HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-04-20, Page 28Page 6 --Valleys and People
el's Creek
Continued trout page 5
DEVELOPMENT TO DATE
In addition to the planning that
has tagen place at Naftel's Creek,
there have been several small
projects undertaken at the site.
In October 1982, a parking lot
was developed on the property,
directly adjacent to Highway 21.
This parking lot, an information
kiosk and trail signage were
completed with the financial
assistance of a federal -provincial
supplemented Parks Program.
The Authority's major concern
in 1982, was to put in a parking lot
which would help alleviate road-
nserv
side parking problems. In future,
if use of the Conservation Area
warrants an increase in parking
facilities, then this can be easily
accommodated.
Work scheduled on the
property during 1 '.3 includes the
trail marking, as previously
mentioned, and some limited
trail maintenance on several
specific segments of the trails.
PUBLIC INPUT
No planning process is com-
plete without the input of ttie
people who we are planning for;
the residents of the Maitland
Valley watershed. The planning
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stage is the most important time
to have your opinions heard;
when your viewpoints can have
the most impact, before the
master plan for the area is com-
pleted. What we would like to
know from you is: WHAT
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE
FOR THE PROPERTY IN THE
LONG TERM? and WHAT DO
YOU THINK OF WHAT HAS
BEEN DONE SO FAR?
Public open houses will be
scheduled later in the spring of
1' r,3 to discuss these ogstions. If
you would like more uiiibrmation
on Naftel's Creek Conservation
Area, or would like to send your
comments on the development of
the Area, please write or phone
the Conservation Authority's
office, Box 5, Wroxeter, 335-3557.
Development objectives for Naftel's
`reek Conservation Area
FORESTRY: to develop both
woodlot and plantation man-
agement programs for the site
in order to improve
1. timber production
2. wildlife habitat
FISHERIES: to develop a stream
improvement program through
strearnbank erosion control
work
COMMUNITY RELATIONS: to
develop an out door inter-
pretation program
RECREATION: torovide ex-
tensive forms of day use rec-
reation through the develop-
ment of cross-country skiing
and hiking trail systems
private
property
parking
area
private
property
725
48.85 ha.
725
700
700
725
NOTES and LEGEND f
1. RED PINE
1111 2. MIXED CONIFER
3. CEDAR WOODS
4. MAPLE
5. CEDAR LOWLANDS
t
101
Z TAMARACK
8. WHITE PINE
9. REGENERATION AREA
WOODS F 10. BRUSH
<j•
a
11. BEECH
6. WETLAND FOREST I 1 12. MIXED
WOODS
PATHWAY (along rradl system
VEGETATION INVENTORY
4
N
Maitland Valley
Conservation Authority
NAFTEL'S CREEK
CONSERVATION AREA
SCALE
(1 11) 2O 5Om
MA P
N.C.C.A.
In September of 1982, the Ontario government
nounced the planning policies which municipalities
conservation authorities are to follow for regula
land use in floodplain areas.
These policies are to be used as a planning guid
local governments to ensure that future housing
other -developments will not be subject to an unacc
able level of flood risk.
The objectives of these provincial policies are
prevent flood related loss of Life, minimize prop
damage and social disruption and to, encourag
coordinated approach to land use and waterman
men
The Province has delegated the responsibility of
plementing these policies to the local municipali
and the conservation authorities.
To meet this responsibility, the Maitland Va
Conservation Authority has established. a com
hensive floodplain management program. The pur
of this program is to assist municipalities in identif
floodprone lands and to implement measures to red
the effects of flooding where development is affect
This assistance takes the form of providing fl
warnings to municipalities, providing funds for cap
projects such as channel improvements and
acquisition of floodprone developments.
In this article we would like to take time to outlin
more detail the criteria and policies which have
set out by the Provincial government.
FLOODPLAIN DEFINED
First let us examine what qualifies as a floodplain
floodplain is the relatively flat area of land besid
river or stream. It is an area naturally prone to fl
ing. This land is actually part of a river's living spa
which it uses from time to time to carry extra wa
that enters its system. Because of the area's susce
bility to flooding, buildings constructed within
boundaries are most liable to water and -or ice dama
FLOODPLAIN BOUNDARIES
Because every flood is different, the Province has
out artificial standards for calculating the limits of
floodplain.
In the Maitland watershed this standard is based.
the flooding which would occur aS a result of
"Regional Storm." The "Regional Storm" is ba
upon the conditions which occurred when Hurric
Hazel caused a devastating flood in the Humber Ri
Valley in Toronto in 1954. These conditions are tr
posed over the Maitland watershed to determine
limits of the floodplain. While this standard is fa'
high, the Province allowed some flexibility in its po
options for municipalities and conservation authori
to use in planning floodplain lands.
This flexibility allows for the Authority and
municipality to identify another -flood line .based -o
lesser flood event in areas where there is extens
development already in the floodplain. This le
REGIONAL
A FLOODLINE
Typica
of a Ri
FLOOD
FRINGE
CHECK BEFORE YOU DIG—H you are planning
renovate a building; place fill on property near
or alter a watercourse you should first contac
Valley Conservation Authority to see what th
flooding is, and if there are any regulations you
abide by. REMEMBER: floodplain regulations a
tection and will ensure that your investment wi
tected in the event of a flood.