MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONSERVATION AUTHORITY. Mississippi Valley Conservation Centre MINUTES April 15, 2015 Carleton Place

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1 MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONSERVATION AUTHORITY Mississippi Valley Conservation Centre MINUTES Carleton Place MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: INVITED MEMBERS PRESENT: STAFF PRESENT: J. Karau, Chair; M. Burnham; F. Campbell; G. Code; B. Doucett; E. El-Chantiry; A. Gillis; J. Hall; B. MacDonald; G. Martin; J. Mason; G. McEvoy; P. Sweetnam; K. Thompson; M. Wilkinson. D. Abbott, Vice-Chair; L. Antonakos. P. Lehman, P. Eng., General Manager; J. Sargeant, Secretary-Treasurer; M. Craig, Manager, Planning & Regulations; C. Cunningham, Environmental Planner; R. Fergusson, Operations Supervisor; A. Moore, Regulations Officer; G. Mountenay, Water Management Supervisor; J. Price, Director, Water Resource Engineering; D. Reid, Environmental Planner; M. Van Die, Water Resources Engineer. Mr. Karau called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. BUSINESS: 1. Minutes March 18, 2015 B04/15/15-1 MOVED BY: G. Code SECONDED BY: M. Burnham Resolved, That the Minutes of the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority Board of Directors meeting held on March 18, 2015 be received and approved as printed. CARRIED

2 Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority Page 2 2. Business Arising From the Minutes Mr. Lehman advised that he has a contact at the City of Ottawa and will be following up with questions regarding annual maintenance costs for statues within the City of Ottawa. Mr. Lehman advised that the Authority has recently received interest from a number of different sources regarding the introduction of low impact development measures in the Kanata West area as well as Carleton Place. He noted that the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change recently released a report promoting low impact development as part of storm water management. It is a means of trying to maintain the existing water balance and infiltration routes stemming from new development. He noted that the Authorities will be looked at to guide the implementation of low impact development. With regard to the Energy East Pipeline Project, Mr. Craig advised that MVCA along with the RVCA will be making a submission within two weeks to the Ontario Energy Board outlining the concerns for the two authorities including the request for clarification as to why the Mississippi River is not treated as significant. Mr. Sweetnam requested that he receive a copy of the submission. There was a discussion on the process to submit to the Ontario Energy Board and the National Energy Board. 3. Ontario Regulation 153/06 Permits Mr. Craig reviewed Ontario Regulation 153/06 Permits issued and the Activity Report up to April 8, Watershed Conditions Report Mr. Mountenay noted that the accumulated snow pack was lost to sublimation and water levels are the lowest in 35 years resulting in dry logs in all dams. He commented on the potential to have shoreline damage as well as the inability to fill the lakes on the system. He noted that there should be no flood event unless significant rainfall occurs. He stated that the walleye will spawn in a week but the lower flows and levels could have an impact on the spawn. Mr. Mountenay advised that he will do a virtual tour presentation of watershed dams for the next meeting. In response to a question, he explained that if the watershed reaches drought conditions the Authority will declare a Level l Low Water Condition when the system has 70% of normal minimum summertime flow. At that time the Authority will request that municipalities and residents of the watershed reduce water usage by 10%. 5. MVCA Planning Advisory and Regulations Program Matt Craig, Manager of Planning and Regulations, Diane Reid and Craig Cunningham, Environmental Planners, Myra Van Die, Water Resources Engineer, and Andy Moore, Regulations Officer gave presentations on the Planning Advisory Program and the Section

3 Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority Page 3 28 Regulation Program. It was noted that MVCA staff have a very good reputation for their planning and regulatory work. There was a discussion on the budget available for prosecutions. Mr. El-Chantiry commented on the importance of ensuring sufficient funds in the budget to prosecute if there is a violation. It was noted that the budget is a reality but has never been an obstacle to pursuing court action. Mr. Karau noted that if the budget should become an issue, the Board of Directors would be consulted on how to proceed. Ms. Mason expressed concern that the fines are low and cannot be used for addressing the environmental damage caused. Mr. Lehman pointed out that if the Authority denies a permit it has to be denied by the Regulations Committee. He noted that there have not been a lot of hearings. It was noted that staff and landowners can usually reach an agreement without proceeding to the Regulations Committee. In response to a question, Mr. Craig confirmed that the 120 metre setback from wetlands applies to provincially significant wetlands only as designated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. 6. Dodging the Perfect Storm - Conservation Ontario s Business Case for Strategic Reinvestment into Ontario s Flood Management Programs and Services Mr. Lehman provided a slide presentation and commented on the report entitled Dodging the Perfect Storm Conservation Ontario s Business Case for Strategic Reinvestment into Ontario s Flood Management Programs and Services. He noted that in 2009 Conservation Ontario conducted an assessment of Ontario s flood management approach relative to the United States and other areas of Canada and determined that the flood management system in Ontario is good but it is under stress. The message to the Province was that reinvestment in flood management programs and aging infrastructure is necessary to keep pace with the escalation of extreme weather events. Conservation Ontario prepared the report Dodging the Perfect Storm as a follow up to the 2009 study. Mr. Gillis requested a copy of Mr. Lehman s presentation. Mr. Sweetnam noted that the City of Ottawa has been proactive in updating floodplain mapping on the Ottawa River, Carp River and some of the Mississippi River. Mrs. Wilkinson pointed out that the floodplain mapping completed by the City of Ottawa is another example of downloading. The City has done what the Province should be doing. She stressed the importance of continuing to put pressure on the Province to be proactive with flood management programs rather than paying out disaster money after a storm. 7. Watershed Management Futures for Ontario Mr. Lehman commented on Staff Report #2817/15 and the report attached entitled Watershed Management Futures for Ontario Conservation Ontario Whitepaper. Mr. Lehman pointed out that the Whitepaper was developed by Conservation Ontario in 2012 to stimulate a discussion between Conservation Authorities and the Province on options for a renewed watershed management partnership. It responds to issues and concerns that were

4 Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority Page 4 raised by partners including municipalities and Ministries, non-government organizations, the development industry, landowners and Conservation Authorities. Mr. Lehman noted that despite efforts taken by both Conservation Ontario and several Conservation Authorities, progress on the Whitepaper has been limited. In April 2014, the CO Whitepaper Working Group accepted that it was unlikely that the Province would take a leadership role on the Whitepaper with regard to a multi-stakeholder discussion of the CA Watershed Management Program. It was also recognized that given the significant program and funding relationship with municipalities, efforts should be placed on working directly with the municipalities and its key stakeholders to dispel misconceptions about the Whitepaper, to identify solutions for current CA/municipal partner challenges, and to identify areas of further collaboration. It was noted that following the provincial election in 2014, the government released Minister and Parliamentary Assistant mandate letters. The mandate letter to the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry (MPP Eleanor McMahon) included: Engaging with ministries, municipalities and stakeholders to initiate a review of the Conservation Authorities Act, including addressing roles, responsibilities and governance of conservation authorities in resource management and environmental protection. The Whitepaper Working Group subsequently met with MNRF staff assigned to the Conservation Authorities Act Review in January. While it is still early in the review process, the Working Group members expressed concern that MNRF staff did not fully appreciate the importance of the CA/municipal relationship and that the Review process should be taken as an opportunity to address the issues originally identified in the Whitepaper. Mr. Lehman pointed out that the Whitepaper and the flood management system in Ontario will likely get some recognition and be discussed at the Ontario East Municipal Conference due to recent flooding in the Burlington area. He noted that CA s are continuing to work through Conservation Ontario to influence the Conservation Authorities Act review using the Whitepaper as the standard required across Ontario. Mr. Karau encouraged members to review the Whitepaper. It was suggested that if members want to lobby on behalf of the Conservation Authorities they should start with their local MPP followed by the Minister and then the Premier of Ontario. 8. Ontario s Climate Change Discussion Paper 2015 Mr. Lehman provided a slide presentation on Ontario s Climate Change Discussion Paper. He noted that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change released a report which was posted on the EBR in February for comments by March 29, Conservation Ontario is coordinating comments from Conservation Authorities. Mr. Lehman commented on the vision, immediate actions and MVCA staff comments. He noted that the discussion paper primarily focusses on emission reduction and carbon pricing. There needs to be more attention to understanding impacts and adaptation; more linkage to protecting gray

5 Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority Page 5 infrastructure through protecting green infrastructure and the cost advantages to retention and protection of natural systems and their services; and policy implementation to address adaptation, especially in relation to land use planning, water management and natural systems protection. Mr. Karau pointed out that the name change from MOEE to Ministry of Environment and Climate Change demonstrates a priority for climate change in the Province. He stated that good integrated watershed management is essential to address climate change. 9. Other Business Mr. Karau advised that Mark Burnham has been elected as the Vice-Chair and Treasurer for Conservation Ontario. Mr. Karau commented on the Ottawa River Summit Gatineau Declaration as circulated with the Agenda. He noted that he was asked to represent the Mississippi, Rideau Valley and South Nation Conservation Authorities at the Ottawa River Summit in Gatineau, Quebec on May 29 and 30, He noted that the Declaration is a good basis for the discussion that will take place. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 3:00 p.m. B04/15/15-2 MOVED BY: A. Gillis SECONDED BY: F. Campbell Resolved, That the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority Board of Directors meeting be adjourned. CARRIED J. Sargeant, Secretary-Treasurer J. Karau, Chairman

Conservation Authorities Act Review

Conservation Authorities Act Review What it is: As a first step, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has developed a Discussion Paper which is posted on the provincial government s Environmental