As of April 1, 2024, Conservation Halton must review and make decisions on applications for permits in accordance with Part VI of the Conservation Authorities Act and Ontario Regulation 41/24. This required amendments to CH’s Policy Document entitled “Conservation Halton (The Halton Region Conservation Authority) Policies and Guidelines for the Administration of Part VI of the Conservation Authorities Act and Ontario Regulation 41/24 and Land Use Planning Policy Document April 27, 2006 (last amended, June 21, 2024)” to reflect this new framework
Where discrepancies exist between the text of the legislation or regulation and the information provided within Conservation Halton’s existing Policy Document and Interim Policies and Procedures, the text of the legislation and regulation will prevail.
In reviewing and commenting on planning and permit applications, Conservation Halton staff follow policies and procedures approved by the Board:
- CH Policies and Guidelines for the Admin of the CA Act and OReg 41-24 and Land Use Planning Policies (last amended June 21, 2024)
- Procedures Document for Permit Application Reviews Pursuant to the Requirements of Section 12 of Ontario Regulation 41-24 (June 21, 2024)
- Conservation Halton Client Service Standards Policy (June 2024)
In addition, we use the following technical guidelines, best management practices and documents.
Guidelines:
- CH Guidelines for Slope Stability Assessments for Valleys, June 2024
- CH Guidelines for Stormwater Management Engineering Submissions, June 2024
- CH Guidelines for Landscaping and Rehabilitation Plans, June 2024
- CH Guidelines for Wetland Water Balance Assessments, June 2024
BMPs/Documents:
Spill Flood Hazard Policy Review & Update
Under the Conservation Authorities Act and Ontario Regulation 41/24, Conservation Halton (CH) regulates development in spill flood hazards (“spills”). Spills occur when floodwaters leave a watercourse, its valley and floodplain, and continue to flow overland in multiple directions before rejoining the same watercourse downstream or spilling into another watershed. Spills often move through areas where riverine flooding may not be anticipated and can flow in complex patterns. CH has an interim policy for development in spills but is undertaking a review and update of this policy.
In March 2022, CH shared a discussion paper as the initial stage of the spill policy review and update process to provide the public and stakeholders with background information on spills and to engage on the policy approaches that CH could take to deal with development in spills. In November 2022, CH’s Board endorsed the Spills Flood Hazard Policy Directions Report, which includes an overview of the feedback received on the discussion paper and staff’s recommended policy approach/direction for managing risk associated with development in spill flood hazards along with supporting rationale.
Draft Spill Flood Hazard Policies and Technical Companion Document
In September 2024, CH’s Board endorsed proposed draft spill flood hazard policies and a supporting technical companion document for public engagement. The draft policies and technical companion document were created following the directions previously endorsed by the CH Board and are based on a risk-based approach to guide development activities within spill flood hazards. For more information about our policies and the supporting rationale please refer to the staff report (page 38).
A brief presentation summarizing the proposed approach is available here
Get Involved
We invite you to share your input on the proposed spill flood hazard policies and the supporting technical companion document. Staff will document and assess all input received during the response window. This feedback will help to inform recommendations to the CH Board (expected in late 2024 or early 2025) on the approval of new policies.
Please send your feedback to policy@hrca.on.ca by November 1, 2024, and include “Spill Flood Hazard Policy” in the subject line.