Lake Erie North Shore Watershed Plan - Niagara Peninsula ...
Lake Erie North Shore Watershed Plan - Niagara Peninsula ...
Lake Erie North Shore Watershed Plan - Niagara Peninsula ...
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LAKE ERIE NORTH SHORE WATERSHED PLAN<br />
Promote Good <strong>Shore</strong>line<br />
Stewardship<br />
Integrated Roadside<br />
Vegetation Management<br />
(IRVM) Program<br />
Ecological Linkages<br />
between Natural Areas<br />
Riparian Buffer Education<br />
Program<br />
Wetlands are Worth It<br />
Program<br />
Environmentally<br />
Responsible Maintenance<br />
Practices for Golf Courses<br />
Agricultural Best<br />
Management Practices<br />
Program<br />
Abandoned Well<br />
Decommissioning Program<br />
Practices for drain maintenance should be developed in consultation with, but not limited to, the following agencies;<br />
OMAFRA, DFO, MNR, Conservation Ontario, OFA, DSAO, CFFO, and the agricultural community to reduce<br />
ecological impacts to aquatic systems and to prevent sediment from returning to the drain. Any future maintenance<br />
of this watercourse should be done in accordance with Best Management Practices for drains. To review examples<br />
of current BMP mitigation measures, refer to Appendix I.<br />
Work with partnering stakeholders to promote shoreline that have been maintained naturally or restored to find a<br />
balance between natural processes and shoreline protection measures.<br />
<strong>Niagara</strong> Region and municipalities should work together to expand <strong>Niagara</strong> Region‟s IRVM Program. IRVM<br />
integrates the use of native vegetation with appropriate management techniques to produce a cost-effective,<br />
environmentally sound management alternative for roadside weed and erosion control while providing numerous<br />
ecological benefits (e.g. buffer strips). Focus of program expansion should be directed to main roads and roads in<br />
areas with a high shallow intrinsic susceptibility.<br />
Opportunity potential is present for creating ecological linkages between natural areas creating larger contiguous<br />
natural features. Such areas have the potential to enhance movement of flora and fauna between natural areas as<br />
well as provide habitat and ecological diversity for a wide range of species.<br />
Many landowners keep their properties manicured or plant crops to the edge of the creek. The NPCA‟s program<br />
aimed at educating landowners about the benefits of buffer zones along watercourses should be extensively<br />
promoted. In addition, landowners should be made aware of and encouraged to participate in the Conservation<br />
Authority‟s Water Quality Improvement Program. This program provides grants to a maximum of 75% of the cost of<br />
a project with caps between $2,000 and $10,000.<br />
Wetlands provide important water quality and ecological functions in a watershed by augmenting low flow, acting as<br />
natural filtration systems and helping to reduce flooding by acting like giant sponges and absorbing excess water.<br />
The Wetlands are Worth It Program through NPCA‟s Water Quality Improvement Program aims to assist<br />
landowners that are interested in restoring, protecting, rehabilitating and creating wetland habitat on their property<br />
by providing grants to a maximum of 75% of the cost of a project with a grant ceiling of $10,000.<br />
By integrating golf course management practices with wildlife management, such as incorporating enhanced<br />
natural areas into the landscaping, golf courses have the potential to offer a wide range of habitat for wildlife. In<br />
addition, encouragement of environmentally responsible maintenance practices, if not already adopted, will be<br />
beneficial to water quality and the aquatic habitat. Investigation into the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program<br />
for Golf Courses should be explored for golf courses if such a program has not already been adopted. In addition,<br />
environmentally friendly practices should be encouraged (e.g. chemical free practices).<br />
The NPCA‟s program aimed at educating landowners about the benefits of rural and agricultural best management<br />
practices should be extensively promoted. In addition, landowners should be made aware of and encouraged to<br />
participate in the Conservation Authority‟s Water Quality Improvement Program. This program provides grants to a<br />
maximum 75% of the cost of a project with caps between $5,000 and $12,000 depending on the project.<br />
Abandoned wells that are not properly decommissioned (capped and sealed) pose a threat to groundwater<br />
resources by providing a direct route to groundwater. The NPCA has a well decommissioning program in place for<br />
its jurisdiction. Grants are available for the decommissioning of unused water wells only. Priority is given to<br />
hydrogeologically sensitive areas, projects located in areas with a high density of domestic water wells, and areas<br />
where watershed plans have been completed or are ongoing (NPCA 2007). Approved grants will cover 90% of well<br />
decommissioning costs to a maximum of $2,000 per well (limit of 2 wells per property). This is a reimbursement<br />
program, which means that the landowner will pay the full cost to the contractor, and will be reimbursed for 90% of<br />
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