The primary reason for the creation of conservation authorities was a response to serious issues related to the management of water resources including flooding, erosion, poor water quality and low summer flows. The guiding principle for the management of water is that it is best managed on a watershed basis and that surface and groundwater resources must be managed together.

Water management requires an understanding of the watershed`s characteristics gained through monitoring of the resource and planning for its wise use. Lower Trent Conservation’s role in watershed management includes the maintenance of a monitoring network, analysis and interpretation of data on a watershed basis, reporting on the health of the watershed, working with municipalities and the public to deal with water management issues and to implement watershed strategies and projects.