Late last month, many people in the North Dundas community and indeed, throughout the broader local area, were in a frenzy over the proposed drastic increase in designated wetlands under a new wetland mapping consultation process. South Nation Conservation was one of the agencies that gave notice that it would be designating a significant amount of new land as wetlands, which essentially makes these lands untouchable (even by private property owners) without express permission from the Conservation Authority.
Landowners were – unsurprisingly – in an absolute tizzy over this. Williamsburg farmer, Steven Byvelds was one of the outspoken critics of the proposal. “I understand that using technology to start the mapping exercise is smart and efficient,” said Steven. “However, once that is done, ground truthing must be done with the landowner to ensure that the proposed wetland meets the regulation definition. I am hearing that this is not the case.”
Indeed, many people from all walks of life were opposed to the sudden and wide-reaching increase in wetland mapping. The Times heard from several concerned residents – not only farmers, but residential landowners as well.
In a refreshing spin that shows the “power of the people”, the wetland mapping update process has now been paused by the Province of Ontario.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Natural Resources, I request that you immediately pause your current wetland policy and mapping update process,” said Jennifer Keyes of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in a letter to local Conservation Authorities. “During this interim pause, we will work with you and the membership of your conservation authority over the coming months to clarify the application of the regulation within your jurisdiction and develop any needed guidance or locally-responsive approaches to the regulation of wetlands, in consultation with municipalities, landowners, businesses, the agricultural community, and the public.”
The original wetland mapping update process began April 1, in response to new provincial regulations that required locally significant wetlands to be mapped as provincially significant wetlands, in addition to existing wetland mapping. An open house meeting at the SNC office was promptly cancelled following the news of the mapping process being paused. Landowners had been given a deadline of July 11 to object to newly proposed wetlands. It is not yet known when the mapping process will resume, or what the new deadline for appeals will be.
