Nunavut Water Resources division
Our role
Nunavut contains 21% of Canada's freshwater within its many rivers, streams and lakes. The Water Resources division's role is to conserve, protect and increase understanding of Nunavut's water resources.
Our activities
![water sampling](/DAM/DAM-CIRNAC-RCAANC/DAM-REGIONS/STAGING/images-images/lan_wtr_figure_1_1700840711992_eng.jpg)
Source: Christine Wilson
Our mandate falls within 2 areas: water management and stewardship and regulatory activities.
Water management and stewardship activities include:
- developing and maintaining water monitoring networks in Nunavut
- collecting and analyzing water quality and quantity data
- maintaining a Nunavut water quality database
- working with stakeholders to develop standardized water management processes
- co-managing freshwater with the Nunavut Water Board
- educating the public about water and water-related issues in Nunavut
Our regulatory responsibilities involve participating in the Nunavut Impact Review Board's and Nunavut Water Board's procedures for environmental assessment and water licencing. These institutions of public government base their mandates and associated responsibilities from the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act and the Nunavut Waters and Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal Act.
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada's participation in regulatory activities include:
- reviewing and assessing water-related applications, reports, studies, and designs
- providing recommendations and technical advice to the Nunavut Impact Review Board and Nunavut Water Board on projects that involve freshwater
- monitoring and ensuring through education and intervention the compliance of water licence holders with the terms and conditions of their licence
![](/DAM/DAM-CIRNAC-RCAANC/DAM-REGIONS/STAGING/images-images/lan_wtr_figure_2_1701122553141_eng.jpg)
Text alternative for Water management areas in Nunavut
Water Management Areas are defined in the Nunavut Waters Regulations, SOR/2013-69 as part of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act and Nunavut Waters and Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal Act.
- Seal Watershed
- Thlewiaza Watershed
- Geillini Watershed
- Tha-anne Watershed
- Thelon Watershed
- Dubawnt Watershed
- Kazan Watershed
- Baker Lake Watershed
- Quoich Watershed
- Chesterfield Inlet Watershed
- Maguse Watershed
- Ferguson Watershed
- Wilson Watershed
- Lorillard Watershed
- Wager Bay Watershed
- Hudson Bay Islands Watershed
- Northern Southhampton Island Watershed
- Repulse Bay Watershed
- Barrow Watershed
- Kingora Watershed
- Gifford Watershed
- MacDonald Watershed
- Prince Charles Island Watershed
- Koukdjuak Watershed
- Aukpar Watershed
- Great Bear Watershed
- Amundsen Gulf Watershed
- Coppermine Watershed
- Coronation Gulf Watershed
- Queen Maud Gulf Watershed
- Back Watershed
- Back-Hayes (Nunavut) Watershed
- Rasmussen Basin - Larsen Sound Watershed
- Gulf of Boothia Watershed
- Northwestern Victoria Island Watershed
- Hadley Bay Watershed
- Eastern Victoria Island Watershed
- Southern Victoria Island Watershed
- Prince Albert Sound Watershed
- Minto Inlet Watershed
- King William Island
- Western Prince of Wales Watershed
- Eastern Prince of Wales Watershed
- Western Somerset Island Watershed
- Eastern Somerset Island Watershed
- Western Brodeur Peninsula Watershed
- Admiralty Inlet Watershed
- Eclipse Sound Watershed
- Southwestern Baffin Bay Watershed
- Northwestern Davis Strait Watershed
- Northern Cumberland Sound Watershed
- Southern Cumberland Sound Watershed
- Frobisher Bay Watershed
- Melville Island Watershed
- Bathurst and Cornwallis Islands Watershed
- Western Devon Island Watershed
- Eastern Devon Island Watershed
- Sverdrup Islands Watershed
- Nansen and Eureka Sounds Watershed
- Greely Fiord Watershed
- Arctic Ocean and Lincoln Sea Watershed
- Northeastern Ellesmere Island Watershed
- Southeastern Ellesmere Island Watershed
- South Ellesmere Island Watershed
- Hudson Strait Watershed (North and West)
Contact us
Water Resources manager
Phone: 867-975-4550
Email: andrew.keim@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca
Nunavut Regional Office
Water Resources division
918 Nunavut Drive
Iqaluit NU X0A 3H0