A grassroots group known as the Mono Mulmur Citizens' Coalition (MC2) held an educational event last Saturday (April 28) so area residents could learn the role of conservation authorities.

The group started in 1988 as the Mulmur Association of Residents and Ratepayers when some residents there felt there was a lack of public participation in municipal processes. A large development proposal in 1999 prompted the start of the Mono Citizens' Coalition and in 2000 the two groups joined to show strong opposition to the Province's bid to amalgamate the municipalities in Dufferin.

The group brought the general manager of Conservation Ontario, Don Pearson, Nottawasga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) CAO Wayne Wilson and Chair Fred Nix as well as Credit Valley Conservation Authority (CVC) representatives Bob Shirley and Gary Murphy to give presentations and answer questions Saturday morning so residents could get a better grasp of their role in protecting the environment.

MC2 chair Harvey Kolodney said with the provincial Places to Grow Act forcing the county to grow by 40 per cent over the next 25 years the area's water resources will face enormous pressures and it's important to start raising awareness on what happens with water resources and for conservation authorities (CAs) to continue guarding it.

"Conservation authorities protect our future," he said.

Mr. Pearson presented those present with a quick overview of Conservation Ontario. He said it represents 36 CAs that are funded by members and contracts with different levels of government.

With 90 per cent of Ontario covered by watersheds, he said, each authority protects rivers, lakes, streams, woodlands, wetlands and natural habitats and promotes learning and respect for the environment.

He said with regular development it's important for CAs to work with municipalities to protect flood prone areas and wetlands as those are critical to the stability of the watershed. CAs own 300 acres of land across the province, which is mostly environmentally protected or are wetlands. Mr. Pearson said CAs are interested in water quality and quantity, forestry, source water protection, natural heritage, watershed stewardships and recreation and education.

He said CAs want to build partnerships with municipalities, provincial and commercial agencies and landowners to deliver their programs and services. CAs act as a planning advisory service for municipalities.

Mr. Nix said there are three main departments for the NVCA, planning, land and stewardship and engineering.

When it comes to planning, he said, there is a lot of friction between property owners and the NVCA. Mr. Nix said when the NVCA offers comments on proposed planning developments, zoning amendments, etc. they are looking out for the good of the broader public, while the landowner is often looking out for them self.

The land and stewardship department is where the NVCA does a lot of its good work he said, such as planting trees and offering grants to residents who fix up their property.

The engineering department's biggest function is its science program he said. This is where rain, forest and surface water is monitored among other things.

There are three issues affecting CAs said Mr. Nix. The first is funding. He said without more funding CAs cannot carry on with their mandates. CAs bring in revenue through planning fees, which are very high said Mr. Nix, but he also said they have no choice but to do that.

The second issue is planning. He said some area municipalities hate dealing with the NVCA and would rather not have the local CA involved in the process. However, Mr. Nix said the NVCA is needed in this process because it is the only one looking at proposals from an environmental focus.

The last main issue is the Clean Water Act, which Mr. Nix said he supports 100 per cent. But he doesn't like how the provincial government has set it up. The government is establishing a source protection committee to come up with tools and approaches to implement watershed-based source protection plans, which Mr. Nix thinks is unnecessary as CAs already do that.

The presentation was given to Mulmur Council Tuesday and will be presented to Mono Council on May 22.