The Board of Directors of the Assiniboine River Basin Initiative (ARBI) has endorsed a Framework for Water Stewardship.

The Framework is the culmination of more than two and half years of consultations with more than 200 stakeholder groups in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and North Dakota.

It represents the group's shared vision for water stewardship, laying out key strategies, goals, objectives and desired outcomes for the entire basin.

“ARBI has been working with stakeholders in two provinces and one state to achieve a consensus-driven vision for the future of the basin,” said Dr. Allan Preston, ARBI Chair. “The Board is pleased to endorse the Framework, which identifies key issues and concerns, as well as pathways to cooperative solutions.”

Preston noted that while spring flooding is on the minds of residents right now, it's important to also plan ahead for the long term, which is what this Framework will do.

“The Framework will guide ARBI in the development of its own activities, but it is also a tool that all basin stakeholders can use in their work. It will allow everyone to celebrate the success stories that result,” said ARBI Executive Director Wanda McFadyen.

She added the framework is "evergreen" and will be reviewed and updated annually.

Funding for the development of the framework was provided through Growing Forward 2.