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A report based on national polling by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Nanos Research detailing Canadian public support for water infrastructure investment and the prevalence of water-related challenges.

A July 2026 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) presents findings from a national poll of 2,219 Canadians regarding water infrastructure. The results indicate a high public demand for urgent government action on water infrastructure and strong support for the implementation of natural infrastructure to address deficits and improve resilience.

This report details a five-year study (2019-2023) of the De Salaberry water retention project in southeastern Manitoba, examining how a small, naturalized dam affects phosphorus reduction to combat eutrophication and harmful algal blooms in Canadian freshwater systems.

This executive summary from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of 17 types of natural infrastructure in enhancing water resilience across the Canadian Prairies. It argues that natural assets—both conserved/restored and constructed—should complement conventional grey infrastructure to mitigate floods, secure water supplies during droughts, and improve water quality.

This executive summary describes a spatial targeting strategy developed by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to optimize the placement of water retention projects, such as wetlands and small naturalized dams, to reduce phosphorus loading in Canadian Prairie watersheds.

This executive summary by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of natural infrastructure in addressing Canada's water infrastructure gap. It assesses six federal funding programs against 14 enabling criteria, finding that while most allow natural infrastructure, actual funding remains disproportionately low. The document provides recommendations to integrate natural infrastructure into federal frameworks, increase funding for proactive adaptation, and build local government capacity.

This analysis by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) estimates public grant funding for natural infrastructure in Canada and the Prairie provinces for 2022, highlighting a reliance on a small number of large funds and a predominance of funding for ecosystem restoration.

This executive summary outlines pathways to increase private investment in natural infrastructure within the Canadian Prairies to address a growing water-related infrastructure funding gap.

This executive summary describes natural infrastructure approaches in Canada, highlighting how wetlands, trees, and rain gardens can complement traditional grey infrastructure to deliver municipal services like stormwater management and flood protection. It presents three 'bright spots'—the City of Nelson, Halifax Regional Municipality, and EPCOR—as illustrative models of implementation across different administrative and geographic contexts.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines "bright spots"—effective examples of policy and planning change—to scale natural infrastructure for water services in Canada. It analyzes three distinct models: the City of Nelson's use of local bylaws, the Halifax Regional Municipality's integrated multi-level planning, and EPCOR's hybrid approach combining natural and grey infrastructure for flood mitigation in Edmonton.

The 'Essential Monitor's Guide for Prairie Water Retention' by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) explains the importance of monitoring natural infrastructure projects to ensure they meet specifications and maintain performance over time. The guide aims to make monitoring more accessible by providing technical information on equipment, analysis methods for water quantity and quality, and practical examples from IISD's experience.

The 'Essential Monitor’s Guide for Prairie Water Retention' is a technical guidebook published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in February 2024. It provides a framework for monitoring the water quantity and quality of water retention projects—natural infrastructure designed for flood and drought mitigation, water quality improvement, and biodiversity enhancement. The guide details the necessity of water and contaminant mass balances, recommends specific monitoring tools and equipment, and explains how to use rating curves and automated samplers to collect data in the challenging environments of the Canadian Prairies.

This report, commissioned by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and authored by the Delphi Group, analyzes the economic contributions and growth potential of the natural infrastructure sector in the Canadian Prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba). It quantifies current jobs and GDP and models future growth based on different public investment scenarios to strengthen the business case for nature-based water solutions.

This appendix details the research methodology, definitional framework, and economic forecasting used to assess the natural infrastructure sector in the Canadian Prairies. It establishes a statistical framework based on NAICS codes to quantify the sector's current economic impact and projects growth through 2030 under three different investment scenarios.

This executive summary outlines the proceedings of the 2022 Forum on Natural Infrastructure Performance and Metrics hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The event focused on developing a stronger business case for water-related natural infrastructure (NI) across Canada's Prairies by addressing challenges in performance metrics, data collection, and economic visibility.

This executive summary by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues for the adoption of natural infrastructure—such as conserved wetlands and restored riparian areas—to address aging water infrastructure and climate vulnerabilities in the Canadian Prairies. The document advocates for a shift away from 'grey' infrastructure (dams, pipes) toward nature-based solutions to manage water supply, treat wastewater, and mitigate disasters like floods and droughts.

This fact sheet by the International Institute for Sustainable Development describes the economic impact and growth potential of the natural infrastructure sector in the Canadian Prairies, with a specific focus on Saskatchewan. It defines natural infrastructure as a method of planning and working with nature to meet needs such as wastewater treatment, flood protection, and drinking water supply.

This report summarizes a virtual workshop hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) on June 23, 2022, focused on the monitoring and modelling of water retention projects in the Canadian Prairies. The event brought together 20 participants from government, academia, and industry to share research on the effectiveness of small dams, retention ponds, and wetlands in managing water quantity and nutrient loads, specifically phosphorus. The workshop highlighted the technical challenges of monitoring in cold climates, the use of new technologies like UV-Vis spectrometers, and the need for better business cases to encourage the adoption of natural infrastructure by agricultural producers.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) submitted recommendations to the Government of Canada for the National Adaptation Strategy (NAS), emphasizing the need to integrate a planetary health lens to protect physical and mental health against climate change.

This guide provides a framework for project champions and funders to secure capital for natural infrastructure in Canada, focusing on bridging the gap between early-stage valuation and project finance.