GRCA board approves 2021 budget

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) will invest almost $32 million this year on programs that protect life and minimize property damage from flooding and erosion, improve the health of the Grand River watershed, connect people to the environment through outdoor experiences and manage its land holdings responsibly and sustainably.

The budget was approved by the GRCA board on Friday, February 26, 2021. The board is made up of 26 members appointed by the municipalities in the Grand River watershed.

Municipalities will contribute about $12.2 million in general municipal levy to the GRCA in 2021; about 38 per cent of the GRCA’s total budget. The municipal levy portion is increasing by 2.5 per cent, which works out to an average of approximately $11.09 per watershed resident; an increase of 12 cents per watershed resident in comparison to the 2020 budget. The municipal levy portion of the budget is allocated to each member municipality using the “Modified Current Value Assessment” as outlined under Regulation 670/00 of the Conservation Authorities Act.

Other federal, provincial and municipal government grants totalling just over $3.5 million represent 11 per cent of the budget. This includes funding for major maintenance of water control structures, the source protection program, floodplain mapping projects and rural water quality landowner grants.

The GRCA generates about 43 per cent of its own revenue through sources such as camping fees, park admissions, nature centre programs, hydro sales, property rentals, tree sales, planning permits and donations raised by the Grand River Conservation Foundation (GRCF). Finally, eight per cent of the total budget in 2021 will come from GRCA reserves.

“The GRCA, like all conservation authorities and organizations across the province, continues to face a number of challenges in 2021,” says GRCA Chair Chris White. “This budget focuses on maintaining the programs and services that deliver on our strategic priorities and our shared vision of a healthy watershed, while taking into consideration the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the evolving role of conservation authorities in Ontario.”

Some specific highlights of the 2021 budget include:

Capital spending on Water Resources Planning and Conservation Areas

In 2021, the GRCA’s capital spending budget for water resources planning includes expenditures for water quality monitoring equipment, software systems and gauge equipment for its flood forecasting and warning program, as well as major maintenance for dams and dikes. Conservation area capital spending includes expenditures as part of the regular maintenance program, as well as spending on major repairs and new construction. In 2021, some of the major capital projects planned within the conservation areas include: expansion of the north side gate house and new fencing at Elora Gorge, and bridge replacement and Harris Mill masonry repairs at Rockwood.

Drinking Water Source Protection Plan

The GRCA continues to work on the updates and implementation of a Drinking Water Source Protection Plan for each of the four watersheds in the Lake Erie Source Protection Region, including the Grand River watershed, as part of the provincial Source Protection Program under the Clean Water Act, 2006. Along with supporting municipalities and other agencies in implementing the plans, the focus in 2021 will continue to be completing updates to the Grand River Source Protection Plan. This includes the development of water quantity policies, updating water quality vulnerability assessments, and the development of the annual progress report for the Grand River Source Protection Plan.

Hazard tree management

In April 2018, the GRCA received approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to use up to $1.8 million from its Land Sale Reserve for hazard tree management over a three year period. This funding has allowed the GRCA to accelerate its program of tree risk management to ensure the health and safety of the public using GRCA lands. Use of this funding is approved until March 31, 2021.

Challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic

In 2021, the GRCA will continue to manage the challenges resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Self-generated revenues impacted significantly by the pandemic are Conservation Area operations and the Outdoor Environmental Education program.

Full details of the GRCA 2021 Budget are provided in the February 26, 2021 board report.

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Media contacts:

Lisa Stocco, GRCA Manager of Communications
Phone 519-621-2763 x2316  |  Email lstocco@grandriver.ca

Cam Linwood, GRCA Communications Coordinator
Phone 519-621-2763 x2251  |  Email clinwood@grandriver.ca