Landowner Experiences and…

Landowner Experiences and Recommendations - Feedback Regarding Conservation Authority Practices:

As a private landowner along the Lake Huron shoreline, I recognize and appreciate the important role Conservation Authorities play in protecting our land and waterways. However, I believe the term “Authority” should be replaced with “Conservation Stewards of Land and Water” to better reflect a collaborative approach. My personal experience with the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) has revealed overreach and unrealistic controls, particularly regarding the management and maintenance options available to shoreline property owners.
My property is a 1/3 acre lot with approximately 65 feet of lake frontage. It is currently classified as non-buildable because it falls within the 50-year erosion zone. Prior to my purchase, the lot was considered buildable, and the previous owner invested in making it a fully serviceable building lot, intending to build a retirement home. Unfortunately, after the erosion zone was adjusted, the lot was deemed unbuildable, resulting in a significant financial loss for the previous owner when selling to me. While I was aware of the restrictions at the time of purchase prohibiting home, cottage or other dwellings, I have encountered several examples of what I consider overreach and unrealistic policies imposed by the authority.
• I was advised that I was not allowed to install; an interlocking stone patio—even though it could be relocated in response to future erosion—a 10’ x 10’ wooden floating deck, and a concrete pad. Only portable options, such as vulcanized rubber horse stall mats, were permitted, but no stone base could be placed beneath them due to potential geological impacts.
• I could not install an aluminium gazebo for sun protection or a portable shed for beach gear, even though these structures could be moved as erosion progressed. The general rule was to avoid placing any objects on the lot.

Challenges with Shoreline Erosion Protection:

Attempts to erect a seawall to protect the bank from further erosion were also thwarted. While neighbouring properties constructed such walls without permits, I was subject to inconsistent enforcement and regulations. Even if compliance was achieved, approval was uncertain and required a costly geological/technical survey starting at $25,000. The seawall itself would have cost around $35,000, and I also needed formal permission from neighbouring property owners. Although the authority has since eased some requirements and improved consistency, current costs for comparable projects—including the increased survey expense—would be closer to $70,000-$100,000. Properties permitted to install seawalls have experienced significantly less erosion than my lot, which continues to erode.

Regional consolidation of conservation authorities may offer benefits such as more consistent policy application and a review of the necessity for stringent regulations. It is crucial that restrictions, such as the 50- and 100-year erosion zones, are supported by property-specific technical and geological evidence rather than being applied as blanket limitations without justification. This approach would help ensure fairness and transparency for private property owners.

Proposed Boundaries:

The current proposal to consolidate regional conservation authorities has is confusing regarding the boundaries designated for each region. Some of these proposed regions appear to be excessively large, and the configuration results in certain lakes being divided among multiple regions, which raises concerns about effective management and representation. Specifically, the inclusion of the southern portion of Lake Huron within the Lake Erie Region is difficult to justify and does not seem to reflect logical geographic or ecological divisions. Consideration should be given to establishing a Lake Huron region that includes at least the Huron and Lambton regions of Ontario.
Furthermore, the proposed boundaries should take into account the lands of Indigenous peoples situated along the lakeshores, ensuring that these areas are encompassed within the same shoreline region for consistency and respect of traditional territories. It would be prudent to consider aligning the boundaries with existing treaty and reserves maps to better reflect historical and contemporary land stewardship responsibilities.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/map-ontario-treaties-and-reserves

Thank you for the opportunity to provide my experiences and comments.