Essex Region Conservation Authority

Essex Region Conservation Authority
An Overview of Green Infrastructure
Activities and Programs
Developing a Living Green Infrastructure Strategy for Ontario
April 14, 2011
Matthew Child, Essex Region Conservation Authority
Presentation Overview
Conservation Authorities’ Role
ERCA’s Activities, Programs, Projects
Proactive - Protection
Reactive – Restoration
Some Short and Medium Term Priorities
Concluding Remarks
Things are Developing Rapidly – Your Input is Welcome!
Ontario’s Conservation Authorities
Conservation Authorities Act (1946)
Three fundamental principles
Partnerships
Watersheds
Local Governance
Diverse funding – municipal levy (25%), provincial (35%),
federal (8%), fees (11%), landowners/other (21%)
2011 BOARD ORIENTATION
ERCA’s Strategic Plan (2011-2016)
Connect
• Revitalize Conservation Areas
• Increase Natural Areas Coverage
• Link People
Engage
• Rejuvenate Environmental Education
• Build Knowledge
• Serve as a Community Resource
Collaborate
• Build and Strengthen Relationships
• Facilitate
• Provide Leadership
Discover
• Develop Science
• Promote a Green Culture
• Improve Water Quality
Green Infrastructure
Greenways
Restored and constructed wetlands
Urban forests
Rain gardens
Bioswales
Green roofs
Green walls
Permeable and pervious paving systems
Community gardens
Greenways
ERCA maintains 50 km of Chrysler Canada Greenway (since 1999)
Connects Oldcastle, McGregor, Harrow, Kingsville, Ruthven
Additional 26 km acquired in 2007 with development proceeding
Connects townsites of Essex and Amherstburg
Another 31 km of trails are maintained at 19 Conservation Areas
Priorities
Additional rail to trail projects being pursued e.g., CASO line
Link Chrysler Greenway with municipal trail networks
Complete County Wide Active Transportation Study and
implement priority actions
Greenways
Sub-Head (24 pt. Humanist521 BT)
Bullet (24 pt. Humanist521 BT)
Wetlands & Bioswales
ERCA involved in studies and preparation of planning
documents
Multiple purpose stormwater management facilities
ERCA involved in development approvals related to
stormwater
Planning Act applications referred by Municipalities –
application of MOE Stormwater Guidelines
Conservation Authorities Act applications – structures and
placing or grading of fill in floodprone (regulated) areas
Blue Heron (East Riverside)
Central Avenue at EC Row
Wetlands & Bioswales
Priorities
Encourage additional regional, multi-purpose SWM facilities
Prepare Low Impact Development Guidelines
Increased role for Corporate Stewardship
Urban Forest
ERCA is involved in protection of existing urban forest
Acquisition through Clean Water~Green Spaces Program
Preparation of Natural Heritage Inventories e.g., Lakeshore (west),
Tecumseh, Windsor, LaSalle, Amherstburg (Big Creek)
Input to municipal planning documents e.g., Official Plans, Planning
Act applications
Urban Conservation Areas e.g., Devonwood, McAuliffe Woods
Restoration efforts are varied:
Corridors e.g., EC Row plantings
Dozens of parks and school yards through community events
Phased large scale restoration e.g., Malden Park
Community mobilization
Devonwood Conservation Area
Schoolyard
Planting
Malden Park
Essex Region Conservation Authority
2011 BOARD ORIENTATION
Urban Forest
Priorities
Protection of existing forest though planning tools and
acquisition e.g., Clean Water~Green Spaces
Link existing features to the extent possible
Develop passive use recreation opportunities e.g., Spring
Garden Prairie
Increase the role of the Private sector e.g., Jamieson Labs
Essex Region Conservation Authority
2011 BOARD ORIENTATION
Shorelines
Our shorelines make us unique
Soft shoreline restoration
Riparian and aquatic habitat
Multiple purposes and uses
Six Windsor parks (>3 km) plus sites in LaSalle and
Amherstburg
Hatch - Before
Goose Bay Before
Hatch - After
Goose Bay After
Native Plant Demonstration Gardens
Crucial role of community groups and residents
ERCA is involved through our Friends of Watersheds Program
Turkey Creek, Canard River, Cedar Creek, Mill Creek, Wigle
Creek
Assist Little River and Pike Creek groups
Several pilot scale projects have been completed since 2006 in
Windsor, LaSalle, Kingsville, Harrow
Lakeside Park - Before
Lakeside Park - After
Turkey Creek - Before
Turkey Creek - After
Native Plant Gardens
Priorities
Encourage wider scale adoption
Backyard habitat
Partnership opportunities – Municipal parks, Horticultural
Societies, Landscape Ontario, etc.
Community Gardens – By Others
St. Andrew’s Church, Lakeshore
University of Windsor, Windsor
Unemployed Help Centre, Windsor
Windsor Essex Community Health
Centre/STAG, Windsor
Acre of Hope, Harrow
Youth and Family Resource Network,
Kingsville (planned)
Green Buildings – By Others
LEED Designations
Several buildings and at least one
neighbourhood (proposed)
Green Roofs
Ojibway Nature Centre
Our Lady of Mount Carmel School
St. Christopher School
Glengarda
Green Walls
Toldo Medical School, University of Windsor
Leamington Municipal Hall (under
completion)
Porous Pavements
Dr. David Suzuki Public School
Perspectives on a Provincial (and Local) Strategy
Tools – Regulatory, Incentives, Policies
– Green Infrastructure Foundation Manual
Collaboration and technical transfer
Organizational culture change
Scale dependent
Project targeting
Others ???
Acknowledgements
Noushy Tavassoli, City of Windsor
Joe Passa, Passa & Associates
Marianne Haddad, Youth and Family Resource Network
Stan Taylor, ERCA
Caroline Biribauer, ERCA
Thank You
mchild@erca.org
(519) 776-5209 ext. 368