2019 Achievements
- • Received and issued more than 1,300 permits, including over 300 for shoreline maintenance as a result of record high water levels in Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie. This is an increase of over 750 applications from 2015.
- • Responded to over 1,300 Miscellaneous Development (MD) inquiries related to a questions about property matters, or from prospective purchasers with questions concerning a potential property purchase.
- • Implemented new Client Centric service standards for high growth area Conservation Authorities and reaffirmed ERCAs Client Services Standards Policy to align with Conservation Ontario Client Services Standards guidelines.
- • ERCA consistently meets and reports annually on Ministry service level standards of a 20-day turnaround for permit reviews and will update its resporting standards to also reflect new, more timely, Conservation Ontario standards and processes.
2020 Actions
- • Undertake a 3rd party Fee Analysis for planning and development services including consultation engagement and with municipalities, Windsor Heavy Construction Association and the Windsor Construction Association, and Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation in review and recommendations for program delivery
- • Continue to improve excellence in client services by seeking ways to reduce review timelines in keeping with Conservation Ontario Client Services Standards guidelines.
- • ERCA anticipates permit numbers to remain high as a result of sustained damages to existing protection systems through 4 years of increasingly high water levels and storm events.
2020 Pressures
- • Increasing growth and development in the region.
- • Increased demand on compliance staff as it relates to legal action
- • Development services review operates at a 65-70% cost recovery basis. Currently, ERCA does not charge fees for miscellaneous development inquiries, making higher or full cost recovery difficult to achieve.
WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING
Managing the risks associated with the natural hazards of flooding and erosion is one of the primary roles of conservation authorities under the Conservation Authorities Act. We fulfill this role through the delivery of multiple natural resource management programs and services, including flood plain management and mapping, water and erosion control infrastructure planning, and stormwater management.
2019 Achievements
- • Finalized Stormwater Management Guidelines with municipalities to ensure a consistent set of standards for managing stormwater designs and submissions.
- • Reviewed with municipalities the status of current WECI projects (Lakeshore and Windsor) and pursued potential opportunities for future funding of WECI projects with municipalities(Amherstburg and Essex)
2020 Actions
- • Coordinate regional Hazard Mapping Scoping and Prioritization program with Municipalities, City of Windsor and County of Essex
- • Assist in the development of Shoreline Management Plans in Lakeshore, Leamington and continue to lead the Little River Hazard Mapping study at the request of the City of Windsor
- • Work with partners to develop short- and long-term plans to address the existing and expected impacts to our region as a result of current and future water levels, flood and erosion hazards, and climate change.
- • Explore opportunities to build Green Infrastructure Design Guidelines into Regional Stormwater Management Guidelines.
- • Work with Kingsville to ensure Greenhouse policies and greenhouse developments address stormwater and drainage as part of the overall municipal drainage scheme and watershe.
2020 Pressures
- • Increasing growth and development in the region.
- • Increasing involvement and leadership of special studies with limited capacity