The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) is responsible for monitoring transboundary waters to ensure that upstream provinces and territories are not causing downstream effects in the Northwest Territories (NWT). Monitoring currently takes place on the Slave, Hay, Liard and Peel rivers. The comprehensive program has developed a solid baseline for the aquatic ecosystem of these rivers against which future changes can be measured.

The program allows for the detection/early warning of negative environmental trends in waters downstream of industrial developments and is responsive to unexpected upstream events.

Status and trend reports are currently available for the Slave and Hay rivers, and are currently being developed for the Peel and Liard rivers. Open water seasonal sampling at these four transboundary sites continues in 2014. Partners in the network include Environment and Climate Change Canada and First Nations (Smith Landing, K’atl’odeeche, Gwich'in, Liard, Northern Alberta).