The evolution of integrated water management in Ontario: The cases of the Ganaraska region and Grand River Conservation Authoritie

Assessments of the Conservation Authorities of Ontario have been varied. Some have identified them as an innovative and advanced approach to the management of water resources, while others have maintained that they are unaccountable and inappropriate public managers. This study describes and assesses the evolution of integrated water management strategies employed by two Conservation Authorities, the Ganaraska Region and the Grand River. This is done in order to document, compare, and contrast the nature, scope, functions, activities, strengths, and weaknesses of the programs which have been implemented by these two agencies.;Information was collected from published sources which included annual reports, newspaper articles, memoranda, financial statements, meeting minutes, and policy statements. Interviews were also conducted with key individuals in the Conservation Authority program and selected provincial line agencies. An analytical framework to assess the activities of the Conservation Authorities was developed from literature on river basin management and evaluative research. This framework utilizes the criteria of process and substance to evaluate the development of the Conservation Authorities program.;The study concludes that integrated water management in Ontario reached its zenith between 1953 and 1960. Before that time, restricted financial arrangements available to, and inadequate staffing of, Conservation Authorities prevented them from being effective. Since 1960, less collaboration between Conservation Authorities and other public agencies, means biased financial arrangements, significant personality conflicts, and inadequate funding have precluded the effective delivery of services by Conservation Authorities. In addition, integrated water resource planning has not been widely practiced by the Province of Ontario and Conservation Authorities since 1972.;The implications of the study are twofold. First, the Province of Ontario should develop a visible provincial water policy in order to provide normative goals, objectives, and decision guides for all public agencies. Second, the Province of Ontario should enhance collaborative mechanisms among all relevant participants in resource management through Conservation Authority advisory boards. Since the membership on these advisory boards is not limited to Conservation Authority representatives, they can be utilized to promote ongoing discussions among relevant public and private interests. In the absence of these two initiatives, it is suggested that the Provincial Government re-orient the programs of line resource agencies in order to facilitate greater municipal input into the budgetary process.