This paper will communicate the outcomes of a systematic quantitative literature review that investigated how extreme freshwater events (EFWE) such as floods, droughts, and heavy rainfall are framed in peer-reviewed academic literature focusing on Queensland, Australia, and Saskatchewan, Canada. From this exercise, patterns emerge revealing a predominately science-based hydrological cycle perspective of EFWE with little recognition of societal influences. We advocate for a reframing of EFWE research in these areas to acknowledge how human practices are interconnected with the intensity and frequency of EFWE. We offer this study to encourage others to explore the contemporary narratives around EFWE emerging from research within their own locations.