TOWN OF WHITBY REPORT RECOMMENDATION REPORT
REPORT TO: Planning and Development Committee REPORT NO: PL 34-11
DATE OF MEETING: June 13, 2011 FILE NO(S): N/A
PREPARED BY: Planning Department LOCATION: N/A
REPORT TITLE/SUBJECT: Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation: Measuring Success Reports
1.0 RECOMMENDATION:
1. That Report No. PL 34-11, regarding the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation: Measuring Success Reports, dated March 2011, be received as information.
2.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Started in 2010, the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation’s Measuring Success research and monitoring project was launched to assess how effective the Provincial Government, the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation (ORMF) and all other Moraine partners have been in meeting the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan’s (ORMCP) original expectations and targets.
The ORMF released eight draft reports measuring the success of the ORMCP and the achievements of the Foundation. The eight reports written were undertaken in preparation for the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan scheduled legislative review in 2015.
3.0 ORIGIN:
A presentation was made before Operations Committee on April 11, 2011 by Lisa Turnbull, Program Manager, Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation. The presentation outlined some of the key findings of the ORMF Stakeholder Survey. This report will summarize all eight of the draft reports measuring the success of the ORMCP. Report to: Planning and Development Committee Report No.: PL 34-11 Page 2 of 8
4.0 BACKGROUND:
On May 17, 2001, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) introduced the Oak Ridges Moraine Protection Act. The Act established a six-month suspension of development on the Moraine to allow the Government to consult on how to best protect it in the future. Following the passage of the Act, an Advisory Panel of key Moraine stakeholders was developed to advise the Minister on how best to move forward.
Following a series of stakeholder and public consultation meetings, the Minister announced a comprehensive strategy for the Moraine on November 1, 2001. This strategy included the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, which was passed on December 13, 2001, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation.
5.0 DISCUSSION/OPTIONS:
The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan was released on Earth Day, 2002. The Plan was designed to protect the environmental health of the ORM, which stretches over 160 kilometres from east to west across south central Ontario.
The Plan was implemented through two distinct processes. First, land uses and activities subject to the Planning Act would be required to conform to requirements of the Plan. Second, the Province created the ORMF and provided 15 million dollars in funding that was to be used to leverage partnerships throughout the ORM in areas such as public education and awareness, land stewardship, land acquisition, research and support for the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail.
The ORMF has launched a program to assess how effective the Province, the Foundation and all other partners have been in meeting the goals of the ORMCP.
The following is a brief description of the eight reports:
An Assessment of Stakeholder Awareness, Support and Concerns for the Implementation of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan
The ORMF surveyed over 60 stakeholders with direct interest in how the Plan and the programs of the Foundation have worked in achieving the objectives of the Plan. The survey confirmed that the ORMCP has been positively received by most stakeholders the Foundation spoke with. Municipalities and conservation authorities that have to work with the policy appreciate the strength and clarity of direction provided by the Plan and the Province was commended on the initial stages of the Plan implementation. Report to: Planning and Development Committee Report No.: PL 34-11 Page 3 of 8
Recently stakeholders have noticed a reduction in the Provincial level of engagement with the Plan’s implementation. Many stakeholders also voiced the opinion that the policy support services normally provided by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing have been lacking.
The Foundation was praised for supporting or initiating many useful projects on the Moraine. The Foundation has distributed in excess of 14 million dollars in grants to 177 projects since 2002. Several stakeholders suggested that the ORMF need to take a stronger leadership role, especially in terms of a more strategic approach to land securement and Oak Ridges Moraine Trail development. This is a critical issue in light of the fact that the original 15 million dollars allocated to the Foundation is running out and many initiatives have discontinued due to lack of funding.
Assessing the Health of the Oak Ridges Moraine in a Watershed Context
This study focuses on assessing the environmental health of the watersheds within the area subject to the ORMCP. The purpose of this report was: to establish an overview of the environmental health of the ORM within a watershed context; to take advantage of existing, readily available data to identify ecological, hydrological, land use and planning indicators that could be used: o to assess and compare the health of watersheds within the ORM; o to measure changes in watershed health over time; and o to serve as a baseline for future monitoring purposes; to identify or suggest where possible, specific measurable performance targets for the indicators; and to identify watersheds with serious environmental health problems that will require future planning, restoration or stewardship effort.
Some of the findings and observations are as follows: the ORM possesses a healthy base of natural terrestrial cover and there are some significant areas of forest interior habitat there is a need for more effort in the enhancement or restoration of streams and associated aquatic ecosystems Municipalities are making good progress in the development of watershed plans there are a number of gaps and inconsistencies in the data management systems that exist for watersheds across the ORM the report could be used as a baseline document and starting point as a vehicle to establish a sustainable platform for monitoring change in the health and status of the ecological and hydrological integrity of the ORM Report to: Planning and Development Committee Report No.: PL 34-11 Page 4 of 8
Assessing the Health of the Oak Ridges Moraine in a Landscape Context
This report is similar to the Watershed Report. The purpose of this report was: to establish a general overview of the ecological health of the ORM as it existed in 2002/03 when the ORMCP came into effect to identify ecological indicators that can be used to measure changes in the Moraine’s ecological health in the future to identify and suggest, where possible, specific measureable performance targets for achieving ecological health on the ORM to identify areas where effort in monitoring is needed in order to assess effectively the ecological health of the ORM and to evaluate the effectiveness of the ORMCP, both now and in preparation for the 2015 review
Some of the findings and observations are as follows: this survey confirms that the amount and distribution of natural terrestrial cover on the ORM is generally in good condition prior to the 2015 review of the ORMCP the investigations and analyses of this report will need to be updated additional restoration work is required to bring certain areas to higher coverage levels and habitat restoration for certain bird species
Improvements to the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail since the Adoption of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan
This report provides information, observations and conclusions about the progress made by stakeholders in achieving objectives of the ORMCP as they relate to the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail (ORMT). More specifically, this report: outlines the history of the Trail identifies the specific objectives and targets of the ORMCP and assesses the degree to which they have been met identifies the role and accomplishments of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail Association (ORMTA) in establishing the Trail identifies accomplishments in expanding and improving the Trail identifies future opportunities and challenges facing all stakeholders in meeting the objectives of the policies of the Plan as it relates to the Trail
Some of the findings and observations are as follows: since 2006, the ORMTA, with direct financial and planning support from the ORMF, has been able to achieve the ORMF objective of establishing a continuous east-west trail across the entire ORM as a volunteer group the ORMTA has created and managed one of the largest trail systems in Ontario Report to: Planning and Development Committee Report No.: PL 34-11 Page 5 of 8
completion of future opportunities for trail improvements will depend on the ability to identify resources (financial and staff) needed to follow up on high potential opportunities
Achievements in Land Securement since the Adoption of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan
The purpose of this report is to evaluate how successful the ORMF has been in meeting its program goals in relation to land securement. This report examines: the establishment and role of the ORMF in land securement the specific goals, objectives and targets that the ORMF set for land securement ORM land securement initiatives undertaken prior to the establishment of the ORMF ORM land securement initiatives since the establishment of the ORMF challenges and opportunities facing the ORMF and its partners observations and conclusions pertaining to land securement on the ORM recommendations for future work in the area of land securement
The finding and observation are as follows: there are insufficient funds available to allow the ORMF to pursue any further strategic opportunities for land securement on the ORM
Achievements in Land Stewardship since the Adoption of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan
The purpose of this report is to evaluate how successful the ORMF has been in meeting its program goals in relation to land stewardship. The effectiveness of grant funds is evaluated and recommendations are made in relation to further work that needs to be completed. The report examines: the establishment and role of the ORMF in land stewardship the specific goals, objectives and targets that the ORMF set for stewardship ORM stewardship initiatives undertaken prior to the establishment of the ORMF ORM stewardship initiatives since the establishment of the ORMF challenges and opportunities facing the ORMF and its partners observations and conclusions pertaining to stewardship on the ORM recommendations for future work in the area of stewardship
Some of the findings and observations are as follows: the ORMF has been able to demonstrate the effective use of resources for stewardship with reference to the following: increasing natural cover, protecting water systems and raising public awareness, the establishment of effective Report to: Planning and Development Committee Report No.: PL 34-11 Page 6 of 8
partnerships with stewardship organizations across the ORM, and the leveraging of additional stewardship dollars through these partnerships
Achievements in Education and Research since the Adoption of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan
The purpose of this report was to evaluate how successful the ORMF has been in meeting its two goals in two program areas: 1) research; and 2) education/public understanding. The report examines: the establishment and role of the ORMF in areas of both research and education/public understanding the specific goals, objectives and targets that the ORMF set in the areas of both research and education/public understanding ORM research and education/public understanding initiatives since the establishment of the ORMF observations and conclusions pertaining to research and education/public understanding on the ORM recommendations for future work in the areas of research and education/public understanding
It has been recognized that there needs to be an increased focus on outreach to ORM stakeholders and the broader public through various media. Despite a recognition that further work needs to be undertaken the ORMF granting program did meet the objectives in the Strategic Plan.
Assessing Compliance of Policy and Regulatory Agencies to the Requirements of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan
This report was undertaken to assess the compliance of planning and regulatory agencies with the requirements of the ORMCP. The report had two intentions: first, to explore the requirements of the ORMCP as it relates to the obligations of provincial, municipal, utility, conservation authority and other agencies to implement and administer the policy and regulatory processes of the ORMCP; and, second, to assess the degree to which these obligations have been or are being achieved.
The report concluded that a tremendous amount of effort had been expended by many agencies in order to ensure that their respective policy, procedural and regulatory documents have been adjusted or modified to address the requirements of the ORMCP. Municipalities and the MMAH, in particular, have expended considerable effort to bring official plans and zoning into conformity with the ORMCP. Watershed plans are now in place or are nearing completion for more than half of the ORM.
6.0 PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS/PLAN:
N/A Report to: Planning and Development Committee Report No.: PL 34-11 Page 7 of 8
7.0 CONSIDERATIONS:
A. PUBLIC
N/A
B. FINANCIAL
N/A
C. IMPACT ON & INPUT FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS/SOURCES
N/A
D. CORPORATE AND/OR DEPARTMENT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
N/A
8.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The Town of Whitby has been implementing the ORMCP since its release in 2002. A Tree Conservation By-law and a Site Alteration By-law have both been adopted by Council, and a Watershed plan for the Lynde Creek is underway and has been completed for Oshawa Creek through the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority.
The eight reports were written to measure the success of the implementation of the ORMCP and identify opportunities for improvement. The reports were written in preparation for the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan scheduled legislative review in 2015.
9.0 ATTACHMENTS
N/A Report to: Planning and Development Committee Report No.: PL 34-11 Page 8 of 8
For further information contact: Melissa Markham, ext. 2344
______Robert B. Short, Director of Planning, Ext. 4309
______Robert Petrie, Chief Administrative Officer, Ext. 2211