Integrated watershed management and Ontario’s conservation authorities

Abstract

In Ontario, integrated watershed management has evolved into a fragmented, multi-agency environment that has made effective management difficult. In the 1990s, two approaches emerged – a local voluntary approach based on informal agency partnerships, and a regulatory approach established in provincial legislation. This paper describes the successes, challenges and lessons learned by drawing upon the experiences of Ontario’s conservation authorities. Key lessons learned include the need for an interactive planning cycle and a multi-stakeholder decision-making process. While significant progress has been made in the practical application of integrated watershed management, significant challenges remain including the lack of a comprehensive policy and inadequate resources.