Proceedings of the Source Water Protection Symposium 2007:  The How, Why and Who of Source Protection

April 18th - 19th, 2007, Best Western Airport West Hotel, Toronto, Ontario

The Watershed Science Centre planned and organized this symposium targeted at government, academia, other jurisdictions and core agencies involved in Source Water Protection.  The purpose of symposium was to facilitate the transfer and exchange of information.

The symposium brought together Source Water Protection practitioners, policy makers, researchers and potential members of local source water protection committees to discuss the challenges of implementing plans for Source Water Protection.  

Symposium Agenda (PDF)

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Presentations

The symposium's plenary presentations described various models for implementing source water protection in North America, and the scientific basis for Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) for protecting our sources of drinking water.

Presentations
Title	Speaker & Organization	Slides
Evolution of the Newfoundland & Labrador Source Water Protection Program	Paula Dawe, Watershed Management Specialist, Newfoundland & Labrador Department of Environment & Conservation
Implementation of Source Water Protection Programs in New Brunswick	Paul Wilson, Manager-Water Planning Section, New Brunswick Department of the Environment
Ontario’s Approach to Source Protection Planning: The Clean Water Act, 2006	Ann Marie Weselan, Program Coordinator - Source Protection Approvals, Ontario Ministry of the Environment
First Nation Perspective on Source Water Protection	Chief Kenny Blacksmith, Founder/Executive Director of Gathering Nations International, a First Nations Registered Charity Organization, Cree Nation of Quebec
Intake Protection Zones (IPZs) in the Great Lakes: Scientific, Environmental Engineering, & Practical Considerations for Protecting Sources of Drinking Water	Dr. William Snodgrass, Water Infrastructure Management, City of Toronto
Identifying & Protecting Recharge Areas	Steve Holysh, Senior Hydrologist, Conservation Authorities Moraine Coalition
BMPs for Applying Municipal Biosolids and Manure to Agricultural Land	Dr. Ed Topp, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Mitigating Risks Through Stormwater Management	Dr. Andrea Bradford, School of Engineering, University of Guelph

 

Expert Panel Discussion

Each panel member provided an overview of their involvement and experience with practical approaches for eliciting public participation for source water protection. Their opening remarks were followed by a general discussion, and question and answer period. A summary of the each panel members opening remarks can be accessed by clicking on the speakers name (in Adobe PDF format). A link to each panel members home organization is also provided by clicking on the name of the organization.

Panel Members
Name & Title	Organization	Remarks
Joe Bonnell, Director-Watershed Management	Ohio Watershed Academy: Ohio State University
Rick Findlay, Director - Water Programme	Pollution Probe
Jessica Ginsburg, Special Projects Counsel *	Canadian Environmental Law Association	Link #1
		Link #2
Lorrie Minshall, Source Protection Program Director	Grand River Conservation Authority

* Note regarding Jessica Ginsburg's presentation:

(1) Jessica outlined CELA's response to OMOE's discussion paper on the construction of Source Protection Committees under the Clean Water Act; and (2) gave an introduction to the Water Guardian Network.

 

Break-out Group Summaries

The break-out discussions addressed the challenges of implementing programs for source water protection including discussions on appropriate methods for engaging the public in this planning process.

Break-out Groups
Group	Topic	Summary
1	How do we work together? Source Protection Planning within the technical guidance framework of the OMOE?
2	How do we implement source protection in rural Ontario?
3	How do we implement source protection in urban Ontario?
4	Source Protection committees: challenges of implementation.
5	Science based decision making: do we have the science to make the decisions? (coming soon)