Flood Plain Management

The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) provides a number of services relating to flood plain management within its watershed boundaries. It is our mandate to reduce risk to life and property, reduce potential social disruption and protect the environment from naturally occurring flooding and erosion.

The services include maintaining existing flood and erosion control infrastructure, monitoring watershed conditions for drought or flood forecasting purposes, providing emergency planning advice, warning watershed municipalities of impending flooding conditions, providing technical advice in relation to lakeshore erosion and agricultural land, streambank and municipal drain erosion concerns.

Development Review

One of the most effective ways to avoid damage to property and ensure personal safety during a flooding event is by taking preventative measures. Since 1984, the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) delivered the Fill, Construction and Alteration to Waterways Regulation. This legislation, as set out in Section 28 of the Conservation Act, enabled the ABCA to review development, filling and construction activity within:

• Watercourses
• Environmentally sensitive areas
• Hazard lands
• Flood-prone areas adjacent to creeks, rivers and municipal drains
• Areas of slope instability due to erosion, slumping or shifting of steep bluffs or ravines

Stormwater Management Policies

Stormwater Management Policies and Technical Guidelines were approved by the ABCA Board of Directors on June 18, 2009. Download report now (6 mb - very large file).

Regulations

The Ontario government approved a revised regulation for the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), Ontario Regulation 147/06, on May 9, 2006 and it was printed in the official Ontario Gazette on May 20. Prevention of loss of life and property damage from flooding and erosion, as well as enhancing natural resources, is a key mandate of a Conservation Authority and Regulation 147/06 provides a consistent approach to fulfill that mandate.

Before undertaking any filling, construction or altering of watercourses, contact the ABCA or your municipality to determine if you are in a ‘regulated area'. If applicable, ABCA staff will guide applicants through a permit process that involves gathering on-site information, survey work and providing specific conditions to reduce risk to life and property, reduce potential social disruption and protect the environment from naturally occurring flooding and erosion.

The Regulation of Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses (under Ontario Regulation 97/04) replaces the ABCA’s Fill, Construction & Alteration to Waterways Regulation which has been the governing set of regulations for roughly 20 years. The Conservation Authority’s revised regulation is part of the Red Tape Reduction Act and is designed to protect public safety from natural hazards through the issuance of permits for works close to lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands or sinkholes.

The approval of the regulation in ABCA watersheds follows a broad public consultation process that included four public information sessions held in different areas of the watershed in 2005 between August 20 and September 13, 2005. Four municipal information sessions were also held.

Extensive mapping was also undertaken as part of the regulation review process. Under the revised regulation some properties in the watershed that were previously regulated are no longer regulated while some other properties that weren’t regulated before may now be regulated. Under the previous regulations some parts of the shoreline were regulated while others were not. The revised regulation, under the new name ‘Regulation of Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alteration to Shorelines and Watercourses,’ provides consistent application to residents of all shoreline areas. For further information on Regulation 147/06, please contact Geoff Cade or Andrew Bicknell at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610.

A document about the provincial regulation can be downloaded from the Conservation Ontario website.

Water Level Monitoring

The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) maintains and operates a network of water level and climate stations throughout the watershed to be able to predict watershed response to precipitation and snow melt events and forecast stream flows and water levels which may affect watershed residents.

Watershed monitoring includes water level stations, precipitation gauges and some meteorological monitoring which can be accessed in real time. During the winter months snow accumulations and ice depths are monitored in major rivers.

The network is used to determine if water levels will create flooding problems. The network also allows long-term monitoring of water supply conditions during low flow periods. Because of changing weather patterns, we are experiencing extended periods of low rainfall and high temperatures. Indications are that low water levels may become more common. Therefore, the provincial government has prepared the Ontario Low Water Response Plan intending to ensure provincial preparedness, to assist in coordination and to support local response in the event of drought conditions. Conservation authorities have become the lead agency in establishing a watershed-based Water Response Team. Get the plan (PDF format from Ontario Government web site). 

Flood Warning and Emergency Planning

Using the information collected in the watershed monitoring network, combined with a computerized watershed model, the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) is able to prepare water level and flow forecasts which can be used to warn watershed municipalities of potential floods.

The ABCA is responsible for providing warning of potential flooding events which may pose a threat to watershed residents. Based on watershed conditions, warnings may be sent to watershed municipalities who have the responsibility to react to ensure the safety of their residents. Click on the low water advisory tool of the homepage for current flood messages - including high water safety bulletins, flood advisories or flood warnings.

In addition, the ABCA can assist municipalities in identifying flood-prone areas and preparing emergency plans which could be used during flooding or other types of emergencies.

Flood and Erosion Control Structures

This service involves the maintenance and operation of existing flood control and erosion control structures which have been built by our partnership with watershed municipalities and the Province of Ontario. These structures were built to protect existing development from the hazards of flooding and erosion.

A long-term inspection and maintenance program ensures that these structures can continue to function as originally designed. By using experienced staff to inspect and maintain these structures, most problems can be detected and repaired at an early stage thereby reducing the risk of structure failure or more expensive repairs in the future.