BUSINESS PLAN: Kettle Creek Conservation Authority

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1 BUSINESS PLAN: Kettle Creek Conservation Authority How does this service contribute to the results identified in the City of London Strategic Plan? A strong economy A vibrant and diverse community A green and growing City A sustainable infrastructure A caring community Kettle Creek Conservation Authority ensures the conservation, restoration and responsible management of water, land and natural habitats throughout the Kettle Creek Watershed, benefiting seven member municipalities and an approximate watershed population of 70,000. KCCA promotes an integrated watershed approach balancing human, environmental and economic needs for best results. Name the main activities done to provide this service: Name The Activities Done To Provide This Service 1. Environmental Monitoring (KCCA monitors water quality and quantity, biota and benthic invertebrates throughout the watershed to enhance and protect water quality and quantity) How Much Did We Do? (optional) 180 sampling events at 55 monitoring stations throughout the watershed 4 Level One Low Water Conditions declared in the past 5 years and one Level Two Overall watershed grade trending upwards to C+ in 2011 from C- in 2008 Five year update of the Watershed Report Card will be released in Flood Forecasting & Monitoring Average of 6 flood warnings per year protecting 585 residents & 278 structures in the floodplain Is The City Mandated To Provide This Service? Yes Can The Level Of Service Be Changed?, not without significant impact to KCCA s ability to show accountability for results, mandated/legislated service under Conservation Authorities Act Section 21, 28. 1

2 Name The Activities Done To Provide This Service How Much Did We Do? (optional) 3. Forestry and Stewardship In 2013 KCCA planted its 1 millionth tree since 2001 An average of 15,000 trees per year planted in the City of London in the past three years KCCA has planted 59% (58,131 of 98,976) of the total trees planted in the City of London s One Million Tree Challenge On average 67 landowners receive $255,000 in grants to reforest 50 hectares of land per year KCCA leverages $10,000 in stewardship grants to landowners to undertake erosion control, wetland creation and well decommissioning projects 4. Environmental Planning On average staff review 100 planning and development applications and issue 40 permits for development, interference with wetlands and alterations to shorelines and watercourses 5. Education and Awareness 4,000 children reached per year through Children s Water Festival and Carolinian Forest Festival KCCA leverages funds to educate local students on the importance of wetlands Is The City Mandated To Provide This Service? Yes Can The Level Of Service Be Changed?, any change to the current service level would impair longterm objectives of the watershed as established by the community and the Board of Directors. Increased forestry and stewardship efforts are required to combat environmental degradation of the watershed., mandated/legislated service under Conservation Authorities Act Section 21, 28., any change to the current service level would impair longterm objectives of the watershed established by the community and the Board of Directors. Growth is already limited to that which can be supported by fundraising and selfgenerated revenue. 2

3 Name The Activities Done To Provide This Service How Much Did We Do? (optional) 6. Recreation 34 km of passive hiking trails 2 campgrounds attracting over 10,000 visitors and an average of $60,000 in profit per year to support Authority programs and services 7. Source Water Protection First Kettle Creek Source Protection Plan to be approved by MOE in 2014 Is The City Mandated To Provide This Service? Yes Can The Level Of Service Be Changed?, any change to this program would severely impact KCCA s main source of self-generated funds., mandated/legislated by the Clean Water Act, Section 4, 7(5). What is the current state of this service? Current Objectives / Milestones In 2013, KCCA celebrated with its member municipalities and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) the planting of one million trees in the KCCA watershed since To put this number into perspective, the Authority planted only 750,000 trees from Tree planting and stewardship programming continues to be the top environmental priorities identified by the community through participation in KCCA s community-based subwatershed strategies. Tree planting and stewardship activities, such as wetland creation and erosion control, are increasing riparian buffer strips in the watershed thereby enhancing habitat and stream health. Efforts are being tracked and recognized in the lower percentage of impaired streams in the watershed. KCCA s tree planting and stewardship programs help reduce the amount of phosphorous entering the creek, and ultimately Lake Erie, thereby having a direct and positive impact on water quality and the reduction of blue green algae. Community buy-in to the programs and services offered by the Authority is evidenced by the increasing amount of landowners planting 1,000 trees or more and the Authority s increasing fundraising success. Between 2012 and 2013, KCCA successfully fundraised $352,000 for on-the-ground stewardship projects as part of the Kettle Creek Clean Water Initiative, the Elgin Clean Water Program and the London/Middlesex County Clean Water Program. Kettle Creek Environmental Trust, a charity dedicated to raising funds for environmental works within the Kettle Creek watershed, will hire a Fund Development Coordinator in 2013 with a focus on leveraging additional funds for KCCA s stewardship and environmental education programming. 3

4 What is Driving This Service? The majority of KCCA s programs and services (flood forecasting and warning, hazard management plan input and review, source water protection) are mandated under the Conservation Authorities Act and the Clean Water Act Programming decisions are made by a Board of Directors comprised of representatives from KCCA s seven member municipalities Community Based Watershed Strategies act as guiding documents and are available at What is the future direction of this service? Emerging Issues and Challenges Since 2001 KCCA s tree planting program has been supported by a contract for service with OPG. This $175,000 contract ends in The loss of this contract means KCCA cannot sustain the current service level of planting 100,000 trees per year in the watershed, an amount necessary to achieve the 30% forest cover necessary for biodiversity. Without a contract from OPG, KCCA s service level will drop to 30,000 trees or lower per year. The potential loss of $175,000 to the budget would be devastating; any change to the levy forecast of 2.5% would detrimentally affect the ability of KCCA to sustain other programs and services, and staffing capacity to seek out other funding sources. It is anticipated that the Kettle Creek Source Protection Plan will be approved by the Ministry of the Environment in The Province of Ontario has fully funded the source protection planning process, including capacity building at each conservation authority, the writing of various reports and completion of the technical documents required to contribute to the completion of the Assessment Reports and Source Protection Plans. However, there is no clear indication from the Ministry of the Environment as to the level of financial commitment from the Province of Ontario for the implementation of the Source Protection Plans. The Clean Water Act and the source protection planning process was a program introduced by the Province in response to a province-wide concern about the safety of municipal drinking water. The Lake Erie Region Source Protection Committee strongly believes the Province should continue to fund the implementation of the Kettle Creek Source Protection Plan and is committed to requesting that this be done. Source Protection funds will no longer fund information technology support, such as internet services. KCCA will assume all of these costs starting in 2014 ($3,420 annually). 4

5 What do you plan to do? 2014 Secure a contract for services with OPG for the planting of 100,000 trees or find an alternate funding source to sustain the current level of planting 100,000 trees per year ($175,000 per year). Continue to deliver stewardship and environmental education programming by leveraging municipal dollars for federal, provincial and private funding support. Any increase of this service will be dependent on fundraising success ($100,000 per year). Assist the Kettle Creek Environmental Trust to establish a long-term funding source for stewardship and environmental educational programming ($20,000 per year). Implementation of the Kettle Creek Source Protection Plan (cost unknown at this time); approval of plan expected in Continue to invest in campground infrastructure to maintain or increase self-generated funds to at least 55% of total budget. Improve in-house GIS capabilities to assist in targeting stewardship and forestry programs for best results; map and analyse progress. Partnership possibility exists with County of Elgin to achieve cost efficiencies. Investigate synergies with neighbouring conservation authorities for continued cost savings. Currently, Long Point Region Conservation Authority, Catfish Creek Conservation Authority and Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority will be joining KCCA to undertake a joint Shoreline Management Plan. Manage capital infrastructure plan to ensure capital is being maintained without increased costs to the municipalities. 5

6 Key Performance Indicators Description of measure How Much? 1. Number of trees planted *NOTE: Number of trees without OPG funding 100, ,000 Unknown 30,000* 30,000* 30,000* 30,000* 2. Value of stewardship projects completed (Kettle) $27,163 TBD $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30, Value of stewardship projects completed (Elgin) NOTE: KCCA coordinates the Elgin Clean Water Program $151,934 $296,763 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150, Maintain or improve on Overall Watershed Benchmark Grade of C- established in Full watershed report card to be released end of Funds raised for stewardship projects in London, Elgin and Middlesex County 6. Maintain or increase self-generated revenue to a minimum of 55% of total budget 7. Maintain or increase salary dollars raised through employment grants How Well? C+ C+ C+ C+ C+ C+ C+ $72,000 $280,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 58% 55% 55% 55% 55% 55% 55% $57,430 $32,185 $40,000 $40,000 $40,000 $40,000 $40,000 Is Anyone Better Off? 8. Number of landowners completing stewardship 12 5 so far projects in Kettle Creek Watershed 9. % of impaired streams in the watershed 70% 68% 66% 64% 62% 60% 60% 10. # of people employed under employment programs