Conservation confusion

We received a complaint from a resident of Laurentian Valley who was concerned about erosion on her property from a nearby river. Because her municipality is not overseen by a conservation authority, there was confusion about the roles of the municipality and the Ministry of Natural Resources in managing any environmental hazards caused by the river and addressing erosion concerns.

RESULT: We determined that the Ministry’s role is to provide technical guidance for managing natural hazards of this sort. We pointed this out to the municipality, and it committed to inspecting the riverbank for fallen trees and signs of erosion, as well as making sure drainage pipes that allow for water overflow from the river were functioning properly. Municipal staff also invited the woman to contact them directly with concerns.