The Northern River Basins Study (NRBS), a $12 million five-year study conducted between 1991 and 1996, examined the effects of industrial, agricultural, municipal and other development on the Peace, Athabasca and Slave River basins. The recommendations of the NRBS were submitted to the Governments of Canada, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories by an independent study board.

The Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative (NREI) was launched in 1998 to help implement the commitments made by the Governments of Canada, Alberta and the Northwest Territories to address the recommendations of the NRBS.

NREI’s five year program tracked the progress of these actions, and provided resources to address some of the outstanding information and knowledge gaps. More than $3 million in resources were contributed by the three governments to support the NREI over the five-year program.

The production of the NREI reports, along with the release of the NREI: Key Findings document, concludes more than a decade of research within northern rivers basins. The NRBS and NREI have left a legacy of knowledge and awareness of the environment of the northern river basins, providing a foundation for a sustainable environment.

The three governments will continue to work together with other partners, through mechanisms such as the Mackenzie River Basin Board, to ensure sustainable development and cooperation within the basin.

Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative Synthesis Report. (3.11 mb .pdf format)

Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative Key Findings Report. (2.91 mb .pdf format)

Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative Final Report. (1.23 mb .pdf format)

Please contact the Alberta Environment Information Centre (www.gov.ab.ca/env/info/infocentre/index.cfm) by phone ((780) 427-2700 (Toll Free by first dialing 310-0000)), or by e-mail (env.infocent@gov.ab.ca) to request a Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative CD, which includes the reports listed above as well as 28 additional technical and research papers in pdf format.