Annual Report 2020 Your Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
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Annual Report 2020 Your Rideau Valley Conservation Authority 2020 RVCA Board of Directors RVCA is one of Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities Pieter Leenhouts, Chair Ottawa and a member of Conservation Ontario We work Judy Brown, Vice Chair Perth closely with municipal, provincial and federal Andy Jozefowicz Athens government partners, landowners and community Dale McLenaghan Augusta groups to maintain and improve natural resources Brian Dowdall Beckwith in the Rideau watershed The RVCA looks to build Victor Heese Central Frontenac resilient communities by promoting an integrated Jamie Crawford Ottawa watershed approach — one that balances human, George Darouze Ottawa environmental and economic needs Our success is Julie Graveline Ottawa based on partnerships that accomplish local initiatives Scott Moffatt Ottawa at the watershed scale Anne Robinson Ottawa Guy Desjardins Clarence-Rockland Our Vision: A thriving watershed with clean abundant George Sachs Drummond/North Elmsley water, natural shorelines, rich forests and wetlands, Rob Rothgeb Elizabethtown-Kitley diverse habitat and sustainable land use that is valued Don Halpenny Merrickville-Wolford and protected by all Vince Carroll Montague Gerry Boyce North Dundas Our Mission: To understand, manage, protect, restore Barclay Cormack North Grenville and enhance the Rideau watershed through science, Carolyn Bresee Rideau Lakes stewardship, education, policy and leadership Shawn Pankow Smiths Falls Pat Barr South Frontenac Gene Richardson Tay Valley Melissa Sullivan Westport 2 Measuring snowpack to help forecast the spring freshet Message from the Chair & General Manager The year 2020 was like no other It required resilience But the pandemic wasn’t the only challenge we faced as families, businesses, and government responded last year Significant changes to the Conservation to the global pandemic We are pleased with how Authorities Act were introduced in late 2020, and the quickly and effectively RVCA staff were able to pivot, RVCA worked hard to raise awareness about how continuing to serve the watershed while keeping staff, these changes could impact those we serve The clients, and visitors safe strong show of support for conservation authorities resulted in improved amendments and encouraged Staff faced these new challenges head on, without the province to create a working group to work more a reduction in service In fact, we were busier than collaboratively with conservation authorities and ever! Development review services processed a municipalities moving forward This was a very positive record number of development files in 2020, while outcome, and we are grateful for your support continuing to meet deadlines and provide efficient, streamlined approvals In a year like 2020, it is especially important to recognize the many partners that help us achieve our Our stewardship programs were delivered as goals For the RVCA, that includes our municipalities planned under modified protocols, planting as well as countless individuals, organizations and 261,000 trees, continuing to naturalize shorelines, businesses who live and work across the watershed providing clean water grants and reinspecting We also benefit greatly from the work of the Rideau waterfront septic systems Valley Conservation Foundation, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020! More than 300,000 residents turned to local conservation areas in 2020 to access the many As we head into 2021, the RVCA will continue to mental and physical benefits of being outdoors, adapt to the changing realities of the pandemic an increase of 50% and will work closely with member municipalities to implement legislative changes in a way that Our education programs were quickly reinvented continues to provide the programs and services that Online resources for teachers and parents were municipalities and residents want from their local developed and promoted during the school closure conservation authority and our outdoor educators provided Forest School at both Baxter and Foley Mountain conservation areas Yours in conservation, in the fall in lieu of school field trips Pieter Leenhouts, Sommer Casgrain-Robertson, Our science and engineering work continued with Chair General Manager/Secretary- modifications in place, monitoring flood and drought Treasurer conditions, completing new or updated floodplain mapping, and monitoring water quality and aquatic health across the watershed Spectacle Lake 3 The Rideau Valley Watershed Province Clarence– of Quebec Rockland Ottawa Manotick (RVCA oce) Beckwith North Dundas Drummond/ Montague North Elmsley North Grenville Perth Smiths Falls Merrickville- Central Tay Valley Frontenac Wolford Augusta Elizabethtown- United States Kitley of America Westport Rideau Lakes N Athens South W E Frontenac S 4 RVCA Baseline sampling Storybook Trail Adventure at at Fish Creek near Parham Foley Mountain Conservation Area CorporateCorporate Services Services Corporate Services supports the whole authority, • Municipal Engagement Session hosted in January enabling it to perform its functions and deliver for Council members and municipal staff Province Clarence– programs in an efficient and cost-effective manner. • Managed RVCA’s response to the COVID-19 of Quebec Rockland The department is responsible for strategic planning, pandemic (policies, procedures, budget impacts, budgeting, financial reporting, business improvement, remote working, virtual Board meetings) human resources, communications, GIS, member • Responded to provincial changes to the services, foundation support and administration. Conservation Authorities Act (municipal and public awareness, presentations, press releases, media Ottawa Corporate Services interviews, written comments to the province) Manotick • $10.74 million budget • General Manager appointed to Minister Yurek’s (RVCA oce) • 70 staff plus 8 summer students Conservation Authorities Working Group • 23 board members representing 18 member municipalities Beckwith North Dundas Drummond/ Montague North Elmsley North Grenville Perth Smiths Falls Merrickville- Central Tay Valley Frontenac Wolford Augusta Elizabethtown- United States Kitley of America Westport Rideau Lakes N Athens South W E Frontenac S Virtual staff meeting 5 PlanningConservation & Regulatory Land Services Management Services The RVCA manages more than 3,000 hectares of • 1,200 people enjoyed rental facilities at Foley conservation land for the strategic protection of Mountain and Baxter Conservation Areas in 2020 vulnerable habitats and valuable natural resources. This (interpretive centres, group camping areas and the land includes 11 developed conservation areas that are Baxter river cabin) available for public use and enjoyment — two of which • Completed public consultations for Foley Mountain offer outdoor education programs. Conservation areas Conservation Area’s Management Plan provide affordable recreation, education and tourism • Continued successful partnership with Cabinscape opportunities to watershed communities. to host a tiny cabin at Mica Mines Conservation Area to give visitors a special opportunity to Land Management experience nature • Own 2,210 hectares of conservation land across the watershed; 0.6 hectares donated in 2020 Outdoor Education • Manage 3,000+ hectares of conservation land • 1,844 students participated in curriculum-based (inspected and assessed annually) outdoor education programs at Baxter and • 52 nest boxes monitored at nine conservation areas Foley Mountain Conservation Areas in 2020 (down • 23 Species at Risk monitoring and/or habitat feature from 11,000 annually due to the pandemic) projects completed at six conservation areas (in • 78 students participated in the new fall Forest support of bobolink, butternut and barn swallow) School Program at Baxter Conservation Area • 3 memorial benches installed at Baxter and • Installed a self-directed “Storybook Trail Adventure” W.A. Taylor Conservation Areas featuring “The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson at Foley Mountain Conservation Areas • Developed the online “#FreshAirFun” activity series • 11 developed conservation areas to encourage families to embrace the outdoors • 300,000 visitors in 2020 (up from 200,000 annually) • 42 kilometres of trails maintained for public use 6 Baxter Conservaton Area RVCA’s Developed Conservation Areas Chapman Mills Perth Wildlife Reserve Richmond Rideau Ferry W.A. Taylor Baxter Mill Pond Motts Mills Meisel Woods Portland Bay Foley Mountain Baxter Marsh 7 PlanningPlanning & Regulatory & Regulatory Services Services The RVCA brings watershed science, provincial • 5 lifting of 30 cm reserve policies and individual municipal needs together to • 1 Aggregate Resource Reviews meaningfully assist municipal decision-makers in • Participated in a Technical Advisory Committee for building and sustaining local communities. The RVCA is wetland compensation projects in Stillwater Creek also the approval authority for development on hazard catchment for transportation projects within the lands affected by flooding, steep slopes or unstable soil City of Ottawa and in environmentally-sensitive areas like wetlands, shorelines and watercourses. Staff also approve the construction, enlargement or alteration of septic 2020 Planning Activities by Municipality systems in the City of Ottawa and Tay Valley Township 0 Athens and provide septic re-inspection services in several 1000 3 Augusta 200 400 600 800 other municipalities. 0 5 Beckwith 14 Central Frontenac Planning Advisory Reviews 0 Clarence Rockland • 438 severances