I am writing to express…

I am writing to express strong concern and opposition to the Province of Ontario’s proposal to consolidate Kettle Creek Conservation Authority into a large Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority.

I live within the Kettle Creek watershed and have a direct interest in flood mitigation, land-use planning, and the long-term ecological health of this system.

Conservation authorities were deliberately designed to be watershed-based, locally governed, and locally accountable. Kettle Creek is a distinct watershed with unique hydrology, land use pressures, flood risks, ecological characteristics, and community relationships. Folding it into a large regional authority risks diluting the scientific specificity, responsiveness, and local knowledge that effective watershed management depends on.

This proposal appears to prioritize administrative centralization over sound watershed science. Larger, regionalized structures may look efficient on paper, but they often result in:

Slower response times to flooding, erosion, and development pressures

Reduced local input into permitting and land-use decisions

Loss of institutional knowledge held by local staff

Governance structures that are less accountable to the communities most directly affected

In an era of increasing climate volatility, extreme weather, and development pressure, Ontario should be strengthening localized conservation capacity—not weakening it. Flood mitigation, source water protection, habitat restoration, and stewardship are not generic services that can be standardized across multiple watersheds without consequence.

I am also concerned about transparency and financial accountability. Local conservation authorities allow municipalities and residents to clearly see where funds are allocated and how priorities are set. A large regional authority risks distancing decision-making from both taxpayers and the landscapes those decisions affect.

Kettle Creek Conservation Authority has a proven track record of effective watershed management rooted in local expertise and community partnerships. There has been no compelling evidence presented that consolidation would improve outcomes for environmental protection, public safety, or fiscal responsibility. On the contrary, the risks to service quality and local governance are significant and long-lasting.

I urge the Province to reconsider this proposal and to meaningfully engage with watershed residents, municipalities, Indigenous communities, conservation professionals, and landowners before advancing structural changes of this magnitude. Watersheds are not interchangeable, and governance structures should reflect that reality.

Ontario’s conservation authorities exist to protect people, property, and ecosystems. This proposal undermines that mandate rather than strengthening it.