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WATERSHED PLANNING
Our staff have effectively assisted in blending eco-system based water management objectives into upper and lower tier planning documents to implement a top-down planning process in conformance with provincial planning policies and guidelines. Watershed planning is an environment-first approach to land use planning which utilizes watersheds and subwatersheds as the biophysical basis for planning and management. As the preferred approach to analyzing ecosystems, it considers the complexity, biodiversity, and inter-connectedness of natural systems taking into account the dynamic nature and finite capacities of ecosystems. It allows ecological conditions to determine the nature and extent of land use planning and development applications rather than allowing site-specific applications to influence or impact broad-scale land use planning or natural heritage features.
Our firm is committed to continued improvement in watershed planning. It has allowed us to blend ecosystem-based water management objectives into upper and lower tier planning documents to implement a planning process in conformance with Provincial Planning Policies and guidelines. We have completed municipal-driven and development driven watershed plans in various areas of the province for development. Recent government legislation and legal proceedings have highlighted the necessity of proper watershed management. PEIL, using a multi-disciplinary approach, welcomes the opportunity to complete your (sub) watershed study. | ||
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Watershed planning has allowed our firm to set the stage for development applications. This allows ecological conditions to determine the nature and extent of land use planning and development application rather than allowing site-specific applications to influence or impact broad-scale land use planning exercises or natural heritage features.
The key to watershed planning is a balanced approach to ensuring that environmental, social and economic issues are addressed. It therefore analyzes abiotic, biotic, and cultural landscape within the drainage area. Furthermore, watershed planning has the economic benefit of avoiding costly remedial actions by providing early guidance that seeks to avoid ecological damage. This approach is important because streams, lakes and groundwater are sensitive components of the environment, often the first to be adversely impacted by poor management practices. 