Provincial Special Grants
ERCA receives provincial Special Grants to deliver provincial programs, including the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup (provincial funding is matched with federal funding for ERCA to coordinate the Detroit River Remedial Action Plan), projects under the Canada Ontario Agreement to monitor phosphorous in priority watersheds through the Kingsville Leamington Nutrient Study, and support for agricultural stewardship programs to help achieve targeted reductions of 40% in Lake Erie. ERCA also receives support from the Province through the Community Museum Operating Grant for the John R. Park Homestead. These provincial special grant programs were supported in 2019 and are confirmed for at least part of 2020, though future support continues to be a concern.
Landowner Incentives
Recent cuts to funding for restoration, tree-planting, and wetland and prairie restoration which ERCA received and directed to landowner incentive programs, will likely impact future restoration of the region's natural areas, in the absence of increased funding from other partners including the federal government. In addition to losses of provincial support for projects, the federal government funding for some aspects of our farm stewardship programs has diminished significantly. As a result, many of the farm related services such as the creation of buffer strips to improve water quality may be eliminated.
Overreliance on External Funding
Improving water quality and overall watershed health is critical to our region and requires support for positions that undertake the research, monitoring, and partnerships; and for managing and maintaining data information systems. The information collected and gathered is relevant to watershed management, and contributes to evidence-based decision-making.
However, ERCA is distinctly different from its municipal partners and other Conservation Authorities in how it has historically financed these programs, and its board-approved mandate. Unlike municipal operations, levy funding supports less than 40% of ERCA's operations and programs, with the other 60% funded through various Provincial grants, including the Drinking Source Water Protection program and the Section 39 Operating Grant and Federal grants are all identified as concerns.
This overreliance on external funding means these programs, which are core to improving and maintaining the health, safety and sustainability of our region are almost entirely funded through external grants. This also means that these programs, while producing beneficial outcomes, apply to areas where funding is available, not necessarily in those areas with greatest need or greatest priority. At the same time, reductions or eliminations in funding as identified above mean key initiatives are no longer supported or significantly reduced. While Administration continuously seeks additional resources through external funds, stable financial support is crucial in developing knowledge, so that the region's environmental problems can be addressed.
Capacity to Act and Respond.
ERCA, not unlike municipalities and other agencies, is facing numerous capacity pressures including: increased landowner/stakeholder interaction in a number of departments; increased volume of development and planning applications; compliance-based reporting and monitoring; increased visitation to conservation areas, and outreach and stewardship.
In addition, because of ERCA's expertise and knowledge of watersheds and hydrological conditions, municipalities are requesting that ERCA participate in, or coordinate resource studies, master drainage plans, Environmental Assessments, and other operational initiatives. ERCA's technical knowledge of our watersheds and the complex legislative and regulatory environment is both valued and necessary to ensure development is sustainable, responsible, and proactively addresses and anticipates issues. ERCA's involvement on these initiatives is primarily with municipalities, and as such, there is limited cost recovery mechanisms to support staff. As the focus of our corporate approach continues to shift to a more proactive planning process, additional staff capacity will be required in municipal plan input and review.
The 2020 Draft Budget addresses cuts to provincial supports that funded this capacity and has not provided for any additional capacity to review and issue permits and respond to planning applications, address ongoing compliance and best-practice initiatives relating to H&S, MFIPPA and general administration, HR, Finance & IT/IS. The lack of capacity will continue to place demands on watershed management staff, and administrative and support staff