Flood Plain Management
A flood plain is land near a lake or river that is flat or low-lying and tends to flooding when there are overflows.
Floods are most destructive in that part of the flood plain known as the floodway, where the water flows fastest.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) provides a number of services relating to flood plain management within its watershed boundaries. It is our mandate to reduce risk to life and property, reduce potential social disruption, and protect the environment from naturally occurring flooding and erosion.
For flooding information and flood messages please visit this link:
Flood and Erosion Control Structures
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority's Flood Plain Management services involve the maintenance and operation of existing flood control and erosion control structures which have been built by our partnership with watershed municipalities and the Province of Ontario. These structures were built to protect existing development from the hazards of flooding and erosion.
A long-term inspection and maintenance program ensures that these structures can continue to function as originally designed. By using experienced staff to inspect and maintain these structures, most problems can be detected and repaired at an early stage thereby reducing the risk of structure failure or more expensive repairs in the future.
Services include:
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Monitoring watershed conditions for drought or flood forecasting purposes
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Providing emergency planning advice
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Warning watershed municipalities of impending flooding conditions
Providing technical advice in relation to lakeshore erosion and agricultural land erosion and, stream bank and municipal drain erosion concerns.
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Environmental planning includes comments on significant natural areas, flood plain lands, steep slopes, erosion rates, and faulty septic systems (in portions of Middlesex County only), the need for stormwater control, buffer strips, and wildlife corridors linking existing natural areas.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority staff provide comments applicants and appropriate agencies for such things as plans of subdivision; severances; official plans; zoning bylaws; municipal drainage reports; and environmental assessments.