Home » Introducing the Hamilton Conservation Authority’s Strategic Plan for 2025-2029

Posted: October 4, 2024
Category: News Archive

Introducing the Hamilton Conservation Authority’s Strategic Plan for 2025-2029

We are excited to introduce the Hamilton Conservation Authority’s (HCA) Strategic Plan for 2025-2029. This comprehensive and forward-thinking roadmap will guide our efforts over the next five years, focusing on conserving natural heritage, managing water resources, striving for operational excellence, and connecting people to nature. This plan aims to address the challenges facing our watershed while ensuring a healthy environment for future generations.

It outlines our commitment to achieving our vision of creating a healthy watershed for all and our mission to lead in conservation while fostering meaningful connections with nature. Built upon four strategic priority areas, this plan aims to respond effectively to the community’s needs, recent legislative changes, and the pressures of population growth and development:

Water Resources Management
We are committed to safeguarding watershed health and protecting against natural hazards. Initiatives include floodplain mapping, flood forecasting, watershed stewardship, and climate change monitoring.
Organizational Excellence
We aim to ensure efficient and responsive operations to serve our community best. Focus areas include employee training, technological investments, climate change strategy, asset management, and enhanced communications.
Natural Heritage Conservation
Our goal is to manage and conserve natural areas for future generations. Priorities include land acquisition, wetland restoration, ecological monitoring, and community engagement.
Connecting People to Nature
We are focused on promoting conservation and fostering community connections to natural spaces. Initiatives include inclusive programs, sustainable land management, volunteer engagement, and environmental education.

This strategic plan was developed through extensive consultation with stakeholders, staff, and the public, reflecting our commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and active community involvement. It prioritizes actions in alignment with recent legislative changes to the Conservation Authorities Act. It addresses the challenges of population growth, extreme weather impacts, invasive species, and the increasing demand for access to natural and recreational areas.

Together, we can make a significant impact on the conservation and sustainability of our watershed. We look forward to our continued progress over the next five years.

Hamilton Conservation Authority Strategic Plan 2025-2029

Introducing the Hamilton Conservation Authority’s Strategic Plan for 2025-2029

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Current Water Levels

Water Level Explanations

Flood Status Explanations

	Normal No low water conditions exist.
	Level 1 Water users are asked to voluntarily reduce consumption by 10 percent. Precipitation totals are less than 80 percent of long-term averages and/or 30-day average streamflows are less than 100 / 70 percent (springtime / otherwise) of the minimum of the long-term average monthly flows for summer months.
	Level 2 Water users are asked to voluntarily reduce consumption by 20 percent. Precipitation totals are less than 60 percent of long-term averages and/or 30-day average streamflows are less than 70 / 50 percent (springtime / otherwise) of the minimum of the long-term average monthly flows for summer months.
	Level 3 There is also potential for economic harm to water takers and/or significant harm to the ecosystem. The Hamilton Water Response Team may ask the province to impose mandatory restrictions on those holding Permits to Take Water. Precipitation totals are less than 40 percent of long-term averages and/or 30-day average streamflows are less than 50 / 30 percent (springtime / otherwise) of the minimum of the long-term average monthly flows for summer months.

	Normal No flood conditions exist.
	Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety High flows, unsafe banks, melting ice or other factors that could be dangerous for recreational users such as anglers, canoeists, hikers, children, pets, etc. Flooding is not expected.
	Watershed Conditions Statement - Flood Outlook Early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts calling for heavy rain, snow melt, high wind or other conditions that could lead to high runoff, cause ice jams, lakeshore flooding or erosion.
	Flood Watch Flooding is possible in specific watercourses or municipalities. Municipalities, emergency services and individual landowners in flood-prone areas should prepare.
	Flood Warning Flooding is imminent or already occurring in specific watercourses or municipalities. Municipalities and individuals should take action to deal with flood conditions. This may include road closures and evacuations.