The initiative builds on the volunteer initiative and work of the Watershed Groups (WGs) and there have been significant funding increases to support the IWRM efforts of the 30 local WGs. [...] This case illustrates the role of agricultural stakeholders in preparing and implementing the Okanagan Sustainable Water Strategy as well as in the participatory integrated assessment in the Okanagan Basin, conducted by the University of British Columbia with local stakeholders. [...] Desk research was used to report on the characterization of the watershed and the IWRM planning and implementation processes, as well as to describe the institutional structures, resources and capacity that aids and prevents effective agricultural sector participation in IWRM processes. [...] Cattle ranching in the north and fruit crop production in the south are the predominant agricultural sectors in the basin. [...] The rationale for provincial participation has been to ensure the long-term availability of agricultural water supplies in the face of competing demands and growing population in the Okanagan Basin.

While there is no single accepted definition of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), the international community, including key organizations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, has widely accepted the Global Water Partnership's definition of IWRM as a process that promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. Practitioners agree that this requires a highly consultative process, engaging the watershed communities as well as stakeholders.

This volume provides readers with an opportunity to learn from front line water managers of watershed-based agencies across Canada about integrated water management (or integrated water resource management). In common with practice in much of the world, the responsibility for implementing integrated watershed management in Canada is fragmented. Each province and territory in Canada has developed unique approaches or governance models to guide decision making in that regard. Thus, this edited volume enables readers from around the world to gain insight on the best practices in Canada for achieving success and addressing barriers to implement IWM. Although there remains non consensus about how to "best" approach river basin management, some of the main observations include: There is a need to balance a focus on "the big picture", with scoping the scale and scope of planning activities in order that feasible and effective solutions can be implemented Three types of integration are popular among the agencies included in the book: (i) among environment, economy and society, (ii) interactions between people and the environment and (iii) integration (or coordination) of administrative activities. Much more attention is required to achieving effective engagement from Indigenous communities The chapters were originally published in a special issue of the International Journal of Water Resources Development.