Haliburton County Shoreline Policy
Haliburton County passed By-Law 4169 in March 2023 which applies to properties in Algonquin Highlands, Highlands East and Minden Hills. It creates a 20 metre buffer zone along lakes, waterways and wetlands where property owners must apply for a permit to undertake significant alterations or work.
HWO continues to implore the County to provide property owners with a summary of what is and is not allowed, including clarifying what, if anything, property owners who do not own the adjacent shoreline road allowance can do in this area (particularly whether they can rake, weed, maintain existing structures, address hazardous trees, etc.)
PROBLEMS WITH THE
Shoreline Preservation By-law
Healthy, natural shorelines are an important contributor to healthy lakes. They provide habitat for wildlife, can serve as a filter for undesirable nutrients and chemicals entering the lakes, and aesthetically allow us to enjoy the beauty of nature. Experts say that at least 75% natural/ regenerative shorelines are necessary for lake health.
After years of discussion and hundreds or thousands spent on consultants, six of eight members of Haliburton County Council (Warden Danielsen, Councillors Dailloux, Burton, Ryall, Carter and Schell) passed By-Law 4169 in March 2023 which applies to properties in Algonquin Highlands, Highlands East and Minden Hills.
The By-Law further restricts property owner rights by establishing a 20-metre buffer zone along lakes, waterways and wetlands where property owners must apply for a permit to undertake significant alterations or work. Despite considerable input from HWO and others, the County policy does nothing to encourage the renaturalization of shorelines where they have been denuded.
Looking at the Council of Haliburton Property Owners Associations’ 2019 Lake Health Report, taking the 33 lakes for which the Report provided both shoreline ratings (Natural, etc…) and shoreline kms, and then allocating them into their respective municipalities and calculating the weighted percentage of shoreline kms which were rated as Natural Plus Regenerative, yields the following results:
- Algonquin Highlands: 10 lakes, 315 km, 78.2% natural/regenerative, 3061 lots
- Dysart: 10 lakes, 359 km, 75.5% natural/regenerative, 4671 lots
- Highlands East: 6 lakes, 101 km, 74.0% natural/regenerative, 2526 lots
- Minden Hills: 9 lakes, 140 km, 64.4% natural/regenerative, 1203 lots
OUR CONCERNS
Haliburton waterfront owners (HWO) came together out of concern that the Shoreline Preservation By-law was the wrong approach because...
It will not restore natural shorelines on the one-third of Haliburton lakes where significant clear-cutting has occurred (as measured by ‘Love Your Lake’ assessments).
It does not address the greatest known risks to lake health – improperly functioning septics, and the use of fertilizers near lakes.
It is not based on sound science, nor does it pertain to the mostly low-impact residential uses, unique properties and geophysical conditions of waterfront properties in Haliburton County.
It will require significant additional resources and an increase in our property taxes. The proposed permit process is unduly onerous, expensive and could harm local businesses.
It would be a significant erosion of existing property rights, particularly on the one-third of Haliburton lakes which are above the 75% natural/ regenerative vegetation levels considered the benchmark for healthy lakes.
THE COST
The County is hiring additional staff to manage the permit process and enforce the by-law. While the costs for 2023 are covered by reserves from prior years, this will result in an increase in costs (as of 2024) to property owners in Algonquin Highlands, Highlands East and Minden Hills of over...
$200,000
per year
OUR proposal
From 2021-2023, HWO has made 10 constructive submissions (large and small)...
…to Haliburton County Council and its consultants on the Shoreline By-law issue, detailing why the proposed prohibition on-site alteration and the extraordinarily expensive and difficult proposed permit application process would not achieve desired results. We have proposed a number of better alternatives, such as:
Educate Owners On Regenerative Practices
Educate and encourage owners of properties where significant portions of vegetation have been removed on the need to replant and how to do so.
Septic Inspection Requirements
Put in place rigorous septic inspection requirements across the County to ensure these harmful nutrients are not entering our waterways.
Address Fertilizer & Chemical Use
Address the other known risks to lake health in our County such as fertilizers and chemicals from roads very near lakes.
Implement Lake Health Testing Program
Undertake a multi-year lake health testing program to understand the current health of our lakes and provide a baseline for regulatory activity.
What Does the Science Say?
Everyone wants clean water. Healthy shorelines are (only) one contributor. What does the science tell us about what is happening in our lakes and properties, and what this means for our shorelines?
For more information about the science behind the issue, download our “Simple Shoreline Science” PDF.
JOIN US
Get Involved & Stay Informed
If you share our concerns, we invite you to join our group by completing this form.
We also invite you to visit our Facebook page (@haliburtonwaterfrontowners) to view recent articles, get current updates on our progress, and share your own perspectives on the issue.