​SVCA launches public consultation portal on key conservation strategies

The Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) has launched a public consultation portal, inviting community members to provide feedback on two critical strategies that will shape the future of local conservation efforts: the Conservation Areas Strategy and the Watershed Resource-Based Management Strategy.

Conservation Areas Strategy

Over the past 70 years, the SVCA has acquired numerous lands serving various purposes, such as promoting environmental awareness, providing recreational opportunities, controlling erosion and flooding, and generating financial benefits through campgrounds, leases, and harvesting. This strategy unifies all SVCA lands under the term "conservation area," regardless of previous titles, and categorizes them as follows:
 

• Conservation Areas with Active Recreation: Featuring activities, such as camping, disc golf, maintained recreational trails, and more.
• Conservation Areas with Passive Recreation: Offering a location for activities, such as hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, wildlife-watching, picnicking.
• Management Areas: Including, but not limited to, managed forests, agricultural lands, wetlands.
• Conservation Authority Administration Areas

This strategy aims to inform decision-making, direct land management, improve educational outreach, enhance accessibility, create a Conservation Lands Inventory, and ensure up-to-date land acquisition and disposition policies.

Watershed Resource-Based Management Strategy

This strategy sets out the guiding principles and objectives of the SVCA, encompassing mandatory Category 1 Programs and Services, and Category 2 and 3 Programs and Services, as authorized. It aids in the delivery of these programs, identifying issues and risks, and planning future desirable programs and actions.

Established in 1950, the SVCA manages a watershed spanning 4,675 square kilometres across several counties. The organization oversees 15 conservation areas, four campgrounds, and more than 8,000 hectares of primarily forested land. The forested land is largely considered managed forest; in addition, SVCA offers a variety of forestry services to landowners.

The SVCA operates a comprehensive Flood Forecasting and Warning System, monitors water quality, and maintains essential water and erosion control infrastructure. It also regulates development and activities around natural hazards as defined by the Conservation Authorities Act, and provides input on Planning Act applications.

How to participate

Public feedback will help shape strategies that reflect community needs and values, ensuring the conservation areas and watershed resources remain healthy and vibrant.

The consultation period is open, at www.saugeenconservation.ca/2024Deliver, until Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 9 a.m. The SVCA invites all residents, property owners and visitors of the Saugeen Watershed to visit the consultation portal to review the strategies and provide feedback. Participation is simple, and anonymous submissions are welcome.

The SVCA urges everyone to help shape the agency’s conservation efforts.

For more information, contact Ashley Richards, SVCA communications co-ordinator, 1078 Bruce County Road 12, Box 150, Formosa, Ontario, N0G 1W0; a.richards@svca.on.ca; 519-369-4295.