Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority

About the Company

OUR ORIGIN: Municipalities within the Mississippi River watershed petitioned the province to form a conservation authority in the 1960s with the MVCA established in 1968. The Conservation Authorities Act, 1946 had created a way for municipalities to form a jointly managed authority to undertake natural resource management on a watershed basis for the benefit of all.

The province had approved the Act in response to concerns raised by agricultural, naturalist and hunting groups regarding the ‘unhealthy state’ of Ontario’s renewable natural resources.  Poor land, water and forestry practices combined with drought had led to extensive soil loss and flooding across the province.  The Act create a way for municipalities to collaborate for the protection and management of natural resources.

MVCA TODAY: Municipalities continue to jointly administer the MVCA by appointing members to sit on the Board of Directors.  The MVCA is largely funded by annual municipal levies, with the balance of funding coming from user fees, grants and contributions, donations, and special project fees. The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority operates under the following provincial laws, regulations and policies:

Conservation Authorities Act, 1990
Regulations 97/04
Regulation 153/06
Ministerial Regulation under the Drainage Act
Bill 229
Provincial Policy Statement, 2020
2021-2025 Corporate Strategic Plan
2021-2025 Implementation Plan
Administration By-Law 2021