The Canaan-Washademoak watershed is located in the southeastern part of New Brunswick.  It occupies an area of approximately 2163 km2, 73-86% of which is forested.  According to Service New Brunswick data, 89% percent of the land parcels in the watershed are privately owned: 6116 of 6872.  This represents approximately 42% of the total land base by area.

The watershed is undergoing a socioeconomic transition from a small, family farm and forestry-based community to one composed of a diverse array of people: retirees, public servants, fewer and fewer young people from the area, and more and more people who are “from away.” For example, according to the 2001 Statistics Canada Census, over 10% of the people who live in one village in the watershed did not live there a year earlier; and over 40% of the residential population moved into the village between 1996 and 2001. The area has also become, in recent years, increasingly popular to new seasonal and permanent residents.