CAPG - Quinte Conservation Association

Project SummaryQuinte Conservation (QC) is committed to working with its 18 partnering municipalities to develop Drought Management Plans to reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts, particularly drought. Previous work by QC identified our region as vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This became evident in 2016 during our first declared Level 3 drought event. Municipal and residential wells (~50% of our region) and inland lake supplies experienced historically low levels. Municipalities where residents rely 100% on private wells had difficulty identifying alternative sources of water for their residents. Farmers struggled to find alternative supplies to sustain crops and livestock, fire management water sources dried up, and low levels resulted in damaged fish habitat. Our 18 partner Municipalities, local Emergency Management Response Teams, and various municipal departments turned to QC for expert advice and requested Drought Management Plans to help Municipalities to react efficiently and effectively to minimize environmental, social, and economic impacts of a drought. Drought Management Plans will identify measures to be taken in effort to maintain a level of water supply to watershed residents (human and animal), including water restriction by-laws, identification of alternate water sources, methods for communicating the measures, and impact to users. Other environmental benefits include the reviews of QC dam operations in order to best ensure environmental protection of critical fish habitat. Additional flow and level monitoring stations will be installed to better forecast low water. This enhancement will also aid in better forecasting of high water to promote protection through improved forecasting, protection of residents and their properties, development, and ecosystems.Through the development of a plan, Municipalities will be more informed of watershed conditions, be prepared to respond to drought conditions, and have developed communications plans. Overall watershed residents will be more prepared to adapt to a changing climate.