THE GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION COMMISSION: HISTORY, ACTIVITIES, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR WATER MANAGEMENT

Despite its contribution to water management in Canada, very little has been published about the Grand River Conservation Commission. This paper examines the formation and operation of this organization. The evolution of water resource strategies is documented by describing the plans completed between 1932 and 1966 by the Grand River Conservation Commission and Grand Valley Conservation Authority which was formed in 1948. The strengths and weaknesses of the Conservation Commission are identified through information gathered from meeting minutes, financial statements, newspaper accounts, and interviews. Local initiative, provincial-municipal partnership, watershed perspective, and collaboration among public agencies are viewed as attributes. The absence of a basin-wide administration and the confined nature of the financial arrangements are noted as weaknesses. The evolution of the Commission indicates that effective institutional arrangements maybe facilitated when context, legitimation, functions, structures, processes and mechanisms, and organizational culture and participant attitudes are considered adequately.