Frequently Asked Que​​stions about Flooding​

If you have an urgent flooding concern, please contact your municipality. If you are unable to reach someone, please contact our Flood Duty Officer at (705) 333-9939 and we will attempt to contact the municipality on your behalf.

​​​To find out if a flood message has been issued please consult the following:

1. Check the NVCA’s website for the flood status icon. Check back often as messages can change without notice.
2. Visit the NVCA on Facebook or Twitter.
3. Sign up for NVCA’s Flood alerts
4. Check your local radio, television and daily newspapers
5. Contact your local municipality.​

Talk to your insurance representative to make sure you have appropriate coverage before a flood.

Be aware that:​

• • Sudden and accidental bursting of plumbing pipes and appliances is covered by all home insurance policies. However, damage may not be covered when freezing causes the escape of water.

  • Historically in Canada, home insurance policies haven’t covered loss or damage caused by overland flooding, which occurs when bodies of fresh water, such as rivers or dams overflow onto dry land. This is no longer the case in Canada. Many insurers now offer residential overland flood coverage for the majority of homes across the country. This coverage is optional and based on risk. Commonly, this coverage is combined with sewer back up coverage, which is also optional. Even if you don’t live by a lake or river, your home could still experience flood damage in a variety of different ways. Check with your insurance representative on cost and availability for your home.

  • Water damage in a basement due to a sewer backup is only covered if specific sewer backup coverage has been purchased.

  • Damage to homes caused by hail or wind is usually covered. This includes damage caused by flying debris or falling branches or trees, or damage caused by water entering through sudden openings caused by wind or hail.

  • If comprehensive or all perils coverage has been purchased, damage to vehicles from wind, hail or water is usually covered. This coverage is not mandatory, so check your policy.

  • In certain circumstances, homeowners who are unable to return home due to insurable damage are entitled to additional living expenses.

​​ ​​Source: Insurance Bureau of Canada

If you are considering doing shoreline protection work, you must apply for a permit from NVCA before starting any work.

In most circumstances, you will need to consult with a coastal engineer to evaluate what you are planning to do.

Note that NVCA is only an approval agency, and it is the responsibility of the land owner to construct and maintain shorewalls.

Why are we experiencing high lake water levels?
The high lake water levels are mostly from the weather conditions over the last few months. Strong northwest winds are also pushing the water onto the Nottawasaga Bay shoreline.

Fortunately, for the residents along the Georgian Bay shoreline, water levels have begun to drop several centimetres from their recent peaks and the forecast is for continued gradual decline through the rest of the year.

Here is some more information from Conservation Ontario about why the Great Lakes fluctuate and the permitting process is important.

When do I need a permit when doing shoreline work?

A permit is always required prior to doing shoreline work in an NVCA regulated area. To find out if your property is in our regulated area, check our Interactive Property Map.

Why do I need a permit?

The permitting process allows NVCA to:

• prevent injuries and loss of life;

• minimize property damage and restoration costs;

• protect adjacent and downstream properties against harm caused by upstream development;

• reduce the costs, both public and private, of emergency operations and evacuations;

• minimize the hazards associated with development in floodplains and areas that are susceptible to erosion, which in future years may require expensive protective measures; and

• protect the natural benefits offered by wetlands, watercourses and shorelines.

How do I determine if a permit is needed?

If you want to do shoreline work and if your property is in an NVCA regulated area, a permit is required.

To find out if your property is in our regulated area, check out Interactive Property Map

Not sure if your property is in a regulated area? Complete our online property inquiry form to find out more about your specific situation. You can also call or visit the NVCA office during regular business hours.

What type of permit is required to do shoreline work?

A Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses Permit is required to do shoreline work.

In most instances, you will need to consult with a coastal engineer to draft a shoreline study of what you are planning to do. NVCA staff is also available to do pre-consultation.

To apply for a permit, visit our Permit Frequently Asked Questions page

When can I expect to get my permit?

Permit applications are processed in a first come first serve basis. Our service timelines are governed by the Conservation Authority Liaison Committee. NVCA is required to complete a policy review within 21 business days, and complete a technical review within 90 business days.

Make sure you submit all of the required documents to ensure timely processing.

How can I get more information about natural hazards?

Understanding Natural Hazards is a publication prepared by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources about addressing natural hazards along the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River System.

More information about the permitting process

For more information about how to obtain a permit or our permitting process, please visit our FAQs about the Permit Process page.

REMEMBER – During high water events, rivers are moving fast and currents can be very strong, making for dangerous conditions. Don’t put yourself in harm’s way to remove debris – call for help.

Log-jams and other debris can cause water to pond or flood upstream. 

If you think a log-jam or debris needs to be removed to protect your property, you must contact the appropriate organization before beginning any work:

• If debris is on municipal property, like a road right-of-way, municipal ditch or blocking a municipal culvert, contact your municipality.

• If debris is on your property, then you are responsible for removing it.
  Contact NVCA before you start. We’ll provide guidance on what you can and cannot remove, and let you know if you need a permit (depending on the extent of work). 

If the debris is posing an immediate threat to your personal safety or your property, NVCA may issue emergency permits.

• If debris is on a neighbouring property, you need to talk to them about having it removed.

If you are not sure who owns the property, or if the debris is causing water to flood and posing an immediate threat to your personal safety or your property, contact your municipality. They may be able to provide advice on how to reach your neighbour for non-urgent situations, and in emergency situations the municipality may assist you in taking action to safely get the debris removed.

• If you are concerned about chemical or other spills into a waterway, contact the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Park’s Spills Hotline at 1-800-268-6060.

Whose property is it?

While the NVCA regulates development along the waterways and in wetlands, we typically don’t “own” the river, creek, stream or creek in question. Most often these areas are owned by private landowners, and sometimes by the municipality. 

Removing log-jams and other debris is the responsibility of the property owner. 

Do I have to remove a log-jam?

While we can usually all agree that removing garbage and other similar debris from a waterway is a good idea, there are pros and cons to removing log-jams.

Some have been in place for a long time, and the ponds they’ve created offer habitat for fish and wildlife. On the other hand, some log-jams can cause water to flood and thus poses a threat to life and property. 

NVCA staff are happy to talk to you about log-jams near your property, and help you determine the best course of action.

Historically in Canada, home insurance policies haven’t covered loss or damage caused by overland flooding, which occurs when bodies of fresh water, such as rivers or dams overflow onto dry land. This is no longer the case in Canada. Many insurers now offer residential overland flood coverage for the majority of homes across the country. This coverage is optional and based on risk. Commonly, this coverage is combined with sewer back up coverage, which is also optional. Even if you don’t live by a lake or river, your home could still experience flood damage in a variety of different ways. Check with your insurance representative on cost and availability for your home.

Source: Insurance Bureau of Canada

Flooding can have significant impacts on both people and property:

• People may be cut off from emergency services, such as fire and police

• People’s lives can be in serious danger

• Structures and buildings may fail

• Hazardous substances can be released to the environment

• The emotional toll on people can be heavy

• The economy of a region can suffer​

Here are Canada’s Top 10 Highest Loss Years on Record (loss and adjusted expenses in 2020 dollars)

• 2016, $5.4 billion, Fort McMurray, Alberta, fire

• 2013, 3.5 billion, Alberta floods; Greater Toronto Area floods

• 1998, 2.5 billion, Quebec ice storm

• 2020, 2.2 billion, Fort McMurray, Alberta, flood; Calgary hailstorm

• 2018, 2.2 billion, Multiple events: Ontario and Quebec rainstorms and windstorms

• 2021, 2.0 billion, Calgary hailstorm; British Columbia floods

• 2011, 1.8 billion, Slave Lake, Alberta, fire and windstorm

• 2012, 1.5 billion, Calgary rainstorm

• 2019, 1.5 billion, Multiple events

• 2005, 1.3 billion, Ontario rainstorm

The figures above represent only part of the bill. The costs to government, taxpayers and the uninsured are not included. And, of course, there’s no way to put a price on the loss of life and human suffering.

Source: The Insurance Bureau of Canada

While residents have an obligation to safeguard themselves as much as possible, there are a number of organizations you can call on for help, depending on the situation.

• Personal emergencies involving fires or health, for example, can be referred to your local police, fire or ambulance department (911 service).

• If you have concerns regarding ice jams or other flooding situations, you can call your local municipality, or NVCA may contact the county or municipality on your behalf.

For information on what to do before, during and after a flood, visit the Government of Ontario’s website.

The Nottawasaga Watershed is shaped like a bowl. The rim, or the highest areas of the watershed, are the Niagara Escarpment (a World Biosphere Reserve) to the west, the Oak Ridges Moraine to the south, and the Oro Moraine to the east. At the bottom of the bowl is the Simcoe Lowlands and “chip” of the bowl is Nottawasaga Bay at Wasaga Beach.

The Nottawasaga River is the main river in the 2900 km2 Nottawasaga Watershed.

It forms west of the Niagara Escarpment in the Dundalk Till Plains in Amaranth and picks up three major rivers (Boyne River, Pine river, and Innisfil Creek) and countless smaller ones before flowing through the internationally significant Minesing Wetlands. Here, the Mad River and Willow Creek discharge into the Nottawasaga River.

The Minesing Wetlands act like a sponge by holding water and releasing it at a slow rate. As rain falls or snow melts upstream of the wetlands, water flows quickly into streams and rivers and eventually into the Nottawasaga River. As the river reaches the Minesing Wetlands, water flows much more slowly. Under high flow conditions, the rivers can flood over their banks, and spread across the landscape.

Flowing out of the Minesing Wetlands, the Nottawasaga River drains into Wasaga Beach and out into Georgian Bay.

The responsibility of flooding and flood emergency planning is shared by conservation authorities, municipalities, the Province of Ontario and residents.

Understanding the roles of the agencies responsible for flooding can assist you in getting the right help and information during an emergency.

Conservation authorities have several areas of responsibility for:

1. Operate a flood forecasting system and monitor watershed and weather conditions

2. Issue Watershed Conditions Statement, Flood Watch and Flood Warning bulletins to municipalities and other appropriate agencies to advise them of potential flooding

3. Operate conservation authority owned flood control structures to reduce the effects of flooding

4. Provide advice to municipalities for preventing or reducing the effects of flooding.

5. Maintain communications with municipalities and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry during a flood.

Municipalities have the primary organizations to respond to flooding and flood emergencies.

They are responsible also for the welfare of residents and protection of property during a flood.

Upon receiving a Watershed Conditions Statement, Flood Watch or Flood Warning from NVCA, municipalities shall:

1. Notify appropriate municipal officials, departments and agencies in accordance with their municipal emergency plan.

2. Determine the appropriate response to a flood threat and deploy municipal resources to protect life and property.

3. If required, declare a flood emergency and implement their Emergency Procedures Plan.

4. Request provincial assistance under the Emergency Management & Civil Protection Act (2006) if municipal resources are inadequate to respond to the emergency.

5. Maintain liaison with conservation authority flood coordinators.

Through the Surface Water Monitoring Centre, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF):

1. Operates and maintains a Provincial Warning System to alert conservation authorities of potential meteorological events that could create a flood hazard.

2. Maintains communications with MNRF’s district offices regarding the status of flood situations

Residents living or working in floodplains are responsible for:

1. Know what to do before, during, and after a flood.

2. Make an emergency plan, so that everyone knows what to do, and where to go in case of an emergency.

3. Prepare an emergency kit for your family and/or business.

4. Plan to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours during a flood or any emergency.

Our Flood Operations Field Specialist uses information from stream gauges, weather stations, snow surveys, meteorological forecasts and computer models to determine if there is a risk of flooding. If there is, we issue flood messages to alert municipal flood coordinators and the public about flood risks.