Watershed-based Resource Management Strategy

The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) developed a Watershed-based Resource Management Strategy (Watershed Strategy) to guide the delivery and enhancement of its programs and services and improve efficiencies and their effectiveness in supporting mandatory programs of the Conservation Authorities Act. The Watershed Strategy will effectively guide the NPCA in managing watershed resources sustainably.

The NPCA Watershed Strategy aligns with the 10-year Strategic Plan and focuses on enhancing watershed health, fostering climate resilience, and integrating stakeholder input while maintaining NPCA’s Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) approach. Key issues addressed in the strategy include climate variability, growth pressures, biodiversity loss, invasive species, and water quality impacts.

Mitigation Strategies

1. Strengthen the IWM approach through monitoring, data collection, planning, and stewardship.
2. Enhance restoration, education, and outreach programs rooted in IWM principles.
3. Build partnerships with municipalities, Indigenous communities, landowners, and other stakeholders.
4. Expand financial support through diverse funding strategies and collaboration with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation.

Engagement Highlights
The Strategy was developed through extensive public and stakeholder engagement, gathering feedback via meetings, surveys, and online portals. Key themes included climate change adaptation, funding constraints, and urban development impacts.

As you read through the Watershed Strategy, you will find:

• NPCA's vision for the continued protection of natural systems and mitigation of natural hazards in the communities it serves.
• Guiding principles and objectives from NPCA's Strategic Plan, which informs the design of programs and services;
• Summary of information NPCA relies on to directly inform and support program and service delivery; and
• Issues and risks which may limit effective delivery of programs and services, and actions to address these.

Review Cycle
The Watershed Strategy will be reviewed every five years to ensure adaptability to changing environmental, socioeconomic, and legislative conditions.

This living document ensures NPCA remains proactive in preserving the Niagara Peninsula watershed's health and meeting evolving conservation needs.

Your participation was key to the success of NPCA’s Watershed Strategy and we thank you for participating in this important project.

While the engagement period has now ended, we welcome you to use the Q&A tool below if you have any questions related to this project.

For all other inquiries not related to this project, please visit https://npca.ca/contact.