People and Watersheds

Green Economy

On The Road To More Sustainable Lifestyles

Conservation Authority Programs and Services Contribute to Healthy Watersheds

A.D. Latornell www.latornell.ca

Prescription For A Healthy Environment Unsustainable use of natural resources and years of relatively low cost forms of energy have enabled us to expand our economy beyond limits that can be managed and sustained by our natural environment. As a result, significant challenges have developed which include:

Where Are Opportunities for Conservation Authorities and Their Partners? •

Corporate green strategies implementation and development

• increasing greenhouse gas emissions creating costly and irreparable climate change impacts

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Green infrastructure, Low Impact Development & Stormwater management

• high footprint urbanization and impacts (e.g. stormwater runoff)

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Rural water quality

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Naturalization & restoration

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Development of water management clusters across private and public sectors

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Natural hazard management

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Land management

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Monitoring and reporting

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Information management

• stressed and depleted water resources • growing and more complex pollution problems • wide ranging social inequalities between global societies We can create a more sustainable economy and the benefits of this will include lower costs of doing business, smaller environmental impacts, less waste created, less carbon/greenhouse gas emissions, more sustainable water resources and natural heritage, new sources of revenue and partnerships, more rural economic opportunities, and better policy and program integration between different levels of government and nongovernment agencies.

Working with Green Analytics, Conservation Authorities will produce a Green Economy Roadmap and Assessment Guide in 2013.

Ultimately, we will enjoy more balanced and healthy lifestyles.

Conservation Authorities promote an integrated watershed management approach that focuses on water and related resources and addresses the relationships with broader socio-economic systems which they support.

In 2012, Conservation Ontario and Conservation Authorities facilitated input to the Province’s proposed Great Lakes Act and Strategy by promoting the information online and through e-bulletins. Conservation Ontario developed and posted a Great Lakes Fact Sheet and Report outlining recommendations to the proposed Act and Strategy which included: • Set measurable targets for nearshore areas to achieve Great Lakes objectives; • Ensure coordinated actions by various watershed stakeholders (including agencies and municipalities) takes place through integrated watershed management; • Enhance existing tools and programs (e.g. urban and rural stormwater management) to implement local actions for broader Great Lakes’ benefits and to engage Ontarians’ support for their Great Lakes; • Support actions with adequate science, research and monitoring.

Conservation Ontario looks forward to working with the Province on implementation of its Great Lakes Strategy (finalized Dec 2012). For example, the Ontario Strategy strongly supports green infrastructure and low impact development techniques for stormwater management and Conservation Ontario, with the leadership of the Greater Golden Horseshoe Conservation Authorities, is prepared to move forward on recommendations in the Low Impact Development (LID) Discussion Paper (Nov 2012) available on Conservation Ontario’s website www.conservationontario.ca. Also in 2012, Conservation Ontario continued to participate on the Canadian Stakeholder Advisory Panel for a renewed Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement that was signed by the Governments of Canada and the United States in 2012 as a Protocol. Among the bi-national commitments to address water quality in the Great Lakes ecosystem is the new inclusion of watershed management agencies and municipalities at decision-making tables. Conservation Ontario now has a representative on the bi-national Great Lakes Executive Committee which will facilitate coordination of efforts for healthy Great Lakes. Throughout 2012, Conservation Authorities continued to deliver numerous watershed programs that help manage the impacts on Great Lakes quality and quantity many through provincial and federal partnerships such as the Canada-Ontario Agreement, Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, International Joint Commission Water Level Studies, Drinking Water Source Protection and various Great Lakes Biodiversity Conservation Strategies.

2012 A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium This year’s theme focused on the important connections between healthy people and resilient watersheds. Almost 1,000 people participated as delegates, speakers, exhibitors and partners in this popular event. Four Conservation Pioneers were recognized for their achievements around Ontario’s environment and they included: Peter Orphanos, John Sibbald, Jack Imof, and Scott Gillingwater. In addition, the Soil and Water Conservation Society presented an achievement award to Mathew Vandoughnett who has done significant research around the areas of soil and water conservation. Keynote speakers at the 2012 event included Dr. William Bird (Intelligent Health Network in the U.K.), Dr. John Howard (Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment), Terry O’Reilly (CBC Radio), Dr. Samina Raja (Building Healthy Communities), and Ed Begley Jr (Environmental Activist and Actor).

Infrastructure Protecting People and Property from Natural Hazards The Water Erosion Control Infrastructure (WECI) Funding Program is designed to ensure that major maintenance projects are undertaken on aging infrastructure which was built to protect lives and property from natural hazards. As part of required cost cutting efforts by all provincial ministries, funding for this program from the Ministry of Natural Resources was temporarily reduced by 50% for a two year period. A total investment of $5 million dollars was made into protection of life and property; $2.5 million in provincial funding was available with matching local investment. This total investment supported 56 projects at 20 Conservation Authorities. Overall, there were 119 projects submitted which were valued at a total cost of $14.7 million.

Conservation Ontario Annual Report 2012

Conservation Authorities leverage local watershed expertise, knowledge and resources. Their work in watershed science, local stewardship, monitoring, and reporting is critical to informing strategic local and provincial decision-making.

The types of local resources

that most Conservation Authorities offer include: Watershed Management Strategies

Watershed Monitoring & Reporting

Flood & Erosion Protection

Rural Water Quality & Quantity

Information Management, GIS

Stormwater Management

Green Infrastructure, LID

Natural Heritage Protection & Restoration

Source Water Protection Planning & Implementation

Sensitive Wetlands, Flood Plains, Valley Lands Protection

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Soil Conservation

Environmental Regulations & Land Use Planning

Land Management

Conservation Authorities Contribute to

Healthy People

& Watersheds

2012 Financial Information Revenues

Expenditures

Membership Fees

$981,000

Source Water Protection

$768,170

Source Water Protection $768,170

A.D. Latornell

$358,204

A.D. Latornell $350,080

Special Projects

$393,656

Special Projects $396,768

Other Total

Conservation Ontario P.O. Box 11, 120 Bayview Parkway Newmarket ON, L3Y 4W3

$56,740

Operations $1068,733

Total $2,583,751

$2,557,770

tel: 905 895 0716 fax: 905 895 0751 info@conservationontario.ca www.conservationontario.ca

Let’s Chat!

www.conservationontario.ca The Network of Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities

Ensuring

Broadening Partnerships

Healthy People

To Leverage Resources

& Watersheds

Collaborating for Health A Healthy Dose of Green – Forum & Strategy Session Led by Trees Ontario, Conservation Ontario participated in a Healthy Dose of Green forum in September and a subsequent strategy workshop in November 2012.

Requires New Approaches and Partnerships Our well-being and economy depends on the sustainable management of important water and land resources. Watersheds provide many ecological, economic and social benefits including safe drinking water, clean air, livable communities, and sustainable water resources. Our ecosystems provide energy, food and fuel, as well as contribute to important economic industries such as agriculture, tourism, mining, recreation, manufacturing, timber and fisheries. A healthy and resilient environment also helps us to adapt to the growing concerns around urbanization and the uncertain impacts of climate change. Forests, wetlands, water resources and natural areas help to cool our environment, reduce costly impacts of flooding and other natural hazards, and most important–keep water flowing and sustainable throughout Ontario’s watersheds.

Conservation Authority business is vital to the health of people and watersheds Conservation Authorities’ watershed management programs provide tangible and measurable benefits. They are the second largest landowner in Ontario, protecting many natural areas which are critical for preserving and building local environmental resilience to adapt to climate change.

Conservation Authorities also deliver important stewardship initiatives that engage local landowners, agencies and others to protect and restore drinking water sources, provide ecosystem services, and contribute to natural heritage and agricultural outcomes. And, Conservation areas and education programs provide healthy outdoor recreation opportunities and help people get active and connect with their local environment. Throughout 2012, Conservation Ontario supported Conservation Authorities’ efforts to complete source protection plans and begin the transition to plan implementation; build their capacity to track and report on impacts of climate change in local watersheds; explore emerging opportunities around the green economy; and participate in the protection of the Great Lakes. In addition, Conservation Ontario and the Conservation Authorities have worked together to develop standardized watershed report cards, many of which are being launched in 2013. The Conservation Authority watershed report cards report directly on the health of surface water quality, groundwater quality and forest conditions in many of Ontario’s watersheds. They are important environmental management tools which help us and our partners to target programs and measure environmental change. (www.watershedcheckup.ca)

Maintaining the status quo is no longer an option for Conservation Authorities. As environmental challenges become more complex, they continue to threaten watershed health and our own well-being, requiring new ways of working together to address these challenges. Through their 2012 whitepaper, Watershed Management Futures for Ontario, Conservation Authorities strive to spur discussion about how to create efficient and effective watershed management programs and services. There is an urgent need to more fully develop an integrated watershed management approach to managing issues around water and related land resources, taking into account social, economic and ecological needs and interests. This means tapping into Ontario’s emerging ‘Green Economy’ and building new collaborations and relationships with corporate, government and other sectors. In 2013, Conservation Authorities will have their own Green Economy Roadmap and Assessment Guide which will help them to take advantage of new opportunities and relationships. Conservation Authorities are taking a big step in new directions that will continue to support healthy watersheds and people who live and work in them.

Dick Hibma Chair

Partnerships and collaboration are of strategic importance to Conservation Authorities. Successful integrated watershed management for healthy watersheds requires collaborations among provincial and federal governments, municipalities, and non-government partners, including urban, rural and agricultural landowners and stakeholders. As well, many Conservation Authorities already have established partnerships with the public health sector and, over the years, have collaborated with local health units on source protection, watershed/lake management strategy development, trail building, healthy living events and campaigns, as well as beach and river monitoring for water quality, and the delivery of well and septic workshops and West Nile Virus control programs. In 2012, Conservation Ontario promoted the direct connections between healthy environment, healthy lifestyles and a vibrant, sustainable economy through new partnerships around public health issues:

The purpose of these events was to share presentations about the role of biodiversity (specifically trees) in building healthy communities as well as identify specific projects and tactics for collaboration on actions which may include awareness, education, research and on-theground projects. Conservation Ontario continues to work on these initiatives and will be partnering with some of these agencies to deliver a Healthy Hikes initiative in 2013. Discussion Paper: Healthy Communities Depend on Healthy Watersheds Conservation Ontario and a number of Conservation Authorities, other watershed practitioners and public health representatives participated in a fall meeting hosted by the University of Guelph and the Network of Ecosystem Sustainability and Health (NESH). This meeting resulted in a working document that articulates the synergies that need to occur between public health agencies and watershed organizations in order to address both public health and environmental challenges.

The document is titled: Healthy Communities Depend on Healthy Watersheds: A Call for Collaboration Among Watershed Organizations and Public Health Agencies and is available on Conservation Ontario’s website (www.conservationontario.ca/NESH/ healthy_ecosystems.html ).

Other Partnerships In November 2012, Conservation Ontario and Conservation Authorities collaborated with members of the Ontario Network on Ecosystem Services (ONES) and co-hosted a pre-Latornell Workshop called Mainstreaming Ecosystem Services. As well, throughout 2012, Conservation Ontario and their members continued to partner with landowners and a range of organizations, including Ducks Unlimited Canada, Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, Municipalities, Provincial Ministries of Natural Resources, Environment, and Agriculture as well as the Federal Departments of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to implement on the ground actions that contribute to watershed and human health including tree planting, rural water quality and natural area, fish and wildlife restoration projects.

Throughout 2012, Conservation Ontario continued to support implementation of the Section 28 Regulations program, including providing assistance to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) in coordination of Conservation Authority review and amendments to their individual regulations. In conformity with the Content Regulation (approved by the Province in March 2011), all 36 amended regulations moved forward concurrently in the provincial approval process. The amended regulations were approved

by the Minister in February of 2013 and will assist in providing timely review of applications. Other activities undertaken in 2012 by Conservation Ontario with regard to streamlining include: continued participation at the multistakeholder Conservation Authority Liaison Committee which culminated in a document entitled CALC Accomplishments 2007-2012. It was demonstrated that overall Conservation Authorities have met the standards established in MNR Policies and Procedures with regard to timelines and fees, two areas of economic concern for the development industry. All Conservation Authorities are committed to transparency, clarity, consistency, and demonstrating value for service delivered through planning and regulations,

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The majority of Proposed Source Protection Plans were submitted to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for review and approval in 2012. The submission of the Proposed Plans initiated a new phase of the program, in which Conservation Authorities are preparing for implementation. During this transition period, Conservation Authorities have begun to assess and determine roles and responsibilities related to plan implementation. Conservation Ontario will continue to support Conservation Authorities as new opportunities arise during the transition and implementation phases of the Source Protection Program.

What is in a Source Protection Plan?

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The Assessment Report Policies to protect existing drinking water sources Policies to protect future drinking water sources Policies to monitor the implementation of the source protection plan Summary of stakeholder and public consultation activities

Prescription for a

Hike

Mind and Body Health Benefits

Streamlining Regulatory Activities by Conservation Authorities Under Section 28 Regulations of the Conservation Authorities Act, Conservation Authorities regulate development and activities in or adjacent to river or stream valleys, Great Lakes and large inland lakes shorelines, watercourses, hazardous lands and wetlands in order to protect peoples’ lives and property from natural hazards and to maintain the vitality of our watersheds.

In 2012, Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities coordinated and contributed to the successful development and completion of Proposed Source Protection Plans. The completion of these proposed plans represents a major milestone for the Ontario Drinking Water Source Protection Program. Source Protection Assessment Reports identified areas where drinking water sources are vulnerable to contamination and overuse. The purpose of a source protection plan is to build on the technical information provided in the assessment report, by establishing policies to prevent drinking water contamination and overuse in vulnerable areas.

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delivery of a Planning & Regulations Best Management Practice workshop to reinforce these lessons, finalization, with the multi-agency Drainage Act & Section 28 Regulations Team (DART), of a protocol to ensure coordination of legislative requirements; training was provided to Conservation Authority and Drainage staff in January 2013, finalization of the “Large‐Scale Fill Discussion Paper” for use by Conservation Authorities as a compilation of best advice and practices for the application of S. 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act to this issue.

As interest grows in green and walkable communities, there is more support for integrating the natural environment into our communities and increasing access to conservation areas and other green public spaces.

In 2012, Conservation Authorities: • Offered approximately 2,000 km of hiking trails in more than 250 conservation areas • Owned 146,000 hectares of natural lands comprising important ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, areas of natural and scientific interest, recreational lands, natural heritage and cultural sites • Continued to offer outdoor recreation and environmental education programs to approximately 485,000 students from 4,000 schools to help children connect with nature • Hosted numerous events and water festivals which encourage people to learn about and enjoy our natural environment in Ontario’s conservation areas Over 6 million people visited a conservation area in 2012.