From storm surges to unprecedented weather events, communities along the Great Lakes coast face increased exposure to natural hazards, including coastal flooding and erosion. These coastal hazards can damage residential properties, local businesses, and critical municipal infrastructure from bridges and boardwalks to sanitary services and water treatment. Conservation Authorities are developing action-based strategies and tools to address this, helping to guide communities in protecting at-risk infrastructure, increasing resilience, and adapting to increased coastal hazards. 

In 2024, the Canadian Federal Government launched the four-year (2024-2027) Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities (CRCC) program, allocating $4.1 million in funding for pilot projects across the Great Lakes Region. The program is a response to the disproportionate impacts of climate change on coastal communities affecting their wellbeing, economic vulnerability and surrounding environment.

Conservation Ontario’s project is partnered with Conservation Authorities, who are undertaking three pilot projects on Northern Lake Superior, Southern Lake Huron and Western Lake Ontario. These pilot projects will assess the social, environmental, and economic impacts of coastal hazards and climate change and will engage community groups, municipal partners, businesses and Indigenous groups. These findings will help guide the development of resources for Ontario’s Conservation Authorities and their communities.

Overall, this project will support Conservation Ontario’s capacity to provide support to the Conservation Authority coastal network in delivering their mandate for managing coastal hazards as local partners across the entire Great Lakes Region.