Huntsville moving ahead with hosting an integrated watershed management workshop
Huntsville Council agreed to move ahead with hosting an integrated watershed management (IWM) workshop, in the July 22nd, 2024, meeting.
Project Co-ordinator, Trevor Donald, used the recent flooding in Toronto as an example of the importance of the issue. He said, “The development decisions made upstream impact flooding downstream.”
He added that consequences can result in a loss of natural habitat with water absorbing wetlands.
Donald requested that Council commit resources to facilitate the IWM workshop initiative, which according to his report, the Town already committed $15,000 for the IWM in 2024.
He advised, “This project, if successful will take the first steps in trying to establish consistent planning and development decisions of the local government level across the Muskoka Watershed, which is an audacious goal.”
According to his report, “Protecting the Muskoka Watershed isn’t just about conservation, it’s an investment in jobs, economic diversity, and the health and wellbeing of communities that rely on the resources critical ecosystems that watershed provides.”
His report adds that the workshop will include 13 lower-tier municipal Council delegates and 3 First Nations representatives.
Mayor, Nancy Alcock, indicated that she attended the first workshop that was held in Bracebridge last February, which was hosted by the Muskoka Watershed Council and included the other lower-tier municipalities and 4 First Nations. She said, “There’s a lot of momentum. Huntsville certainly was keen at the time to host the second one.”
She added that there have been two follow up meetings since the initial workshop. “I think it’s so important if we can get this goal of developing in a court between all of those players… The thing that will benefit most for this is the health of our watershed, which is really critical.”
Councillor, Jason FitzGerald, indicated that the first workshop was a good learning experience. He said, “I think we need to look around the table and neighbouring tables where these decisions are made and come up with fully integrated watershed management system.”
He added, “We’re getting closer but it’s an uphill battle and it’s going to take a lot of time I think… Everything’s going in the right direction.”
