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This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) advocates for a shift from short-term, project-based grants to long-term core funding for Community-Based Water Monitoring (CBWM) in Canada. It argues that CBWM is a cost-effective and scientifically rigorous method to address significant gaps in Canada's water quality and flow data, which currently hinder watershed health assessments and risk management.

This primer provides a framework for applying resilience thinking to watershed governance, emphasizing a shift from managing against change to managing for change. It identifies six core attributes for building resilient watersheds: inclusive participation, shared understanding, integration of ecosystem services, strong distributed leadership, institutional flexibility, and decentralized decision-making. The guide offers practical tools like the Social-Ecological Inventory (SEI) and social network analysis to help practitioners implement these attributes in real-world contexts, primarily within Canada.