2024 CA Act Deliverables Consultation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 29^th, 2024

Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority Launches Public Consultation on Key Conservation Strategies

SAUGEEN WATERSHED, ONTARIO (Bruce, Grey, Huron, Dufferin and Wellington Counties) –

Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) is excited to announce the launch of a public consultation portal, inviting community members to provide feedback on two critical strategies that will shape the future of local conservation efforts: the Conservation Areas Strategy and the Watershed Resource-Based Management Strategy.

Conservation Areas Strategy

Over the past 70 years, SVCA has acquired numerous lands serving various purposes such as promoting environmental awareness, providing recreational opportunities, controlling erosion and flooding, and generating financial benefits through campgrounds, leases, and harvesting. This strategy unifies all SVCA lands under the term "conservation area," regardless of previous titles, and categorizes them as follows:

• Conservation Areas with Active Recreation: Featuring activities like camping, disc golf, maintained recreational trails, and more.
• Conservation Areas with Passive Recreation: Offering a location for activities such as hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, wildlife watching, picnicking.
• Management Areas: Including but not limited to managed forests, agricultural lands, wetlands.
• Conservation Authority Administration Areas

The strategy aims to inform decision-making, direct land management, improve educational outreach, enhance accessibility, create a Conservation Lands Inventory, and ensure up-to-date land acquisition and disposition policies.

Watershed Resource-Based Management Strategy

This strategy sets out the guiding principles and objectives of SVCA, encompassing mandatory Category 1 Programs and Services, Category 2 and 3 Programs and Services as authorized. It aids in the delivery of these programs, identifying issues and risks, and planning future desirable programs and actions.

Established in 1950, SVCA manages a watershed spanning 4,675 km² across several counties. The organization oversees 15 conservation areas, four campgrounds, and over 8,000 hectares of primarily forested land. The forested land is largely considered managed forest; in addition, SVCA offers a variety of forestry services to landowners.  SVCA operates a comprehensive Flood Forecasting and Warning System, monitors water quality, and maintains essential water and erosion control infrastructure. SVCA also regulates development and activities around natural hazards as defined by the Conservation Authorities Act and provides input on Planning Act applications.

How to Participate

Public feedback will help shape strategies that reflect community needs and values, ensuring our conservation areas and watershed resources remain healthy and vibrant.

The consultation period is open until Wednesday, August 14th, 2024, at 9:00am. We invite all residents, property owners and visitors of the Saugeen Watershed to visit our consultation portal to review the strategies and provide your feedback. Participation is simple, and anonymous submissions are welcome.

www.saugeenconservation.ca/2024Deliver

Join us in shaping the future of SVCA’s conservation efforts.

For more information, please contact:

Ashley Richards, Communications Coordinator
Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority
1078 Bruce Road 12, Box 150, Formosa, ON N0G 1W0
a.richards@svca.on.ca
(519)369-4295