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Public Notice: Watershed-Based Resource Management Strategy

Date of Notice: August 10, 2023

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) is developing a new watershed strategy as part of the Conservation Authorities Act (CA Act) update.

The Watershed-Based Resource Management Strategy (WBRMS) provides a framework for ABCA priorities and operations. It will incorporate information from previous documents and addresses emerging watershed issues and action plans.

The watershed strategy goes beyond a traditional a watershed planning document. It is also a business plan for the ABCA and will identify opportunities to collaborate with other organizations and engage landowners to achieve watershed conservation. Climate change resiliency and adaptation will be embedded within the document.

The strategy includes characterizing the watershed, setting priorities and objectives, evaluating progress made through the previous strategy, identifying gaps, and creating action plans.

The ABCA Board of Directors has approved the release of the first part of the document for public review.

This includes the mission and vision statement, strategic priorities, guiding principles for decision-making, and objectives. Information is posted on the ABCA website on the Public Consultation web page.

The public can learn about the document and provide feedback through a survey. This link to the survey is provided on the consultation web page.

For more information, check the Public Consultation web page of the ABCA website: or contact Kate Monk by phone at 1-888-286-2610, extension 227, or by email at kmonk@abca.ca

The feedback period for the first phase of the document takes place until Friday, September 15, 2023 at 1 p.m.

Download the Public Notice (August 10, 2023) of Consultation on the First Phase of the Watershed-Based Resource Management Strategy – Small (200 KB) PDF file
Download the Watershed-Based Resource Management Strategy presentation information slide deck – Large 2 MB PDF file
Download the Watershed-Based Resource Management Strategy news release (August 10, 2023) – Medium-sized (300 KB) PDF file

The content for the second phase of the Watershed-Based Resource Management Strategy will be available for comment later in 2023.

An aerial photo in the Ausable Bayfield area.

Ausable Bayfield Conservation looks to future with new watershed strategy

ABCA invites public to provide input into first phase of Watershed-Based Resource Management Strategy to guide local conservation for years to come

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) is preparing for the future of local conservation by creating a new watershed strategy. The local conservation organization is looking to the public to provide input into this plan to guide local watershed management beyond 2023.

The new strategy builds upon the work of the community to develop the Conservation Strategy (in 2011) and the work of staff to develop the previous Watershed Management Strategy in 2015.

A new Watershed-Based Resource Management Strategy (WBRMS) will fulfil requirements of the Conservation Authorities Act (CA Act). It will also meet local needs to protect life and property from natural hazards and to manage and protect resources on a watershed basis.

Kate Monk is ABCA Projects Coordinator. She describes the new strategy as an “overarching document” that guides all of the conservation authority’s work with the watershed community.

“This Strategy goes beyond a traditional watershed planning document,” she said. “It is also a business plan for ABCA that includes financial information. It identifies opportunities to engage landowners in the work needed to address issues facing our watershed communities. It also identifies opportunities to collaborate with other organizations.”

The Strategy will:

Evaluate programs and recommend future programs and services to address watershed issues facing local communities.
Identify infrastructure needs such as stream gauges, flood forecasting and warning communications, water and erosion control projects, and major maintenance of existing projects.
Identify future studies and knowledge needs such as subwatershed studies, inventories, research, stormwater management plans.
Include a business plan for delivering programs and services.
Integrate climate change adaptation and resiliency into watershed management.
Incorporate previous reports and studies.
Meet the requirements of the Conservation Authorities Act.

The purpose of the Conservation Authorities Act is “ ... to provide for the organization and delivery of programs and services that further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources in watersheds in Ontario.”

The ABCA Board of Directors has approved release of the first part of the WBRMS document for public review.

Interested people can review the first phase of the Strategy, posted on the public consultation web page, and provide feedback through a survey which includes spaces for written comments.

The feedback period for the first phase of the document continues until September 15, 2023 at 1 p.m. This first phase of consultation includes the mission and vision statements, strategic priorities, guiding principles for decision-making, and objectives.

The Strategy includes characterization of the watershed, setting priorities and objectives, evaluating progress made through the previous strategies, identifying gaps, and creating action plans.

To learn more about the WBRMS, people can visit the public consultation web page on the ABCA website. If they have questions, they can contact staff by telephone at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610.

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