Mississippi Valley Conservation
Mississippi
Lakes
Association
June 4, 2011
Matt Craig
Manager of Planning and
Regulatory Services
www.mvc.on.ca
info@mvc.on.ca 613.259.2421
Overview
 Background on MVC
 Programs
 Planning & Regulations
 Lake Planning
Ontario Conservation Authorities
Conservation Authorities Act passed in 1946
 Provides for establishment of Conservation
Authority at the request of municipalities
 Designates participating municipalities,
representation and governance
 Defines 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…”
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MVC Facts
established 1968
4455 sq.km
11 municipalities
15 members
25 staff
Organizational Structure
MVC Board of Directors
Finance & Administration
Advisory Committee
Regulations
Committee
Policy & Priorities
Advisory Committee
Mill of Kintail
Museum Committee
General Manager
Secretary-Treasurer
• Finance
Community Relations
Coordinator
• Conservation
Areas
• Administration
• Office equipment
• Education
Manager Planning &
Regulations
• Watershed planning
• Monitoring
• Planning Advisory
• Regulations
Information
Management
Supervisor
Operations
Supervisor
• Vehicles &
equipment
• Asset management
• Capital
maintenance
• Field operations
Manager Science
& Assessment Unit
• Property security
Water Management
Supervisor
• Dam operations
• Dam safety
• Flood forecasting &
warning
• Low water
response
Integrated Watershed Management
 Environmental regulations
 Floodplain mapping
 Watershed monitoring &
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planning
Flood forecasting & warning
Water control structures
Planning Advisory Service
Private land stewardship
Information & education
Land management
Conservation Information
Watershed 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 Reports
 Yearly reports based on
Watershed Watch findings
 Selected lakes monitored in five
year cycles to help determine
trends, identify problems and
successes
Legislation/Regulations/Policies
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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
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(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
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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
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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
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Permit required prior to
undertaking work subject to the
Regulation in a regulated area
 Identified hazardous lands
(flood plains/unstable soils)
 Water courses (> 125 ha)
 Shorelines
 Provincially Significant
Wetlands
Docks
 Type 1
 Basic Consultation
 Type 2
 Letter of Clearance
 Type 3
 Category 1 Permit
Other Legislation:
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DFO - Fisheries Act
MNR - Public Lands Act
Transport Canada - Navigable
Waters Protection Act
Township - By laws
Shoreline Alterations
What can be approved in preferred order
 Shoreline Plantings
 Bioengineering Techniques
 Rip Rap with Shoreline planting
Section 28 Regulation cont’d
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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 initiated
which may lead to prosecution
What Agencies May Be Involved
Agency
Legislation and
Permits/Approvals
Website
Common Activities/Applications
MVC
Conservation Authorities
Act, Ontario Regulation
153/06
www.mvc.on.ca
-Development and site alteration within and adjacent to
the 1:100 year flood plain , regulated wetlands, and
potentially unstable slopes
-Filling Activities and Alterations to Property Grades
-Shoreline Alterations including erosion control, docks and
boathouses
-Initial contact for works that may impact fish habitat such
as docks and boathouses
•Fisheries Act
www.dfo- Impacts to Fish Habitat
mpo.gc.ca/regions/c - Docks where applicable
entral/habitat/index
-eng.htm
Department of
Fisheries and
Oceans (DFO)
•Operational statements
(low risk projects)
(613) 259-2421
Initial Contact: MVC
Transport Canada
-Navigable Waters
Protection Act
www.tc.gc.ca/eng/
marine-menu.htm
- Floating Wharfs
-Docks where applicable
OMNR
-Lakes and River
Improvements Act
-Public Lands Act
www.mnr.gov.on.ca/ -Shoreline Alterations
en/Business/Water/ -Docks where applicable
2ColumnSubPage/ST -Boathouses below High Water Mark
EL02_163602.html
Initial Contact: MVC
Municipality
-Ontario Building Code
Act
-Planning Act
-Building Permits for construction
-Septic Systems
-Site alterations
-Planning approvals for development
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
Watershed
Context
Mississippi Lake
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 Authority
 Municipality
 Provincial Ministries & Federal Departments (MNR,
MOE, MNDM, DFO)
 Stewardship Council
 Public Health Unit or Other Septic Approval Authority
 Interest Groups (snowmobile club, anglers/hunters)
Objectives & Benefits
 Identify specific lake values, issues and impacts
 Compile a current inventory of resources
 Promote community discussion and action
 Educate and communicate with all community
members
 Set future vision for the lake and environmental
and social targets
 Recommend stewardship actions
 Recommend land use policy
Common Issues Considered
 Water quality /aquatic vegetation/ algae blooms
 Shoreline protection, health
 Development pressure, redevelopment,
commercial development
 Erosion control
 Invasive species
 Water levels
 Impacts of boating
 Loss of wildlife
Typical Outcomes/Actions
 Communication and Education
 Stewardship initiatives
Shoreline Rehabilitation, Enhancement
Projects
 Septic Re-inspection
 Monitoring
 Recommendations for Land Use Regulations
 (OP and ZBL policies, Site Plan Control)
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MVC’s Role in Lake Planning
 Lake Data and Inventory Information
 water quality, invasive species, water level data, etc.
 Mapping Support
 base mapping, air photos
 Technical Support/Additional Data Collection
 Facilitation and Peer Review
 assist with grant applications, open houses and
meetings, dissemination of information, etc.
 Implementation
 stewardship initiatives, through municipal plan review,
Watershed Plans, etc.
Lake Planning in
Mississippi Valley
 Canonto Lake Plan
 MVC staff on the Steering Committee
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Kashwakamak Lake Plan
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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 ?
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Lake Planning
Alyson Symon
Watershed Planner
asymon@mvc.on.ca