Full Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education, Issue ...

IWRM In Practice Canada53develop basin plans. The tighter focus of anintegrated interpretation, it is believed, increasesthe likelihood that analysis and planning can becompleted in a shorter period of time, and generatea smaller set of more relevant and prioritizedrecommendations.Significance of Spatial ScaleConsistent with taking an integratedinterpretation, analysts, planners and managershave learned that different levels of detail shouldbe sought, depending on spatial scale. Thisis exemplified by the approach that emergedin Ontario as a result of assessing catchmentand subcatchment planning experiences in thatprovince (Credit Valley Conservation, GrandRiver Conservation Authority, and Toronto RegionConservation Authority 2002). The conclusion wasthat planning and management should focus on oneof four different scales: watershed, subwatershed,tributary, and site. In moving across scales, thekinds and amount of data to be collected shouldchange, “with the level of detail increasing asthe size of the planning area decreases.” Ideally,what is done at each stage provides “direction andinformation” for the next lower level.The four spatial levels of planning, reflectingdifferent levels of detail for information, are:1. Basin or catchment plans: Covering largeareas, these plans include goals, objectives,and targets for the entire basin, and documentresource and environmental problems. They alsoprovide catchment-wide policy for protectingsurface and ground water, natural features,fisheries, open space systems, terrestrial andaquatic habitats, and other important features.If resources are degraded, restoration needsare addressed. These plans usually also specifywho will do what by when, how it will be done,and what reporting will occur.2. Subcatchment plans: Relative to basinplans, enhanced detail is provided to allowlocal environmental issues to be addressed.Goals, objectives, and targets to managethe subcatchment are identified. In addition,plans give attention to the form, function,and linkages of the natural system;environmentally sensitive or hazard lands;3.4.areas where development may be permitted;Best Management Practices such as aggregateextraction, development servicing of wood lotsfor agriculture; direction and consistency forapproval of development for municipalities;cumulative impacts of changes on the naturalenvironment; and, implementation andmonitoring plans. Subcatchment IWRM plansare custom-designed for local conditions andconcerns. Recommendations may subsequentlybe incorporated into official land use plans,secondary plans, growth management plans,or other municipal planning instruments.Tributary plans: These are prepared to guideproposals for significant land use changessuch as proposals for subdivisions, intensiveagriculture or industrial estates. These usuallycover an area between 2 to 10 sq km. Ideally,the boundaries of a tributary plan match thedrainage basin of a tributary, but in practicethis does not always occur. Tributary plansnormally document the environmentalresources; establish environmental protectiontargets for ground and surface water, aquaticand terrestrial communities and streammorphology; identify Best ManagementPractices, including those for stormwatermanagement; define or refine areas to beprotected and/or restored; identify locationsfor future stormwater management facilities;and identify future site-specific studies andmonitoring needs. Recommendations fromtributary plans usually appear in secondaryland use plans, and in official land use planamendments.Environmental site plans: These provide detailson proposed environmental and stormwatermeasures, and are usually submitted alongwith other plans for grading, erosion/sedimentcontrol and site servicing. Typical features aredetailed designs for stormwater managementfacilities; detailed designs for environmentalrestoration works (e.g., stream protectionworks); identification of constraints such assignificant wood lots, wetlands or hazardlands; sediment and erosion control plans;detailed geotechnical and water resourcereports; delineation of grading limits andJOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY WATER RESEARCH & EDUCATIONUCOWR