The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority is currently in the process of visiting its member municipalities to inform them of some of the potential changes to Ontario's Conservation Authorities Act.
Healthy Watershed Manager Mari Veliz said part of that is looking over the programs the Conservation Authority currently delivers to the municipalities.“...and trying to figure out the best ways to continue to manage watersheds for the downstream flooding and erosion risks, water quality issues and loss of habitat downstream for fish and wild life,” she said.
Veliz added there is the potential for some of the programs to be altered as a result of the current discussions with the Province. She says some of the programs have overlapping outcomes so it is difficult to separate those programs, but it is something they're being asked to do.
"All of the programs are related to watershed management, so trying to hold back water in as many places as possible and a lot of that is from an advisory role, a facilitating role with respect to conservation programs, stewardship programs, the monitoring outdoor education," Veliz explained.
Veliz said they have now started visiting their member municipalities to discuss the various programs and how some of them overlap and what that might mean going forward.
