Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority, in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, helps to coordinate and support local response in the event of a drought as part of the Ontario Low Water Response Program.
A watershed is considered to be in drought conditions if it is experiencing:
- Below normal levels of precipitation over an extended period,
- Stream flows are at minimum levels required to sustain aquatic life,
- Low water conditions cause socio-economic effects.
Water Response Team
In the late 1990s, drought-like conditions in Ontario prompted the province to develop the Ontario Low Water Response Plan (OLWR). The OLWR is a mitigation program under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. This plan allows for Conservation Authorities to establish a watershed-based Water Response Team (WRT).
The WRT consists of agriculture, industry and business, recreation, and government representatives from the Saugeen Valley watershed. The team assesses precipitation and streamflow conditions during drought conditions and decides on the appropriate level of action(s).
Response or actions could range from news bulletins that advocate water conservation, to making recommendations to the province concerning water allocations and water use restrictions.
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