Board of Directors Meeting a G E N D a Please Note Start Time of Meeting!

SAUGEEN CONSERVATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING Thursday, July 23, 2015 7:00pm A G E N D A PLEASE NOTE START TIME OF MEETING!

1. Adoption of Agenda 2. Declaration of Pecuniary Interest

3. Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting – May 27, 2015 – attached

4. a. Presentation: Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation – Pamela Scharfe, Director b. Saugeen Valley Children’s Safety Village: Update and Motion – Wayne Brohman

5. Matters arising from the Minutes

6. Correspondence – attached.

7. Reports a. Finance Report – Report #7a – attached. b. Program Report – Report #7b – attached. c. Planning & Regulations Zoning Comments - Wayne Brohman - attached d. Planning & Regulations Mapping Working Group - Wayne Brohman – attached e. Planning & Regulations Department Review Report - Wayne Brohman – attached f. Maple Syrup Festival update - Dan Kerr g. Bluffs Campground Update

8. New Business a. Alternate Board of Director appointments – Stewart Halliday b. Sending SVCA Board minutes by email to municipalities – Stewart Halliday

Adjournment Agenda

SAUGEEN VALLEY CONSERVATION AUTHORITY

Conservation through Cooperation MINUTES

MEETING: Board of Directors DATE: Thursday, May 28, 2015 TIME: 7:00pm LOCATION: Administration Office, Formosa

CHAIR: Luke Charbonneau

DIRECTORS PRESENT: Robert Buckle, Maureen Couture, Barbara Dobreen, John Eccles, Brian Gamble, Wilf Gamble, Dan Gieruszak, Stewart Halliday, Steve McCabe, Mike Smith, Andrew White.

DIRECTORS ABSENT, WITH REGRET: Kevin Eccles, Dan Kerr, Sue Paterson

OTHERS PRESENT: Wayne Brohman, General Manager/Secretary-Treasurer Janice Hagan, Recording Secretary Erik Downing, Manager, Environmental Planning & Regulations Jim Penner, Manager, Forestry Member of the Press

Chair Luke Charbonneau called the meeting to order at 7:42 pm, following the Source Protection Authority Board Meeting.

1. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

MOTION #G15-36

Moved by Brian Gamble Seconded by Mike Smith THAT the agenda be adopted as presented.

Carried

2. DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

No persons declared a conflict of pecuniary interest relative to any item on the agenda. Board of Directors Meeting – February 19, 2015

3. MINUTES OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING – March 26, 2015

MOTION #G15-37

Moved by Andrew White Seconded by Barbara Dobreen THAT the minutes of the Board of Directors meeting, held on March 26, 2015, be adopted as circulated.

Carried

4. MINUTES OF THE FORESTRY COMMITTEE MEETING – March 26, 2015

MOTION #G15-38

Moved by Mike Smith Seconded by Andrew White THAT the minutes of the Forestry Committee, held on March 26, 2015, be received as presented.

Carried

5. PRESENTATION: LAKE HURON CENTRE FOR COASTAL CONSERVATION

Due to a last minute scheduling conflict, Pamela Scharfe was unable to attend the Board of Directors meeting.

6. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

Continued Implementation of Goal #2 of the Strategic Plan

Wayne Brohman presented the Review of Planning and Regulations Department and highlighted several areas to become priorities, including written department policies, and file tracking. Mr. Charbonneau commended Mr. Brohman on his efforts to improve relationships between the Planning & Regulations Department and the Public. Mr. Brohman will prepare a status report for the Board, July 23, 2015.

Communication to Municipalities where 50 metre buffer applies and the desire to commence dialogue on setting priorities around development of regulation mapping

The Board was made aware of correspondence that had been recently sent to the Municipalities regarding Regulation Mapping. The letter explained the importance of the mapping and encourages the Municipalities to designate a staff member to be a part of a working group which will be established for the purpose of providing updates to Councils. A copy of this letter, Re: Regulation Mapping, is appended to the office copy of these minutes.

- 2 - Board of Directors Meeting – February 19, 2015

Appropriateness of the 50 metre screening buffer

Erik Downing shared with the Board, the intent of the Planning & Regulation Department to survey all new files to determine the impact of the 50 metre screening area rule. The department will gather the data and he will present its findings to the Board in the new year.

Communication to municipalities regarding the necessity for SVCA to comment on Municipal Zoning by-laws.

The summary of the zoning comments query is as follows:

Municipality Response: Arran-Elderslie Brockton Chatsworth Grey Highlands Hanover Eliminate Howick Keep Huron-Kinloss Eliminate Kincardine Minto Morris-Turnberry Saugeen Shores Eliminate South Bruce Eliminate Southgate Eliminate Wellington North West Grey Eliminate

Mr. Brohman would like to have a decision from the Board regarding zoning comments at the Board of Directors meeting, July 23, and a larger survey sample would be beneficial. Board members from municipalities that had not yet responded were encouraged to follow up with their municipalities.

Alternate Power Source for Remote Sensing Stations.

Mr. Brohman reviewed the report that had been submitted by Les McKay, Manager, Information Technology. SVCA staff plan to replace the hydro source in 2-3 of its Remote Sensing Stations with solar power this year to test the efficiency and workability of the new system. If this trial is successful, the remaining stations will be changed over in the following year.

7. CORRESPONDENCE

Email from Grant Collins, Drainage Superintendent, Township of Huron-Kinloss expressing his appreciation to the SVCA for sponsoring a bus to enable the tour of the storm water management sites was noted and filed.

Email from Peg Schieck, Clerk’s Assistant, Town of Minto, expressing appreciation on behalf of the Town of Minto for the presentation by the SVCA at the Council Meeting was noted and filed.

Letter from the Town of Hanover regarding SVCA Zoning Comments was noted and filed.

- 3 - Board of Directors Meeting – February 19, 2015

Letter from the Township of Huron-Kinloss regarding SVCA Zoning Comments was noted and filed.

Letter from the Municipality of South Bruce regarding SVCA Zoning Comments was noted and filed.

Email from the Township of Howick regarding SVCA Zoning Comments was noted and filed.

Letter from the Municipality of West Grey regarding SVCA Zoning Comments was noted and filed.

Letter from the Township of Southgate regarding SVCA Zoning Comments was noted and filed.

Letter from the Town of Saugeen Shores regarding SVCA Zoning Comments was noted and filed.

8. REPORTS

Finance Report #8a

MOTION #G15-39 Moved by Stewart Halliday Seconded by Wilf Gamble THAT the Financial Report to April 30, 2015 be accepted as distributed and further;

THAT the Accounts Payable, totaling $410,056.21 be approved as distributed.

Carried

Program Reports #8b

MOTION #G15-40

Moved by Maureen Couture Seconded by Robert Buckle THAT the Program Report be adopted as presented.

Carried

Fish Stocking Report #8c

MOTION #G15-41

Moved by Barbara Dobreen Seconded by Steve McCabe THAT Authority Staff is directed to send a letter of appreciation to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and in particular to Jody Scheifley, management biologist, Owen Sound Field office, in recognition of their efforts this year in stocking fish at the Allan Park, Durham, and Bell’s Lake Conservation Areas.

Carried

- 4 - Board of Directors Meeting – February 19, 2015

Forestry Management Year End Report (2014) & Workplan (2015)

Mr. Brohman explained that this report is updated and presented each year by the Forestry Department and is evidence of how SVCA Staff take seriously the resources of our own property.

Conservation Ontario AGM

This report is for information purposes and highlights significant discussions from the Conservation Ontario Council Meeting attended by Wayne Brohman.

Bill 66: Proposed Great Lakes Protection Act

This report is for information purposes to share with the Board comments regarding the Proposed Great Lakes Protection Act. Mr. Brohman explained that this Board may have opportunity to give input into the Bill.

Children’s Safety Village update

Mr. Brohman updated the Board on the Building & Property Committee’s research on the SVCSV proposal to lease the Sulphur Spring Administration Building, Resource Centre, and surrounding property. Several issues and questions remain relating to the septic system, SVCA access to the Admin building, and operating costs. Mr. Charbonneau says that it is the intention of the Committee to resolve these issues before making recommendations to the Board.

Lockerby Dam Removal Tenders

SVCA received the following four tender submittals for removal of the Lockerby Dam: - Van Driel Excavating $149,720.69 - Ackert Construction 197,846.00 - Moorefield Excavation 243,974.00 - Bridge Excavating 154,460.00

Jeff Graham. P. Eng., Engineering Consultants Ltd., has recommended that the low bidder VanDriel Excavating, be awarded the contract. The following documents are appended to the office copy of these minutes: - Lockerby Dam Tender Results - Letter of Recommendation, Engineering Consultants Ltd - Lockerby Dam Removal Funding

MOTION #G15-42

Moved by Barbara Dobreen Seconded by Steve McCabe THAT, upon the recommendation of the consulting firm of G.S.S. Engineering, the firm of VanDriel Excavating Inc. of Clinton be approved as the successful tenderer and be awarded the contract for the Lockerby Dam Decommissioning, as per their tender received May 27, 2015 conditional upon the SVCA receiving the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Work Permit and the Authority satisfactorily addressing the archaeological review related to the alternate access route.

Carried - 5 - Board of Directors Meeting – February 19, 2015

A coffee break was called at 9:05pm. Chair Luke Charbonneau called the meeting back to order at 9:15pm

9. Approximate Regulation & Screening Mapping on SVCA website.

Erik Downing gave a presentation on the new mapping that has been uploaded to SVCA website. He emphasized that the Regulation has not changed, but we have added a tool for the public to use to assist the public in the permit process. Mr. Charbonneau congratulated Mr. Downing and SVCA staff on this accomplishment.

10. NEW BUSINESS

- Mr. Brohman reminded the Directors that he is available to attend Municipal Council meetings, to answer any questions that members may have regarding SVCA.

- Saugeen Bluffs RFP – There has been no response at this time. Decisions on the future of the Saugeen Bluffs campground should be made at the next Board meeting, July 23, 2015

- Property Committee will be meeting with the Saugeen Conservation Foundation to discuss the proposal to move the Maple Syrup Festival from the Bluffs to Sulphur Spring. The SVCF is suggesting that this would eliminate some of the costs, especially bussing and snow removal.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:40pm on motion of Maureen Couture.

______Luke Charbonneau Janice Hagan Chair Recording Secretary

- 6 - Agenda

From: Ksp Toronto To: Shannon Wood Cc: Dale Schaefer Subject: Festival at Saugeen Bluffs on Julay 10-12, 1015 Date: Monday, July 13, 2015 6:00:38 PM

Hello Shannon,

So, our festival has been held at Saugeen Bluffs last weekend.

We can't express how pleased we were with the new location. Saugeen Bluffs is indeed a great park, and it suits the structure of our festival very well. Also, we've heard a lot of compliments on the park from our attendees.

But not less important than the park itself was the friendly attitude and cooperation of your staff, so we would like to take this opportunity to thank Dale for her great help and for the great patience she demonstrated being literally bombarded with our questions and requests for many weeks.

Unfortunately, we can't copy Ron Kaufman on this email but we hope you will thank him and his team on our behalf. They worked hard trying to support us in the best possible way and, frankly, their friendly attitude made our job much easier.

Also, we would be very interested to know what the park's staff have to say about the festival (noise, cleanliness etc.).

Best regards, we hope to work with you again.

Michael.

Agenda

1078 Bruce Road 12, P.O. Box 150, Formosa ON Canada N0G 1W0 Tel 519-367-3040, Fax 519-367-3041, [email protected], www.svca.on.ca

REPORT #7a

MEMO TO: SVCA Board of Directors

DATE: July 23, 2015

FROM: Laura Molson, Manager, Accounting

SUBJECT: Financial Reports

Please find attached the financial report for the period ending May 31, 2015. Also attached is the May & June 2015 cheque list for your review.

Recommendation:

THAT the Financial Report to May 31, 2015 be accepted as distributed and further;

THAT the Accounts Payable, totaling $534,627.08 be approved as distributed.

Program Revenue Expenses

Approved Budget % Actual/ Approved Budget % Actual/ *Surplus/ Budget YTD Actual YTD Budget YTD Budget YTD Actual YTD Budget YTD (Deficit) Administration 408,437 170,180 170,087 100% 408,437 164,680 160,897 98% 9,190

Flood Control Flood Warning System 182,820 75,925 75,671 100% 182,820 84,156 64,813 77% 10,858

Water Management Flood Control Structures 129,136 53,810 53,826 100% 129,136 49,700 41,970 84% 11,856 Water Quality 106,601 44,415 44,421 100% 106,601 39,670 24,087 61% 20,334

Environmental Planning & Regulations 543,522 212,980 265,906 125% 543,522 230,403 213,209 93% 52,697

Information Technology & GIS 164,083 68,370 68,368 100% 164,083 79,910 60,850 76% 7,518

Community Relations Information 212,304 85,540 85,651 100% 212,304 94,795 97,410 103% (11,759) Education 84,776 33,990 32,250 95% 84,776 39,267 32,078 82% 172

Land Management Non-Revenue Parks & Lands 156,393 63,190 64,645 102% 156,393 57,383 47,959 84% 16,686 Property (General) 56,725 23,635 23,904 101% 56,725 28,166 23,734 84% 170

Capital Projects Recreational Properties 13,000 5,585 9,578 171% 13,000 1,500 958 0% 8,620 Administrative Projects 10,000 4,000 0 0% 10,000 4,000 0 0% 0 Total - General Levy Programs & Capital 2,067,797 841,620 894,307 106% 2,067,797 873,630 767,965 88% 126,342 Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority Financial Report Non-General Levy Programs and Capital Projects May 31, 2015 (Unaudited)

Program Revenue Expenses Approved Budget % Actual/ Approved Budget % Actual/ *Surplus/ Budget YTD Actual YTD Budget YTD Budget YTD Actual YTD Budget YTD (Deficit) Land Management Revenue Parks: Brucedale C. A. 72,850 61,350 57,429 94% 50,193 11,202 15,219 136% 42,210 Durham C. A. 185,600 129,600 123,570 95% 202,766 54,029 66,839 124% 56,731 Saugeen Bluffs C.A. 190,900 108,450 109,771 101% 200,469 52,927 60,706 115% 49,065 Rental Properties 2,600 2,165 2,206 102% 10,500 2,350 1,439 61% 767 Agricultural Lands 11,250 2,230 2,230 100% 6,250 3,760 2,570 68% (340) Motor Pool 194,600 114,000 62,330 55% 173,264 105,465 66,018 63% (3,688)

Forest Management Authority Forests 181,000 5,415 3,280 61% 176,545 68,035 65,402 96% (62,122) Grey Bruce Forestry Services 197,500 128,200 156,671 122% 202,920 147,133 120,321 82% 36,350

Capital Projects Water Management 34,000 6,000 48,100 802% 34,000 12,000 21,828 182% 26,272 Recreational Properties 30,500 21,500 - 0% 30,500 15,000 - 0% - Administrative Projects 0 0 1,588 0% 0 0 1,588 0% -

Interest Earned 0 0 9,256 0% 0 0 - 0% 9,256

Total-Non General Levy & Capital Programs 1,100,800 578,910 576,431 100% 1,087,407 471,901 421,930 89% 154,501

Summary Total - General Levy Programs & Capital 2,067,797 841,620 894,307 106% 2,067,797 873,630 767,965 88% 126,342 Total-Non General Levy & Capital Programs 1,100,800 578,910 576,431 100% 1,087,407 471,901 421,930 89% 154,501 3,168,597 1,420,530 1,470,738 104% 3,155,204 1,345,531 1,189,895 88% 280,843

Budget YTD surplus/(deficit) 74,999

205,844 Cheques for Approval for May & June, 2015

Cheque Number Vendor Description Amount 77938 Township of Huron-Kinloss Property taxes-June $ 538.00 77939 Alex Milanetti Staff Travel (SWP) $ 65.20 77940 Nancy Guest Staff Travel (SWP) $ 69.20 77941 Catherine Billings Staff Travel $ 25.20 77942 Saugeen Valley Conservation Foundation Memorial Grove/MSF Donation on POS $ 740.00 77943 Municipality of Arran-Elderslie Property taxes-June $ 698.00 77944 Denise Mighton Durham CA Refund $ 88.00 77945 Al Elphick Permit Reimbursement $ 290.00 77946 Shannon Wood History books & Mileage $ 110.00 77947 Grey Sauble CA Equipment purchase $ 878.19 77948 Jim Penner Equipment Maintenance, Staff Travel $ 209.08 77949 Pine River Watershed Initiative Network Reimburse for trees (AFS) $ 3,165.98 77950 Quality Seeds Ltd. Clover seeds $ 211.88 77951 Buffett Taylor Benefits-June $ 10,109.23 77952 Camis Online Res. System Annual Fee-Durham & Saugeen Bluffs CA $ 10,073.94 77953 Allen's Home Building Centre Park Maintenance-Saugeen Bluffs CA $ 123.31 77954 Arctic Glacier Canada Inc. Ice for Brucedale CA $ 140.12 77955 Arthur Chrysler Sales & Leasing Vehicle Lease - Jeep $ 678.00 77956 Bluewater Sanitation Incl Penetangore Watershed Student Tree Plant (AFS) $ 203.40 77957 Brickland Wholesale Inc. Store Supplies - Durham CA $ 257.65 77958 Canadian Fire & Flood Formosa Office Cleaning $ 768.34 77959 Canadian TODS Limited Brucedale & Bluffs Signage Contract $ 691.56 77960 Carquest Vehicle Maintenance $ 124.22 77961 Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada Store Supplies - Durham CA & Bluffs CA $ 1,143.97 77962 Connect Equipment Corporation Motor pool expense $ 28.50 77963 Corporate Express Office Supplies, Office Supplies (SWP) $ 977.50 77964 Eric Cox Sanitation Sanitary and paper products, garbage bags $ 2,657.14 77965 Davidson-Hill Elevator Inc. Maintenance, Phone Charges - Formosa $ 503.98 77966 Desco Plumbing & Heating Maintenance Supplies $ 21.39 77967 Dundalk Herald Consultation Advertisement (SWP) $ 79.10 77968 Durham Electric Electrical Service Call - Durham campground $ 458.40 77969 Emke Schaab Climatecare Formosa Building Maintenance $ 952.59 77970 Excel Business Systems Copier Lease (SWP) $ 408.79 77971 Foxton Fuels Limited Diesel Fuel- Maintenance Shop $ 424.43 77972 Michelle Gallant Staff Travel $ 31.50 77973 Gillespie's Office Solutions Photocopier Charges $ 411.74 77974 Goodfellow Inc. Upper Durham Dam Maintenance $ 2,192.20 77975 GSS Engineering Engineering Services Lockerby Dam $ 6,371.31 77976 Hanover Home Hardware HQP/MNS Park Supplies $ 418.69 77977 David Hawkins Line Services Inc. Water Projects Mgmt Supplies/Durham Upper Dam $ 378.55 77978 Herald Newspaper Corp. Subscription Renewals $ 73.50 77979 Hoskin Scientific Surface Equipment Repair $ 141.25 77980 Hudsons Automotive Vehicle Maintenance $ 97.18 77981 Ideal Supply Supplies for Durham CA $ 48.07 77982 Karcher Construction Ltd. Park Maintenance-Bluffs CA $ 1,266.73 77983 Ron Kaufman Work Boots - Bluff CA $ 87.57 77984 KitSupply Health and Safety Supplies $ 135.26 77985 Klemmer Lumber Ltd. Firewood - Durham CA $ 655.40 77986 Bruce Martin Uniform work pants $ 72.01 77987 McArthur Tire Kut Kwick Parts Purchase $ 181.59 77988 McLeans Home Hardware HQP/MNS Park Supplies $ 316.37 77989 Meaford Independent Consultation Advertisement (SWP) $ 158.20 77990 Miller's Septic Pumping Brucedale/Saugeen Bluffs CA Septic pumping $ 1,084.80 77991 Mount Forest Confederate Flood forecasting ad $ 282.50 77992 Northern Ice Company Inc. Ice for Durham CA $ 444.60 77993 North Wellington Co-op Durham CA supplies $ 325.19 77994 Paisley Home Hardware Park Maintenance - Bluffs $ 234.22 77995 Petty Cash Travel ComRel & Water Mgmt $ 86.95 77996 Pine River Watershed Initiative Network Project Services, Berm construction (AFS) $ 12,442.58 77997 Praxair Products Inc. Cylinder Lease $ 175.43 77998 Purolator Courier Courier $ 165.91 77999 Rexall Gatehouse Supplies Durham CA $ 55.21 78000 Ribey Propane Ltd Propane - Brucedale CA $ 335.61 78001 Robert's Farm Equipment Equipment parts $ 60.74 78002 Rick Rowbotham Staff Travel $ 28.58 78003 Rural Voice Subscription Renewal $ 20.00 78004 Saugeen Sales & Rentals Ltd. Repairs - Durham CA, Durham Day Use, Durham 3 Dams $ 23.73 Cheques for Approval for May & June, 2015

Cheque Number Vendor Description Amount 78005 Gary Senior Staff Travel $ 1,188.90 78006 SGS Canada Inc. Surface Water Sample Analysis, WQ Sampling $ 1,777.49 78007 Sign Up Signs Allan Park kiosk signs $ 960.50 78008 Skyway Printing Arbor Day Sheets $ 77.97 78009 Sommers Generator Systems Generator Service - Formosa Office $ 848.18 78010 Somerville Nurseries Stock - Arbor Day & Nursery Stock $ 67,645.92 78011 St. John Ambulance First Aid Training $ 220.00 78012 Sun Media AMO9125500 Advertising - Campground, GBF, Earthday $ 1,270.91 78013 Superior Road Products Dust Suppression Various Parks $ 3,287.26 78014 Sylvar Technologies Inc EAB Trap System (AFS) $ 3,388.02 78015 Thinq Technologies Information Tech. Storage Array, Replacement monitors $ 3,690.02 78016 Toronto Region CA Guide books - Greening your Ground $ 1,260.00 78017 Toshiba Finance Lease Payment $ 298.90 78018 UPI Energy Vehicle Fuel $ 3,469.33 78019 Welbeck Sawmill Ltd. Lumber - Durham Dams $ 94.60 78020 Conservation Ontario 2015 CA Levy -2nd installment $ 11,595.50 78021 Erik Downing Staff Travel $ 198.00 78022 Grey Bruce Sustainability Network RBC special Project funding (AFS) $ 7,500.00 78023 Marcc Apparel & Promotions 2015 Staff Uniforms & Safety Vests/Jackets $ 5,206.73 78024 Municipality of South Bruce DFO-Mildmay Decommissioning $ 7,378.07 78025 Sloans Nursery and Christmas Trees Landscape stock $ 12,877.76 78026 Brittany Taylor Park Maintenance $ 21.47 78027 Shaun Anthony Staff Travel $ 271.60 78028 Leslie MacKenzie Durham Refund $ 112.00 78029 Upper Thames Region Conservation Authority Conservation Education - staff development $ 339.00 78030 Jason Ritchie Youth Expo 2015 Supplies $ 97.24 78031 Hallman Motors Replacement vehicle for Durham Park Superintendent $ 24,796.96 78032 Allen's Home Building Centre Park Maintenance-Saugeen Bluffs CA $ 77.46 78033 Arctic Glacier Canada Inc. Ice for Campgrounds $ 256.88 78034 Arthur Chrysler Sales & Leasing Vehicle Lease - Jeep $ 678.00 78035 Bayshore Broadcasting Emerald Ash Borer Workshop-Advertising (AFS) $ 508.50 78036 Bester Forest Products Ltd. Campfire Wood - Brucedale $ 689.30 78037 Canadian Fire & Flood Formosa Office Cleaning $ 682.97 78038 Canadian Tire Landscaping Supplies $ 36.52 78039 Carson Supply Maintenance Supplies Bluffs $ 579.77 78040 Carquest Vehicle Maintenance $ 524.04 78041 Cedarwell Excavating Ltd. Delivery of Gravel to Durham CA $ 563.11 78042 Collins Barrow Financial Audit Billing $ 4,587.80 78043 Corporate Express Office Supplies $ 520.95 78044 CRS Contractors Rental Supply Safety Glasses $ 22.49 78045 Cuneo Interiors Paint for Bluffs CA $ 207.89 78046 Davidson-Hill Elevator Inc. Elevator Maintenance, Phone Charges - Formosa $ 503.98 78047 Desco Plumbing & Heating Durham CA Maintenance Supplies $ 39.66 78048 Don Ditner Construction Topsoil for Formosa Office Sewer $ 162.72 78049 Excel Business Systems Copier Lease (SWP) $ 785.34 78050 First Canada ULC Pentagore Bus Tour (AFS) $ 101.59 78051 Foxton Fuels Limited Diesel Fuel- Maintenance Shop $ 616.40 78052 Michelle Gallant Staff Travel $ 219.60 78053 Gillespie's Office Solutions Photocopier Charges $ 283.02 78054 Nancy Griffin Youth Expo 2015 (AFS) $ 43.89 78055 Candace Hamm Staff Uniform $ 192.07 78056 Hanover Home Hardware HQP/MNS Park Supplies/MSE $ 236.02 78057 Hanover Typocraft Limited Paper $ 48.59 78058 David Hawkins Line Services Inc. Repair water leak, septic - Bluffs CA $ 3,761.77 78059 Holst Office Pro Office Supplies $ 143.14 78060 Ideal Supply Supplies for Durham CA $ 43.19 78061 KitSupply Brucedale Supplies $ 71.02 78062 Lands & Forests Consulting White Clover $ 226.00 78063 CJOS FM Emerald Ash Borer Workshop-Advertising (AFS) $ 293.80 78064 Loucks & Loucks, Barristers & Solicitors Legal fees-Durrer/West Grey/Marcell $ 9,962.65 78065 Marcc Apparel & Promotions Staff Uniforms $ 528.55 78066 Matcrete Contracting Inc. Crane rental @ Durham Dam $ 542.40 78067 McArthur Tire Equipment Maintenance $ 230.06 78068 McLeans Home Hardware HQP/MNS Park Supplies $ 149.76 78069 Miller's Septic Pumping Brucedale CA Septic pumping $ 813.60 78070 New-Life Mills Fish food $ 45.95 78071 Northern Ice Company Inc. Ice for Durham CA $ 54.60 Cheques for Approval for May & June, 2015

Cheque Number Vendor Description Amount 78072 North Wellington Co-op Durham CA supplies $ 267.71 78073 Northwind Installation Inc. IT Service Call - Brucedale $ 111.87 78074 Paisley Home Hardware Park Maintenance - Bluffs $ 324.30 78075 Parrish & Heimbecker Ltd. Spraying supplies-Tree Planting $ 5,911.00 78076 Pineneedle Farms Nursery Stock Purchases $ 1,101.75 78077 Pine River Watershed Initiative Network Project services (AFS) $ 788.00 78078 Jennifer Prenger Staff Travel $ 49.05 78079 Purolator Courier Courier $ 103.46 78080 Robert's Farm Equipment Equipment parts & Labour $ 4,338.23 78081 Schaus Sanitation Limited Durham CA/Varney $ 484.77 78082 SGS Canada Inc. Soil sample analysis for Lockerby reservoir samples $ 254.25 78083 Sign Up Signs No Dumping sign $ 62.15 78084 Thinq Technologies Replacement Workstation $ 983.10 78085 Toshiba Finance Lease Payment $ 298.90 78086 UPI Energy Vehicle Fuel $ 2,855.35 78087 UPS Canada Parts Brokerage Fees $ 88.52 78088 Emily Vandermeulen Staff Travel $ 503.59 78089 Waste Management Waste Disposal -May & June $ 2,157.54 78090 Municipality of West Grey Water - capital $ 261.78 78091 Bianca Gomez Bluffs Refund $ 159.00 78092 Maureen Broley Bluffs Refund $ 128.00 78093 Buffett Taylor Benefits-July $ 10,042.64 78094 Sue Letson Bluffs Refund $ 232.00 78095 Town of South Bruce Peninsula Property taxes- July $ 217.04 78096 Township of Chatsworth Property taxes-July $ 1,528.40 78097 Carl Seider Staff Travel (SWP) $ 48.00 $ 289,925.21

SWP - Source Water Protection AFS - Alternate Funding Source Internet Payments for Approval for May & June 2015

Vendor Description Amount Jiffy Lube vehicle Maintenance $ 55.30 Holiday Inn Express Staff Travel (SWP) $ 134.47 RBC Visa Battery for ATV, Tree Planting Supplies, Vehicle Rental $ 3,456.73 RBC Visa CPA Ontario Membership $ 1,084.80 RBC Visa RSC Supplies, Equipment Purchase, Fuel, Travel $ 1,886.51 RBC Visa Management Committee Meeting (SWP) $ 23.97 RBC Visa Admin Building Maintenance, Fuel $ 99.82 RBC Visa Vehicle Maintenance, Durham Store Purchases, Fuel, Travel $ 943.79 RBC Visa Staff Travel, Vehicle Maintenance $ 38.43 RBC Visa Bird Seed, ComRel Supplies, H&S Supplies, Tour, Photos $ 346.99 RBC Visa Biomonitoring, Stewardship, Fuel, Travel $ 591.75 RBC Visa Conservation Education Supplies $ 246.42 RBC Visa Spraying Equipment $ 585.56 RBC Visa Board meeting supplies $ 14.37 RBC Visa Microsoft Cloud Subscription Fee $ 176.28 RBC Visa H&S Orientation $ 81.86 Bell Bluffs CA Phone 7206 $ 30.00 Bell Flood Warning Gauges/Middle Dam 1533 $ 1,288.78 Bell Shop Phone 2711 $ 209.06 Bell Sulphur Spring CA Raingauge 2968 $ 97.46 Bell Mobility Parks Internet 8482 $ 129.95 Bell Mobility WQ Gauges $ 39.55 Bell Mobility WQ Gauges 7243 $ 33.90 Bruce Telecom Parks/Floodwarning Phones $ 375.47 Bruce Telecom Phones (SWP) $ 435.13 Dave Pybus Consulting Fee-Floodwarning $ 513.00 Hurontel Ripley Gauge $ 51.78 Hydro One Aberdeen Gauge - 5470 $ 37.53 Hydro One Beatty Gauge - 4823 $ 40.09 Hydro One Brucedale CA - 8427 $ 201.64 Hydro One Brucedale CA - 1959 $ 207.50 Hydro One Brucedale CA - 1605 $ 810.63 Hydro One Brucedale street light 6852 $ 29.68 Hydro One Cedarville Gauge -5447 $ 36.37 Hydro One Durham CA - 0074 $ 366.73 Hydro One Durham CA Hydro Sites - 0260 $ 39.46 Hydro One Durham Campground - 0069 $ 2,816.26 Hydro One Durham Gauge - 4203 $ 51.48 Hydro One Durham Hydro Sites - 4474 $ 336.11 Hydro One Durham Middle Dam - 6749 $ 53.91 Hydro One Durham Storage Barn - 5383 $ 39.54 Hydro One Formosa Office - 9903 $ 1,374.11 Hydro One Greenock Gauge - 2404 $ 40.78 Hydro One Hanover Gauge - 6632 $ 38.73 Hydro One McBeath Gauge - 5496 $ 41.08 Hydro One Mount Forest Gauge - 6864 $ 44.11 Hydro One Neustadt Gauge 1633 $ 41.72 Hydro One Paisley Pumping Station - 8982 $ 39.18 Hydro One Priceville Gauge - 3783 $ 43.18 Hydro One Resource Centre & Old Office - 7554 $ 1,438.52 Hydro One Scone Gauge 6343 $ 39.18 Hydro One Sulphur Spring CA - 3712 $ 465.03 Hydro One Sulphur Spring CA-park only - 5780 $ 117.85 Hydro One Varney CA - 2306 $ 40.55 Minister of Finance April Remittance $ 2,530.81 Internet Payments for Approval for May & June 2015

Vendor Description Amount OMERS April Remittance $ 19,468.58 Receiver General Income Tax, EI, CPP May 2, 2015 $ 19,517.26 Receiver General Income Tax, EI, CPP May 16, 2015 $ 19,418.46 Receiver General May Remittance $ 6,131.97 Telus Cell phones $ 1,124.51 Union Gas Formosa Office $ 68.22 Wightman Telecom Phones/Fax/Internet $ 283.43 WSIB April Remittance $ 3,737.82 RBC Visa Store Supplies - Bluffs, Annual Fee $ 269.87 Xplornet Internet Parks $ 379.79 RBC Visa Park Maintenance - Bluffs, Annual Fee $ 168.09 Hydro One Bluffs Line Meter - 5717 $ 1,309.55 Hydro One Bluffs Line Meter - 5717 $ 3,197.38 Hydro One Brucedale CA - 8427 $ 438.34 Hydro One Mount Forest Gauge - 6864 $ 38.24 Hydro One Brucedale CA - 0623 $ 343.65 Bell Durham CA Phone 2074 $ 196.14 Bell Durham CA Phone 2074 $ 195.68 Paul Allen Kut Kwick Mower $ 20,756.40 RBC Visa Postage-Stewardship, Travel $ 25.53 RBC Visa Youth Expo 2015 (AFS) $ 48.75 RBC Visa Ontario Farmer Publication Subscription, Vehicle Maintenance $ 155.30 RBC Visa Equipment purchase, FW Program Supplies $ 43.91 RBC Visa Prepaid 12 water cooler jugs (SWP) $ 32.40 RBC Visa KutKwick Purchase, Bird Feed $ 537.27 RBC Visa Annual Fee (SWP) $ 12.00 RBC Visa Annual Fee $ 12.00 RBC Visa Store Supplies Bluffs CA $ 186.12 RBC Visa Vehicle/Equip Maintenance $ 155.57 RBC Visa Annual Fee (SWP) $ 12.00 RBC Visa Vehicle Repair, Biomonitoring Supplies, Travel, WQ Supplies $ 546.16 RBC Visa Equipment Maintenance, Electrical Permit, Fuel $ 784.85 RBC Visa Forests Ontario Mtg, EAB, Staff Travel $ 538.69 RBC Visa Microsoft Cloud Subscription Fee - Domain Registration $ 234.49 RBC Visa Staff Travel $ 431.97 RBC Visa Expo Display units, Fisheries Act Training, Staff Travel $ 618.05 RBC Visa Foundation Expenses/Resource Centre Railing $ 1,073.53 RBC Visa Foundation Expenses $ 68.40 Minister of Finance June Remittance $ 3,274.44 OMERS June Remittance $ 21,463.98 Receiver General Income Tax, EI, CPP June 13, 2015 $ 19,368.77 Receiver General June Remittance $ 7,772.08 Bell Bluffs CA Phone 7206 $ 29.84 Bell Flood Warning Gauges/Middle Dam 1533 $ 1,291.09 Bell Shop Phone 2711 $ 208.36 Bell Sulphur Spring CA Raingauge 2968 $ 97.46 Dave Pybus Consulting Fee-Floodwarning $ 882.00 Hurontel Ripley Gauge $ 51.78 Hydro One Aberdeen Gauge - 5470 $ 35.69 Hydro One Beatty Gauge - 4823 $ 35.51 Hydro One Brucedale CA - 8427 $ 671.98 Hydro One Brucedale CA - 0623 $ 264.46 Hydro One Brucedale CA - 1959 $ 272.51 Hydro One Brucedale CA - 1605 $ 778.50 Hydro One Brucedale street light 6852 $ 30.37 Internet Payments for Approval for May & June 2015

Vendor Description Amount Hydro One Cedarville Gauge -5447 $ 35.84 Hydro One Durham CA - 0074 $ 425.33 Hydro One Durham CA Hydro Sites - 0260 $ 36.31 Hydro One Durham Campground - 0069 $ 4,567.36 Hydro One Durham Gauge - 4203 $ 35.62 Hydro One Durham Hydro Sites - 4474 $ 333.45 Hydro One Durham Middle Dam - 6749 $ 60.32 Hydro One Durham Storage Barn - 5383 $ 37.72 Hydro One Formosa Office - 9903 $ 1,724.06 Hydro One Greenock Gauge - 2404 $ 35.51 Hydro One Hanover Gauge - 6632 $ 35.53 Hydro One McBeath Gauge - 5496 $ 43.18 Hydro One Neustadt Gauge 1633 $ 35.58 Hydro One Paisley Pumping Station - 8982 $ 35.51 Hydro One Priceville Gauge - 3783 $ 37.03 Hydro One Resource Centre & Old Office - 7554 $ 323.68 Hydro One Scone Gauge 6343 $ 35.51 Hydro One Sulphur Spring CA - 3712 $ 385.07 Hydro One Sulphur Spring CA-park only - 5780 $ 96.99 Hydro One Varney CA - 2306 $ 38.66 Minister of Finance May Remittance $ 2,953.65 OMERS May Remittance $ 19,671.84 Receiver General Income Tax, EI, CPP May 30, 2015 $ 19,334.95 WSIB May Remittance $ 4,362.33 Xplornet Internet Parks $ 33.88 Bell Mobility Parks Internet 8482 $ 129.95 Bell Mobility WQ Gauges 5273 $ 39.55 Bell Mobility WQ Gauges 7243 $ 33.90 Bruce Telecom Parks/Floodwarning Phones -Consol $ 373.57 Bruce Telecom Phones (SWP) $ 428.03 Telus Cell phones $ 1,046.24 Union Gas Formosa Office $ 34.76 Wightman Telecom Phones/Fax/Internet $ 1,087.20 Xplornet Internet Parks $ 214.66 Hydro One Bluffs Line Meter - 5717 $ 3,138.70 Hydro One Mount Forest Gauge - 6864 $ 38.26 $ 244,701.87 SWP - Source Water Protection AFS - Alternate Funding Source Visa Transactions over $100 since the last meeting.

Trans Vendor Board Tagline TransAmount Holiday Inn Express Staff Travel (SWP) $ 134.47 Canadian Tire Battery for ATV $ 108.47 Jamieson Rentals Vehicle for Tree Pick up-GSCA to reimburse half (AFS) $ 3,220.50 CPA Ontario Dues CPA Ontario Membership $ 1,084.80 Livingston Kut Kwick Purchase Duty $ 1,572.02 Walmart Store Supplies - Durham CA $ 472.35 Shell Vehicle Fuel $ 428.36 Huron Bay Cooperative Inc. Bird Seed $ 105.07 GreenField Specialty Alcohols Inc Ethyl Alcohol for Biomonitoring $ 292.56 Marks Work Wearhouse Work boots Charge/Reimbursement $ 117.51 Boreal Science Supplies for WaterWorks Program (AFS) $ 119.11 North Wellington Co-op Spraying Equipment $ 180.77 FS Gas Bar Vehicle Fuel $ 115.99 Microsoft Online Microsoft Cloud Subscription Fee $ 176.28 Wholesale Club Store Supplies - Bluffs $ 161.71 Ontario Farmer Ontario Farmer Publication Subscription $ 100.00 Kut Kwick Corporation KutKwick Parts Purchase $ 497.72 Durham Residence and Conf Centre Staff Travel $ 366.97 Sheraton Parkway North Meeting with Forests Ontario $ 171.91 Lions Head Marine Hall Rental Emerald Ash Borer (AFS) $ 135.60 Microsoft Online Microsoft Cloud Subscription Fee $ 176.28 Expedia Staff Travel-Planning $ 256.81 Conservation Demonstrations Expo Display units (AFS) $ 445.67 Hanover Rona Resource Centre Railing $ 637.14 Agenda

1078 Bruce Road 12, P.O. Box 150, Formosa ON Canada N0G 1W0 Tel 519-367-3040, Fax 519-367-3041, [email protected], www.svca.on.ca

Report #7b Saugeen Conservation Authority Program Reports July 23, 2015

Flood Warning

- Through much of this year’s spring season the general lack of rainfall over Southern Ontario and the resulting low stream flows for the time of year reached conditions that meet “Low Water Response Level 1.” There are three levels of increasing seriousness for Low Water status, with Level 1 being the first stage. Some Conservation Authorities did formally declare a Level 1 condition for their Watersheds. However, abundant rain in the latter part of May and into June reversed the dry conditions. At present, there are no Level 1 conditions in virtually all of Southern Ontario. Unlike some Conservation Authority Watersheds where landowners withdraw surface flow significantly, such as for irrigation, and flow regimes can thus be affected, in the SVCA Watershed such uses are minimal.

- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) Surface Water Monitoring Centre is creating a database of all of the Conservation Authorities precipitation stations. Called a “Network of Networks Precipitation Station Survey” it will be a compilation of site descriptions for all precipitation stations operated by Conservation Authorities and others in the province. Environment Canada operates their own weather stations however the locations are spread out. Secondary precipitation stations operated by others, such as Conservation Authorities, have a much more extensive coverage, although the quality of the data isn’t as rigourous. The SVCA has 15 rainfall stations and the survey is quite detailed and lengthy, so it will take some time for SVCA staff to complete our portion of the survey.

Land Management

- A new kiosk display sign has been installed at the Allan Park Conservation Area. The 4 ft x 8 ft two-sided sign was designed and produced by Catherine Billings, SVCA’s Graphic Artist.

Watershed Member Municipalities Municipality of Arran-Elderslie, Municipality of Brockton, Township of Chatsworth, Municipality of Grey Highlands, Town of Hanover, Township of Howick, Municipality of Morris-Turnberry, Municipality of South Bruce, Township of Huron-Kinloss, Municipality of Kincardine, Town of Minto, Township of Wellington North, Town of Saugeen Shores, Township of Southgate, Municipality of West Grey Forestry June was a busy month with the paper work and follow-up with the tree planting projects for the past spring planting. The post plant reports were filed with the Trees Ontario Office and an invoice generated for over $96,000 of funding for delivering the 50 Million Tree Program. New clients for the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program also had a deadline of the end of June to have their plans approved and submitted to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. There were 17 clients involved in the program this year for a total managed forest area of 938 acres. As well there were two properties totaling 143.54 acres added to Saugeen Conservation’s MFTIP plan. The Emerald Ash Borer has become more prominent in the Saugeen Watershed. Insect findings have been confirmed in the Municipality of Kincardine this spring. This means that virtually all of the communities along the Lake Huron Shoreline have Emerald Ash Borer infested trees. Emerald Ash Borer Injections began on July 14th and will continue throughout most of July and August for landowners requesting the service. This is Year three of providing the service which means we are re-injecting trees done in 2013. This year will also see Ash tree protection undertaken at the Saugeen Bluffs Campground.

Water Resources and Stewardship Services

Flood and Erosion Control Structures

Inspections of the SVCA Flood and Erosion Control structures are on-going. The report from Andy Ross, P. Eng. from B.M. Ross and Associates relating to the inspection of both the Upper and Lower Durham dams has been received, staff will be meeting to discuss next steps with regards to the repair recommendations in the report from B. M. Ross.

Lockerby Dam Removal, Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnership Program

With the tender process completed in late May and with Board of Directors approval, the SVCA has entered into a contract agreement with VanDriel Excavating Inc. for the dam removal work. Construction work will begin with the removal of the south dam weir, install erosion protection along the south bank of the North Saugeen River, then will move to the north side of the dam and remove the weir on the north side of the dam and place riprap for erosion protection. Tree and shrub planting as part of the reservoir rehabilitation will be done in the fall following the bulk of the construction work. Jo-Anne Harbinson has contacted the local elementary school to see if there is an interest in having students come to the Lockerby property to plant trees and shrubs as part of the rehabilitation. On site meetings will be weekly once the work commences to remove the dam. The work on the dam and pond rehabilitation may take upwards of six weeks to complete.

SVCA was successful in our funding application to Community Foundations Grey Bruce who gave the Authority $3,000 towards the dam removal and pond rehabilitation. However, we note that the SVCA was not successful in our applications to OMNRF Land Stewardship and Habitat Restoration Fund, or to the RBC Bluewater fund.

In late June and July, an archaeological review was completed relating to the Lockerby dam removal as it was determined that the construction haul route that will be used to access the south side of the dam, and that is located on the adjoining landowners property, has a high potential for historical use by First Nations. The Authority engaged Fisher Archaeology to complete the review in cooperation with Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) staff so as to address any of SON’s concerns with the project. Based on a preliminary report from the Archaeologist there were no findings within the proposed work area.

SVCA Agreement with Ausable Bayfield CA and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food – Pine River Watershed

The newsletter/flyer produced in the winter was mailed this spring to 50 or so landowners in the South Pine River watershed. This newsletter provided information on soil health and cover crops to protect soil and reduce erosion from the fields. We received a few call backs on this newsletter. Adrienne Mason (PRWIN) and Chris VanEsbroeck from MVCA completed 6 site visits associated with the field walks to identify best management practices on the ground. Out of that review, the SVCA – OMAFRA are able to support a large block tree planting project, cover crop seed, and two water storage berms for the 2015-16 funding period.

Jo-Anne Harbinson and Adrienne Mason provided presentations to the Bluewater Chapter of the Drainage Superintendents about the Rural Stormwater Management Model, the Pine River watershed and how the SVCA and PRWIN are partnering to get projects on the ground with the help of OMAFRA Canada Ontario Agreement funding.

Bruce and Huron County Soil Health and Cover Crop Information Day August 25 - 1 pm to 4:30 pm

The SVCA together with the MVCA, Parrish and Heimbecker Amberley, and the Pine River watershed group are planning a day at the Amberley Grain elevator where landowners/farmers can learn about their soil, how to preserve and increase soil health and the benefits of cover crops. This is a free public event and all are welcome to join. We have different stations to learn about the different cover crops and their benefits, soil structure and soil health demonstrations and a soil pit. Also participants will see new technology in a manure dribble bar and a tractor drawn tile plow. A flyer will be attached and copies provided at the Board of Directors meeting, please forward to any interested watershed resident

Pine River Watershed Initiative Network

The PRWIN had a successful tree planting season with a total of 24,765 trees ordered through the SVCA and having been planted at various locations in the watershed by PRWIN, including 15 new properties. Water control berms that were previously built were tested this spring with the different rainfall events, and they all performed well as corn can be seen growing on and behind the berms. The Sohn berms on Concession 10 were finished this spring. Adrienne Mason of the PRWIN worked with the SVCA staff on the completion of six field walks to review properties in the South Pine for erosion issues in the field and leading to watercourses. BMP projects were identified as part of this work.

Yellow Fish Road Storm Drain Marking Program

The Manager of Water Resources and Stewardship Services together with Conservation Education Coordinator implemented the Yellow Fish Road Storm Drain marking program in Teeswater with the two elementary schools. This involved close to 80 children who painted the yellow fish and the words Rain Water ONLY near storm drains. Between the two schools, 164 storm drains were painted and 272 door fish hangers were distributed that provide information on the program. The elementary school kids learn from the activity that the water that goes into out storm sewers is not treated before entering our creeks and rivers. The Municipality of South Bruce had approved the project in their municipality. On July 11, Jo-Anne Harbinson and Nancy Griffin were in Southampton with the Southampton Residents Association to assist their first water quality day - Chantry Fun day. Thirty six adults and kids came out to form six groups that painted a portion of Southampton yellow. This small group were able to paint 115 storm drains and handed out about 100 fish information hangers. In addition to the YFR Program, we were also available to do an aquatic critter catch in Lake Huron to see what lives in the water. The day’s activities will provide the community with ways they can improve the water that flows over the surface to the catch basins to the piped system and directly to the lake untreated.

SVCA, Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation, and Enbridge

In early June, the SVCA, LHCCC and Enbridge hosted two events at Brucedale Conservation Area. These events were the perfect launch for the new partnership with the LHCCC and supporting funds from Enbridge. Enbridge has committed $100,000 over a 5 year period to help the SVCA with battling the phragmites along the lake at and near Brucedale CA. On June 4 there were close to 60 elementary students from Port Elgin bussed to Brucedale to hear and participate on the Wonders of the Wetlands. Along with Enbridge staff, Karen Alexander from LHCCC, Jo-Anne Harbinson, Shaun Anthony and Nancy Griffin were there to execute different learning stations for the students and for the public on the Saturday June 6th.

Youth Expo 2015

Over 60 young persons participated in the annual Youth Expo event that is hosted at the Sydenham Sportsman Association near Owen Sound. The children get a hands on feel for how to fish, collect benthic invertebrates, find and identify birds, and how to shoot a bow and arrow. SVCA staff assisted with this event.

Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation - Coastal Stewardship Action Plan

The LHCCC is looking at developing a Coastal Stewardship Action Plan for the southeast shore of Lake Huron, from Sarnia to Tobermory. At this time, the hope is for the plan to evaluate each coastal ecosystem type using methodology that has been used in the past and is acceptable to Environment Canada and the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. This plan will include existing and available reports and field work supplemented with existing aerial photos. The plan will look at identifying priorities for stewardship action, best practices to be employed, a communications plan and timetable for implementation. The concept and work plan for this idea is in the early stages of identifying partners and where funding support will be available for the plan and possible stewardship activities.

Friends of the Saugeen Interest Group

Jo-Anne Harbinson and Shannon Wood assisted with the facilitation of the first meeting that may result in the formation of a Friends of the Saugeen group. This endeavour has sprung from Brockton’s Saugeen River Fisheries Task Force that saw the need to have a broader geographically based group to look at the Saugeen River as a whole and look to have a group to support interest and work along the Saugeen. It is hoped that this group, that will be community driven, will help to look at bringing together landowners and individuals along the Saugeen River and groups that have a keen interest in protecting and rehabilitating the Saugeen River. An initial meeting was held in Walkerton on June 29 where about 30 individuals came out to support the development of a group and to learn more about what a group like this could do to make improvements on the ground. Another meeting is proposed for Southampton on July 30th at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church Community Hall at 7 pm. A third meeting is proposed for the fall in the upper reaches or headwaters area of the Saugeen River.

Wellington Rural Water Quality Program

Staff continue to assist with the Wellington Rural Water Quality program for lands within the SVCA watershed. There have been a few applications in the area that Jo-Anne Harbinson has followed up with and provided the review committee with the necessary information for review.

Water Quality

Both June and July surface water runs have been completed by Shaun Anthony, Water Quality Specialist (WQS) and the Assistant Water Resources Technician (Summer Student). This includes sampling at 15 SVCA sites and 14 Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network (PWQMN) sites on behalf of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC). In addition, grab and storm event samples continue to be taken at our ISCO (automated water sampler) site and shipped to MOECC for analysis. This data, along with meteorological data, is being shared with Rural Storm Water Management Model (RSWMM) partners in contribution to the development of a predictive model for the Pine River Priority Watershed.

Summer well maintenance and level logger downloads have been completed at SVCA’s 22 Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN) wells. Moreover, a new rain gauge was installed at W221-1 near Walkerton. This data reports on ambient (baseline) groundwater level and chemistry conditions and can be used by programs like the Ontario Low Water Response Program.

Finally, all 2015 benthic sampling has been completed (14 sites total). A total of 42 samples were collected and brought back to the lab. In the lab, 100 plus insects from each of the 42 samples have been characterized and entered into the database. This data is being analyzed in contribution to the future update to our Watershed Report Cards.

Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol

Shaun Anthony recently successfully completed the Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol (OSAP) course that took place in Oshawa in June. The OSAP contains a series of standardized methodologies for identifying sites, evaluating benthic macroinvertebrates, fish communities, physical habitat; geomorphology; hydrology; and water temperature in wade-able streams and headwaters. OSAP was designed to address a variety of stream assessment issues, ranging from very specific questions (e.g., determining maximum summer water temperature) to broader issues (e.g., changes in fish community composition over time). OSAP is provincially recognized as standards by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and federally recognized by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Key takeaway skills include: identifying and documenting site locations; benthos sampling; temperature sampling; fish community sampling; characterizing physical processes and in-stream structure; and data management.

As this is a certification course in both OSAP and Class-2 Electrofishing Crew leader, SVCA now has a staff member that can access and upload data to the Flowing Water Information System (FWIS – MNRF), and receive permits to conduct electrofishing to better characterize fish assemblages. Shaun will be assisting with an electro shocking activity in the Markdale area in early August. Having this certification is especially useful as Water Quality staff often receive data requests from provincial agencies, consultants, Conservation Ontario (Watershed Report Cards), municipalities and the general public. It also means that the Authority is better equipped to collect more useable water quality/quantity and biological data.

Meetings/Conference calls

Pine River Watershed Initiative Network Stewardship Grey Bruce Grey Bruce Sustainability Network Saugeen River Fisheries Task Force Markdale Rotary Park Pool Possible Decommission Meeting Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation – University of Waterloo Stratford Campus Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol (certification course, Oshawa) Standard First Aid and CPR-C (certification course, Hanover) PGMN South West Working Group (ABCA) Wonders of Wetlands Day (outreach day), Brucedale CA Environmental Planning & Regulations

Regulation Violation – The Durrer Group Inc. (Jeff Durrer), Brian Marcell (Chief Building Official), and the Municipality of West Grey

This violation commenced over two years ago and it is now resolved and litigation is no longer pending, so this report summarizes the outcome for the information of the Board.

A single detached dwelling was constructed in the autumn of 2012 in an area subject to the SVCA’s Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses Regulation (Ontario Regulation 169/06, as amended) without first receiving permission from the Authority. The dwelling was constructed by Mr. Jeff Durrer at 521391 Concession 12 NDR, Geographic Township of Bentinck. Furthermore, the West Grey Building Official, Mr. Brian Marcell, had issued a municipal building permit contrary to the SVCA Regulation. The building is situated in a flood plain, hazardous lands, and surrounded by wetland. However, the building essentially replaced one destroyed by fire, and so the Authority could have considered allowing construction if certain conditions were met and an SVCA permit obtained. The landowner and the Building Official made little effort to cooperate with the Authority, and so upon direction from the Executive Committee 10 charges were laid against Mr. Durrer, Mr. Marcell, and the Municipality in 2014.

Through the latter half of 2014 there were extensive discussions amongst all the parties during pre-trial sessions and through the solicitors in an attempt to avoid going to trial. The Authority required certain technical issues to be addressed before we could agree to a settlement. Finally, Mr. Durrer submitted the requested engineering and other information and so in January 2015 the SVCA issued our permit. The charges against him were withdrawn.

The charges against Mr. Marcell and the Municipality were more fundamental, as the relevance of the Authority’s Regulation and permit process was being challenged. After substantial negotiations a settlement was reached and charges were withdrawn in March, 2015. The settlement included a Memorandum of Understanding between the Building Official, the Municipality, and the Authority that clearly outlines the obligations of the Official to comply with the Regulation and to ensure proponents are directed to the Authority for consultation when Regulated Areas are involved. Both sides were responsible for their own legal costs.

Department Activities: The Manager, Environmental Planning and Regulations is organizing with MNRF Species at Risk– Provincial Policy Statement 2014 training as changes have posed some challenges for the SVCA and member municipalities which may benefit from some streamlining. Grand River Conservation Authority and Maitland Valley Conservation Authority are interested as well.

May 27, 2015 the Manager, Environmental Planning and Regulations met with Town of Saugeen Shores staff associated with online SVCA mapping

June 17, 2015 the Manager, Environmental Planning and Regulations attended the Coastal Working Group Meeting for Conservation Authorities at Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.

June 15, 2015 the Environmental Planning Coordinator returned from Maternity leave.

June 18, 2015 the Regulations Officers Attended DFO meeting at Black Creek Pioneer Village.

June 30, 2015 The Manager, Environmental Planning and Regulations met with Bruce County Planning staff regarding shoreline Hazard and Regulations.

July 14, 2015 the Manager, Environmental Planning and Regulations presented to South Bruce Council associated with the online mapping.

Armow Renewal Energy Act (REA) proposals moving ahead with SVCA review from a permitting perspective. East Durham REA SVCA Permits issued inspections underway. Egremont (Holstein Area) solar project starting up.

Permit numbers and new inquiries are significantly up compared to 2014 statistics.

The following Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses permits have been approved by authorized Authority staff since the May 15, 2015 Program Report:

15-117 SP Armow Wind Ontario GP; T107, Lot 31, Concession 11, Kincardine; Turbine Construction Lane, Permanent Lane, service installation, and laydown area. Regulated Area

15-114 Paul and Lisa Sammut; 234023 Concession 2, Bentinck/West Grey; Demolition of an existing detached garage 3.0 metres (10 feet) by 6.1 metres (20 feet) in size and replace it with a new detached garage 6.7 metres (22 feet) by 7.3 metres (24 feet) in size with a concrete slab foundation set at an elevation approximately 0.3 metres higher than the floor of the existing garage, including related excavation, rough filling and finished grading and removal of all excess demolition debris and excavated material from the site. Regulated Area

15-112 Denise Cornfield and Ian Furlong; 245358 Southgate Road 24, Proton/Southgate; The creation of a kidney shaped, groundwater fed wildlife / recreation pond located approximately 130 feet north of the existing dwelling. Regulated Area

15-110 Mathew and Patricia Collison; 538 Clarendon Street, Clarendon, Saugeen/Saugeen Shores; Partial demolition of existing single detached dwelling and construction of renovation of dwelling, construction of replacement sewage disposal system including related filling and grading activities. Regulated Area

15-109 Jann Sedore; 185 Countess Street N, Countess, Durham/West Grey; Construction of a 10.8 metre (35.5 feet) by 11.1 metre (36.5 feet) addition with concrete frost wall and concrete slab foundation (no basement, cellar or crawlspace) onto an existing single detached dwelling, including the demolition of a portion of the existing single detached dwelling, and related works. Regulated Area

15-108 Bill and Carolynne Trbovich; 243 Saugeen Street, Priceville, Artemesia, Grey Highlands; Construction of an approximately 16 foot by 20 foot detached garage and related filling and grading. The existing approximately 22 foot by 17 foot garage is to be removed from the subject property. Regulated Area

15-107 Laurie Soers; 4 Stinson Street, Mildmay; Construction of an approximate 17 foot by 24.5 foot addition with attached deck to an existing dwelling; and related excavation and grading. Regulated Area

15-106 Grassland Management Inc.; 5933 Minto-Normanby Townline, Clifford, Township of Minto; Culvert Replacement. Watercourse

15-105 Travis & Katrina Carter; 261383 Concession 18, Normanby; Filling and grading associated with a new driveway. Regulated Area

15-104 Drum Chipping Services C/O Martin Musial; Part Lot 17, Concession 11, Egremont; Construction of a single detached dwelling, sewage disposal system, pond, driveway and related filling and grading. Regulated Area

15-103 Heikki Jaason; 7687 Sideroad 2E Arthur/Wellington North; to acknowledge and recognize works in a Regulated Area completed without a Permit consisting of a pond and 2 sheds. Regulated Area

15-102 Dan and Sue Dawson; Farm Lot 22, Concession 4; Lot 7 of Plan 679 Sullivan/Chatsworth; Construction of a 24.2 sq. metre (260 sq. feet) addition, on a concrete slab foundation with a walkout (no basement, cellar or crawlspace beneath the addition), to the lower level of an existing single detached dwelling including related excavation, removal of excess fill material off-site, filling, grading and restoration. Regulated Area

15-101 Brendon & Laurie White / Quality Construction; 37 Kuehner Street, Kincardine Township; Construction of an approximately 2582 square foot dwelling, with attached garage; sewage disposal system; and related grading. Regulated Area

15-100 Josh McDonald; 123245 Southgate Road 24, Egremont; Construction of a single detached dwelling, decks, driveway and related filling and grading. Regulated Area

15-099 Paul S. Martin; 248209 Osprey Melancthon Town line, Osprey/ Grey Highlands; Systematic Tile Drainage abutting a Provincially Significant Wetland. Regulated Area

15-098 County of Bruce; Lot 25, Concessions 4 and 5 Road/Bruce Road 20; Bruce/Kincardine Replacement of the existing 28 metre length of 1.88 metre span by 1.26 metre rise corrugated steel pipe arch culvert under Bruce Road 20 with a new 28 metre length of 1,600mm diameter polymer coated corrugated steel pipe culvert including 250mm to 300mm diameter rock rip-rap protection with geotextile underlay at each end of the culvert and related works such as temporary cofferdams, dewatering as may be necessary and removal of all excess excavated material from the site. Watercourse

15-096 Joyrun Farms; 344 Bruce Road 15, Pinkerton Greenock/Brockton; The installation of a turbine in the existing Mill Building. Regulated Area

15-095 Jeff Farrow; 120 Nicholson Drive, Sullivan/Chatsworth; Demolition of an existing single detached dwelling, removal of all related debris off-site, construction of a new 8.5 metre (28 feet) by 12.2 metre (40 feet) single detached dwelling on a concrete slab foundation (no basement, cellar or crawlspace) with an attached 3.0 metre (10 feet) by 12.2 metre (40 feet) wooden deck, including related excavation, filling, grading and restoration. Regulated Area

15-094 Pam & Danny Farrow; 552656 Grey Road 23, Egremont; Construction of an approximate 26 foot by 16 foot - one story addition with basement; and deck reconstruction to the current dwelling; and related excavation, filling and grading. Regulated Area

15-093 Darroch/Tupling; Part Lot 64, Concession 2 WGR, Normanby; Construction of a new 3500 square foot single detached dwelling with rear walkout basement, second storey deck, and attached garage; new sewage disposal system; engineered retaining walls; and, associated excavation, filling and grading. Regulated Area

15-092 Municipality of Kincardine; West of 1383 Saugeen Bruce Townline, Bruce Township; Regrading and guard rail reinstallation. Regulated Area

15-091 Grey Highlands, Rod Leeson; Rotary Park Markdale; Removal of a number of buildings and structures east of the watercourse and dam. Installation of concrete pad. Regulated Area

15-090 Gary and Nancy Becker; 242049 Concession 16 Road, Normanby/West Grey; Construct a driveway approximately 190 metres in length with culverts to allow the passage of surface drainage waters beneath it in the two (2) low areas across which the driveway has been constructed, a 167 sq. metre (1800 sq. feet) single detached dwelling with a walkout, an attached elevated deck and a sewage disposal system including related excavation, filling and finished grading. Regulated Area

15-089 John & Rita Debrincat; 5230 Sideraod 6, Glenelg; Construction of a single detached dwelling, porch, deck, sewage disposal system, filling, re-grading. Regulated Area

15-088 Township of Huron-Kinloss; Roll No. 410716000904339; install a cable by boring under the water course on the road allowance between 935 and 970 Parkplace. Regulated Area; Watercourse

15-087 James Reuber; 103 William Street, Walkerton/Brockton; Excavate Foundation on the north and west of the side of the house, repair foundation walls and backfill excavated soil to previous condition. Regulated Area

15-082 Nicole Batte and Justin Lippert; 304 Metzger Drive, Lake Rosalind, Brant/Brockton; Replace existing metal and wood shorewall with armourstone. Regulated Area

15-081 Paul Martin; 044251 Southgate Road 04, Egremont/Southgate; Extending 120 metre stretch of watercourse with a tile drain. Watercourse

15-079 Townhip of Southgate; 7 Southgate Road 14, Proton, Box Culvert Structure S27; Replacement of the existing box culvert (Structure S27) and associated roadway improvements. Watercourse

15-071 Ontario Peninsula Farms Ltd.; Part Lot 25, Concession 9 Bruce/Kincardine; Replace twin 701.4mm diameter concrete sewer pipe culverts, in poor condition, under a farm driveway with a new 9.1 metre length of 1219mm diameter, 2.8mm thickness corrugated steel pipe including the installation of appropriate sediment and erosion control measures, the installation of quarry stone rip-rap protection with suitable geotextile filter fabric at each end and the removal of unsuitable construction debris (e.g. broken concrete) from the site. Watercourse

15-051 Frederick Robinson; 236 Penetangore Row, Kincardine; Construction of an attached 5.5 m metre (18 feet) by 8.3 metre (27 feet 4 inches) garage onto an existing single detached dwelling including the removal of a portion of existing wooden deck to facilitate the construction of the garage, the completion of related finished grading and landscaping and the removal of all related debris and excavated off-site. Regulated Area

15-050 Allan & Chandra Kuuskne; 382328 Concession 4, Bentinck; Demolition and reconstruction of the southerly addition with unvented crawlspace, and related excavation, filling and grading. Regulated Area

15-029 Mel and Elaine McConnell; 401 Coulson Lane, Kincardine; Demolition of an existing single detached dwelling and two sheds related thereto, construction of a new single detached dwelling with full basement and a wooden deck, an attached garage, the completion of related finished grading and landscaping and the removal of all related debris and excavated off-site. Regulated Area Administration The GM/S-T attended the Conservation Ontario Council meeting on June 22nd in Toronto. Some highlights were:

• Presentation of the Conservation Ontario (“CO”) Strategic Plan which was comprised of four sections: Public Affairs and Advocacy, Science and Policy, Corporate and CA Member Services and Governance, Structure and Funding. The GM/S-T participated in the Corporate and CA Member Services working group. The Strategic Plan provides direction to CO and the work of CO in serving its member CA’s. Final approval of the Plan is expected at the September Council meeting. • Conservation Authorities Act review has been undertaken by MNRF. It is expected that MNRF will issue a discussion paper shortly. • There was some very preliminary discussion on whether voting at Council meetings should be limited to the CA Chairs or Vice Chairs or whether General Managers should continue to have alternate voting privileges in the absence of the Chair/Vice Chair. • There was no update on Bill 66, the Great Lakes Protection Act. An inquiry was received from a watershed municipality wondering if SVCA was responsible for the maintenance of walkways on our dykes. Some dykes, such as the Paisley and Walkerton dykes, have significant walkways running along the top of the dyke. Those walkways were installed by the municipalities for the enjoyment of residents and visitors and are not necessary for the dykes to function as a flood control structure. The walkway, as well as any lights and benches are entirely the responsibility of the municipality and were not part of the original provincial funding to construct the flood control works. SVCA has been informed that it is the beneficiary of a $1,000 bequest from the estate of Jean Alexandria McCallum, deceased. Valard Construction has agreed to a further six month lease extension to December 31st for outside storage space at the Sulphur Spring property. On July 14 the GM/S-T provided a brief presentation at an evening session of South Bruce Council along with the Environmental Planning & Regulations Manager.

Drinking Water Source Protection Report

Source Protection Committee At the April 24, 2015 Source Protection Committee (SPC) meeting, the Committee passed a motion to approve the Revised Assessment Reports and Updated Proposed Source Protection Plan (UPSPP) for the Saugeen, Grey Sauble, Northern Bruce Peninsula Source Protection Region.

The Source Protection Committee also discussed the need to establish a Technical Advisory Committee to address the Events-Based Area (EBA) issues for Great Lakes intakes. The Committee discussed the purpose, goal and structure of the Technical Advisory Committee and Bill Twaddle and Kathie Hughes were named as the SPC representatives.

Source Protection Plan Submission The updated Plan and Assessment Reports were presented to the Saugeen Source Protection Authority on May 28, 2015; Grey Sauble Source Protection Authority on June 10, 2015; and Northern Bruce Peninsula on June 22, 2015. All three Source Protection Authorities gave their concurrence for submission of the Plan to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC), which was done on June 30, 2015.

Administration The new Project Manager, Carl Seider, started on June 15th and has worked closely with Saugeen, MOECC and the other Source Protection Authorities to identify staffing adjustments in order to meet program requirements within the existing budget allocation.

Municipal Implementation Workshops A set of municipal workshops has been arranged for September 25th in Walkerton and 29th in Owen Sound to assist municipalities in understanding their responsibilities once polices in the Source Protection Plan come into effect. Municipal councils and staff will be provided with updated information and presentations on how municipalities can implement the policies, the requirements for risk management offices and additional support materials and resources to assist with implementation.

Technical Work The Source Protection Office is currently working with Matrix Solutions to conduct a water quantity risk assessment for the Town of Hanover and the Community of Lake Rosalind. This work is part of the Tier 3 Water Budget given the high vulnerability of this drinking water system due to water quantity issues.

1 May 2014 July 2015 Saugeen Conservation COMMUNICSaugeen ConservationATIONS PrCOMMUNICogram ReporATIONSt Program Report

Tours, Presentations and Memorial Grove Program Hikes (Promoting our Watershed) The SVCA and SVCF gathered together on Sunday, June 28th for the Memorial Grove Ceremony at Sulphur Spring Staff are continually making presentations, Conservation Area. conducting tours or providing hikes throughout the year. These initiatives help to promote the The Ceremony is part of the Memorial Grove Program SVCA, its projects and lands on a regular basis. where individuals can request a tree to be planted for a loved one. The program was initiated in 1989 and since then has resulted inwww the planting.sv of overca.on.ca 5,000 trees! Approximately 500 people attended the Ceremony to remember loved ones and participate in the ceremonial tree planting.

Above, staff lead a group from the Sauble Beach area on a tour of the Greenock Swamp. Establishing a ‘Friends of the Saugeen’ Working Group Staff from the Communications and Water Management Department are working together with local interest groups, businesses, interested individuals and the Social Media Municipality of Brockton to help establish a ‘Friends of the Saugeen’ group. Staff do their best to stay abreast of social media and all The purpose of the group would be to facilitate a that it provides in terms of prole and awareness. Check us out on the following: coordinated approach to the care of the Saugeen River from the headwaters to the mouth. An initial public meeting was held on June 25th to secure public input. The response was excellent! The next public meetings are as follows: * Thursday, July 30, 7:00pm at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Southampton * Thursday, August 3, 7:00pm in Flesherton (Location TBA) www.svca.on.ca COMMUNICATIONS Program Report page 2

Check out our Evening Conservation Tours

Latest Newsletter! Join us for our tours! Each year the SVCF and SVCA host a number of Evening Conservation The SVCA Summer Tours featuring various projects, Newsletter is out! programs and lands. Don't forget to By the time this report is seen by check it out and see the Board we will have only one what we’ve been up more tour left! Join us on to! Great info! Wednesday evening, September 9th for a tour to the Greenock If you would like Swamp! . hard copies or if you would like us to The Foundation has been raising send you an money for years for the electronic copy - development of a self-guided please let us know! interpretive trail system through Ontario’s single largest forested wetland! Work has now begun! See the results!

Find us at the Following New Signage! Shows and Events If you happen to be going past Allan Park Conservation Area Over the summer months you will see staff at various check out the new kiosk. Let us know what you think! events and shows across the watershed. Come and say . hello! We will be at the following.

1) Keady - Every Tuesday throughout July and August 2) Georgian Homesteading and Survival Show - Markdale, Aug. 2 - 3 3) Bruce County Heritage Farm Show - South of Paisley, August 14, 15 & 16th 4) Teeswater Fall Fair - August 21, 22 & 23rd 5) Paisley Fall Fair - Sunday, September 13 6) Pumpkinfest - Port Elgin, October 3 & 4th

Health & Safety The Communications Assistant/Graphic Artist also serves as the Worker Representative on SVCA’s Joint Health & Safety Committee. Ongoing inspections and follow-up is critical to the health and safety of all workers. An Ergonomic workshop will be Wish you were here! Having a great day at Keady. scheduled for July. Agenda 1078 Bruce Road 12, P.O. Box 150, Formosa ON Canada N0G 1W0 Tel 519-367-3040, Fax 519-367-3041, [email protected], www.svca.on.ca

Summary of Zoning Comments Query:

Municipality Response: Arran-Elderslie Brockton Chatsworth Grey Highlands Hanover Eliminate Howick Keep Huron-Kinloss Eliminate Kincardine Minto Eliminate Morris-Turnberry Saugeen Shores Eliminate South Bruce Eliminate Southgate Eliminate Wellington North West Grey Eliminate

Agenda

1078 Bruce Road 12, P.O. Box 150, Formosa ON Canada N0G 1W0 Tel 519-367-3040, Fax 519-367-3041, [email protected], www.svca.on.ca

May 15, 2015

The Honourable Kevin Eccles, Mayor of the Municipality of West Grey, And Members of the West Grey Council 402813 Grey Rd 4 RR 2 Durham, ON N0G 1R0 Re: Regulation Mapping

This letter is being provided at the direction of the Board of Directors of the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (“SVCA”). The Board understands that there is significant frustration amongst several watershed municipalities regarding the need for updated SVCA Regulation mapping. This letter is intended to start a process of consultation between municipalities and SVCA with the goal of: • Determining the priority geographic areas where Regulation mapping needs upgrading. • Exploring the technical and financial requirements to provide upgraded Regulation mapping. • Preparing an action plan.

The Purpose of Mapping: Mapping is a tool to assist users in determining if a property may be in an area subject to SVCA regulation and permitting requirements. Those Ontario legislated regulations are in place to protect sensitive areas such as wetlands, floodplains, steep slopes and the Lake Huron shoreline from development and to protect people and their property. While the text of the regulation is the ultimate determinant, mapping can be of great assistance to determine whether a certain property may fall within a regulated area.

Regulation Mapping vs Screening Mapping: In 2006 SVCA staff produced Regulation mapping in areas where detailed mapping existed which was generally in urban centres and the Lake Huron shoreline. Following a process that included public meetings, peer review and SVCA Board approval the Ministry of Natural Resources approved regulation 169/06. The Regulation maps indicate areas where SVCA regulations apply and where permits are required if development is contemplated within the Regulated areas.

In areas where detailed mapping was not available there is no approved Regulation mapping. For the most part those are the rural areas in the Saugeen watershed. The mapping that is available in those rural areas is based on pre Hazard Land Maps. An additional buffer of 50 metres (Screening Area) has been added to those maps resulting in the screening mapping that is used to help identify areas of potential interest to SVCA. If Regulation mapping was available in those rural areas then the 50 metre Screening Area could be eliminated. This would eliminate a significant area of the watershed from requiring a review by SVCA staff.

Subsequent Steps: Subsequent steps would be determined by the working group. This group would be tasked with developing an Action Plan detailing specific deliverables and a timetable for completion. The Action Plan could include: • Establishing geographic areas where improved mapping is desirable. These are likely to be areas currently experiencing or expected to experience increased development. • Obtaining estimates of the costs to provide improved mapping in the priority areas. • Seeking funding sources (federal, provincial, municipal, and other). • Developing improved educational tools to assist the public in better understanding the meaning of regulation and screening maps.

We see the most important function of the working group to be the identification of the geographic areas in each participating municipality that would most benefit from upgraded Regulation mapping. Upgraded mapping for the entire watershed is not currently realistic. But SVCA staff working with municipal staff should be able to determine how to get improved mapping for those areas where it is needed most.

Ultimately, the expectation is that upgraded Regulation mapping in specific areas will assist in making the overall planning process easier and simpler for municipal staff, SVCA staff and the public.

Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned should you require clarification or have any questions about this initiative.

Sincerely,

Wayne Brohman Luke Charbonneau

General Manager / Secretary Treasurer Chair, SVCA Saugeen Conservation 1078 Bruce Road 12, P.O. Box 150, Formosa ON Canada N0G 1W0 Tel 519-367-3040, Fax 519-367-3041, [email protected], www.svca.on.ca

Mapping Working Group Query:

Municipality Appointment: Arran-Elderslie Brockton Terry Tuck Chatsworth Grey Highlands Hanover Don Tedford/alt Brenda Goetz Howick Not participating Huron-Kinloss Matt Farrell Kincardine Michele Barr Minto Not participating Morris-Turnberry Saugeen Shores Bart Toby South Bruce Kirk Livingstone Southgate Wellington North West Grey John Eccles

Agenda

1078 Bruce Road 12, P.O. Box 150, Formosa ON Canada N0G 1W0 Tel 519-367-3040, Fax 519-367-3041, [email protected], www.svca.on.ca

Report to: Directors, Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority From: Wayne Brohman, General Manager/Secretary-Treasurer Date: July 23, 2015 Subject: Planning & Regulations Department Review

INTRODUCTION

The Board of SVCA requested a review of the Planning & Regulations (“P&R”) department. The general parameters of the review were: • Determine if P&R staff have the proper tools and work environment to efficiently and effectively do their jobs. • Determine if there are system/process issues that adversely affect department performance. • Involve staff in seeking improvements. • Provide specific suggestions for improvements.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The P&R department as a group are dedicated, motivated well educated and hard working. P&R staff work well together and with other staff. The department is lacking some simple tools that can easily and inexpensively be provided. The process of tracking files and retrieving data require significant improvement. A written SVCA specific P&R Policy would also be a big benefit to staff. Below is a summary of recommendations:

• Continue the extensive staff training efforts. • Staff should be promoted up the salary grid where warranted. • No new staff hiring is required. • A new more robust file tracking system is needed for active and new files. This is a high priority. • The P&R department should remain on the main floor but should be provided with a better printer set up and additional file cabinets. • A SVCA specific P&R Policy document needs to be developed. This is a high priority. • Old paper files and documents should be converted to digital form. • A customer survey should be developed with the Board determining the timing for this initiative. • The mapping working group initiative should be continued.

• Zoning comments in correspondence to applicants should be eliminated in those municipalities that request that SVCA cease providing those comments. • Formal training in customer relations and communications should continue. • An improved means of communicating the appeal process available to applicants should be developed. • A collaborative effort with Bruce County should be continued with respect to the review of the Memorandum of Agreements with the watershed municipalities.

STAFFING

Training: In the past 18 months, in addition to health and safety training that all SVCA staff participate in, Planning and Regulations staff have taken the following training sessions: • Drainage Act regulations • Aggregates training • Customer relations • Ecological Offsetting • Provincial Offences certification • Bear safety • Fisheries protection • Species at risk • Karst landscape/hazard • Department of Fisheries and Oceans (various webinars) • Managing/leadership • Planners best management practices • Fisheries Act • Environmental land classification • Sediment control In addition to the above training, Gary Senior has conducted training sessions related to the Conservation Authorities Act and Regulations, violation matters, use of survey equipment, and issues in specific geographic areas. Mr. Senior continues to be a willing resource for the department. P&R staff have complimented the training sessions provided through Conservation Ontario. While most of the training is of the “on the job” nature, staff have indicated satisfaction with the level of more formal training being provided by SVCA.

Staff Skills: The current complement of staff have educational backgrounds as follows: • Professional Engineer (P Eng.), significant drainage and planning work experience • Honours BA, Geography & Sociology • Municipal by-law enforcement • Environmental Technology program (Georgian College) • Masters International Public Policy (MIPP), environmental policy and international economic relations • BA Political Science & Economics • Honours BA, Geography • BA, Environmental Studies

Positions in this department require strong communication skills both written and verbal in order to properly interact with the public, municipal staffs and fellow workers. Staff often encounter difficult situations where they are required to maintain a professional and respectful attitude. Organizational skills are also required with respect to work stations and files in order to ensure an efficient work flow. Work days are generally organized into days in the office and days in the field doing site visits. Efforts are made to organize site visits by geographic area to reduce the amount of travel time.

The Team: With the return from maternity leave of one staff member in June the department now has seven full time staff and a subsidized summer student position. It is difficult to have a truly meaningful comparison of staffing levels between Conservation Authorities. Comparison variables include: • The geographic size of the CA. (SVCA is the 5th largest of the 36 CA’s at 4,675 sq km) • Amount and type of development in the watershed • Number and complexity of violations • Level of experience of staff For instance, one of those comparators (geographic size of CA), indicates that Quinte CA has 7 Planning and Regulations staff and 6,000 sq km of watershed, Notawasaga CA has 7 staff and 3,646 sq km, Grand River CA has 15 staff and 6,800 sq km and Grey Sauble CA has 4 staff and 3,146 sq km. Last year (2014) was very busy for the P&R department with the volume of work coming in being significantly higher than in recent previous years. That volume has further increased in 2015. For instance, general inquiries in June 2014 numbered 78 and in June 2015 there were about 115 general inquiries representing a 45% increase. Staff believe that the increase in workload volume can in part at least be attributed to the public becoming more aware of the need to contact SVCA for even minor developments such as decks and garages. As well the agricultural community has become more aware of SVCA requirements and municipal Chief Building Officials are sending more drainage and other works to SVCA than had been the case in the recent past.

The P&R department continues to struggle meeting reasonable response timelines given the increasing volume of work. In the long term the hiring of additional staff would help alleviate that issue. However the extensive learning curve for new staff and the additional supervision required does not improve overall department efficiency in the short term. The expectation is that the current staffing level should be sufficient to provide a much improved level of service once the initiatives outlined in this report are put in place provided the workload does not continue to increase at the current pace. Observations indicate that the department staff get along well together. There appears to be continuous knowledge sharing. There are often impromptu file discussions during lunch breaks. Planning and Regulations staff have regular and mutually beneficial interactions with staff in other departments.

Remuneration, Retention: Staff retention has been a major issue in the P&R department for over a decade. Employees in general leave for a number of reasons of which remuneration can be one. The remuneration package needs to adequately reflect the stress and other demands of the job. In 2008 a detailed salary grid review was performed by McDowell & Associates Human Resources Consultants Ltd. The SVCA salary grid was compared to seven comparable Conservation Authorities and Bruce County. Some adjustments were made at that time to the salary grid. Like other CA’s, SVCA jobs are placed into a job range in the salary grid based on a number of factors including: • Decision making/judgement • Physical skill and effort • Interpersonal skills/contacts • Concentration/mental effort • Knowledge • Working conditions Each job range has seven steps with each step up the grid representing a remuneration increase of about 2.8%. New hires with limited experience start at Step 1 and over the years are eligible to progress up the grid to a maximum of Step 7. All steps in the grid are increased annually (effective January 1) at a percentage rate approved by the Board. According to the Board approved Personnel Policy, that percentage increase is to equal the annual increase in the Ontario Consumer Price Index as at September of each year. The across the board grid increase at January 1, 2015 was 2.5%. Of the seven P&R staff, two are at step 1 of 7 in their salary grid job range, three are at step 2, one is at step 3 and one is at step 5. Therefore there is opportunity for grid advancement for all staff members.

In 2013/2014 SVCA participated in two salary surveys for Grey Sauble CA and Nottawasaga CA. In return for that participation SVCA was provided with confidential survey results. SVCA compared favorably in those surveys.

SVCA generally, and the P&R department specifically, currently have no difficulty in attracting job applicants for advertised job openings although generally the P&R applicants have limited direct work experience. The starting remuneration package for P&R new hires has not been an issue at the time of hire. The two entry level employees who left the P&R department in 2013/2014 did not leave as a result of dissatisfaction with their remuneration but rather concerns with the nature of the work. Human Resource studies suggest that, for most employees, salary is not their number one job related concern. More important factors are the employee’s relationship with their immediate supervisor and whether the employee has adequate tools to efficiently do their job.

Recommendation: The P&R manager should continue to arrange staff training opportunities and utilize the expertise of Mr. Senior. Training opportunities should be sought in both technical areas and non-technical areas such as customer service, time management, communications, dealing with stress and others. Where warranted, P&R staff should be promoted up the steps in their job range in accordance with the annually updated salary grid. There should be no new staff hiring at this time.

FILE TRACKING SYSTEM

Given the large volume of files, the Planning & Regulations department recognizes the importance of having a file tracking system that is accurate, robust, easy to use and accessible to numerous users. The current file tracking system does not meet these requirements. A proper tracking system will record the following: • Applicant name, contact info. • Property identification (tax roll #, GPS coordinates or other identifier). • File type (violation, planning, legal enquiry). • Staff member assigned to the file. • Date the applicant initiated the matter. • Progress on the file, what/when SVCA is waiting for a response or information and what/when applicant is waiting for from SVCA. • Date the file was completed (permit issued, violation resolved). • Possible priority ranking system. Ideally the file tracking system should be integrated so that other staff, such as Forestry, Water Resources, Water Quality and Source Water Protection staff can access the information and even update information on their activities associated with a specific property. The system should allow for the linking of all relevant information for a specific property including scanned documents, site photos, reports from third parties, correspondence etc. A further step to improve efficiency once the file tracking system is functional would be for staff to be able to access the file information remotely. Remote access may allow staff to more promptly resolve an issue while at a site if site information is readily available.

A proper file tracking system will have the advantages of: • Quick identification of which staff member has responsibility for the file – this helps when calls are received regarding a specific property. • Ease of tracking the progress on a file by management and staff to identify files that may require extra attention to speed the process. • Availability of information to other staff members in other departments.

The Information Technology Manager indicates that the SVCA Sharepoint software, which is currently in use for various accounting and other functions, is capable of accommodating file tracking needs. No software investment would be required. While getting a proper file tracking system in place would not be an expensive initiative in terms of dollar investment required, it will take significant staff time.

The basic steps required to accomplish this initiative would be: • Getting the data base platform set up and establish the input protocols. • Determine the most appropriate property identifier. • Start inputting data for currently active files and new files. • Investigate the acquisition of tablets that would allow staff to access file data remotely while at a property site. This could enhance efficiency in dealing with land owner concerns. Recommendation: The need for a proper file tracking system is a high priority for the P&R department. The P&R Manager, assisted by the IT Manager and General Manager, should commence working on this initiative as soon as possible. Initially, once the system is operational, only currently active and new files should be put into the system. Consideration could be given later as to whether and how older data could be digitized and entered onto the system (see Data Storage and Retrieval section of report). It should be recognized that this initiative is likely to require a period of six months to achieve. The acquisition of tablets for remote data access should be investigated.

OFFICE LAYOUT

The Planning & Regulations department is located on the main floor of the Formosa office. The Manager has an office adjacent to the rest of the department staff who work from six workstations located close together in a cluster. The closeness of the team allows for continuous opportunities for knowledge sharing. Some P&R files and documents are stored on the main floor in the P&R work area but most are stored on the lower floor. The main office photocopier used by P&R staff and most other staff is also located on the lower floor. The location of most stored files and the photocopier requires staff to regularly go downstairs. While staff time is spent going down and up the stairs, the exercise is helpful for staff that, while in the office, spend most of their time at a desk. For the benefit of visitors who wish to confer with P&R staff it is convenient and practical to have the P&R department on the main floor. The meeting room adjacent to the reception area is used by P&R staff to meet with visitors. A large counter in the P&R area is used to review large maps, drawings, surveys etc.

At any one time each P&R staff member is working on a number of files that are at various stages. Since desk space in the workstations is limited many of these files are piled on the floor at their work stations. In addition to being a safety concern that piling of files is not very efficient.

Recommendation: The location of the P&R department should remain on the main floor. Staff should be provided with file cabinets located at their work stations to contain work-in-process files. A modest colour photocopier capable of printing, copying and scanning should be in the upstairs P&R work area. These two steps can be done relatively quickly with little disruption to staff.

PLANNING & REGULATIONS POLICY

A policy can be a: • Course or principle of action to guide an organization • Set of ideas or plan of what to do in particular situations that has been agreed on by an organization, committee, group etc. A procedure is what is done to adhere to a policy and can be defined as: • A particular way of accomplishing something or acting. • A step-by-step sequence of activities to make something happen or how something is done. Conservation Ontario has produced a document dated May, 2010 entitled “Policies and Procedures for Conservation Authority Plan Review and Permitting Activities”. By motion of the SVCA Board, that document, including a clarification, was adopted by SVCA in May 2011. The main features of that 38 page document can be summarized as: • A description of Conservation Authority roles and activities. • A summary of relevant legislation including the Conservation Authorities Act, Planning Act, Fisheries Act, Clean Water Act, Aggregate Resources Act, Environmental Assessment Act, Drainage Act, and Ontario Water Resources Act. • Comments on CA’s role as public commenting bodies under the Planning Act. • Municipal plan review by CA’s. • Conservation Authorities Act section 28 permitting summary. • Decision timelines for CA’s for permits for minor applications are indicated as 30 days from the date of written confirmation of a complete application and 90 days for a major application. • A Memorandum of Understanding between Conservation Ontario and MNR (now MNRF).

In addition to the above guiding document, other Conservation Authorities have their own watershed specific Planning & Regulations policy document. SVCA does not have such a document. A brief sample of areas that a policy document could address is: • Slope hazards. • Lake Huron shoreline dynamic beach. • Inland lakes. • Dams. • River or stream valleys. • Flood plain. The purpose of a watershed specific policy document is to: • Ensure a more consistent application of regulations throughout the watershed. • Less research required by staff thus increasing efficiency. Simply put, it would be more efficient for staff to be able to look up a policy as it relates to a matter on a specific property than it would be to research other files that dealt with a similar matter. While a policy document cannot be expected to cover every eventuality, it is logical to suggest such a policy could significantly decrease the amount of staff research time. A Board approved policy document could also be helpful to P&R staff in their interactions with applicants and violators. The need for a SVCA specific policy document had been discussed for many years. The steps required to develop such a policy would be: • Obtain examples of policy documents from other CA’s.

• Review those policy documents, decide which policies are relevant for SVCA and tailor them for the SVCA watershed.

• Determine if any other policies are required that are not in any of the examples provided.

• Full review by all Planning & Regulations staff.

• Review and eventual approval by SVCA Executive Committee/Board. There are currently two staff members in the department who have significant experience in policy writing. This resource combined with the experience of the current department manager and previous department manager means this task can be performed in-house. The bigger challenge will be finding the time but the return in June of an experienced staff member from maternity leave should provide some time pressure relief.

Recommendation: The P&R Manager assisted by the General Manager should commence development of a SVCA Planning & Regulations Policy document following the steps noted above. The priority of this initiative is considered high. It is time to get at it. After completion and approval by the Board, consideration should be given to putting the policy document on the SVCA website.

DATA STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL

The Planning & Regulations department has retained a significant amount of data in paper form. This data can be decades old but is still considered relevant. The data will relate to properties in the watershed that were previously of interest to SVCA and may also be the subject of current interest. The stored documents will relate to things such as permits issued or denied, measurements taken, landowner discussions and correspondence, building drawings, consultants reports etc. This data requires significant storage space and can be cumbersome for staff to find what they are looking for. The long term goal would be to have most of the data stored in digital form. There are two main concerns in digitizing the data. First it would need to be ensured that the data was secure and wouldn’t get lost or deleted. Secondly, the data needs to be easily found and retrieved. Effort needs to go into both devising a proper file/data identification system and then in scanning the data and giving it the proper identification coding so that it can be identified and retrieved as needed. It would be preferable to have a proper file tracking system in place prior to starting a data storage and retrieval initiative. The file tracking system needs to be able to link to the old data. The ultimate goal would be to have all the old paper data in a secure digital form and linked to the proper watershed property and retrievable in the field. Much of the paper data could then be destroyed.

Recommendation: To increase staff efficiency and to reduce the need for storage space and to reduce the risk of destruction, old paper files and data should be converted to digital form. Steps should be taken to ensure the digital data is secure and is properly linked as to be easily accessed by staff. While important in the long term, this initiative is seen as less pressing than several other initiatives noted in this report and should be commenced only once other higher priority initiatives are completed, specifically the file tracking system initiative.

CUSTOMER FEEDBACK SURVEY

Currently feedback from applicants and others who have contact with the Planning & Regulations department comes from a number of sources including: phone calls or emails to the P&R Manager and /or General Manager, Board members who have been contacted by the public, applicants who visit the office and comments from staff. This feedback is informal in nature and while some is positive, including 30 positive email responses in the past year or so, the majority is negative and usually related to the timeliness issue.

Possible questions for a Planning and Regulations survey would be: • Are you satisfied with the information provided?

• Are you satisfied with the explanations given?

• Were you dealt with in a professional manner by SVCA staff?

• Was the response time reasonable?

• Were you satisfied with the decision(s) of SVCA staff?

• What comments would you like to provide? A short survey with a number of questions such as those above could be sent with the permit or other correspondence. The detailed logistics of such a survey would need to be worked out with the goal of making it easy to respond to while providing useful information. P&R staff are supportive of such a survey and would like to have input into the wording of the survey questions.

Recommendation: It is suggested that a survey in the nature noted above could provide useful information to the P&R department and the Board. The P&R Manager and General Manager should be tasked with preparing the format of the survey and presenting it to the Board for approval. The Board can decide whether it is beneficial to initiate the survey in the short term or to wait until the P&R department has an opportunity to complete some of the improvements it will be tasked with. A benefit to initiating the survey in the short term is that it may provide a base from which to measure the expected improvements in the department.

MAPPING

On April 30, 2015 SVCA introduced its on-line approximate regulation mapping and approximate screening mapping. That mapping is a representation of the geographic areas where the Conservation Authorities Act regulations apply. The regulations that SVCA is mandated to enforce are “text” based. The text of the regulation describes the areas where the regulations apply. The maps are a tool to assist users in identifying if a specific geographic area may fall within the regulated area. The on-line mapping has proven to be of significant assistance to landowners, builders, municipal staff and other users. However, while most of the urban areas within the SVCA watershed have been accurately mapped, the rural areas have not. In those rural areas the mapping provided by SVCA allows for an additional 50 metre screening area (also called a buffer) beyond what would likely be necessary if proper mapping was available in those areas. That 50 metre buffer results in significantly more area coming under SVCA review than would otherwise be required. That translates into more landowners needing to interact with P&R staff and a corresponding increase in workload for those staff.

Some watershed municipalities have indicated an interest in working together with SVCA staff to determine the feasibility of upgrading the mapping in certain rural areas which would eliminate most of the 50 metre screening area. To date seven municipalities have indicated interest in forming a working group to review the mapping issue. Those municipalities will be asked to identify the higher priority areas in their municipality where improved mapping would be most beneficial. Those areas are likely to be areas where current development is underway or future development is anticipated. While SVCA will not be providing funding for mapping upgrades, SVCA staff expertise in this field can assist the municipalities in: • Identifying areas that require upgraded mapping.

• Engage consultants to provide costing estimates to prepare upgraded mapping.

• Explore funding opportunities from other levels of government.

Recommendation: The P&R Manager and General Manager will continue with this initiative to form and work with a working group comprised of municipal representatives to investigate the mapping issue as described above.

WORKLOAD

Zoning Comments: P&R staff for some time have been providing zoning comments in correspondence to applicants. The providing of zoning comments is not a mandated requirement under the Conservation Authorities Act but was considered to be an additional service to applicants. Watershed municipalities were recently asked if they wanted SVCA to continue to provide zoning comments. Responses have been received from eight municipalities with seven requesting that SVCA discontinue providing zoning comments in correspondence to applicants and one requesting that the comments continue to be provided. The providing of zoning comments is neither an onerous nor time consuming task for staff.

Memorandum of Agreement with Municipalities: SVCA has MoA’s with watershed municipalities that spell out the roles and responsibilities of the parties with respect to Planning Act application review and technical clearance services provided by SVCA to the municipalities. The County of Bruce has undertaken a review of those standard agreements and may put forth some suggestions for changes that would reduce the workload of the P&R department. SVCA understands that the review is near completion.

P&R Mandate: Section 20 of the CA Act states: “The objects of an authority are to establish and undertake, in the area over which it has jurisdiction, a program designed to further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources other than gas, oil, coal and minerals.” Section 28 of that Act provides Authorities with the power to make regulations that include prohibiting, regulating or requiring the permission of the authority for: • Changing or interfering in any way with a waterway (river, creek, stream) or wetland. • Development, if in the opinion of the authority, the control of flooding, erosion, dynamic beaches, or pollution or the conservation of land may be affected by the development. Other than the zoning comments work noted above, the work performed by P&R staff deals with the objects and the mandated Regulation. Examples of such work would be drainage works, floodplain matters, watercourse works, wetland alterations and vegetation clearing, and shoreline protection. There is no opportunity to decrease the workload in these areas without failing to uphold the SVCA mandate and without threatening the long term well-being of the watershed.

Recommendation: P&R staff should be instructed to stop providing zoning comments in correspondence to applicants for properties in those municipalities where the municipality requested that their preference would be for SVCA to not provide those zoning comments. Zoning comments would continue for the remaining watershed municipalities unless or until they requested otherwise. The P&R Manager and the General Manager should work with Bruce County to determine if changes to the standard MoA’s are warranted.

Agenda

SIMPLE, UNCOMPLICATED PERMITS

P&R staff currently do a preliminary assessment when a file is initiated to attempt to determine the nature and complexity of the matter. However, it is often the case where a file initially expected to be a simple matter turns into a complex one once further information is obtained. It can also happen that an applicant changes their plans during the review process turning a simple matter into a complicated one. For this reason it is a challenge to identify and then attempt to fast track simple applications.

Recommendation: Staff are currently making reasonable efforts to process simpler matters in a timely manner. It is expected that other P&R initiatives will improve the timeliness on all files. No changes required.

COMMUNICATIONS The Communications Manager gives a large number of presentations each year to a variety of gatherings. Included in those presentations is an explanation of the role of the P&R department. The P&R Manager is also available to various groups including municipal staff and councils to elaborate on the workings of the P&R department. The SVCA website provides an explanation of the permit approval process and now access to the SVCA mapping. There is also a section on the process available to an applicant if they have been refused a permit including an explanation of the right to a hearing before the Executive Committee. There have not been any appeal hearings in the past several years. It may be that applicants are not sufficiently aware of the appeal process. SVCA is considering an Open House event at the Formosa office where the public will be invited to come and see what SVCA is all about. The P&R department will have a prominent role at that event.

Recommendation: The P&R manager should continue to stress customer relations and service aspects of the job to staff and encourage staff toward positive interactions with the public and municipal staff. Continued formal training in customer relations and communications should be part of the overall staff training opportunities. More effort needs to be put into making applicants aware of the appeal process should they be dissatisfied with a decision from the P&R department. The P&R manager should be tasked with recommending how to improve communication of the appeal process.