The conservation authority…

The conservation authority model is unique to Ontario as it operates at the watershed level. This model reflects the imperative for integrated water management across municipal boundaries, as well as for the adoption of the watershed as the de facto unit for water management and governance for municipal water systems.

Water is a flowing resource that cannot be managed at a fixed jurisdictional scale. The watershed scale enables downstream and upstream municipalities and other stakeholders to collaborate and come to agreements about efficient and effective solutions that mitigate risk. The programs that CAs deliver are excellent value for money. CAs are flexible and responsive to local environmental needs in our watersheds. We partner with our municipal partners to leverage expertise and resources.

CAs are a local presence; boots on the ground; no one else fills the role

CA's operate via ecological boundaries—such as watersheds and subwatersheds. This underlines the importance of governance systems that coordinate restoration projects across political boundaries. I value the work CAs do to make residents safer and our environment more resilient. There is no one else doing what CAs do and without it, Ontario would be a less desirable place to live.

Since 1946 the core mandate has been the program and services that further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources on a watershed scale. After Hurricane Hazel the mandate to control floods and pollution was added. Watersheds, natural resources and hazards.

You cannot take the watershed out of the water. Floodplains cannot be managed if we don’t look back up the watershed and engage in review of proposals that may impact the runoff of water. We can watch floodplains get bigger or we can actively engage in their management and perhaps reduction by taking certain measures.

The quality and quantity of drinking water cannot be managed if CAs are not looking at the watershed and ensuring that the water to support the supply continues to get where it needs to go.

Water management is becoming increasingly important and we need tools and the act updated to recognize this/not constrain CAs.

Change the terminology from Programs and services related to the risk of natural hazards to programs and services for the protection and management of natural hazards. The proposed wording in the Act is too vague as to provide guidance as to the intent.

The following are the minimum elements of a successful program for hazard management:
- Operations, inspections, maintenance or reconstruction of dams, channels, and erosion and ice control structures
- Flood forecasting and warning (hydrometric monitoring, data management, models, communications)
- Drought forecasting and warning (low water response teams)
- Emergency operations with municipalities (data support, communications, media, vulnerability assessments; post event assessments)
- Plan input and review for hazards, storm water management and feature protection (planning, engineering; ecology)
- Regulation (permitting and enforcement)
- Watershed planning to input to hazard management and planning decisions; determine effective mitigation measures including protection and expansion of natural areas and wetlands
- Floodline/Hazard and Risk Mapping (hydraulic and hydrologic modelling; base mapping; air photography, field assessment)
- Watercourse, shoreline and slope erosion control
- Hazard land securement
- Training/ Communications and Education

As well, restoration activities (tree planting, wetland restoration, forest management) and monitoring of watershed health have been long standing activities that have ensured that the impacts of land use change on hazards have been minimized. They should be included in the core mandate

The province should include an additional mandatory program area of “conservation of natural resources” to capture some of the programs and services that have long been part of a CAs core work, including:
o inventory and monitoring,
o tree planting and forest management,
o natural heritage systems planning,
o habitat restoration and creation,
o invasive species management and
o stewardship/ outreach activities.

Support the CAs being charged with source protection but note that it is effectively downloading the program costs to the local taxpayer as the province is not expected to continue to pay for the program.

Glad that the province recognizes the value of the land holdings of the Conservation Authorities to the people of Ontario.

CAs hold large tracts of natural lands and active park facilities. Many of these lands provide flood control, flow augmentation, and contain erosion and flood hazards as well as sensitive and provincially significant ecological areas. These parks are regional destinations like Ontario Parks. Visitations to the parks continue to rise with the increasing population, emphasis on the health benefits of nature and decreasing access to personal greenspace in housing choices. CAs need to be able to invest in facilities and land to allow for more visitors and better experiences.

Some of the components of the Programs and services related to the conservation and management of lands include:
o Land planning (management plans)
o Land securement and acquisition
o Conservation area operations and management
o Property Management (maintenance, management agreements)
o Facilities maintenance and capital works
o Hazard assessments (hazard trees, weather, trail inspections)
o Inspection and Enforcement (risk and liability)

The regulations must allow for a wide range of programs and services on these lands to ensure that they continue to provide the functions they were intended for (be it recreation or natural heritage protection)