Hamilton Harbour RAP
What is the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan?
In 1987, the International Joint Commission (IJC) designated 43 Areas of Concern (AOC) or environmental hotspots around the Great Lakes. Hamilton Harbour was designated as an AOC at that time.
In 1992, a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for Hamilton Harbour was developed with a set of actions intended to improve harbour water quality and environmental conditions to get off the AOC list.
The plan includes recommendations for:
- Water Quality and Bacterial Contamination
- Urbanization and Land Management
- Toxic Substances and Sediment Remediation
- Fish and Wildlife
- Public Access and Aesthetics
- Education and Public Information
- Research and Monitoring
The Hamilton Harbour RAP is a community based plan that was developed by over 50 stakeholders including: federal, provincial and local government, the Hamilton Port Authority (formerly the Hamilton Harbour Commissioners), the Hamilton and Halton Conservation Authorities, the steel industry and other business/commercial interests, the Hamilton Naturalists Club and other environmental interest groups, members of the general public, etc. These stakeholders each bring a different set of interests to the table and one of the challenges of the RAP process is to balance the combination of these interests and still maintain a healthy aquatic ecosystem.
In 2000, the RAP Stakeholders Forum began updating the original RAP recommendations. As part of this, greater definition was given to recommendations related to Urbanization and Land Management. Any improvements to the environmental quality of the harbour must now include watershed planning. Top
What is Watershed Planning?
Watershed studies help us understand natural ecosystems: how important they are, how they relate to one another, whether they are healthy or in unhealthy condition and whether opportunities exist for them to improve.
Watershed Planning establishes a set of rules for development, engineering and community design. This makes final development approvals more predictable because the targets are known in advance.
Watershed studies require political commitment, in order to ensure that all stakeholders in a watershed participate in a group decision-making process. Without political commitment there is nothing to ensure that results of a watershed study will be put into action.
We need to change deeply ingrained thoughts such as "flush and forget it." Watershed planning will help us change the way we look at our environment and teach us how to better work together. Top
Who Prepares Watershed Studies for the Hamilton Harbour?
The Hamilton Harbour Watershed is approximately 49,400 ha. in size. Watershed management plans have been completed for the Spencer, Grindstone and Red Hill Creeks. These studies were led by the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority, Conservation Halton, and the Region of Hamilton-Wentworth respectively.
These Plans will help to predict impacts of land use changes in the Hamilton Harbour Watershed. This information should lead to an improved ability to balance interests, when making decisions about how land is to be used.
The Watershed Planning Network is one area in which the results of the three watershed management plans will be shared and compared. Finally, a watershed management planning document for the entire Hamilton Harbour Watershed will be the result of this work. Top
What is the Hamilton Harbour Watershed Planning Network?
The Hamilton Harbour Watershed Planning Network was formed in 1996 and is made up of representatives from local and regional municipalities, conservation authorities, BARC, BAIT, Hamilton Harbour RAP, and environmental organizations. The City of Burlington is represented by Planning and Engineering Department staff members. Its mission is to promote sound planning, management, stewardship and remediation measures in the Hamilton Harbour Watershed ecosystem.
The WPN helps to avoid duplication and promote consistency in watershed planning and management across municipalities in the watershed area. It also provides a forum for open discussion of issues, priorities, techniques and data related to watershed planning.
For more information about the Hamilton Harbour Watershed Planning Network please contact Rosalind Minaji at the Planning Department at 905-335-7642. Top
Related Web Sites of Interest
Hamilton Harbour Fish and Wildlife Restoration Project
Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan
Hamilton Region Conservation Authority
Waterfront Regeneration Trust