Following last week’s provincial budget, the Lower Trent Conservation and other conservation authority programs are dealing with a 48% reduction in funding.
The cuts are effective immediately.
LTC CAO Glenda Rodgers says they rely on provincial funding to help maintain delivery of flood management programs.
The Lower Trent Conservation jurisdiction is over 2,000 square kilometres.
Rodgers says the reduction from $133,329 to $68,830 in natural hazards funding is going to be particularly challenging for Lower Trent Conservation.
She also says the province has proposed changes to the Conservation Authorities Act which may bring about changes to the programs they deliver.
Conservation Authorities have a variety of responsibilities around flood management in Ontario. These include:
- Forecast flooding and issue warnings
- Monitor streamflow, rainfall and snow packs
- Floodplain mapping
- Manage and operate $2.7 billion in flood infrastructure such as dams and dykes
- Provide planning support and advice to the province, municipalities and the federal government to minimize flood impacts
- Regulate development activities in floodplains
- Contribute to municipal emergency planning and preparedness activities as well as recovery activities
- Inform and educate the public about flooding
- Protect, restore and rehabilitate natural cover that contributes to reducing the impacts of flooding
