Watershed Plan

A Watershed Plan helps municipalities and other interested parties understand the current condition of water and land resources in the study area and plan for the future health of the watershed.

The Watershed Plan is a priority action item in the County's 2023-2026 Strategic Plan due to growth pressures in various areas across the County.

The County’s Watershed Plan was adopted by County Council in August 2026 and is available in three parts:

• Volume 1: Watershed Characterization
• Volume 2: Watershed Planning and Management Guidance
• Map Book

Purpose

The County’s Watershed Plan has been completed at a high level using available resources and is intended to:

• document the extent and condition of forests, wetlands, streams and groundwater in the study area.
• consider anticipated environmental stressors and land use changes (such as climate change and urbanization).
• identify high-level strategies and tools to help maintain, and in some cases improve, environmental conditions in the watershed in the face of these stressors and land use changes.
• address the requirements of the Provincial Planning Statement (2024) related to watershed planning.
• provide a basis and framework for more detailed priority-based subwatershed studies in the future, focused on areas planned for growth.
• inform sustainable growth and infrastructure planning on a County-wide scale.

Engagement

Engagement took place from March 2025 through to June 2026.

Representatives from the Williams Treaties First Nations, governmental agencies, utility companies, academic institutions, lake associations, land trusts and other interested environmental organizations from within and around the County were engaged to gather data and perspectives, and provide input on the draft documents.

An Engagement Summary is available which summarizes what was heard throughout the duration of the project.

Presentations

June 24, 2026 – Presentation to County Council

March 19, 2025 – Presentation to County Council