Oak Ridges Moraine Watershed Planning

Plan Development

Background

In 2001, the Ontario government enacted the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, which provided the legal basis for implementing the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan in 2002.

The purpose of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan is to provide land use and resource management planning direction to provincial ministries, agencies, municipalities, municipal planning authorities, landowners and other stakeholders on how to protect the Moraine's ecological and hydrological features and functions.

As stated in the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, municipalities having jurisdiction within the Oak Ridges Moraine planning area are required to integrate watershed planning with municipal planning and policy:

24.(1) Every upper-tier and single-tier municipality shall, on or before April 22, 2003, begin preparing a watershed plan, in accordance with subsection (3), for every watershed whose streams originate within the municipality’s area of jurisdiction.

24.(2) The objectives and requirements of each watershed plan shall be incorporated into the municipality's official plan.

24.(3) A watershed plan shall include, as a minimum,

(a) a water budget and conservation plan as set out in Section 25;
(b) land and water use and management strategies;
(c) a framework for implementation, which may include more detailed implementation plans for smaller geographic areas, such as subwatershed plans, or for specific subject matter, such as environmental management plans;
(d) an environmental monitoring plan;
(e) provisions requiring the use of environmental management practices and programs, such as programs to prevent pollution, reduce the use of pesticides and manage the use of road salt; and,
(f) criteria for evaluating the protection of water quality and quantity, hydrological features and hydrological functions.

The Planning Framework

Watershed management planning is a process of managing human activities within an area defined by a watershed (the drainage boundaries of a specific stream, river or lake). The scope of watershed management has changed significantly within the past 50 years, from a single-issue driven focus (e.g., flooding) to an integrated ecosystem-based approach.

The current watershed management process aims to:

• Protect and manage natural resources (including their functions and linkages) for current and future generations;
• Reflect the local environmental and social context;
• Use an integrated, interdisciplinary approach;
• Consider the environment, the economy and communities;
• Use a partnership approach to plan and manage; and,
• Use adaptive environmental management approaches that aim for continuous improvement.

The need for a watershed management plan is usually brought upon by some type of trigger, such as public concern about environmental conditions. In this instance, it was the introduction of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act by the province of Ontario in 2001.

We are using a step-by-step framework to complete all four watershed plans by the end of 2011.

Key steps in the watershed management process (from Conservation Ontario)

Throughout this process, we are engaging stakeholders through regular meetings of a Technical Review Committee and Community Advisory Committee, and local community forums.

Project Management

Project management involves staff from Kawartha Conservation and Durham Region, a Technical Review Committee and community stakeholders. This team has key roles and responsibilities at each step in the watershed planning process.

Kawartha Conservation
We work in close partnership with Durham Region to coordinate the entire watershed management planning process. Our specific responsibilities include the following:

• Leading the development of the four watershed management plans, in consultation with stakeholders, and ensuring the plans meet the requirements of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan
• Coordinating, chairing and liaising between the Technical Review Committee and community stakeholders
• Coordinating and leading public consultation and the development of communication materials relating to the watershed planning process
• Conducting studies to identify and characterize watershed processes, linkages, and associated management issues.

Durham Region
Durham Region provides overall project guidance throughout the planning process. Specific responsibilities include the following:

• Assisting in the development and review of watershed plans and associated materials
• Participating on the Technical Review Committee
• Endorsing the final plans.

Technical Review Committee
The Technical Review Committee is comprised of people who represent the interests of key agency and natural resource management stakeholders at the federal, provincial and municipal level. It also includes individuals from organizations that have experience in similar watershed planning projects. Members include representatives from the following:

• City of Kawartha Lakes
  
• Durham Region
  
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
  
• Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority
  
• Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation
  
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
  
• Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
  
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (Aurora)
  
• Ontario Ministry of the Environment
  
• Parks Canada (Trent-Severn Waterway)
  
• Township of Scugog.

The specific responsibilities of the Technical Review Committee include the following:

• Providing input at key steps in the watershed planning process
• Providing advice on relevant municipal, provincial and federal policies and directives
• Assisting in the development and review of watershed plans and associated materials.

Community Stakeholders
Community input and perspectives are vital to the success of this project, as there are many individuals, businesses, resource users and other organizations who have an interest in the management of their watershed.

We obtain input from community stakeholders in various ways, such as presentations, information sessions and surveys. We also welcome phone calls and email. Please click here for our contact information.