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The single most important characteristic of a water soft path is that it is about sustainability as a new, additional and explicit goal for water management. Unlike traditional water planning, the soft path takes into account the water requirements for in situ functions of the natural resource. This new perspective acknowledges the vital importance of maintaining ecological “services” like nutrient cycling and aquatic habitat, as well as on-site uses such as boating and hydroelectric power production. However, even in a relatively water-rich country such as Canada, the capacity of the resource to sustain these functions can be compromised before water shortages for agriculture, industry and domestic use become acute. At some point, therefore, water withdrawals and diversion will need to be limited. This fact drives the water soft path. ...