Conservation
Representing www.conservation-ontario.on.ca MARCH 2008
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Volume 1, Number 1 |
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WELCOME to the first issue of Conservation Ontario’s
E-bulletin entitled Conservation Ontario E-News. This newsletter provides information and updates on
issues about Conservation Authorities. Conservation
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This March 2008 issue of Conservation
Ontario’s E-News is about WATER. It provides information on programs and
services within Conservation Authorities that impact beneficially on water
throughout |
CONTENTS
PROTECTING RURAL WATER QUALITY
CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES HELP TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE
CHANGE
FLOOD FORECASTING AND WARNING IS A PRIORITY
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Conservation Authority Pilot Projects promote
sustainable farms and protect water Six conservation Authorities are partnering with farmers and other
agencies to carry out demonstration projects that show how environmental farming
practices can be cost efficient and help to protect water in A total of $648,700 has been provided by Greencover |
Conservation Authorities
Deliver Practical Solutions Through Rural Water Quality Programs
Conservation Authority Water
Quality Improvement Programs encourage and assist landowners to implement
best management practices on their properties in order to protect and improve
water resources in our watersheds. The Conservation Authorities act as the
on-the-ground delivery agents working with their local watershed communities
and landowners in the implementation of watershed stewardship programs.
In 2006, over $6.5 million
was provided through Conservation Authority programs to landowners to undertake
a range of projects including water quality improvement, forestry, habitat
rehabilitation, water supply and septic management projects. The total value
of these projects is nearly $14.5 million. For more information…
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The very successful Clean Water Program, a partnership of nine Conservation
Authorities and participating municipalities in |
Key to the success of these
programs is the use of important local partnerships with landowners and other
organizations such as government, other environmental organizations and
community groups.
South Nation
Conservation’s Clean Water Program has been protecting water quality in the
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Preparing for Change in Ausable
Bayfield Watersheds (Ausable
Bayfield CA) ( Climate Change
in Your Watershed, In Your Backyard ( |
CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES HELP COMMUNITIES TO
ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change affects water resources in our
watersheds.
Increasing temperatures create more drought conditions,
more frequent severe weather, extreme rainfall and lower levels in rivers,
lakes, streams and groundwater sources. It is expected that we will
experience reduced coldwater fisheries, reduced wetland & marsh habitats,
poorer water quality and greater competition for water supplies, creating
more frequent water restrictions. All of these conditions affect water
managers such as Conservation Authorities.
Conservation Authorities help
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monitor watershed conditions and participate in
developing integrated watershed
management plans;
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map our water & other resources in order to know how much
we have, how it’s being used and what is needed to keep the watershed
healthy;
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deliver Watershed Stewardship programs that protect water
resources in partnership with landowners;
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make
sure our flood and erosion plans are up to date and in line with
current predicted standards;
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monitor
low water levels and encourage
water users to conserve.
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Conservation Ontario Flood Forecasting and
Warning Bulletin Many Conservation Authorities
provide public safety information around the dangers of flooding Playing
It Safe, Playing It Cool ( (Quinte Conservation) What
You Should Know & What You Should Do (Mattagami |
FLOOD FORECASTING & WARNING IS A PRIORITY FOR
CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES
In
cooperation with various levels of government, Conservation Authorities protect life and property from
natural hazards such as flooding and erosion.
In
Specifically Conservation Authorities:
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predict
flows and water levels within their watersheds, operating flood control
structures such as dams to prevent or reduce flooding;
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work
with the province and municipalities to prepare flood contingency plans as well as work with them during a flood emergency.
Conservation Authorities use stream
gauges, weather stations, snow condition surveys, meteorological forecasts
and computer models to determine the potential for flooding.
Many Conservation Authorities provide current
watershed conditions.
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…more resources Conservation Ontario Source Water Protection Education Resources |
TEACHING TOOL FOR WATER EDUCATION
Conservation
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The INTERACTIVE CD
ROM
provides a cross section of a watershed
and shows how our water can be threatened and what kinds of stewardship
practices help to protect this important natural resource so that we have
enough safe clean water now and in the future. It also explains what a
watershed is, how water moves across our landscape and what kinds of
different natural systems there are that impact on each other. |
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In conjunction with the Province,
Conservation Ontario has produced a series of Source Protection Stewardship
Fact Sheets § What
Landowners Can Do To Protect Water § Water
Quality & Water Quantity § What
Are Highly Vulnerable Areas § What
Are Intake Protection Zones |
DRINKING WATER STEWARDSHIP
Conservation Authorities have received ‘Early Action Funding’ to provide to landowners in these areas for:
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Well decommissioning
and upgrading
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Septic system
inspections and upgrades
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Runoff and erosion protection
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Pollution prevention
reviews aimed at better management, storage, handling & disposal
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has established
the Drinking Water
Stewardship Fund in order to help landowners near municipal sources of
drinking water to reduce threats on their properties to these sources.
Information on these programs can be
found in Conservation Ontario’s Education & Outreach Toolkit
CONSERVATION NOTES
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This bulletin is produced by: Conservation Tel: 905.895.0716 Email: info@conservation-ontario.on.ca Conservation
Ontario E-News is distributed every two months. To subscribe or unsubscribe. Please share this e-bulletin with
others. Conservation |
www.conservation-ontario.on.ca