As someone who cares deeply…

As someone who cares deeply about the Kettle Creek watershed, I see this proposal as a serious risk to the health of our local environment and the quality of service our community depends on. Conservation authorities were built on local knowledge — people who know the land, the watercourses, the flooding risks, the wildlife, and the unique needs of our area. That expertise matters.
Right now, local staff respond quickly to emergencies, provide practical advice to landowners, and deliver programs that make a real difference, like tree planting, wetland restoration, and outdoor education. Kettle Creek Conservation Authority (KCCA) manages 9 Conservation Areas, 24 km of trails, and 2 campgrounds that support tourism, recreation, and our local economy. They also provide timely, predictable approvals for landowners, municipalities, and developers, consistently meeting or exceeding provincial review timelines.
Centralizing these roles under a much larger authority will almost certainly mean slower service, reduced access, and decisions that don’t reflect the realities of our watershed. With KCCA representing just 3% of the area within the proposed Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority, the unique concerns of small watersheds like ours could easily be overlooked or lost.

We need to ensure any changes protect what matters most: responsive service, fair funding, strong environmental protection, and decisions rooted in local understanding.