WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
PROGRAMS
Bronte Creek · Neil Hester
PROTECTING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FROM LAKE TO ESCARPMENT NATURAL AREAS PROTECTION p.9
Conservation Halton works in partnership with local municipalities and the Province of Ontario to ensure the long term protection of natural areas such as forests, wetlands, valleys and escarpment lands.
What are the projects associated with this program? • Acquisition & management of significant Escarpment lands like Mount Nemo, Rattlesnake Point, Crawford Lake, Kelso and Hilton Falls • Acquisition and protection of significant wetlands such as Hayesland, Beverly and Badenoch Swamps • Habitat protection and restoration • Site planning & development of trails for nature appreciation
Why is Natural Areas Protection important? • Storage of flood waters • Preservation of wetlands for water quality improvement • Protection of habitat for a wide range of plants and animals • Preservation of habitats for rare and endangered species • Protection of large areas of natural significance • Provision of open space for public recreation and education
Who benefits from this conservation program? • Municipalities • Watershed residents • Nature and recreation groups • Students from elementary, high schools and universities • Future generations
PROTECTING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FROM LAKE TO ESCARPMENT p.10 WATER CONTROL & FLOOD WARNING
Conservation Halton provides a water control and flood warning program to reduce the risk of property damage and loss of life due to flooding.
What are the projects associated with this program? • Operation and maintenance of four major flood control structures: Kelso, Hilton Falls, Scotch Block and Mountsberg Dams • Operation and maintenance of 12.5 kilometres of flood control channels in Milton (Sixteen Mile Creek), Oakville (Morrison/Wedgewood channel) and Burlington (Hager/Rambo channel) • Continuous water level monitoring of watercourses and reservoirs • Computerized flood forecasting, flood damage assessment and data collection and management • Emergency planning and flood warning • Mapping of flood damage centres • Creation of low water response team • Liaison with municipalities and the province
Why is water control and flood warning important? • Potential for injury, loss of life and property damages resulting from flooding is reduced • Efficient coordination of flood warning and control system • Water quality is improved by maintaining creek flows to dilute waste water from treatment plants • Maintenance of water quality and quantity ensures the ecological integrity of our creeks and streams
Who benefits from this conservation program? • Municipalities • Watershed residents • Property owners and businesses potentially affected by flooding • Province of Ontario through reduced flood damages
PROTECTING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FROM LAKE TO ESCARPMENT ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING p.11
We provide environmental planning services through input and review of municipal land use plans as well as develop and review plans for watersheds and the Lake Ontario shoreline
What are the projects associated with this program? • Review of provincial, regional and local planning applications including: Official Plan Amendments, Zoning By-Law Amendments, Plans of Subdivision, Parkway Belt West Plan Amendments, Severances, Site Plans, Niagara Escarpment Development Permits and Plan Amendments and Minor Variances • Review and provide input to Official Plans, Comprehensive Zoning By-laws, Secondary Plans, Watershed and Subwatershed Studies • Review of Environmental Assessments for Transportation and Utilities. • Property inquiries (ie. solicitor requests, building and pool clearances) • Natural resource mapping, fill and floodplain mapping, technical reviews and clearances • Expert technical advice in hydrology and environmental land use planning • Liaison between municipalities and Provincial and Federal government agencies • Participation in Ontario Municipal Board Hearings
Why is environmental planning important? • Reduction of risk to life and property from natural hazards such as flooding and unstable slopes • Sustainable land & water use for future generations • Protection and enhancement of natural areas • Compliance with local legislative requirements • To inform the public of natural hazards & heritage resources
Who benefits from this conservation program? • Watershed residents and ratepayers • Landowners, developers and farmers • Planners, building officials, engineers & park services • Consultants, lawyers and real estate agents • Provincial ministries & academic community
PROTECTING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FROM LAKE TO ESCARPMENT p.12 WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
Conservation Halton works in partnership with local municipalities and the Province of Ontario to ensure the long term protection of natural areas such as forests, wetlands, valleys and escarpment lands.
What are the projects associated with this program? • Development of watershed plans • Creation of study groups with stakeholders to help in developing recommendations for improving the health of watersheds • Implementation of recommendations from watershed studies • Natural areas protection and planning • Review of watershed studies generally associated with land use development • Baseline environmental monitoring • Surface and groundwater monitoring • Expert technical advice in ecology, fisheries, water management and forestry
Why is watershed management important? • Ensures the protection of natural areas in the watershed • Improves the health of the watershed • The health of watersheds is monitored through baseline data
Who benefits from this conservation program? • Watershed residents • Private landowners • Municipalities • Academic community and consultants • Future generations
PROTECTING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FROM LAKE TO ESCARPMENT LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE MANAGEMENT p.13
Working in partnership with local municipalities, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to ensure that waterfront developments are undertaken in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
What are the projects associated with this program? • Review of official plan policies and schedules, comprehensive zoning by-laws & subdivision plans • Implementation of provincial policies through land use planning input and review • Formulation of waterfront policies with municipalities • Review of shoreline protection applications regarding the Fisheries Act and the Public Lands Act • Coastal engineering expertise provided to the municipalities, government agencies and private property owners • Development and maintenance of waterfront database and GIS mapping • Emergency planning and flood warning system • Liaison between municipalities and other agencies
Why is the Lake Ontario shoreline management program important? • Reduction of injury, loss of life and property damages resulting from flooding and erosion • Provision of coordinated waterfront management services • Natural habitat is preserved and enhanced • Legislative requirements are integrated with planning • Public is informed about natural hazards and natural heritage resources
Who benefits from this conservation program? • Municipalities • Waterfront residents • Developers • Federal and Provincial governments • Consultants, lawyers and real estate agents • Academic community • Future generations
PROTECTING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FROM LAKE TO ESCARPMENT p.14 TREE PLANTING & FOREST MANAGEMENT
Conservation Halton plants trees and manages a large forest resource using sustainable management practices which contribute to the health of the watershed’s natural environment.
What are the projects associated with this program? • Forest improvements and restoration work on 3200 hectares of forested lands owned by Conservation Halton • Seedling trees are planted on private lands with approximately 2,225,000 trees planted since 1960 • Trees are planted on conservation lands with assistance from community groups such as cubs, scouts and guides
Why are tree planting and forest management important? • Improvement of overall health and vigor of the forest ecosystem • Recreational opportunities provided • Creation of habitat for wildlife • Protection for streams and wetlands • Improvement of air and water quality • Reduction in soil erosion
Who benefits from this conservation program? • Farmers and rural landowners • Conservation area visitors • Municipalities and watershed residents
PROTECTING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FROM LAKE TO ESCARPMENT BURLINGTON BAY & HAMILTON HARBOUR RESTORATION p.15
Conservation Halton is an active partner in the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan and the Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration Project. These long term conservation programs are designed to improve the quality of Burlington Bay/Hamilton Harbour.
What are the projects associated with this program? • Provision of expertise in project management, shoreline engineering/naturalization, biology and habitat restoration • Co-ordination of municipal, provincial and federal legislative requirements for the shoreline • Acquisition of funding for the program • Development of geographic information system and shoreline management plans • Provision of design and construction services for shoreline structures such as boardwalks & signs • Development & implementation of watershed plans • Integration of Remedial Action Plan with municipal plans
Why is the restoration of Burlington Bay/Hamilton Harbour important? • Restoration of healthy fish and wildlife communities to Burlington Bay/Hamilton Harbour • Promotion of ecological shoreline management • Increased public access to Burlington Bay • Improved water quality from watershed streams • Protection and re-establishment of wildlife links between Burlington Bay and the watershed
Who benefits from this conservation program? • Families, hikers, naturalists, anglers, boaters, property owners and stakeholder groups • Municipal, provincial and federal governments; Hamilton Harbour Commission, Royal Botanical Gardens and the academic community • A healthy bay is an economic asset
PROTECTING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FROM LAKE TO ESCARPMENT p.16 FILL & FLOODPLAIN REGULATIONS
Conservation Halton administers regulations that were created to prevent loss of life and property due to flooding. The regulations also help prevent pollution while enhancing the natural environment.
What are the projects associated with this program? • The mapping of regional floodplain lines throughout the watershed. Floodplains are the low-lying lands on either side of creeks which may be covered by water when the creek rises. The extent to which these lands may flood involves defining regional floodlines which are based on engineering projections of runoff volumes from a regional storm. • Review of applications requiring a permit under Conservation Halton’s Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alteration to Watercourses Regulation • The mapping of fill lines regulating placement, excavation and grading of fill within a wetland, valley system or floodplain • Participation at hearings before the Mining and Lands Commission
Why are these regulations important? • Reduction of risk to life and property from natural hazards such as flooding and unstable slopes. • Protection of landowners, downstream neighbours and the creeks by preventing pollution and siltation • Protection of the natural environment, wetlands, valleys, floodplains and watercourses
Who benefits from these conservation programs? • Landowners and farmers living near creeks • Watershed residents who want a clean environment with healthy streams and links to natural areas • Municipalities and the province of Ontario
PROTECTING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FROM LAKE TO ESCARPMENT PRIVATE LANDS STEWARDSHIP p.17
Conservation Halton implements the Hamilton-Halton Watershed Stewardship Program to encourage and assist with stewardship initiatives on private lands. The program is being undertaken in association with the Hamilton Conservation Authority and the Bay Area Restoration Council.
What are the projects associated with this program? • Since 1994, over 3000 landowners have been contacted about their roles in the protection and enhancement of wetlands, uplands and riparian areas • Over 450 have made verbal agreements to practice good stewardship on their lands • Stewardship agreements cover over 7400 ha of land, including 180 km of riparian habitat and 3200 ha of wetland and upland habitat in the Spencer & Grindstone Creek watersheds • Over 340 landowners have been involved in rehabilitation projects such as, enhancing habitat, fencing cattle from creeks, constructing manure storage facilities and controlling erosion • Over 50,000 trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants have been planted • The stewardship program covers all Conservation Halton watersheds
Why is private lands stewardship important? • Increase public awareness and respect for natural heritage features • Landowners are encouraged to maintain, restore and protect natural features and consider ecological health with land use • Data is provided for future planning
Who benefits from this conservation program? • Watershed residents & private landowners • Municipalities • Academic community and consultants • Agricultural community • Future generations
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PROTECTING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FROM LAKE TO ESCARPMENT