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Watershed-Based Resource Management Strategy – Consultation Phase One – Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA)

Date: August 10, 2023
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) welcomes your feedback on the following sections of the Watershed-Based Resource Management Strategy (WBRMS). This survey will close on September 15, 2023 at 1 p.m.
1.Mission and Vision:
The mission and vision statements for Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority were developed by a diverse group of 34 community members who created the guiding document The Path Forward: Your Community Conservation Strategy for Ausable Bayfield Watersheds (2012).
2.Mission:
Protect, improve, conserve, and restore the watershed in partnership with the community.
3.Vision:
Healthy watersheds where human needs and the needs of the natural environment are in balance.
4.Strategic Priorities:
There are many facets to water management and no single organization can do all that is needed. It is important to set priorities within the ABCA’s mandate and capacity. Although these are priorities for the ABCA and for watershed management in Ausable Bayfield watersheds, they will be carried out in collaboration with government, organizations and the community.
5.Strategic Priority One: Protecting life and minimizing property damage from flooding and erosion.
6.Strategic Priority Two: Improving the health of the watersheds.
7.Strategic Priority Three: Managing land holdings in a responsible and sustainable way.
8.Strategic Priority Four: Protecting sources of drinking water for current and future generations.
9.Guiding Principles for Making Decisions:
Guiding principles are intended to be at a high level and establish the fundamental approach to decision-making. These principles will provide the context for the objectives and inform the design and delivery of ABCA programs and services.
10.Guiding Principle Number One: Conservation, restoration, development, and management of natural resources is best implemented on a watershed basis. Integrated watershed management recognizes the cumulative impacts of land use. Actions on the land impact the health and sustainability of natural resources and communities. This also has implications for climate change adaptation measures.
11.Guiding Principle Number Two: Indigenous communities have a unique relationship with the land and its resources. The ABCA recognizes the importance of consulting with Indigenous communities on watershed management initiatives that may affect their Section 35 Aboriginal or treaty rights.
12.Guiding Principle Number Three: Integrated watershed management supports sustainable communities by integrating the environment, economy and society issues including health, safety, and sustainability. Water and other natural resources are vital natural assets.
13.Guiding Principle Number Four: The watershed-based resource management strategy provides the necessary framework for identifying and assessing resource conditions, trends, risks, and issues and implementing the delivery of programs to manage them. It informs policy and decision-making by the Conservation Authority, participating municipalities, and other partners.
14.Guiding Principle Number Five: Integrated watershed management is a shared responsibility among conservation authorities, municipalities, government agencies and citizens. Resource management decisions are integrated and transparent and take into consideration a broad range of community uses, needs, and values, including ecosystem needs.
15.Guiding Principle Number Six: Climate change has and will continue to have an impact on all aspects of watershed management including flood plain and shoreline management, water quality, aquatic and terrestrial species, development, and human health.
16.Objectives:
Objectives are set to help an organization achieve its mandate and provide the context for programs and services.
The ABCA promotes an integrated watershed management approach to managing the watersheds based on the cause-effect relationship between human activities and the healthy state of the environment. Climate change has implications for all objectives.
17.Objective One: Develop and maintain programs that will protect life and property from natural hazards such as flooding and erosion.
18.Objective Two: Preserve, protect, enhance, the ecological integrity of the Ausable Bayfield watersheds and ensure rivers, lakes and streams are responsibly managed and restored.
19.Objective Three: Provide opportunities for the public to learn from, enjoy, and respect the watersheds.
20.Objective Four: Mitigate the potential risk to drinking water sources to assist in providing a sustainable and clean water supply for communities and ecosystems.
21.Objective Five: Implement land protection through land acquisition and sound management of lands owned and managed by the ABCA.
22.Objective Six: Build community partnerships and engagement at all levels.
23.Objective Seven: Demonstrate organizational excellence and sustainability.
24.To help us get a better idea of where respondents, to this survey, are located, could you please provide us with your postal code (optional):
Thank you very much
Thank you for the time you have taken to provide your input. We appreciate your interest and we very much appreciate your contribution. If you have any questions about the Strategy and the consultation, you are invited to email us at info@abca.ca or to phone us at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610. Thank you again.
Learn more
If you would like to receive updates on Ausable Bayfield Conservation, and the Watershed-Based Resource Management Strategy, you are invited to visit our website and follow us on social media (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook/Meta, and Twitter/X). You are also invited to subscribe to our free electronic newsletter.
NOTICE OF COLLECTION: Information on this form is collected under the legal authority of the Conservation Authorities Act for the purposes of collecting written comments and to prepare a record of public consultation, on the Watershed-Based Resource Management Strategy, and to follow up, when needed, with interested persons about updates related to any topics, questions, and concerns raised in this consultation. This information will be used to assist staff in revising the Strategy, documenting participation, answering questions, and providing information. Questions regarding this collection can be made to Brian Horner, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Officer, ABCA, 71108 Morrison Line, RR 3 Exeter, ON N0M 1S5 or phone at 519-235-2610 or 1-888-286-2610.