of key stakeholders, and encourages them to consider best practices and education and outreach programs in their activities that support their watershed.