Watershed Management

What is a Watershed?

A watershed is an area of land that catches rain and snow and drains or seeps into a marsh, stream, river, lake or groundwater. Homes, farms, cottages, forests, small towns, big cities and more can make up watersheds. Some cross municipal, provincial and even international borders. They come in all shapes and sizes and can vary from millions of acres, like the land that drains into the Great Lakes, to a few acres that drain into a pond.

Watersheds come in all sizes

We live in the Great Lakes watershed. Within this larger watershed are a number of smaller watersheds managed by Ontario's 36 Conservation Authorities. Today, Conservation Authorities deliver programs and services that protect Ontario's watersheds, ensure healthy Great Lakes, help us to adapt to climate change, manage the impacts of flooding and/or erosion, and protect important sources of drinking water for Ontario's more than 13 million residents.

The Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority (SSMRCA) watershed is located in Northern Ontario. The watershed consists of the municipality of Sault Ste. Marie and Prince Township that drains into the St. Marys River through tributary creeks and rivers. The heritage of this watershed has been recognized by the designation of the St. Marys River as a Canadian Heritage River.

What is Watershed Management?

Watershed management in its simplest terms means managing wisely upstream so that downstream remains natural and healthy. The Conservation Authority model has received worldwide recognition over its 50+ year history and the watershed is now recognized as one of the premier natural ecosystem units on which to manage resources.

The responsible care of our natural resources and wildlife on a watershed basis is essential to balancing human economic needs against the needs of our natural environment. We all need a vibrant environment in order to ensure that we have plenty of clean water and a healthy ecosystem. As caretakers of our environment, we need to continue to devise approaches to plan, promote and implement stewardship practices that protect and restore natural resources.

Conservation Authorities have a long history in working with landowners in the planning and delivery of watershed stewardship initiatives.

Conservation Authorities:

Develop technical tools to monitor and assess the state of our watersheds
Provide advice and technical assistance
Promote community involvement
Build partnerships with all levels of government, environmental groups, businesses, residents and landowners
Create educational resources

Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority Watershed

watershed map