The Canal and River Trust is assuming control of 2,000 miles of waterways following a landmark 15-year Government grant funding agreement.
The charity will take over the management of canals and rivers in England and Wales from British Waterways and The Waterways Trust, as a part of the Public Bodies Reform programme.
The trust plans to involve communities in the regeneration of local waterways and has unveiled 50 projects that allow people to pledge time or money towards towpath and riverbank development.
Francis Maude, minister for the Cabinet Office, said: ‘This is the Big Society in action, and because it’s also the largest single transfer of a public body into the charitable sector, it’s also a major milestone in our programme to reform quangos.’