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This case study research analyzes six water quality trading and offset programs across Canada, the United States, and New Zealand to identify policy and program mechanisms for reducing nutrient and contaminant loading, specifically phosphorus and nitrogen, with a view toward application in Manitoba.

This fact sheet from the Climate Bonds Initiative details a USD 149 million green bond issuance by the State of Michigan on August 16, 2018, intended to fund environmental and natural resource protection programs.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA), groundWork, and affected community members, issued a formal notice to the Director-General of the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) on 18 June 2018. The notice, submitted under section 28(12) of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (NEMA), demands that the DEA take enforcement action against ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) for significant and ongoing pollution of air, soil, and water at its Vanderbijlpark operations.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the causes and impacts of urban stormwater runoff and evaluates various governance and financing mechanisms to manage it. The authors contrast traditional 'gray' engineered infrastructure with 'green' infrastructure (GI) and propose the development of stormwater markets—specifically through allowance trading and credits—to attract private investment and reduce the financial burden on public utilities.

This fact sheet describes the role of the U.S. Farm Bill in promoting voluntary on-farm conservation practices to address agricultural pollution, improve soil health, and sequester carbon. It details specific conservation techniques—such as cover cropping, no-till operations, and intercropping—and outlines the primary funding programs managed by the USDA under the 2014 Farm Bill.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) details the role of the U.S. Farm Bill in promoting on-farm conservation practices. It examines specific conservation tools—such as cover crops, no-till operations, and intercropping—and outlines the funding and objectives of the 2014 Farm Bill's Conservation Title (Title II), including its primary programs: EQIP, ACEP, CRP, and CSP.

This briefing paper proposes a systematic, science-informed methodology to assess the adequacy of Canadian public policy in addressing threats to freshwater resources and aquatic biodiversity. It introduces a hierarchical threat classification system and a framework for identifying gaps between existing management instruments and scientific research needs to inform a pan-Canadian approach to freshwater management.

This fact sheet by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the impact of agricultural nutrient runoff—specifically nitrogen and phosphorus—on water quality in the United States, focusing on the Upper Midwest, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico. It details the environmental consequences of eutrophication and hypoxia, the legal and regulatory landscape including the Clean Water Act's exemptions for irrigated agriculture, and the role of the USDA's Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) in funding voluntary conservation efforts to reduce pollution.

This report details the second phase (2015–2016) of the Breede Catchment Water Stewardship Programme in South Africa's Western Cape, a partnership between WWF-SA, Woolworths, M&S, GIZ, and the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). The project focused on transitioning from on-farm water risk identification to collective action, specifically addressing urban water quality in townships, invasive alien plant clearing in mountainous areas, and the application of the AWS Standard to agriculture.

This report details a 2009 survey of cattail biomass and nutrient levels in the Netley-Libau Marsh to understand its role in reducing nutrient loading into Lake Winnipeg. It finds that phosphorus levels in the marsh significantly exceed provincial guidelines and estimates the potential for increased nutrient storage through plant restoration.

This progress report by GreenCape examines water availability and quality as constraints on economic development in the Berg Water Management Area (WMA) and specifically Saldanha Bay. It identifies a disconnect between linear municipal planning processes and the actual water demands of proposed industrial projects, suggesting that current growth-percentage-based projections may underestimate short-term needs. The report proposes an integrated systems approach to planning, explores 'smart' water allocation based on economic productivity, and evaluates a Water Exchange Network to reduce freshwater intake through industrial water cascading.

A World Resources Institute (WRI) analysis indicates that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) could increase the cost-effectiveness of its water quality improvement spending by seven to 12 times through the use of geographic and benefit-cost targeting.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluates the commercial-scale harvesting of cattail (Typha spp.) biomass in Manitoba, Canada, as a method for nutrient capture and the production of bioenergy and biocarbon. The project demonstrates that harvesting cattails from wetlands and water retention sites removes phosphorus and nitrogen from the watershed, reducing nutrient loading into Lake Winnipeg while providing a sustainable feedstock for solid fuels and soil amendments.

The 2014 Green Drop Progress Report, published by GreenCape, provides a national overview of wastewater treatment performance in South Africa. It utilizes the Progress Assessment Tool (PAT) to track the Cumulative Risk Rating (CRR) of municipal, public, and private wastewater treatment plants, highlighting a general trend of increasing risk across the sector between 2013 and 2014.

This fact sheet describes the implementation of the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model, integrated with QUAL2K, to study water quality in the La Vieja river basin in Colombia. The study identifies primary pollutant sources, analyzes climate and demographic uncertainties, and simulates water quality scenarios to support decision-making and adaptation to climate change.

The National Water Resource Strategy (NWRS2), published in June 2013 by the Department of Water Affairs, provides a strategic framework for the protection, use, development, conservation, and management of South Africa's water resources over a five-to-ten-year period. The strategy aims to align water management with the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality. It identifies South Africa as a water-stressed country facing challenges such as security of supply, environmental degradation, and resource pollution. The NWRS2 prioritizes equitable water allocation, water conservation and demand management (WCWDM), and the establishment of robust institutional arrangements, including nine Catchment Management Agencies and nine Regional Water Utilities. To implement these goals, the document estimates a total sector investment requirement of R700 billion over ten years.

This 2012 report by the Centre for Environmental Rights, funded by WWF-SA, evaluates the system for financial provisions for mine rehabilitation and closure in South Africa. It identifies systemic failures in the estimation, securing, and reporting of these funds, arguing that current practices often lead to the underestimation of environmental liabilities and leave the state vulnerable to costs from abandoned mines.

This briefing note summarizes a sharing circle workshop held on February 17, 2011, in Bloodvein First Nation, Manitoba. Facilitated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the session explored the relationship between the local environment and the well-being of First Nations peoples, documented observed environmental changes, and identified potential adaptation strategies for future climate variability.

A budget vote speech delivered by Minister Edna Molewa on 14 April 2011, outlining the Department of Water Affairs' strategy to increase water availability for economic growth and job creation in South Africa. The speech details major infrastructure projects, water security measures, regulatory frameworks for water quality, and plans for legislative review to prevent water hoarding.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development proposes a multi-level Water Quality Trading (WQT) system architecture for the Lake Winnipeg Basin to reduce phosphorus emissions and combat eutrophication.