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CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT T.T.EDWARDS,M.C.I.P.,Director
HAMPTON,ONTARIO LOB UO TEL.(416)263-2231
REPORT TO THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
MEETING OF FEBRUARY 7, 1983
REPORT NO. : PD-21-83
SUBJECT: CENTRAL LAKE ONTARIO CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
WATERSHED PLAN
RECOMMENDATION:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and
Administration Committee recommend to Council the
following:
1 . That Report PD-21-83 be received for
information.
BACKGROUND:
At the Council meeting of December 20, 1982, a report
entitled "Towards a Watershed Plan" prepared by The Central
Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (C.L.O.C.A. ) was
presented to Council . Council resolved (Resolution #
C-1021 -82) to refer the draft proposal to Staff for review
and the preparation of a Report.
Staff have reviewed the Watershed Plan proposal submitted by
The Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority and present
the following Report for the General Purpose and
Administration Committee 's consideration.
1
Report No: PD-2.1.-83 . . ./2
WATERSHED PLAN
In the Spring of 1982, the Ministry of Natural Resources
issued a directive requiring all conservation authorities in
the Province to prepare interim watershed plans by June
1983. The primary goal of each of these watershed planning
exercises is to analysis and redefine the role of the
respective conservation authority and to identify the
direction of the Authority's programs for future years.
According to the 1981 Annual Report of the Association of
Conservation Authorities of Ontario, the preparation of
these watershed plans is an important part of an attempt by
the Association to establish a collective position on a
number of issues in order to establish a basis for serious
renegotiation of their basic mandates with the
municipalities. These negotiations are intended to
reaffirm or redefine what the municipalities and the
Province expect from conservation authorities, the
priorities of these expectations and the manner in which
they are to be implemented and funded.
The Watershed Plan currently being prepared by the Central
Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (C.L.O.C.A. ) is
essentially a document which outlines the strategy for
effectively managing resources, for dealing with resource
related problems, and for meeting the public needs.
The basis of the Watershed Plan, as indicated by the Report
"Towards a Watershed Plan", will be a discussion and
evaluation of seven major problem areas that require
C.L.O.C.A. 's attention and existing and possible programs
for dealing with these problems. The following is a summary
of the issues to be addressed by the Plan.
Report No: PQ-21-83 . . ./3
1 ) Flooding and Flood Control
The Authority's existing program for dealing with flooding
problems has four major components :
a) Flood-plain management through development control and
restriction of the use of flood-plain areas. The incidence
of injury, death and property damage due to flooding is
reduced if the development and habitation of flood-prone
areas is reduced. The Authority has prepared flood-plain
mapping for all of the streams within the watershed.
b) Acquisition of flood lands. By removing the property
from private ownership, C.L.O.C.A. ensures that the use of
the flood-plain will be minimized and future development
will be compatible with the flood hazard. However,
acquisition takes place only on a limited basis in selected
areas.
c) Studies and capital projects. Numerous studies have
been carried out at selected locations to study flooding and
erosion problems, and often capital projects to provide
flood control and/or flood-plain management policies have
resulted.
d) Flood warning, monitoring and emergency plan. When an
actual flood is expected, the Authority 's main function is
to warn local municipalities and other parties and to
monitor stream levels. The Authority has prepared a Flood
Warning and Contingency Plan and is currently setting up a
more efficient system for monitoring stream levels.
Report No: PD-21-83 . . ./4
2) Erosion
There are three major types of erosion which create problems
in the local area :
a) Stream Bank Erosion
The numerous studies and capital projects undertaken by the
Authority in an effort to deal with this problem have
centred primarily on the more urbanized areas because of the
greater potential for personal injury and property damage.
Prior to 1982, most erosion control projects were undertaken
on public land where the municipality would request
assistance. However, in 1982, the Authority began a program
for undertaking small erosion control projects on private
property.
b) Lakeshore Erosion
Approximately two-thirds of the Lake Ontario shoreline
within the C.L.O.C.A. area is suffering from erosion. At
present, the Authority provides technical advice to shore
property owners who are experiencing erosion problems. A
Shore Management Study is proposed for 1983 which will
provide more detailed information on shoreline hazards, and
which will investigate various shoreline management
options.
c) Field Erosion
This kind of erosion occurs primarily within the Oak Ridges
Moraine. A private lands reforestation program exists
through which tree seedlings can be purchased by individuals
and planted in areas of field erosion problems.
Report No: PD-21-83 . . ./5
3) Water Management
Storm water management generally requires that certain
actions be taken to ensure that new development will not
increase flows in streams and watercourses beyond the
pre-development level . In Newcastle, a Storm Water
Management Study has been completed for the Courtice Area.
The Watershed Plan will investigate the future direction of
storm water management and other water management issues.
Areas requiring future storm water management and master
drainage studies will be identified.
4) Forest Resources
Much of the remaining forest in the C.L.O.C.A. watershed,
generally associated with creek valleys, is in danger of
being lost to development. As well , much of the good upland
forest stands exist in the form of small farm woodlots,
which are generally poorly managed. C.L.O.C.A. has
completed an inventory of sensitive forests in the
watershed.
The Ministry of Natural Resources conducts a Woodlot
Management Program for private landowners, and both the
Ministry and the Authority provide reforestation
i
assistance.
The Watershed Plan will evaluate the existing forestry
programs and will consider new programs which could include
a revised reforestation program and a program to supply
services to landowners who do not own enough land to qualify
for the Minstry's Woodlot Management Program.
Report No: PD-21-83 . . ./6
5) Fish and Wildlife
The major problem affecting fish and wildlife in the
C.L.O.C.A. watershed is the loss of habitat to development,
including decreased water quality as a result of
development along streams. The Authority manages several
conservation areas and has mapped the environmentally
significant and sensitive areas in the watershed.
C.L.O.C.A. restricts the development in these areas wherever
possible. The Authority also enforces the Fill ,
Construction and Alteration to Waterways Regulations , and
has a Wetlands Policy through which gowmanville Marsh has
been acquired. Specific programs which provide benefits to
fish and wildlife populations include erosion control
projects along streambanks.
The Watershed Plan will evaluate existing fish and wildlife
programs and will evaluate additional projects, such as
streambank, reforestation and acquiring other sensitive
lands for conservation areas.
6. Conservation/Recreation
Flood-plain lands acquired by the Authority and those
acquired for other water management purposes are, wherever
possible, developed into conservation areas where passive
recreational opportunities are provided. Master plans have
been prepared for all conservation areas.
While these conservation area master plans focus on specific
areas, the Watershed Plan will take a broader look at
recreational needs throughout the area, and whether
conservation areas can be used to fulfill some needs which
may currently be neglected.
Report No: PD-21-83 . . ./7
7) Information and Education
The purpose of this program is to foster public awareness of
the principles and benefits arising from the wise management
of renewable natural resources, and the role of C.L.O.C.A.
in the implementation of these principles. This is
generally done through such activities as speaking
engagements, interpretative nature trails and
demonstrations.
The Watershed Plan will evaluate the existing information
and education program.
Although C.L.O.C.A. identifies their goals and objectives
for each of the areas discussed above, most of these goals
and objectives are closely related, and therefore can be
summarized through the following statements :
To manage environmentally significant and sensitive areas in
order to maintain and, where possible, enhance their
ecological functions ;
To regulate land use activities in flood-prone areas to
reduce the incidence of injury, death, and property damage
due to flooding;
To deal effectively and efficiently with flood emergencies ;
To increase the public 's awareness of the importance of
natural resource management;
To provide primarily passive recreational opportunities.
Report No: PD-21-83 . . ./8
COMMENTS:
The paper "Towards a Watershed Plan" notes that an important
mechanism for controlling development on environmentally
significant and sensitive lands is through the various
planning and land use control procedures, which are
implemented through the local municipalities.
C.L.O.C.A. has considerable opportunity for input into
planning decisions made by the Town. The Authority is
circulated all rezoning, subdivision and Official Plan
amendment applications made for lands within the C.L.O.C.A.
watershed, and was consulted during the preparation of the
Courtice and Bowmanville Urban Area Plans and the draft
Comprehensive Restricted Area By-law.
Both the Courtice and Bowmanville Plans include
"Environment" sections with the stated objective of
identifying, conserving and protecting lands with
environmentally sensitive characteristics. The Plans
identify the general location of Hazard Lands, the
designation applied to environmentally sensitive lands, on
the Land Use Schedules and provide for the extent and exact
location of such hazard lands to be determined in the
appropriate zoning by-laws in accordance with detailed flood
line, soil and contour mapping in consulation with
C.L.O.C.A.
As well , C.L.O.C.A. is consulted on any proposal for the
development of hazard lands, including the preparation of
any environmental impact analyses.
Report No: PD-21-83 .. ./9
One of the principle resource problems to be addressed by
the Watershed Plan will be water management, in particular
the management of storm water drainage. Storm water
management studies have been completed for both Courtice and
Bowmanville, and the Urban Area Plans require that the
development or redevelopment of lands incorporate effective
storm water management techniques.
The draft Comprehensive Restricted Area (Zoning) By-law
recently prepared by staff includes an EP-Environmental
Protection Zone. This zone has been applied to those areas
r
where the conservation authorities, including C.L.O.C.A. ,
have suggested that buildings should be prohibited. The
areas affected reflect primarily flood-plain and hazard
lands, as well as environmentally sensitive areas that have
been identified through detailed studies. C.L.O.C.A.
provided considerable input in the delineation of this
zone.
Therefore, staff feel that C.L.O.C.A. 's concerns are well
represented in the Town 's planning documents and in planning
decisions made by the Town. As well , the intent of the
Watershed Plan, as indicated by the report "Towards A
Watershed Plan", does not appear to conflict with the Town 's
planning documents.
However, given that the proposed Watershed Plan will form a
basis for C.L.O.C.A. to renegotiate its mandate with the
area municipalities and the Region, staff must reserve any
recommendations until we have had an opportunity to review
the Interim Plan.
Report No: PD-21-83 . . ./10
Staff contacted the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority
to determine the status of their Watershed Plan. They
indicated that they plan to consult the Town of Newcastle at
least once before the June 1983 deadline.
Respect y fitted,
r
T. T. Edwards, M.C.I.P.
Director of Planning
JAS*TTE*mjc
,yJn ary 25, 1983