Sault Ste Marie Region Conservation Authority

As a result of poor resource management practices in the 1930s, severe drought, flooding, and soil loss, the Conservation Authorities Act was passed in 1946. The Act provided for conservation authorities to be created by the Province at the request of two or more municipalities within a watershed. One example of historical flooding that lead to the creation of Conservation Authorities took place in 1 954, during which a huge storm referred to as Hurricane Hazel passed through Southern Ontario causing millions of dollars in property damage as well as resulting in the death of 81 people. As Conservation Authorities were created across the provic, public infrastructure was built to prevent flooding and erosion and flood plain regulation was established. The Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority is a corporate body and one of 36 Conservation Authority’s in Ontario which create a network of independent corporate organizations involved in conservation and resource management. Conservation Authorities (CA’s) are known globally for their stewardship of our rivers, lakes and streams through the development and delivery of comprehensive programs that work with nature to protect, restore and effectively manage Ontario’s water resources. Based on Ontario’s system of watersheds, their initial jurisdictions were in water resource management, which later became integrated with wise land use.