WLERCA Project Executive Update, November 2026
Ontario is bringing conservation authorities together in a new regional model so we can coordinate services, share expertise, and make the best use of resources. On February 1, 2027, the 36 conservation authorities in Ontario will become nine regional authorities.
In our region, the following 4 conservation authorities will come together to form the Western Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority (WLERCA):
- Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA),
- Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA),
- Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA), and
- Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA).
The WLERCA watershed and the rivers within it connect prosperous and growing communities, forests, wetlands, and farmland to the Great Lakes system. Shared knowledge and coordination will provide opportunities to enhance the programs that manage natural hazards, protect conservation lands, and support healthy watersheds and resilient communities.
The UTRCA is working alongside these conservation authorities to ensure a smooth, successful transition to the WLERCA. This page will provide updates on the work to bring the participating conservation authorities together.
The Western Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority (WLERCA) is the regional conservation authority being established through Ontario’s consolidation of conservation authorities. It is the regional authority that will bring together the Essex Region, Lower Thames Valley, St. Clair Region, and Upper Thames River conservation authorities.
Local programs and services will continue, including flood forecasting and warning, permit review, stewardship, education, watershed monitoring, and conservation area management. You can continue to access these services through the UTRCA and the local staff who support our communities.
The Government of Ontario has directed the consolidation of Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into nine regional organizations to strengthen watershed management and provide more consistent services.
For our region, bringing conservation authorities together creates opportunities to share scientific and technical expertise, improve access to technology and resources, and coordinate work that protects communities from flooding and other natural hazards.
This work will build on the local knowledge, relationships, and conservation efforts already established across the region. Local programs and services will continue, with a shared focus on protecting people and property, supporting healthy watersheds, and meeting the needs of our communities today and into the future.
The Conservation Authorities Act defines the transition date as February 1, 2027, or a later date prescribed by regulation. We will share transition updates and progress on this page and through our regular communications channels.
Local programs and services are not changing as a result of consolidation. You can continue to use the office locations, contact details, and fees listed on your local conservation authority’s website.
Continue to use the UTRCA’s website and local office for services within our watershed. Our Watershed Conservation Centre is located at 1424 Clarke Road, London, and our main telephone number is 519-451-2800.
Current fees, forms, and service information are available on the relevant service pages. Our Contacts Directory can help you reach the right team. If you are unsure where to start, call 519-451-2800 or email [email protected], and we will direct your question. Local programs and services continue during the transition.
If your property is within the UTRCA’s jurisdiction, continue to apply through the UTRCA. Visit our Apply for a Permit page (LINK) for the application process and contact information.
Our Apply for a Permit page explains the application process, submission requirements, and fees. If you are at the planning stage, a pre-consultation meeting can help identify what you need before submitting an application. Contact [email protected] or call 519-451-2800
Continue working with the UTRCA staff member handling your application. Submit requested information and direct questions about your file to that person, or email [email protected].
If you already hold a permit, follow its conditions and expiry date. Contact our permitting team before changing your project or if you need advice about completing the work within your permit’s timeframe. You do not need to wait for the regional transition to seek assistance or move forward through the application process.
The UTRCA continues to monitor watershed conditions and issue flood messages to help residents and municipalities prepare. Visit our Flood Forecasting and Warning page for current messages and explanations of flood watches and warnings.
For local flood response assistance, including information about road closures, sandbagging, or evacuation, contact your municipality. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. You can also contact the UTRCA to report flooding or ask about watershed conditions.
Visit our Low Water Response page for information about watershed conditions, low water levels, and ways to conserve water.
The UTRCA monitors precipitation and water conditions and coordinates the local Water Response Team, bringing together municipalities, water users, and provincial partners to support a coordinated response. Check your municipality’s website for any local watering restrictions.
Continue to use the UTRCA’s existing purchase options for our Conservation Area passes.
You can use the UTRCA’s annual Conservation Area passes at Fanshawe, Pittock, and Wildwood Conservation Areas. For non-UTRCA conservation areas, check with the authority operating those locations before visiting. Any confirmed changes to regional pass arrangements will be added here.
Any donation made to Thames River Donations, whether a financial contribution or a donation of land, will remain with the UTRCA and be used locally. Donations will continue to support conservation initiatives, projects, and priorities within the UTRCA watershed, ensuring your contribution directly benefits the local environment and communities you care about.
Board procedures and hearing arrangements are still being developed, so there is no confirmed answer yet on where hearings will take place or how residents will participate. Other conservation authorities have hearing committee models that can help inform that work.
Staff will be asked to identify plan review, permitting, hearing, and judicial files. A small team will use this information to document the status of existing files and identify any matters requiring particular attention during the transition.
The existing 2027 budgets are the starting point, and approved projects and funding commitments are expected to continue. The combined budgets will still need careful review, and some decisions may be needed to meet regional priorities.
The 2028 budget will be the first developed under the regional model. How municipal contributions are shared and local projects are funded are still being worked through. The aim is to keep local watershed priorities reflected in those decisions while coordinating investments across the region.
For 2027, existing funding arrangements remain in place. Projects will continue to draw on municipal contributions, grants and other approved funding sources. Municipalities will receive levy and apportionment notices as they do today.
For 2028, notices setting out municipal contributions will go to participating upper-tier and single-tier municipalities. Counties and regions will have flexibility in allocating costs among their lower-tier municipalities. The details of project funding under the regional model are still being developed with municipal partners.
No decision has been made on whether the current conservation authorities will become districts, or on office names and branding for the long-term. Local offices and watershed connections will remain important, with a strong local presence expected on February 1.
WLERCA’s identity will take shape over time, drawing on the history and expertise of the four organizations and the communities they serve. The new Board’s strategic planning work will help guide that direction.
This page will provide transition updates, explain progress, and answer questions about WLERCA as the regional organization takes shape.
We will continue adding information about regional governance, transition milestones, and how the participating conservation authorities are working together to support local watersheds and communities. You can also follow the UTRCA’s news and subscribe to the Thames River Current.
If your question is not answered here, please contact us. We will update these FAQs if we receive other recurring questions.