Mississippi Valley Conservation Answers Some Common Questions

If you have a property on or near Mississippi Lake there is a good chance that you or one of your neighbours has dealt with your municipal office, Mississippi Valley Conservation and/or another environmental agency for a development project. The rules and regulations for waterfront development can seem overwhelming.

Conservation Authorities, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) each have laws and regulations for various types of work or activities at or near the shoreline. The municipalities also have regulations in their Official Plans and Zoning By-laws that the type and location of structures at or near the shore. Depending on the type of project and where it is located you may require approvals from one or more of these agencies.

When are permits required from Mississippi Valley Conservation?

Mississippi Valley Conservation (MVC) regulates development within the flood plain (the low lying area where nature stores floodwaters) to ensure that residents do not put themselves and their properties art risk. MVC also regulates activities right at the shoreline to ensure that the work will not result in or aggravate existing erosion problems or result in harmful impacts to the near shore and aquatic environment. The types of activities that may require an MVC permit include, but are not limited to:

• Filling activities including the placement or excavation of fill, grading and septic systems

• Construction in the flood plain including new buildings, additions onto existing buildings, decks, new foundations, and other construction projects

• Shoreline stabilization work, retaining walls, docks, boathouses and other shoreline work

The first thing to do when planning work on your waterfront or near water property is, to discuss your project with MVC and determine whether a permit is required. If you do require a permit, MVC may recommend a site inspection to review your plans. We will look at the project in terms of flood hazards, slope instability, potential erosion concerns, and potential impacts on fish habitat and other significant natural features. MVC staff will also provide you with advice to complete the application and site plans and to help you design the project so that it meets with current environmental standards.

What sorts of things will MVC recommend when they review my project?

The following are some of the things that MVC looks for in approving waterfront projects:

• Ensuring that new structures in the floodplain are adequately flood proofed by placing floor levels above flood elevation and by restricting the construction of living space (basements) below flood levels;

• Limiting the amount of additional fill that is placed in the flood plain - this helps to prevent increased flood levels, local drainage problems and erosion and sedimentation;

• Maintaining adequate setbacks from the water - this helps to protect the health of the lake by providing filtration and uptake of nutrients from septic systems and fertilizers

• Replacing the hardened shoreline approach, such as concrete or timber retaining walls, with a more natural approach, using rock and vegetation that replicate the original natural shoreline

If you are planning a project that might need a permit from Mississippi Valley Conservation, or if you have questions about waterfront development, please call
(613) 259-2421 or visit our website at mvc.on.ca