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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-11-25, Page 29thority The clearing and draining of wetlands for agriculture is a continuing practice. These drained lands are often of marginal value as agricultural land. In fact, they would have been of greater value left as wetlands. Wetlands have been shown to help in reducing flooding and runoff as well as providing water quality benefits by filtering pollutants. When such lands are used for agriculture these benefits are lost. The MVCA's programs of natural re- source management are designed to ad- dress the problems of our watershed from floodinv to soil erosion Flood Control and Forecasting The goal of the MVCA's flood control Page 5 -- Valleys & People - Fall 1987 "Working for you in Conservation" 1 1 1 1 1 111111 program is to prevent property damage and loss of life from flooding. The building of structures such as dams and dikes is often seen as the most logical solution to flooding problems. Unfortun- ately the benefits of these structures often are outweighed by the cost. The conservation authority uses a num- ber of techniques to reduce the impact of flooding. One of these is a system of flood forecasting that allows the MVCA to pro- vide warning to watershed municipalities in advance of a flood. This system employs a network of forecast stations located mber Municipalities P 4.1.111111.1.1.11.1 along rivers and streams that record water levels and rainfall. Data from these stations is transmitted to a central compu- ter, at the MVCA office allowing staff to keep track of water levels and forecast flooding. Land acquisition can be an effective means of reducing flooding. The MVCA has purchased developed lands in Turn - berry Township where there was a high frequency of flooding. Removing existing development and stopping future building by acquiring land is often more cost effec- tive than constructing floodproofing. The Listowel Flood Control Project is an example of a structural solution to a flood- ing problem. Listowel has experienced a number of serious floods since the conduit carrying the Maitland River under the town is undersized and deteriorating. A new enlarged conduit is being built to re- place the existing structure and reduce the flooding problem. The best method of reducing future flooding problems is to control new de- velopment in flood prone areas. Water management regulations, administered by the conservation authority, control the and conservation cropping practices. Conservation tillage equipment is avail- able through this program to plant tillage trials. The Reforestation Assistance Program supplies trees, planting and technical ad- vice to landowners. This program is designed to reforest unproductive farm- land and former wetlands. Water Quality Monitoring Monitoring and improving water quality is a concern for the MVCA. The conserva- tion authority co-operates with the Min- istry of the Environment by supplying field staff for monthly water quality sampling in the watershed and through the Maitland Manure Management Program. The Manure Management Program studies rural sources of pollution through water testing and surveys of farmers on their manure management ar,d other farm waste handling practices. Technical ad- vice and information on grants for facility improvements are also provided. Conservation Education Today's school children will be tomor- row's landowners. With this idea in mind STUDENTS VISITING the Wawanosh testing. placement of fill and the building of new structures along streams and rivers. All new development in these areas must be approved by the MVCA. Land Use Planning Through the MVCA resource mapping program, information on the; location of important natural sites such as areas along rivers and wetlands is provided to municipalities for use in the development ofland use plans. These natural areas are important be- cause of the part they serve in maintaining water quality and helping to maintain streamflow levels. The MVCA encourages municipalities to designate these areas for uses that will not interfere with their natural state. Conservation Services The MVCA offers services to landowners aimed at reducing erosion and conserving water through the Conservation Services Program. The Erosion Control Assistance Pro- gram provides technical and financial as- sistance for erosion control along rivers and streams. The Joint Agricultural Soil and Water Conservation Program aids farmers in re- ducing erosion on agricultural land. Staff provide technical advice on conservation tillage, structures to control water runoff Nature Centre carry out water quality the MVCA has developed a conservation education program for students to help in- sure that tomorrow's landowners will be aware of the need for wise resource management. The Wawanosh Nature Centre for con- servation education offers programs to school groups throughout the school year. Children learn to appreciate and respect the natural world as well as gaining an ap- preciation and understanding of resource management principles. Conservation Areas Authority operated conservation areas offer many opportunities to enjoy yourself in the outdoors. Although these lands were purchased to fulfill the resource manage- ment goalsof the MVCA (flood control, erosion control) they also provide areas for picnicking, swimming, fishing and some camping facilities. Check the facili- ties listing in this brochure for complete information. Land Management Within the Maitland watershed are a number of properties managed by the Authority for the protection of wetlands, forest management and wildlife manage- ment. These properties have no facilities but they do provide a variety of recrea- tional opportunities including hunting, fishing, cross country skiing and snow - shoeing.