HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-07-17, Page 5Wednesday, July 17, 2013 •' Lakeshore Advances
Community
Ontarlo's model of flood plain management reduces Impacts of flood events
30 Program provides
economic and
social benefits
through protection of life
and property
Alec Scott
Special to the Lakeshore Advance
sib''eople in some Ontario and
`ria communities have wit-
nessed extretne flooding in the
past weeks and these disasters are
a powerful reminder of the need to
prepare for flood events.
It was a natural disaster in 1954
that prompted municipalities and
the Province of Ontario to start a
program with several facets Includ-
ing flood forecasting, flood
warning, communication and edu-
cation, flood control works, and
preventive environmental land -
use planning. When Hurricane
Hazel hit the Humber River Water-
shed that year, the natural disaster
killed eighty-one people and
caused more than $180 million in
damages. That flood event showed
why the province needed a for-
ward-looking flood plain manage-
ment program of flood forecasting,
mapping, warning, and regulation
to keep new development away
from areas prone to natural haz-
ards such as flooding.
Flooding is the number one
cause for a public emergency in
Ontario. It's not possible to prevent
all impacts of flooding but good
planning can help protect prop•
erty and lives in the case of a storm
event. Effective flood plain Man-
agement is one of the \vays Ansa-
ble Bayfield Conservation helps to
reduce risk to life and property.
'This program of planning and reg-
ulations helps to reduce potential
disruption to people, and to pro-
tect the environment front natu-
rally occurring flooding and ero-
sion. The work of this local
organization includes mainte-
nance of existing flood and erosion
control infrastructure, monitoring
of watershed conditions for flood
forecasting purposes, providing
emergency planning advice, warn-
ing watershed municipalities of
impending flooding conditions,
and providing technical advice In
relation to lakeshore erosion and
rural land.
The conservation authority has
resources such as mapping of flood
limits, data from a watershed mon-
itoring network and volunteer rail
gauge network, and computer soft-
ware to prepare water level and
flow forecasts which can be used
to warn watershed municipalities
of potential floods. In cooperation
with the Ontario Ministry of Natu-
ral Resources and Environment
Canada, the Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority operates a
network of water level and climate
stations throughout the watershed
to respond to precipitation and
snow melt events and forecast
stream flows and water levels
which may affect watershed
residents.
Flood plain management,
illtllllling, a1111 regulation aren't the wiltt'r('1►tlltit'S, shorelines, wetlatals
only tools to help limit the impact a111(1 Ilattlull hazard arras.
of 110011,. Farmers anti other rural i1 Is estimated that Ontario's
landowners are showing leader- flood management program
ship through voluntary steward- reduces the financial impact of
ship projects which help Iltttke the floods on property by at least $ 100
watershed more resilient t0 better 11111100 per year.
deal with weather extremes. Fed-
eral, provincial, and county levels
of government help to stake these
projects possible through grant
programs to assist la:ndhwmers,
Ausable Bayfield Conservation
Authority (AB(;A) works t0 prevent
the loss of life and property due t0
flooding and erosion and t0 con
serve a 11(1 enhu11('1' oat ur0l
resources. Protection from flood •
ing is accomplished in two Hato
ways:
Existing Development
Programs are In place to protect
development that already exists In
areas subject to flooding and era
slon.'1hls Includes maintenance of
historic remedial flood 011(1 ero-
51011 c0111r01 projects 1.11111 m1►Illtl►1'.
ing of watershed conditions.
Conservation authorities have
historically undertaken remedial
flood anti erosion control projects
to deal with the Impact of riverine
flooding, and riverine or valley
Regulation Of erosion, on existing development.
New Development Conservation authorities, In part -
Provincial policy 111(1 regula- nership with watershed nlunict
atolls direct new development p1%11ties and the Province of
away from flood -prone areas and Ontario, inspect flood and erosion
effective stormwater management control structures t0 ensure these
is aimed at ensuring that new structures can continue t0 do their
development doesn't create extra job of protecting existing develop -
potential for flooding. 'Ihe Ausable ment from the hazards of flooding
Hayfield Conservation Authority and erosion.
works closely with municipalities When we issue a flood forecast -
and consulting engineers 00 local ing message, It helps municipall-
stormwater management projects. ties to prepare for, track, and man -
There Is no single solution to pre- age local flooding. This advance
vent flooding and Its Impacts, how- warning helps give municipalities
ever, Ontario Regulation 97/04: the chance to put emergency plans
Regulation of Development, Into operation, evacuate commu-
Interference with Wetlands and tittles if necessary, and secure
Alterations to Shorelines and property In areas that are more
Watercourses is an important tool likely to flood. Emergency Man -
in managing new development so agement Ontario (EMO) develops
it does not adverselyaffect, or is and implements emergency
not adversely afected, by management programs such as
mitigation and prevention, prepar-
edness, response unci recovery and
helps provincial and community
officials develop emergency man-
agement programs and respond to
emergencies. Conservation
authorities are not part of the
direct emergency response effort
but our personnel can provide
information a11(1 expertise In a
supportive role.
The recent flooding events
underline why a robust flood plain
management program is needed
In Ontario and continued invest-
ment is required to keep that pro-
gram effective. Moving forward,
dams will need preventive mainte-
nance and repair, and flood
mapping will need t0 be updated
to use current effective digital
information and tools. Improved
infrastructure, mapping, and infor-
mation technology will benefit
municipalities as they update their
emergency response plans to he
ready for the next flood event.
Responsible planning has
helped to protect local properties
and local people. This bus benefit-
ted the local economy and human
health, The past weeks have
reminded us all of nature's power.
it has also reinforced why this
province started its flood plain
management program almost six
decades ago. We should continue
to show the leadership that has
been demonstrated since the flood
of 1954 and continue to invest in
this Important program for the
benefit of Ontarlans for decodes to
come.
Grand Bend & Area Horticultural Society learn tips to
brow their edible landscapes
Grand Bend Hort Society
"The Best Vegetable Garden
....Ever", was the topic of the Horti-
cultural Society's June meeting by
guest speaker Ron Rossini. Many
members and guests came to hear
this well known speaker. He is a
Master Gardener with the London/
Middlesex Master Gardeners. He has
appeared frequently in local media
as their gardening expert and has
offered up gardening advice to the
public. As a member of the Garden
Writers Association, he has written
numerous gardening articles in local
and Canadlan Journals. Ron is one of
Ontario's more popular speakers for
gardening interest groups in South-
western Ontario, and has also
spoken at Canada Blooms and the
Landscape Ontario Congress. 1 le Is
very involved with local groups, pro-
viding gardening advice to organiza-
tions like the Salvation Army and the
Daily Bread Program. Ron and his
wife's garden, which contains among
other plants, 71 varieties of tomatoes
and 85 varieties of Daylilies, was
recently featured in the May issue of
Garden Central Magazine. Ills big-
gest passion is vegetable and fruit
gardening. His preference for
tomato growing has garnered him
the nickname, "The Tomato Man".
Ron is a realtor, but it was very evi-
dent that his first love is gardening.
Ron gives talks all year long to Gar-
den Clubs and Horticultural Socie-
ties and we were so very fortunate to
have him here in Grand Bend to
share his presentation that offered
tips and techniques to provide the
ii
The Best Vegetable
Garden.. ,Everi
hest conditions for our hack yard
vegetable gardens. Ills topics
included the tnost popular produce
for home gardening, the value of
mulching and raised beds, how to
deal with pest and diseases, intro-
duced row covers and addressed
how hest to deal with fall In the
garden.
Next the members 011(1 guests
had the opportunity to visit and
share their own gardening ventures
during the refreshment break, with
a small business meeting to follow.
Judy Mci)onald, President, shared
()written note to us from Godertch,
thanking us for our donation
towards tree replacement after the
2011 storm, An update on Commu-
nities In 11100)11 Was given by Lintas
Kuntz. Committee Reports
highlighted that the Bus 'Trip on
Idly 4 th was sold out; we had a
very successful Planting I1ay and
have more than filled our Volun-
teer positions for summer gardens'
maintenance. Congratulations
were extended to the Membership
Committee for exceeding their
goals. They proudly announced
210 General Members and 80 (;on1-
mercial Memberships.
An upcoming event is the Annual
Summer Picnic on Monday, July
29th, to be held at the i)ashwoo(i
Pavilion, where Impatiens Awards
of Member's gardens and Volun-
teer Recognition will take place.
All -Inclusive Dinner Tickets are
$15,00 for members and $20,00 for
non-members. Everyone is wel-
come to join 08 for this enjoyable
evening.
Anne Wilson, Program Committee
(;rand )tend & Area horticultural
Society