Maitland Valley Conservation Authority is First in Ontario to Look at One Hundred Year Erosion Line Through Climate Change Lens

by Bob Montgomery

Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn says a presentation to council by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority at Monday night's meeting was the first in Ontario to look at the one hundred year erosion line through a climate change lens.

Ginn says the one hundred year erosion line, in their case, would affect shoreline properties in Central Huron, Goderich and Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh. Ginn says Maitland Valley is the first conservation authority in Ontario to consider climate change in establishing that one hundred year erosion line. Ginn says that new one hundred year line is not just restricted to historic erosion but includes the impact of climate change in the new 100-year projection. Ginn points out that would include land that currently has buildings on it. 

Ginn says it will probably be very difficult for owners of properties within the new 100-year erosion line to add any new buildings or additions on that property. He says owners of a building already on that property would likely still be able to stay there as long as it's safe but any more development would not be allowed in that area.

Ginn says the decisions to include the impact of climate change in their projections was a very good one on the part of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority.