Abstract <p>The role of protected areas of the Nizhny Novgorod region in the conservation of rare wildlife species inhabiting water bodies or associated with reservoirs has been surveyed. All 3 federal and 107 (out of 402) regional protected areas provide the function of protecting aquatic ecosystems in the region. For each of the 105 rare wildlife species associated with water (18.55% of the total number of species listed in the Red Data Book of the Nizhny Novgorod oblast), the presence of federal and regional protected areas is shown, and the level of territorial protection is determined. About a third of the rare species in the region do not need to establish additional protected areas. Approximately the same proportion of rare species with a weak level of territorial protection indicates the need for further development and improvement of the regional network of protected areas.</p>