Land for Conservation – Spencer Creek Conservation Authority Schemes and Land Acquisition

Abstract

The Conservation Authorities Act was passed by the Ontario Provincial legislature in 1946 to further the “conservation, restoration, development and development of natural resources other than gas, oil, coal and minerals.” On 8 May 1958, Ontario’s 25th conservation authority was established on the watershed of Spencer Creek near Hamilton. The Spencer Creek Conservation Authority (SCCA) recognized that in order to acquire the necessary lands for conservation it was in a race with developers and urban sprawl. An aggressive land acquisition programme was initiated by the SCCA (1958-1966) and continued by its successor, the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority. The success of this programme from 1958-1971 created a green framework for the region, with many of our most popular and ecological important conservation areas acquired during this period, including: Dundas Valley, Christie Lake, Valens, Spencer Gorge, Beverly Swamp, and Summit Bog. However, acquisition of such a vast acreage of conservation land doesn't just happen by desire, it involves many operational factors. Available funding, administrative policies, land owner engagement, knowledge of the property market, and public and political support were all central aspects of this land acquisition program. This research paper examines these inter-related factors and outlines the many challenges and initiatives that led to the acquisition of over 3,300 acres of land for conservation.