Development and land use planning

Working together: Parks Canada, Municipalities and Conservation Authorities

Regulation under the Ontario Planning Act requires that Parks Canada, as an adjacent landowner, is circulated for comments on development applications occurring on lands adjacent to the Trent-Severn Waterway. Parks Canada reviews development applications to help protect and enhance the natural environment, cultural heritage and scenic values of the waterway and the surrounding landscape. Development applications can include such things as severance of land, minor variance applications and zoning changes. In this role, Parks Canada staff work closely with the Conservation Authorities to coordinate our review and provide advice and recommendations to municipalities and counties on these applications.

Conservation Authorities

There are six Conservation Authorities that provide services and programs along the Trent-Severn Waterway. Waterfront property owners may require approval from one of the Conservation Authorities for permission to do work if property (or part of it) is within the Authorities’ regulated area.

To determine your Conservation Authority, you can use Conservation Ontario website.

Municipalities along the Trent-Severn Waterway

Parks Canada also works closely with the municipalities and counties along the waterway to protect and enhance the natural environment, cultural heritage and scenic values of the waterway and its surrounding landscape. This is achieved through development application review, and contributing to municipal Official Plan reviews to encourage strong land use policies.

Not sure if you live in a municipality that abuts the Trent-Severn Waterway? Below is a list of the upper tier and single tier municipalities, with a link to their respective planning and development webpage (where available).

• County of Northumberland
• County of Hastings
• City of Quite West
• Peterborough County
• City of Peterborough
• City of Kawartha Lakes
• Regional Municipality of Durham
• County of Simcoe
• District Municipality of Muskoka
• County of Haliburton

Resources for a natural and healthy waterfront

Maintaining a natural and vegetated waterfront also enhances the visual setting of this National Historic Site minimizes the impact of waterfront development on the scenic views, cultural heritage and natural heritage values of the waterway. Naturalized shorelines provide habitat for species, protect water quality, provide bank stability, and much more. For more information about good waterfront practices, and working together to protect and enhance this significant waterway, please visit the links below.

10 principles for good development
Developed by the Rideau Corridor Landscape Strategy, this printable handout provides summarized advice on appropriate development along the canal.

The Shore Primer (PDF, 1.5 mb) - Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Learn how to preserve your shoreline's true nature and ways to restore an altered shoreline.

Blue-green algae (Ontario Ministry of the Environment)
Information about blue-green algae: what it is, potential impacts to human health and drinking water, and how to help prevent it through good waterfront practices.

Watersheds Canada
Watersheds Canada is a non-profit organization and registered Canadian charity committed to providing programs to communities across the country that work to engage and help shoreline owners enhance and protect the health of lakes and rivers.