The Nottawasaga Watershed is a large geographic area, approximately 3,700 km2, with jurisdiction in 18 municipalities in the counties of Simcoe, Dufferin and Grey. It consists of a diverse mix of growing cities, small towns, rural communities, and productive agricultural land. It is also home to a variety of natural landscapes, abundant recreational trails and other amazing natural features such as the internationally significant Minesing Wetlands and the Niagara Escarpment.
The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA)’s Watershed-Based Resource Management Strategy (WBRMS) identifies the risks, issues, and challenges the Nottawasaga Watershed faces, as well as the mitigation strategies to address these concerns.
Since 1960, NVCA has worked with many funders, partners, volunteers, landowners and residents to sustainably manage the Nottawasaga Watershed by balancing social, economic, and environmental interests through an integrated watershed management approach.
Under recent changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and Ontario Regulation 686/21, conservation authorities in Ontario are required to complete WBRMS on or before December 31, 2024.
What is Integrated Watershed Management?
The Nottawasaga Watershed contains a mosaic of woodlands, wetlands, valleys and river systems situated amongst agricultural, rural and urban land uses.
Natural resources such as wetlands, rivers, streams, forests and groundwater are critical to our society, economy and environment. Not only do these natural resources sustain human lives and benefit our health and wellbeing, they help to remove air pollution, control flooding, protect us from summer heat, improve our mental and physical health and much more. A healthy watershed is also resilient to climate change and urban growth.
Maintaining and enhancing natural resources is critical in ensuring our watershed is resilient to climate change and human use. This requires an integrated approach that brings stakeholders and interest holders together from across the watershed to develop and implement strategies that achieve a sustainable and resilient system.
To learn more about the benefits of having a healthy watershed, visit NVCA’s website.
Developing the WBRMS
In developing the WBRMS, watershed health and trends, program effectiveness, and other plans and strategies that guide the organization’s activities were considered.
The strategy was developed by the following guiding principles:
- The Nottawasaga Watershed connects all 18 municipalities though natural resources such as rivers, streams, wetlands, forests and groundwater.
- A well-managed watershed is crucial for sustaining prosperity, growth, well-being, and climate change resiliency.
- When developing programs and making decisions, the integrated watershed management approach is a priority, encompassing human, economic and environmental needs.
- NVCA’s programs adapt and respond to changing conditions, priorities, vulnerabilities, and pressures.
- Collaboration is essential, as the management of the Nottawasaga Watershed is a shared responsibility among the conservation authority, municipalities, partners, funder, volunteers, landowners, residents, Indigenous groups and other interest holders.
Public Consultation
The public consultation for NVCA’s Watershed-based Resource Management Strategy is now closed. Thank you for your participation. A summary of the public consultation will be provided in the final document.
Who to Contact
Conservation Lands team
705-424-1479
lands@nvca.on.ca