The RRCA is a grouping of municipalities dedicated to improving the health of the watershed. The municipalities include the City of Cornwall, Townships of South Stormont, North Stormont, South Glengarry and North Glengarry. The Authority provides an opportunity for these municipalities to carry out programs together, for the good of the whole, in a manner that is much more cost effective than if each municipality operated individually. The Authority is accountable to the member municipalities it serves. Staff report to a Board of Directors, which is comprised of eight municipally appointed representatives.
Board members are in turn responsible to their municipal councils.
Authority decisions are local decisions that represent the majority wishes of its member municipalities. The RRCA has a significant history of involvement in the land use planning and development process. The RRCA has been directly involved in the interpretation and implementation of provincial policy. The RRCA has been successful in protecting natural areas and providing education programming and other visitor services. For many years the RRCA has worked with private landowners assisting them in managing their properties for the good of the watershed.