The Role of Conservation Authorities
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The Ministry of Natural Resources administers the Conservation Authorities Act and associated programs. Conservation authorities are watershed-based public sector organizations that implement resource management programs that serve both provincial and municipal interests.
Each conservation authority has a Provincially-approved ‘Regulation of Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses’.
Under these regulations, conservation authorities regulate development and other activities through a permitting process for purposes of natural hazard management and prevention. A permit from the local conservation authority may be required for:
- Development in areas related to water-based natural hazards, such as floodplains or shorelines. Under the Act, conservation authorities must consider development applications based on potential impacts to the control of flooding, erosion, dynamic beaches, pollution or the conservation of land.
- Interference with or alterations to a watercourse or wetland.
Consult your local conservation authority for more information about permit requirements in your area.
These regulations, and other regulations can be found on e-Laws under the Conservation Authorities Act.
Conservation authorities may also have responsibilities under other provincial legislation or programs or through agreements with other government agencies. For example, conservation authorities:
- undertake the duties of source protection authorities under the Clean Water Act;
- participate in the Ontario Low Water Response Program; and
- review applications for impacts to fish habitat under the Fisheries Act through agreements with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Conservation authorities review municipal plans and site plan applications made under the Planning Act for consistency with the natural hazards policies of the Provincial Policy Statement. Conservation authorities may also comment on municipal planning documents according to their own policies.
By contract or agreement, conservation authorities may provide technical advice or other services to municipalities, such as assessment of environmental impacts, hydrogeology services, storm water management advice, natural heritage advice, septic system reviews, tree planting and other activities.
MNR’s ‘Policies and Procedures for Conservation Authority Plan Review and Permitting Activities’ outlines these and other conservation authority roles and responsibilities. It also provides policies to guide conservation authorities in municipal plan review and in permitting under the Conservation Authorities Act.
