FAQs

What is a watershed?

• A watershed is the land area that is drained by a river and its tributaries. Wherever you are right now, you are in a watershed.

Why are healthy watersheds important?

• Healthy watersheds provide numerous ecosystem services such as supporting biodiversity, providing clean drinking water, reducing flood and erosion hazards, protecting the quality and quantity of water, and improving climate resiliency. Thus, it is important for watershed residents and decision makers to work collaboratively towards protecting and improving the health of our watersheds.

What is watershed planning?

• Watershed planning provides a systematic and comprehensive framework for ensuring healthy watersheds.
• Watershed planning is typically carried out to characterize current and potential future watershed conditions (i.e., health of the watershed), and identify measures to protect, enhance, and restore the health of the watershed and build resiliency to land use and climate changes.
• Watershed planning provides a framework for establishing goals, objectives, and direction for the protection of the water resources, and the management of human activities, land, water, aquatic life, and resources within a watershed.
• Through provincial policy and plans, including the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 (PPS), the Greenbelt Plan, 2017, and the Growth Plan, 2020, the Province directs municipalities to undertake watershed planning to help identify and protect natural heritage features and areas, water quality and quantity, and to help inform municipal land use planning and infrastructure decisions.
• Current proposals for revised provincial policy through a merged Growth Plan and PPS contemplate that watershed planning only be “encouraged” as opposed to “required” to be undertaken by municipalities. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has advocated to the Province that watershed planning’s comprehensive and integrated understanding of natural hazards, water resource, and natural heritage systems is important for municipal growth management and resilience to climate change and therefore should remain a requirement. Additionally, watershed planning also helps inform other TRCA and municipal initiatives including ecosystem restoration planning, land management/acquisition, and low impact development and green infrastructure implementation.

Where is the Humber River watershed located and what are some watershed highlights?

• The Humber River watershed is the largest watershed in TRCA’s jurisdiction and lies between the Etobicoke and Mimico Creek watersheds (to the west) and the Don River watershed (to the east).
• The upper portions of the watershed are largely rural and are part of the provincial Greenbelt and include portions of the Niagara Escarpment and Oak Ridges Moraine. The lower (and some of the middle portions) of the watershed are mostly urbanized.
• The watershed consists of five subwatersheds: Main Humber, East Humber, West Humber, Lower Humber, and Black Creek.
• 14.7% of the Humber River watershed falls within the City of Toronto, 43% falls within the Region of Peel (34.9% in the Town of Caledon, 7.9% in the City of Brampton, 0.2% in the City of Mississauga), 38.2% falls within the Region of York (16.2% in the Township of King, 0.1% in the Town of Aurora, 19.8% in the City of Vaughan, 2.1% in the City of Richmond Hill), 2.2% falls within the County of Simcoe (2.2% in the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio), and 2.0% falls within the County of Dufferin (2.0% in the Town of Mono).
• The watershed is approximately 90,258 hectares in size.
• The watershed is approximately 26.7% urbanized, 40.6% natural, and 32.7% rural, and has 23.1% impervious cover (as of 2020).
• The Humber River was designated as a Canadian Heritage River in 1999 based on its outstanding human heritage and recreational values, and was officially included in the Canadian Heritage River System (CHRS), Canada’s national river conservation program. The CHRS program is a federal-provincial-territorial managed program which works with river managers across Canada to conserve and promote the natural, cultural, and recreational values of designated rivers. The Humber River is the only Canadian Heritage River in the Greater Toronto Area, and is one of only 40 designated heritage rivers in the country.

Is this the first watershed plan for the Humber River?

• No, the last watershed plan for the Humber River, Humber River Watershed Plan – Pathways to a Healthy Humber, and its accompanying Implementation Guide were published in June 2008. It is important to regularly update watershed plans to review progress from previous plans, reflect current conditions, incorporate the latest watershed science, policies, and best practices, and adjust management approaches.

Why is an updated watershed plan for the Humber River necessary?

• Periodic reviews of watershed plans are an integral component of the watershed planning process and allow for adaptive management to incorporate new scientific approaches and to address emerging initiatives.
• Since the last watershed plan, the watershed has experienced changes associated with urbanization and the impacts of climate change. Since many of the issues identified in the previous watershed plan are still occurring, an updated watershed plan using the latest advancements in watershed science and monitoring/inventory data, and modelling/technical analyses was necessary.
• Watershed plans help inform land use and infrastructure planning decisions, while providing an understanding of the natural systems that sustain watershed health.
• Many municipalities are currently reviewing their Official Plans to ensure conformity with provincial policies.

How is the Humber River Watershed Plan being developed?

• The development of the Humber River Watershed Plan will be a multi-year, collaborative effort between TRCA, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, City of Toronto, Region of Peel, Region of York, Dufferin County, Simcoe County, City of Brampton, Town of Caledon, City of Vaughan, Township of King, City of Richmond Hill, Town of Aurora, Town of Mono, and Township of Adjala-Tosorontio.
• It will include:
• Field work and technical analyses to identify existing watershed conditions, culminating in the public release of the Humber River Watershed Characterization Report and Characterization Factsheet in October 2023.
• Potential future management scenario modelling and analysis of potential future management scenarios to assess the impacts of climate change and different potential future land uses (including different levels of natural cover and urban forest canopy, and stormwater management/low impact development enhancements).
• Development of a management framework (as part of the Humber River Watershed Plan) with goals, objectives, indicators, and management actions outlining how to protect, enhance, and restore watershed health. The management framework will be designed to address existing watershed issues and mitigate impacts from potential future land uses and climate change.
• Engagement will take place with First Nations and Indigenous communities as well as with watershed stakeholders, residents, and members of the public throughout the development of the Humber River Watershed Plan.

What is the timeline to develop this watershed plan?

• Work on developing the Humber River Watershed Plan commenced in 2022. Watershed Characterization (Stage 2) was completed in 2023, and it is anticipated that the Future Management Scenarios (Stage 3) will be completed in 2024, and Implementation Planning (Stage 4) will be completed in 2025.
• Engagement will take place throughout the Humber River Watershed Plan development process, including webpage updates, engagement notices, social media campaigns, virtual webinars, etc. to build community awareness and obtain input for the watershed plan. Public engagement surveys were/will also be used to obtain input on issues of concern and possible vision statements for the watershed, and priorities for action to address the key issues facing the watershed, as well as input to the objectives and indicators for the management framework.
• The draft Humber River Watershed Plan (as well as the technical reports including the Watershed Characterization Report and Future Management Scenarios Report) will be circulated to First Nations and Indigenous communities for their input/feedback.
• The draft Humber River Watershed Plan will be available for broader review from watershed stakeholders, residents, and members of the public prior to the finalization of the watershed plan.
• The final Humber River Watershed Plan will consider all input received during the engagement period and will be updated accordingly prior to obtaining endorsement/approvals from municipal committees/councils and the TRCA Board.
• The Humber River Watershed Plan is intended to be in effect for 10 years from when it is finalized and approved.
• Through regular monitoring, reporting, and adaptive management, the Humber River Watershed Plan will be adapted to ensure that the plan remains relevant and active for achieving watershed health while recognizing the broader context.

Who is responsible for the development of the Humber River Watershed Plan?

• Upper and single-tier municipalities, in partnership with lower-tier municipalities and Conservation Authorities, are responsible for watershed planning.
• TRCA is developing the new watershed plan for the Humber River in collaboration with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and our municipal partners (City of Toronto, Region of Peel, Region of York, Dufferin County, Simcoe County, City of Brampton, Town of Caledon, City of Vaughan, Township of King, City of Richmond Hill, Town of Aurora, Town of Mono, and Township of Adjala-Tosorontio).
• Input from additional First Nations and Indigenous communities, watershed stakeholders, residents, and the public has/will be obtained throughout the watershed planning process and will be incorporated into the final watershed plan, as appropriate.
• TRCA undertakes the completion of the watershed plan in collaboration with our partners because of its technical expertise, data, and knowledge of the watershed, and its experience in watershed planning.

Who will be responsible for the implementation of the Humber River Watershed Plan?

• TRCA and partner municipalities will all play a role in the implementation of the Humber River Watershed Plan. Some of the Plan’s management actions will also identify specific stakeholders that will be responsible for implementing select management actions.

Will the Humber River Watershed Plan decide on future land use?

• Watershed plans do not make land use decisions. They are not land use plans, nor do they constitute a land use planning decision.
• The data, scientific analysis, modelling, scenario analysis, and management actions generated through a watershed planning process can be used by municipalities as a systems-based integrated information source.
• The Humber River Watershed Plan is intended to inform municipalities’ work in land use and infrastructure planning including managing natural hazard risks, ecosystem restoration and management, land management and acquisition, best practices for rural land uses, low impact development and green infrastructure implementation, and climate adaptation.

What is the Water Resource System and why is it important?

• The Water Resource System is a system of groundwater and surface water features, areas, and their hydrological functions within the watershed that provide the water needed to sustain healthy aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and human water consumption.

What is the Natural Heritage System and why is it important?

• The Natural Heritage System is a network of all the natural heritage features and areas (i.e., wetlands, forests, meadows, etc.), and linkages that provide habitat, connectivity, and support natural processes, which are necessary to maintain biodiversity as well as ecosystem functions and services.

What are the significant issues in the watershed?

• Based on the technical assessments completed by TRCA as part of watershed characterization (i.e., existing conditions), key issues in the Humber River watershed are outlined in the HRWP Characterization Factsheet.

What are the Humber River Flood Vulnerable Clusters (FVCs)?

• There are seven FVCs located in the watershed (which means there are flood risks in these areas), representing approximately 1.2% of the area of the watershed.
• There are 41 FVCs within TRCA’s jurisdiction that have been ranked based on hazard (i.e., flooding and its probability), exposure (i.e., what is in the way of the hazard), and vulnerability (i.e., how severely the hazard impacts people or property) data.

What is scenario analysis and why is it valuable?

• Scenario analysis is a technical exercise typically undertaken when developing watershed plans to ensure management actions are based on science and the best available information on current and potential future conditions of the watershed.
• Compares and examines a number of potential future management scenarios to assess the implications of potential land use and climate change scenarios as well as various interventions on watershed health.
• Scenario analysis does not result in land use decisions but is intended to inform them.
• Scenario analysis helps to guide potential management actions and inform future land use and infrastructure decision making.
• Potential future management scenarios are currently being developed collaboratively by the Humber River Watershed Plan Steering Committee (consisting of TRCA, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and our municipal partners). The potential future management scenarios will help us assess the impacts of different future land uses and different levels of watershed enhancements (e.g., improvements to stormwater management, increased natural cover, and increased urban forest canopy cover), as well as the impacts of climate change, where possible.

What does implementation planning involve and why is it valuable?

• Implementation planning involves the development of a realistic and achievable management framework with goals, objectives, indicators, and actions outlining how to protect, enhance, and restore watershed health.
• The results of the future management scenario analysis combined with watershed characterization will inform the management framework.
• The management framework will be developed collaboratively with TRCA, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and our municipal partners (the Humber River Watershed Plan Steering Committee). Input from additional First Nations and Indigenous communities, as well as watershed stakeholders, residents, and the public received throughout the watershed planning process will also be incorporated.
• The management framework will be designed to help address existing watershed issues related to the water resource system, natural heritage system, water quality, and natural hazards and to help mitigate and/or adapt to the impacts from potential future land use and climate change.
• Monitoring and evaluation will help to track implementation progress and evaluate whether watershed conditions are improving.
• The implementation planning stage will also involve the development of the draft watershed plan for review by First Nations and Indigenous communities, and by watershed stakeholders, residents, and the public.

What is the public engagement process for the Humber River Watershed Plan?

• The development of the Humber River Watershed Plan will be a highly collaborative process. Effective and meaningful engagement leads to improved watershed planning outcomes. It helps facilitate community buy-in and strengthen support from First Nations and Indigenous communities as well as from key watershed stakeholders, residents, and the public. This helps to garner broader support from policy makers and to facilitate effective implementation by relevant partners.
• The objectives for engagement throughout this watershed planning process are:
• To build relationships with First Nations and Indigenous communities within the watershed as well as to build partnerships with key watershed stakeholders, residents, and the public and identify opportunities for collaboration, coordination, and strategic resource-sharing to improve watershed health.
• To build community awareness on the importance of healthy watersheds and identify opportunities for improved community stewardship of the Humber River watershed.
• To achieve broader endorsement of watershed plan goals, objectives, and management actions to increase the likelihood of effective implementation.
• There are key intervals when TRCA will seek input on the Humber River Watershed Plan. We will provide diverse methods of receiving feedback to make it easier for different groups to provide their input. Here is a brief summary of our engagement activities to date:
• Our webpage provides ongoing project updates.
• We provide progress updates and engagement notifications to First Nations and Indigenous communities as well as to our subscribers/stakeholders list, TRCA’s Board, the Regional Watershed Alliance, and local and regional municipal councillors, and post to TRCA’s social media channels and in various TRCA newsletters.
• In Fall 2022, we administered an online engagement survey and hosted public online webinars to launch and provide information on the development of the new Humber River Watershed Plan and to obtain input regarding the important watershed themes and words to help guide the development of the vision statement for the watershed, the key issues the watershed is facing, and climate or weather-related changes or impacts experienced or observed in the watershed.
• In Fall 2023, we provided a project update and notification of the release of the Humber River Watershed Characterization Report and Characterization Factsheet and Engagement Summary 1, and shared the key messages from watershed characterization.
• Later in 2024, we plan to share the results of the watershed characterization and future management scenarios stages and obtain feedback on the priorities for action to address the key issues facing the watershed, as well as input to the objectives and indicators for the HRWP during engagement sessions (via online webinars, etc.).
• We encourage you to sign up for updates to be notified of engagement opportunities as they arise.

What is an Official Plan (OP)?

• An Official Plan (OP) describes a municipality’s policies on how land should be used. An OP deals mainly with issues such as:
• Where new housing, industry, offices, and shops will be located
• What services like roads, watermains, sewers, parks, and schools will be needed
• When, and in what order, parts of your community will grow
• Community improvement initiatives (Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, 2021)