The Act provides the framework for Conservation Authorities. The Authorities are bodies corporate for the purposes of establishing and undertaking, within their respective jurisdictions, a program designed to further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources other than gas, oil, coal and minerals (sect. 19). The Authorities are based on watershed boundaries and have the following powers: preparing watershed programmes; data collection; acquiring, leasing and expropriating land; erecting works and structures (sect. 20).