Halifax looks to protect 2 key watersheds with new plans

Halifax is considering a new way to better protect lake and river systems in the municipality, and residents would be among those leading the way.

On Thursday, municipal staff presented recommendations for a new watershed framework to councillors on the environment and sustainability standing committee.

A report said Halifax has 50 watersheds across the municipality. These are areas of land where all water drains into the same river or lake system, or the coast.

Elizabeth Montgomery, water resources specialist with the municipality's environment and climate change team, said staff chose two of these areas for a pilot project where steering committees would create new management plans.

The two pilot sites would include the highly used Dartmouth lakes of Banook and Micmac, and the Nine Mile River watershed that stretches from Timberlea to Prospect.

"This is really important work and this is the work that we should be doing for our municipality," said Coun. Tony Mancini, chair of the environment committee.

"There's passion around the people that … live around our lakes or watersheds, they understand the importance of it."

Montgomery said the steering committees could include environmental groups, developers and academics. Although she said there will likely be conflicting views, decisions will be made by consensus, so the final plan will be something everyone is satisfied with.

"The people who know the watershed best are directly involved in the planning," she said.

Right now the city takes a piecemeal approach to protecting these areas, but Montgomery said there's a pressing need to look at things holistically and address issues at the source.

Montgomery said as the city's population continues to grow rapidly, threats like sediment and bacteria in lakes, and storm-water run-off, will only continue to rise. She also said the plans are important as climate change brings more extreme events like drought and floods.

"We risk losing some lakes for recreation if they become too polluted, if we have algae or other issues that, you know, make them impossible for people to enjoy, and they're such a valuable resource," said Coun. Kathryn Morse.

Pilot would take 2 years

The watershed framework will now go to regional council for final approval.

If it goes ahead, the pilot will take about two years. Then the new management plans will come back to councillors with recommendations about what watershed improvements are needed.