SEVERN SOUND REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN

QUICK LINKS: Midland Water Levels...Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship...SSEA Watershed Map (1.2 mbs)...Beach Postings and Closures

Severn Sound was one of 17 places on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes which are known as “Areas Of Concern” (AOC) because of degraded water quality. The Severn Sound is located in southeastern Georgian Bay and includes major population centres in Midland and Penetanguishene. The watershed covers an area of approximately 1,000 km².

In each AOC, a Remedial Action Plan was developed to identify and control sources of pollution and report on the cleanup. Between 1987 and 2003,  Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Environment were working with other federal and provincial agencies and local stakeholders in the Severn Sound area to complete a Remedial Action Plan (RAP). The purpose of the RAP is to restore and preserve the beneficial uses of Severn Sound for the present and the future.

Severn Sound is considered a model among RAP areas because of the extraordinary support from local municipalities and the public through the Severn Sound Environmental Association.

On January 22, 2003, the Canadian Minister of the Environment and Minister of Foreign Affairs transmitted a letter to the International Joint Commission, formally announcing that Canada has removed Severn Sound from the list of Areas of Concern. 

The following remedial actions have been implemented to improve water quality and restore wildlife habitat in the Severn Sound Area of Concern: 

• Improve sewage plant efficiency 

• Upgrade private sewage systems

• Reduce stormwater supply

• Reduce agricultural sources of pollution

• Reduce erosion

• Reduce impact of marine activities

• Protect and improve fish and wildlife populations and habitat

• Prevent contamination 

• Incorporate RAP concerns into official plans
  

Download the SSRAP Stage 3 Report (4.9 mbs) for:

• the strategy implemented to restore beneficial uses and meet locally defined goals in an Area of Concern (AOC). 

• the evidence that beneficial uses of the area have been restored 

• a discussion of the rationale to delist the AOC despite some uses remaining “impaired.” (Canada Ontario Agreement, COA 1995).

• the conclusions of the RAP Team, the Public Advisory Committee, the local municipalities, the public at large, the Agencies’ Technical Review Team, and the federal and provincial governments.

• the rationale to remove the designation of “Area of Concern” from Severn Sound

Thank You to the community of Severn Sound...
 

Additional Informationt: Environment Canada - Severn Sound Delisted Area of Concern and The SSRAP: 10 Years of Hard Work Pays Off