Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities are organized on a watershed basis and currently manage flood and erosion control as a provincially delegated responsibility. A watershed approach makes the most sense since watercourses flow where nature takes them – across federal, provincial and municipal boundaries.   Conservation authorities work with partners such as municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments as well as watershed residents and other non-governmental agencies in planning and delivering watershed management programs and services.    For example, authorities are working with the provincial government to establish a provincial groundwater monitoring network of about 400 stations.​