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Administration and Governance

For information on Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority ABCA Governance and Administration please visit our Governance pages:

The Ausable Bayfield Conservation administration centre and office is located at the Morrison Dam Conservation Area, two kilometres east of Exeter.

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA)
71108 Morrison Line,
R. R. # 3 Exeter, Ontario
N0M 1S5
519-235-2610 / Toll-free 1-888-286-2610
Facsimile (Fax): 519-235-1963

Mission:
Protect, improve, conserve, and restore the watershed in partnership with the community

Vision:
Healthy watersheds where our needs and the needs of the natural environment are in balance

Financial Statements (Audited) for Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA)

The following are the most recent audited financial statements for Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority:

ABCA Fee Schedule

If these bylaws conflict with any provision of the Conservation Authorities Act, the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or a provision of a regulation made under one of those acts, the provision of those acts or regulations prevail:

Documents available in alternate formats upon request.

About Ausable Bayfield Conservation

Introduction to Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA)

The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) is an independent, corporate body in Southwestern Ontario on the southeast shores of Lake Huron. It is one of Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities with the mandate to ensure the conservation, restoration and responsible management of Ontario’s water, land and natural habitats through programs that balance human, environmental and economic needs.

We are governed by the Conservation Authorities Act and have 12 member municipalities: Adelaide Metcalfe; Bluewater; Central Huron; Huron East; Lambton Shores; Lucan Biddulph; Middlesex Centre; North Middlesex; Perth South; South Huron; West Perth; and Warwick. 

The 2,440-square-kilometre area of jurisdiction is largely rural with a population of 45,000 and includes the drainage basins of the Ausable River, Bayfield River, Parkhill Creek, Mud Creek and the gullies between Tower Line in Central Huron and Grand Bend draining directly to Lake Huron. 

This conservation authority proudly carries the banner of being the first conservation authority formed in Ontario. 

Municipalities in the Ausable River watershed formed the Ausable River Conservation Authority (ARCA) in 1946 to deal with serious problems of local flooding, soil erosion, habitat loss, water supply, and water quality. The jurisdiction was enlarged to include the Bayfield River drainage basin and Lake Huron shoreline watersheds in 1972 and the organization's name was changed to Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority.

The mission and vision for Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority were set by a diverse group of 34 community members who created the guiding Conservation Strategy in 2012. 

Our mission is to protect, improve, conserve, and restore the watershed in partnership with the community. 

Our vision is healthy watersheds where our needs and the needs of the natural environment are in balance.

Please visit the Governance webpage to learn more about the guiding documents for the ABCA: 

Map of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority watersheds

Here is a map showing the watersheds of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority area:

Ausable Bayfield Conservation watersheds

Municipalities of the ABCA Watershed Area:

Here is a map showing municipalities of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority watershed:

Municipalities of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation watershed.

Traditional Territory Acknowledgement

The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority acknowledges the original stewards of this land in the Huron Tract Treaty signed by some Anishinaabe in 1827. We recognize that this territory was subject to the Dish with One Spoon wampum, under which multiple nations agreed to care for the land and resources including plants and animals, in peace. As shared stewards of this land and water, the ABCA is grateful to have the opportunity to be in this territory. 

Organization

The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority is governed by the Board of Directors, made up of nine members appointed by the 12 member municipalities. A complement of approximately 30 staff deliver the programs and services. 

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority
71108 Morrison Line, R. R. # 3
Exeter, Ontario
N0M 1S5
Phone: 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610
Fax: 519-235-1963

General mailbox: info@abca.ca 

Contact us:
Departments
Employment

Ausable Bayfield Conservation is an equal-opportunity employer with a dynamic team of experts committed to improving the local watersheds. 

Consider joining our team to:

  • Work with values-driven people
  • Address some of the most pressing local issues for protecting life and property and watershed resources including water quality and quantity, soil health, and habitat for all living things.

Employees enjoy:

  • Competitive salaries
  • Training and professional development opportunities
  • Close-to-nature work environment
  • Free entry to our conservation areas.

Applications from people with disabilities are welcomed and encouraged. 

Annual Reports

An annual report is published each year to highlight programs and events. An electronic copy is available online. 

Hard copies of a summary document are available by contacting our office.

Visit our Annual Reports web page:

Accessibility

The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities and treating people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. The ABCA believes in integration and is committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. This will be done by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and meeting our accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and Ontario’s accessibility laws.

The ABCA Integrated Accessibility Policy and Plan, February 2022 applies to persons who deal with members of the public or other third parties on behalf of the ABCA, whether the person does so as an employee, director, agent, volunteer, student placement, or otherwise and persons who participate in developing the ABCA’s policies governing the provision of goods, services or facilities to members of the public or other third parties. 

The document establishes a framework for compliance with the commitment to accessibility, requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) under the AODA, and additional conservation authority requirements.

Further information is available in the Integrated Accessibility Policy and Plan, February 2022. 

  • Integrated Accessibility Policy and Plan (ABCA) – File pending - 300 KB (Medium-sized) PDF file.
Requesting Assistive Services or Devices 

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) facilities provide services that respect the independence and dignity of people with disabilities and offer services that include the use of assistive devices. If we don’t have the assistive devices on site, upon prior request of the user it may be possible for us to arrange assistive devices from another site for a particular event.

Feedback on Our Customer Service

We value your feedback on Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) customer service. All feedback will be directed to the General Manager and/or designates.  Response to your feedback will be provided by direct response to you or as a summary report on the Conservation Authority’s website within 30 business days from the initial enquiry.

Feedback can be made by e-mail (info@abca.on.ca), fax (519-235-1963) or by telephone (phone 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610) or on the Contact and Feedback Form

Please let us know how you would like a response – for example, phone or e-mail.

Request for Documents in an Accessible Format

We will do our best to provide documents in various formats upon request. 

Please submit your request via our online form or call us at 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610 or email info@abca.ca

Accessibility on this Website

We have worked with a professional webmaster, through a 2017-2019 website upgrade project, and through subsequent improvements, to make this website as accessible as possible and to meet accessibility standards.

Please let us know if there is something we can do to make this website even more accessible to you, the user.

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