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| Watershed Management Plans |
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The Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority is in the process of preparing updated watershed management plans for each of the major watersheds within its jurisdictional boundaries.
These watershed management plans are tools to be used to assist in making responsible management choices about watercourses and their surrounding environments. It is also expected that the Watershed Management will promote awareness of water related issues in the face of increasing urbanization and resource demands.
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| Lynde Creek Marsh |
Photo: Canadian Wildlife Service |
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We believe that when dealing with the natural environment, it makes the most sense to make management decisions based upon nature’s boundaries. Thus, a watershed plan examines the health and functionality of a watershed based upon its natural surface drainage pattern rather than various artificially created boundaries, such as municipal borders. This allows for planning decisions to be made with proper consideration being given to cumulative impacts of change on all components of the ecosystem involved.
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A watershed management plan may be summarized as “...a document developed cooperatively
by government agencies and other stakeholders to manage water, land/water interactions,
aquatic life and aquatic resources within a particular watershed (the land drained by a
river and its tributaries) in order to protect the health of the ecosystem as land uses
change”, Water Management on a Watershed Basis, (MNR & MOEE, 1993)
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Generally, watershed planning investigates the question – “what do we need to do to
have a healthy watershed?” It does so by examining the structural and functional parts
of the watershed ecosystem and how they work together. These components include
environmental features such as landscapes, fish and wildlife habitats and communities,
groundwater and surface water, as well as natural processes such as erosion and flooding.
These components are examined in order to determine their historic and existing
conditions. This is followed by an examination of the impacts that are predicted to
occur due to human and natural influences. This allows for an assessment of natural
systems, and a prediction of the watershed’s future health. It also provides a
foundation upon which to make environmentally sound decisions to maintain and improve the
watershed’s future health.
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| Status of Watershed Planning |
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 Oshawa Creek Watershed - Complete (PDF - 42.5 MB)
Lynde Creek Watershed – Existing Conditions Report under review
Bowmanville/Soper Creek Watershed – Existing Conditions Report in preparation
Black/Harmony/Farewell Watershed - Fieldwork complete
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