Mississippi Valley Conservation Mississippi Lakes Association June 4, 2011 Matt Craig Manager of Planning and Regulatory Services @mvc.on.ca613.259.2421.

Mississippi Valley Conservation

Mississippi LakesAssociationJune 4, 2011

Matt CraigManager of Planning and Regulatory Services

www.mvc.on.ca [email protected] 613.259.2421

OverviewBackground on MVCProgramsPlanning & RegulationsLake Planning

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…”

MVC Factsestablished 19684455 sq.km11 municipalities15 members25 staff

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

Why are there regulations?

Regulations Protect:Property Life Infrastructure Public expenditure

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 Agencies May Be Involved

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

Mississippi Lake

Watershed Context

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

Questions ?

Lake Planning Alyson SymonWatershed Planner [email protected]