Page Content Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Goals and Recommendations Goal 1 - Ensure that people, properties and communities remain sufficiently protected as climate conditions changeComplete a corporate risk scan to identify LSRCA functional areas, operations, and assets that are vulnerable to extreme weather eventsConvene a meeting of partners of the Low Water Response Program to determine how to improve the program in light of climate changeUndertake research to map potential impacts of climate change on groundwater levelsScreen for risks to municipal surface water intakes from contamination as a result of extreme events under climate change conditionsWork with the Province and local municipalities to develop / update intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves that consider climate changeCreate regulatory floodplain mapping as well as design storm or event-based floodplain mapping based on updated IDF curvesDevelop design storm or event-based inundation mapping to consider future climate change impactsExplore options to increase coordination and collaboration with partners on existing early detection and rapid response programs to water quality threatsWork with the Province to review water balance policies for developments to ensure that they consider climate impactsGoal 2 - Increase watershed resistance and resilience to climate change through conservation, restoration, and improvement of natural ecosystemsInvestigate the need to develop guidelines for natural channel design to consider climate changeWork with partners to increase forest resilience to climate change through the implementation of recommendations from the ‘Adapting Forestry Programs to Climate Change’ reportCollect data on the success of plants and trees established through our programsReview the Minimum Planting Requirements to ensure they use climate-resilient plantingsUse models/tools to identify and prioritize areas where groundwater recharge is necessary and will be most useful to protect areas vulnerable to climate changeWork with partners to increase the biodiversity of urban wildlife habitats to adapt to shifts in the timing of life cycle events and other climate impactsCollaborate with partners to develop an Invasive Species Strategy that considers climate changeDesign restoration projects based on design guidelines, modelling, prioritized opportunities, long-term monitoring and watershed plans which consider the influence of climate changeGive preference to restoration projects that also address climate change impacts.Review restoration best management practices to ensure that they are capable of addressing emerging climate impactsGoal 3 - Enhance knowledge of the watershed’s natural environment and its response to a changing climate through science and monitoring for informed and adaptive decision-makingSupport LSRCA departments in incorporating climate impacts into their programs, services, and productsModel in-stream processes to further understand the vulnerability to erosion, infrastructure damage, and phosphorous transport under future climate conditionsUse the results of watershed-scale stormwater optimization modeling to assist planning of stormwater infrastructure (grey and green) under climate change conditionsInvestigate whether the 90th percentile storm event will change significantly under climate changeConduct a stream vulnerability assessment to identify thermal refugiaIncorporate climate change adaptation into LSRCA’s Natural Heritage System Restoration StrategyUndertake research to further understand the impacts of climate change on aquatic communitiesReview current monitoring programs to ensure data collection and analysis of climate, groundwater, and surface water systems are fully integratedDevelop a robust terrestrial natural heritage monitoring program for the watershedGoal 4 - Facilitate partnerships and connect people to the watershed in order to build awareness and capacity to adapt to a changing climate in the Lake Simcoe watershedCoordinate with MECP to ensure that updates to the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan and Lake Simcoe Phosphorous Reduction Strategy incorporate climate changeEngage citizens on their role in keeping the watershed healthy in the context of a changing climateWork with municipal partners to undertake climate change risk assessments of urban street trees, and associated risks to public safety or public infrastructureEnhance LSRCA erosion and sediment control initiatives to consider climate impactsInspire watershed landowners to increase the resilience of coldwater habitats on their propertiesEngage farmers, farming associations and OMAFRA through knowledge exchange meetings to learn how they are adapting to climate changeEngage the Trent-Severn Waterway as they update their watershed plan or rating curve to consider climate change impactsWork collaboratively with partners to maximize efficiencies and ensure a comprehensive watershed scale approach to climate change adaptation