• Home
  • Site Map
  • News
Invest in Norfolk County
Norfolk County Economic Development
Contact | 800-699-9038
  • Text Size A A A
  • Toggle Contrast:
    Twitter
    Visit Us
    Follow Me
    Tweet
    Facebook
    Facebook
    fb-share-icon
    Instagram
    Pinterest
    Pinterest
    Pin Share
    YouTube
    YouTube
    Trip Advisor
    • Advantages
      of Norfolk
      • Infrastructure
      • Location
      • Pride & Innovation
      • Quality of Life
      • Vision
    • Stats &
      Demographics
      • Our Economy
      • Communities
      • Farm Data
    • Key
      Industries
      • Agriculture
      • Manufacturing
      • Tourism
    • Properties
      & Process
      • Industrial Parkland
      • Properties Available
      • Surplus Properties
      • Maps
      • Development Process
      • Green Light Team
    • Incentives
      & Supports
      • Business Incentive Grants
      • Entrepreneur of the Year
      • Expand & Relocate
      • Film Liaison Office
      • Start and Operate Alternative Accommodation
      • Student Start Up Program
      • Other Governments
    • Workshops
      & Events
      • Workshops
    • Request
      a Meeting
    • About Us
      & News
      • Contact Us
      • Awards
      • News
      • Strategy Review

    Provincially Significant Wetland Update

    May 12, 2019
    Provincially Significant Wetland Update

    The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing approved the Norfolk County Official Plan
    Five Year Review in October of 2018. Through this approval, the Provincially Significant
    Wetland (PSW) designation was updated; as such, Planning staff are now proposing to
    update the PSW Zone such that it matches the Official Plan designation.

    PSW mapping is provided to Norfolk County by the Ministry of Natural Resources and
    Forestry (MNRF). Norfolk County implements this mapping through the PSW
    designation in the Official Plan and the PSW Zone in the Zoning By-Law.

    The PSW Zone was first implemented through Zoning By-Law 1-Z-2014. Prior to this
    By-Law, which combined the previous four Zoning By-Laws for Norfolk County into one,
    a PSW Zone did not exist in Norfolk County. A significant amount of research and public
    consultation was completed prior to the establishment of the PSW Zone. This is the first
    update to the PSW Zone, and updates do not frequently occur. Municipalities are
    directed by the Provincial Policy Statement, 2014 (PPS) to prohibit development within
    PSWs, which is why it is important to ensure accurate mapping.

    Wetlands are defined in the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System (OWES) Southern
    Manual as, “Lands that are seasonally or permanently flooded by shallow water as well
    as lands where the water table is close to the surface; in either case the presence of
    abundant water has caused the formation of hydric soils and has favoured the
    dominance of either hydrophytic or water tolerant plants”. The MNRF uses the OWES to
    designate wetlands in Ontario.

    Wetlands serve many important functions, including the following:

    • Water storage, which can replenish soils and streams during dry seasons;
    • Provide reservoirs during heavy rains, which prevents flooding;
    • Stabilizing shorelines and controlling erosion;
    • Purifying water;
    • Providing habitat for many species of plants and animals, including an estimated
      20 percent of species at risk in Ontario;
    • Mitigating the effects of climate change by storing carbon; and,
    • Providing tourism and recreation opportunities, such as canoeing and kayaking.

    Southern Ontario has lost over 72 percent of its wetlands, and the Federal and
    Provincial governments have both recognized the importance of preserving these
    features. Norfolk County is proposing to update its PSW Zone mapping, which will
    prevent further loss and degradation of these important features.

    Staff Report DCS 19-45, on the Council Agenda of May 14, 2019, is available here.

    For more information, contact the Planning Department at 519-426-5870.

    Twitter
    Visit Us
    Follow Me
    Tweet
    Facebook
    Facebook
    fb-share-icon
    Instagram
    Pinterest
    Pinterest
    Pin Share
    YouTube
    YouTube
    Trip Advisor
    About the Author
    Social Share

      Recent News

      • Export Readiness Seminars January 27, 2020
      • Dynamic speakers tabbed for Economic Development Symposium January 27, 2020
      • Employers wanted for Multi-Sector Job Fair March 2 January 21, 2020
      • Annual Report 2019: Norfolk County Tourism and Economic Development January 21, 2020
      • SWIFT announces high-speed broadband projects in Norfolk County January 20, 2020

      News Categories

      News Archives

      Norfolk County Logo

      Norfolk County
      Economic Development
      185 Robinson St., Suite 200
      Simcoe ON  N3Y 5L6 Canada
      Contact Us
      Call 1-800-699-9038

      Development News

      Subscribe to Development News email bulletins

      Browse Latest News

      Links

      Norfolk Tourism
      Norfolk Farms
      Norfolk County
      EDCO
      EDAC

      Contact Us

      • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
      © 2019 Norfolk County Economic Development
      Designed & Developed by Interkom Inc.