Lake Erie North Shore Watershed Plan - Niagara Peninsula ...

LAKE ERIE NORTH SHORE WATERSHED PLAN
Protect receiving waters from bank
erosion
Stream Channel
Restoration/Stabilization
Constructed Wetland
Rain Barrels
Downspout Disconnection
Native landscaping and/or tree
planting
Encourage diverse non-turf
vegetation at stormwater basin
edges
Establish better enforcement, fines
to ensure compliance
Improve septic system
maintenance
New/Revised Zoning By-Laws
Conduct Zoning By-Law review
Adopt stormwater policies for new
developments
Encourage and/or regulate land
use planning and management
Integrate natural features into the
planning process
composting or by community curb side collection programs.
Compost can be converted to mulch, which when applied in
lieu of fertilizer, can reduce nutrient excess into
watercourses.
Stabilize existing steep slopes with bioengineering
methods, and preserve and plant trees along streams to
reduce bank erosion.
Construct pipe outlets and bank stabilization measures to
prevent streambank erosion due to excessive discharge
velocities (usually bioengineered).
Build wetlands to capture pollutants from runoff draining
urban and agricultural areas. Wetlands differ from basins in
that they are shallower, and are planted with wetland plants
to filter the water.
Rain barrels can be used to catch rooftop runoff for later
use (e.g. watering gardens and lawns)
Disconnecting downspouts from storm drains, or directing
them away from paved surfaces that lead directly to the
stormwater system allows water to infiltrate into unpaved
soils. An education and incentive program should also be
created for this alternative.
This measure includes planting street trees, and planting
trees and plants in parking lot medians or in other
landscapes. They can be designed so water flows into
these areas before flowing into the stormwater system.
Native plants do not need fertilizers, irrigation, or mowing,
which can reduce phosphorus and possibly runoff.
Educate landowners to allow long grasses and wetland
plants to flourish in stormwater basins to filter the waste of,
and discourage large populations of waterfowl.
Planning and Development
May include hiring more staff to inspect and enforce
regulations.
Require septic system inspection and compliance at pointof-sale;
encourage regular maintenance through incentive
and/or education programs; and identify any currently
failing systems so they can be fixed.
If necessary, a zoning by-law should be created or revised
to meet water quality/quantity needs so that planning
decisions based on that by-law are defensible.
Establish a committee to conduct a formal review of zoning
by-laws from a planning perspective for open space and
natural features protection/restoration.
This policy tool can be used to control and treat stormwater
discharges whereas stormwater management must be
addressed before building permits are issued.
Develop policies limiting pavement, preserving open space
and define locations for more on-site storm water
management facilities, and zone/sizing criteria for on-site
facilities.
Through overlay zoning and other methods, valuable
natural features should be taken into account when zoning
and making planning decisions where such policies are not
present. Coordination with municipalities in this area is
necessary to preserve systems of open space, and reduce
fragmentation of the natural complex of woodlands, prairies
and other natural water filtering systems.
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