South Nation Conservation Authority - What Is A Conservation Authority?

Volunteer Riverwatchers analyze water samples along the South Nation River. Riverwatchers is just one of the numerous programs and initiatives developed by South Nation Conservation to preserve and protect the watershed.

There's a lot that goes on in the background to keep your local environment safe and healthy. For instance, who makes sure that lives and property are protected from flooding, erosion and other natural hazards?

And how about the fish and the wildlife? Their natural habitats have to be protected so they'll still be around years from now. Then, there are the forests and wetlands to manage, because they're essential to a healthy environment.

There's also monitoring and tracking the quality and quantity of water resources to help ensure a safe supply of clean water, as well as planning and engineering, and maintaining recreational and conservation areas. To handle the responsibility and work, 36 conservation authorities like South Nation Conservation operate across Ontario.

South Nation Conservation is responsible for one of the largest watersheds in Ontario. Simply put, a watershed is an area of land that is drained into a body of water. The South Nation River begins north of Brockville and empties into the Ottawa River near Plantagenet. All of the land drained by the river is called the South Nation Watershed, an area of nearly 4,000 square kilometres that includes 15 different municipalities. In some cases, watersheds will also include sub-watersheds, like the Hoasic Creek watershed in South Dundas, which flows into the St. Lawrence River.

South Nation Conservation has a mandate to conserve, restore and manage the water, land and natural habitats of the watershed. This is done through programs and projects developed in partnership with municipalities, landowners and organizations.

The mandate also includes ensuring that residents are provided with ample opportunity to experience, enjoy and appreciate the resources of the watershed. SNC operates and maintains seven conservation areas and parks, as well as boat launches, canoe routes and trails.

So who pays for all of this? Conservation Authorities are partially funded through a tax levy on the municipalities within the watershed. In the case of South Nation Conservation, the levy amounts to about ten dollars per home - a tiny price to pay for clean water, healthy and abundant forestry, and the protection of your local environment. Funding for projects comes from provincial and federal government grants, and from partnerships with businesses, organizations and individuals. Volunteers play an essential role in projects and programs.

South Nation Conservation is governed by a Board of Directors made up of 13 representatives from across the watershed. Direction for policy and programs is provided by six citizen committees - Clean Water, Communications and Fundraising, Forestry, Fisheries & Wildlife, Leitrim Wetland Advisory, and McIntosh Park.

Participation on committees is actively encouraged, as are volunteers. If you would like to be involved in protecting our environment, contact South Nation Conservation at 1-877-984-2948, or visit www.nation.on.ca.

For more information, contact Gord Shaver, SNC Communications Assistant at 1-877-984-2948 or email gshaver@nation.on.ca