New members for source protection authority

The North Bay – Mattawa
Conservation Authority
News Release

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The North Bay – Mattawa source protection authority has officially appointed nine members to the local committee responsible for developing a plan to protect the quality and quantity of the region’s municipal drinking water sources. The members, who represent various stakeholder groups within the community, were appointed following an extensive application and interview process. Source protection planning is a component of Ontario’s Clean Water Act, 2006 and is being carried out in 19 regions across the province. Facilitated at a local level by the North Bay – Mattawa Conservation Authority, the development of the science-based plan will be led by the local multi-stakeholder committee.

Ian Kilgour (North Bay), George Onley (Callander) and Kathy Parker (South River) will represent area municipalities in the planning process. The economic sector will be represented by Maurice Schlosser (agriculture), George Stivrins (industrial/commercial) and Dennis MacDonald (transportation). The three remaining members-at-large are Lucy Emmott, Roy Warriner, and John MacLachlan.

“I am very pleased with the range of expertise on the committee,” says Barb Groves, Chair of the Source Protection Committee. “We aim to create a science-based plan that meets all of the requirements established by the Clean Water Act and is readily implementable by area municipalities. The diversity of the members’ perspectives and experience will help us create a comprehensive plan that truly meets our local needs now and in the future.”

The source protection committee will be responsible for the creation of a watershed assessment report that identifies significant threats and risks to the source water for the five municipal drinking water systems in the North Bay – Mattawa area The five municipal systems service the communities of Callander, Mattawa, North Bay, Powassan and South River. Upon approval of the Assessment Report, the Committee will be responsible for developing a local Source Protection Plan to ensure the quality and quantity of the region’s municipal drinking water sources. The fifteen municipalities within the North Bay – Mattawa Source Protection Area will then have to implement the plan. The planning process is expected to take up to five years and incorporate several opportunities for formal public consultation.

The inaugural meeting of the North Bay – Mattawa Source Protection Committee will take place at 15 Janey Avenue on December 18th. Further information regarding source protection planning and the committee is available online at www.nbmca.on.ca or by calling 474-5420.

The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) was founded in 1972 by the Province of Ontario and the NBMCA’s 10 member municipalities. A non-profit organization, the NBMCA works closely with the public to ensure the environmental health of the region’s watershed. The NBMCA is one of 36 Conservation Authorities who are members of Conservation Ontario.

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