An Examination of Watershed Planning and Headwaters Bioregionalism: The Case of the Oak Ridges Moraine, Ontario
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Authors
Carrier, Michel
Date
2022-08-02
Type
technical report
Language
en
Keyword
Watershed Planning , Collaborative Planning , Regional Planning , Environmental Planning , Bioregionalism
Alternative Title
Abstract
The Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) is an irregular ridge, stretching 160 kilometres from the Niagara Escarpment in the west to the Trent River in the east. The Moraine contains the headwaters of more than 65 watercourses that drain north into Georgian Bay, Lake Simcoe, Lake Scugog, and Kawartha Lake, and south into Lake Ontario. These watesheds are inlcuded in the jurisdictions of nine Conservation Authrities. This report investigated headwater bioregionalism and its impact on land use planning in the ORM. More specifically, this report:
• Examined the evolution of the institutional frameworks guiding watershed planning in Ontario;
• Described the conceptual and theoretical foundations of bioregionalism;
• In the context of bioregionalism, characterized the headwaters bioregionalism approach employed in the ORM; and
• Explored the Conservation Authorities Moraine Coalition’s (CAMC) influence on applying bioregionalism within environmental planning in southern Ontario.
This research provides insight into how headwater bioregionalism is used as a collaborative framework for managing natural resources and growth on a regional scale, through a watershed-based approach. Moving forward, interested organizations in the headwater bioregional approach to regional planning and growth management should identify mutually shared natural resources at a regional scale which crosses multiple jurisdictional boundaries that might benefit from a more integrative planning process. Bioregionalism approaches should be considered to address regional environmental issues that go beyond an organization’s jurisdictional and resource capacity. Partnerships and collaboration are required to apply the bioregionalism approach.