Since its inception over a century ago, the reality of a navigable waterway stretching from Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay has been a central part of the fabric of Ontario. Built between 1833 and 1920, the Trent-Severn Waterway was designated of "national importance" in 1929 by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and was considered an engineering marvel at the time. It was initially built for two specific purposes: to provide a useful waterway that would enhance the logging industry and to provide a transportation corridor in the southern portion of the system. The system currently contains 44 locks, the world's tallest hydraulic lift lock, a marine railway, approximately 160 dams and water control structures, and forty-one man-made lakes in the Haliburton Highlands that provide additional water to ensure navigation levels are maintained . Geographically, it is Canada's largest national historic site with more physical resources than any other, serving a regional population of millions and supporting the economies of more than 100 communities throughout its watershed. However, after nearly 180 years, it appears all is not well in this vast region of south-central Ontario. The original waterways mandate, which focused exclusively on navigation, is now being challenged to meet the expanded needs of a modern era. The TSW (Trent Severn Waterway) has always had its critics, but now it faces a multitude of stakeholders with sometimes varying demands, and its response appears to fall short. To begin to appreciate some of the issues, the initial mandate of the waterway and we need to look at how it has traditionally been facilitated. From the beginning, the basics of the system were clear… middle of paper… For nearly two centuries the TSW, in facing public pressure, has emphasized its original mandate. The concern is that doing so fails to recognize that the entire waterway is increasingly an expanding recreational base, not only requiring water for navigation but also requiring an equitable supply of water to support recreational uses and to maintain and improve the natural environment. . The TSW, while maintaining its original position, has envisioned “new” uses of water over the years, including the diversion of large quantities for whitewater canoeing events, water filtration facilities, and increased municipal uses. Clearly times have changed and the TSW must recognize that it must adapt not only through a change in mandate but also through a change in governance that better recognizes and coordinates the large number of stakeholders within the system..