GRCA Minutes
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GRCA Minutes Grand River Conservation Authority, 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5W6 Tel: (519) 621-2761 Fax: (519) 621-4844 Internet: www.grandriver.ca January 2007 Many new faces on GRCA board exploration of two different ways of increasing power for the City of Volume 13 – No. 1 The November municipal election Woodstock. has resulted in many changes in GRCA appointments to the GRCA board and Schneider Power Inc. is preparing more changes are expected in January. an environmental screening report of General Membership a small scale wind farm on agricultur- The most notable change is that al land north of Arthur. The proposed Chairman - Open Peter Krause, who chaired the board wind farm is on 400 acres and will 1st Vice-Chairman - Alan Dale for nine years, was not reappointed by have five wind turbines, each generat- the Region of Waterloo. Krause was a 2nd Vice-Chairman - Vic Prendergast ing about 1.5 MW of power. citizen appointee and Waterloo Townships of Amaranth, East Regional Council has taken a new Grand Valley Wind Farms Inc. is Garafraxa, East Luther Grand Valley, approach, by only appointing elected preparing an environmental assess- Melancthon and Southgate - politicians and not citizen representa- ment for two 10 MW wind farms in Tom Nevills tives to the GRCA board. Krause East Luther Grand Valley. Four to six Townships of Mapleton and served on the GRCA board for 21 wind power turbines are proposed for Wellington North - Pat Salter years and spent five years as chair of each site. Conservation Ontario, where he was a Township of Centre Wellington - Hydro One is considering two dif- champion of conservation on a Shawn Watters ferent ways of providing additional provincial level. power to Woodstock — upgrading an Town of Erin, Townships of Guelph- existing transmission line, or adding a Eramosa and Puslinch - Along with Krause, former Brad Whitcombe Waterloo mayor Lynne Woolstencroft new transmission line that would be and former North Dumfries mayor Joe tapped from an existing line. A por- City of Guelph - Martens have not been reappointed. tion of the study area is within the Vicki Beard, Mike Salisbury Both were long-term GRCA board Grand River watershed in Norwich Region of Waterloo - members who continued to serve on Township in wetland areas and as a Jane Brewer, Kim Denouden, the board after they were no longer on result, the GRCA will provide input Jean Haalboom, Ross Kelterborn, council. into this study. Claudette Millar, Jane Mitchell, Vice-chair Alan Dale of Oxford Wayne Roth, Jake Smola, Bill Strauss, Fees to increase Sean Strickland County, who was reappointed to his position even though he lost his seat The GRCA will increase plan review Town of North Perth and Township in the election, chaired the December of Perth East - George Wicke and permit fees by three per cent board meeting. Only 19 of the 26 effective Jan. 1 2007. Region of Halton - board members had been appointed J. Barry Lee for this meeting and some appoint- GRCA staff have been working with the development industry over the City of Hamilton - ments had not yet been ratified. Jeanette Jamieson past few years on preconsultation At a special meeting on Jan. 12, the guidelines to help improve the quality County of Oxford - GRCA board members will be of the technical documents and Alan Dale appointed to committees and will also streamline planning applications with elect new officers, including a new County of Brant - municipalities. chair. Robert Chambers, Brian Coleman GRCA input to municipal plans and City of Brantford - More power in the watershed policies and review of planning Robert Hillier, Vic Prendergast amendments that are initiated by the Haldimand and Norfolk Counties - The GRCA has been notified of municipality would continue to be Lorne Boyko, Craig Grice environmental assessments for three provided without a fee increase, since proposed small wind farms and an these are included in the levy from THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River municipalities. The changes were dis- Northstar, said that the company dis- illustrates benefits to wetlands and cussed with several home builder covered the contaminant in the sum- agriculture. associations with whom the GRCA mer of 2005 and has been implement- The GRCA is a partner in this pro- will meet five times each year to ing a long-term remediation plan and ject which is led by Ducks Unlimited improve the plan review process. has met with residents in the effected Canada. For program details or to area to discuss the plan. The company arrange a site visit, contact Robert is moving ahead with programs to Review pre-1996 applications Messier at (519) 621-2763 Ext. 310. remove the chemical, considered a GRCA staff will review subdivisions likely carcinogen, from the ground- and greenfield applications that water. They have drilled a well in 10th Heritage Day workshop received approval before 1996, but Dumfries Conservation Area to assist The 10th annual Heritage Day have not yet been constructed. in their monitoring efforts. Workshop and Celebration will be Policies on floodplains, wetlands, Dolly Goyette, the district manager hosted by the City of Waterloo and bank erosion and stormwater manage- in the Guelph office of the Ministry of the GRCA at the Waterloo Memorial ment have been updated since 1988. the Environment, said that 15 people, Recreational Complex on national Once this review is complete, GRCA including a full-time project manager, Heritage Day, Monday Feb. 19. staff will report back to the board on have been working on this problem The theme for the day-long work- the natural resource and policy issues which is a high priority for their shop is Explore Your Waterloo: related to these applications. office. Yesterday, Today and Beyond. By focusing on applications prior to The GRCA staff are working on a Waterloo has a rich history. It has 1996, the GRCA is reviewing applica- report that will come to the board on grown from strong industrial roots in tions that were approved before some this issue. the 19th century to a progressive and of these policies came into effect. highly innovative community in the New Headwaters twenty-first century. Warm wet weather continues Healthy Wetlands project To learn more about the city’s evo- The wet mild weather that contin- A new three-year program to con- lution from its humble beginnings to ued during the first half of December serve and enhance wetlands in the one of the world’s top seven intelli- has been good for groundwater Middle and Upper Grand will provide gent communities, please register recharge. up to 100 per cent funding for demon- online after Dec. 19 at stration projects that protect, restore www.city.waterloo.on.ca/HeritageDa Precipitation was already close to or or enhance wetlands and wetland yWorkshop or contact Peggie above average for the month in many habitat. Bednarek by e-mail at parts of the watershed, according to [email protected], by fax December’s monthly watershed report Called the Headwaters Healthy at (519) 886-5788, or by phone at (519) that was presented at the board meet- Wetlands project, this program builds 747-8643. ing Dec. 15. on the success of the Healthy Wetlands for the Upper Grand pilot The mean air temperature was 1.8 project that ran for three years until degrees above the long-term average 2005. It includes not only the Upper for December and in fact, 15 of the Grand, but also the Middle Grand past 18 months have been warmer (roughly from Guelph north) and the This issue of "GRCA Minutes" than normal. Upper Saugeen River watershed. The was published in January 2007. The wet weather triggered runoff goal of the project is to promote the It is a summary of the value and functions of wetlands. This and stream flows were 150 to 200 per December 2006 business con- will be accomplished through provid- cent above the long-term average ducted by the Planning & across the watershed. The reservoirs ing technical and financial assistance Operations; Administration, were above their normal operating for wetland enhancement projects, Finance & Personnel; and range and Lake Erie’s water level was offering workshops and tours and General Membership slightly above the long-term average. assisting municipalities and agencies Committees. Space permitting, to develop and implement policies other noteworthy happenings Northstar presentations that better protect existing wetlands. and topics of interest have been Examples of projects that can included. The Grand River The GRCA heard two presentations receive full or partial funding under Conservation Authority wel- on efforts by Northstar Aerospace in Headwaters Healthy Wetlands comes the photocopying and dis- Cambridge to monitor and clean up include small wetland restorations, tribution of "GRCA Minutes" or trichloroethylene, a contaminant that buffer plantings, livestock exclusion visit our website at is impacting the water and air. fencing, alternative watering sources www.grandriver.ca Janet McKenzie, project manager for or any other innovative project that THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River GRCA Minutes Grand River Conservation Authority, 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5W6 Tel: (519) 621-2761 Fax: (519) 621-4844 Internet: www.grandriver.ca February 2007 Alan Dale of Norwich elected $110 for a vehicle sticker. Walk-in but- new chair of GRCA ton passes also remain the same as Volume 13 – No. 2 last year, at $45 for adults and $30 for Alan Dale, a farmer from the children. GRCA Township of Norwich, has been elect- ed chair of the GRCA. Rates will increase by $1 for nightly General Membership camping to $27 for unserviced sites Dale, who represents Oxford and $32 for premium, waterfront and Chairman - Alan Dale County on the 26-member board, was serviced sites.