mississippi valley conservation mississippi lakes association june 4, 2011 matt craig manager of...
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Mississippi Valley Conservation
Mississippi LakesAssociationJune 4, 2011
Matt CraigManager of Planning and Regulatory Services
www.mvc.on.ca [email protected] 613.259.2421
Ontario Conservation Authorities
Conservation Authorities Act passed in 1946Provides for establishment of Conservation
Authority at the request of municipalitiesDesignates participating municipalities,
representation and governanceDefines mandate and powers of the Conservation
Authority
Mandate
“To undertake in the area over which it has jurisdiction a program designed to further the conservation, restoration, management and development of natural resources…”
Organizational Structure
• Finance
• Administration
• Office equipment
• Conservation Areas
• Education
• Watershed planning
• Monitoring
• Planning Advisory
• Regulations
• Dam operations
• Dam safety
• Flood forecasting & warning
• Low water response
• Vehicles & equipment
• Asset management
• Capital maintenance
• Field operations
• Property securityInformation
Management Supervisor
Manager Science & Assessment
Unit
Integrated Watershed Management
Environmental regulationsFloodplain mappingWatershed monitoring &
planning Flood forecasting & warningWater control structuresPlanning Advisory ServicePrivate land stewardshipInformation & educationLand management
Conservation InformationWatershed Report Card
First Report Card released in 2007
Standard means to report on watershed conditions comparable to other Ontario watersheds
Next release scheduled for 2012
State of the Lake ReportsYearly reports based on
Watershed Watch findingsSelected lakes monitored in five
year cycles to help determine trends, identify problems and successes
Legislation/Regulations/Policies• Conservation Authorities Act
• Emphasizes partnerships
• Drainage Act• Required circulation
• Planning Act• Required circulation (Regulations under Planning Act)
• Building Code Act (Part 8 -Sewage Systems)• Approvals, re inspection, enforcement MOA’s
•Fisheries Act• Clearance/ monitoring / referral
• Flood plain regulations• Approvals, inspection, enforcement
• Conservation Area Regulations (S. 29)
•Ontario Water Resources Act (permit to take water)
•Environmental Assessment Act (proponent / participant)
Mississippi Lake Facts
• 1013 properties within 30 m of shore
• Average of 19 Planning applications per year (275 )
• Average of 18 Section 28 permits issued per year (90)
• Subdivisions - 2 adjacent – 6 close proximity
• 67 km of Shoreline, Area = 24 sq km
• 2 Provincially Significant Wetlands over 850 ha
• Floodplain mapping prepared in 1978 based on 1976 photography
Planning Advisory Service
Conformance to Provincial Policy OP/OPA’s; zoning; bylaws; consents; subdivisions; variances; condominiums
Delegated (1995) role to comment on natural hazards Flooding/erosion/unstable soils
MOU with Upper Tier municipalities (Ottawa/Lanark County) Natural Heritage Review Environmental Impact
Assessments, technical reports Water quality Fisheries impacts Wetland function Storm water management Hydrogeology
Environmental Assessments Permit-to-take-water review
Section 28 Regulation Development, Interference with
Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses Ont. Regulation 153/06
• Permit required prior to undertaking work subject to the Regulation in a regulated areaIdentified hazardous lands (flood plains/unstable soils)
Water courses (> 125 ha)Shorelines Provincially Significant Wetlands
Docks
Other Legislation:
• DFO - Fisheries Act• MNR - Public Lands Act• Transport Canada -
Navigable Waters Protection Act
• Township - By laws
Type 1Basic Consultation
Type 2 Letter of Clearance Type 3
Category 1 Permit
Shoreline AlterationsWhat can be approved in preferred orderShoreline PlantingsBioengineering TechniquesRip Rap with Shoreline planting
Section 28 Regulation cont’d
• Four Tests• flooding, pollution, erosion and conservation of land
• Applications reviewed• based on MVC Board approved policies
• Permit issued • if in opinion of staff, application conforms with policies
• Hearing conducted if not in conformance• MVC Regulations Committee may grant or deny permit with or
without conditions• If permit denied, applicant has 30 days to appeal decision to the
Mining and Lands Commissioner
If work undertaken without permit, investigation is initiatedwhich may lead to prosecution
What is a Lake Plan?It is a Strategic Action Plan developed by the lake
community to understand and preserve the special character of their lake
Mississippi Lake
Features•encompasses four municipalities
•67 km shoreline•>1300 residences•2900 sq km drainage area•intensive redevelopment
Conditions•mesotrophic lake•extensive floodplain/wetland areas
Who Should Be Involved?Initiated and steered by the lake community(Property owners, Lake/Cottage Association, Tourist
Operators/Business Owners)
In consultation with Other Community Partners:Conservation AuthorityMunicipalityProvincial Ministries & Federal Departments (MNR,
MOE, MNDM, DFO)Stewardship CouncilPublic Health Unit or Other Septic Approval AuthorityInterest Groups (snowmobile club, anglers/hunters)
Objectives & Benefits Identify specific lake values, issues and impactsCompile a current inventory of resourcesPromote community discussion and actionEducate and communicate with all community membersSet future vision for the lake and environmental and
social targetsRecommend stewardship actionsRecommend land use policy
Common Issues ConsideredWater quality /aquatic vegetation/ algae bloomsShoreline protection, healthDevelopment pressure, redevelopment,
commercial developmentErosion controlInvasive speciesWater levelsImpacts of boatingLoss of wildlife
Typical Outcomes/Actions
Communication and EducationStewardship initiatives
Shoreline Rehabilitation, Enhancement Projects
Septic Re-inspection MonitoringRecommendations for Land Use Regulations
(OP and ZBL policies, Site Plan Control)
MVC’s Role in Lake PlanningLake Data and Inventory Information
water quality, invasive species, water level data, etc.
Mapping Support base mapping, air photos
Technical Support/Additional Data CollectionFacilitation and Peer Review
assist with grant applications, open houses and meetings, dissemination of information, etc.
Implementationstewardship initiatives, through municipal plan review,
Watershed Plans, etc.
Lake Planning in Mississippi Valley
Canonto Lake Plan MVC staff on the Steering Committee
Kashwakamak Lake Plan steering committee seeking Lake Association endorsement in 2011
Patterson Lake Plan MVC staff provided technical and advisory support
MVC monitors water quality on over 40 of the largest lakes in
our watershed (since 1998)
There is growing interest in Lake Planning in Eastern Ontario