Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

It is commonly thought that we own the rivers, but we do not. Much of the property adjacent to the rivers and streams of the Grand River watershed is privately owned.

Rivers are governed by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (drinking water, illegal waste dumping, spills, among other areas of responsibility) and the Ministry of Natural Resources (hazard information, floods/drought, invasive species, among other areas of responsibility).

Concerns related to reservoirs and property owned and managed by the GRCA should be shared via email or by calling us at 1-866-900-4722.

Fish die-offs, spills and other water quality concerns not on GRCA property should be directed to the Ontario Spills Action Centre at 1-800-268-6060.

We manage flood risk by operating seven dams and reservoirs that hold water and reduce flood peaks. We own and maintain dikes to protect low-lying areas in Kitchener (Bridgeport), Cambridge (Galt) and Brantford. We also regulate development in flood-prone areas to reduce potential property damage.

Read more about these, and the other ways flood risk is managed, in the Flooding section of the website.

Listen to warnings and advisories on television and radio, or through media websites.

You can also check the News page of our website or our dedicated X feed for flood messages, and track river levels in the River and stream flows section.

Some municipalities use direct notification services, like Waterloo Region's AlertWR system, to share important public safety messages in the event of a large scale emergency such as a flood, severe weather or other emergency situation. Check with your local municipality to find out how emergency information is shared with the public in your community.

Always follow the instructions of emergency response officials, such as police, fire and municipal staff.

We have more information on our preparing for floods and Flood Warning System pages.

We support and facilitate a watershed-wide approach to address water needs and to help achieve common water goals. This is done through the Water Management Plan, a collaboration between the GRCA, municipalities, provincial and federal government agencies and Six Nations of the Grand River. The goals support communities, economies and ecosystems.

We sell trees and also have programs to help landowners offset the costs of tree planting on larger properties. Read about our programs and how to buy trees on our tree planting page.

We are not a wildlife rescue or wildlife rehabilitation agency. If you have a concern about wildlife or see an animal that seems sick or injured, please call the Ministry of Natural Resources Information Centre Line at 1-800-667-1940.

We are not a wildlife rescue or wildlife rehabilitation agency. If you are looking for information on turtles or other wildlife, please check the following resources:

• If you have questions about turtles or what to do if you find a turtle nesting or crossing the road, visit the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre website.

• If you find a nest that is at risk from human impacts, mark next to the site with a flag or other marker and report the nest to rare at 519-650-9336. 

• If you find an injured turtle, call the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre Hotline immediately at 705-741-5000. Visit their website for more information on handling an injured turtle.

We manage the control of garlic mustard, giant hogweed, emerald ash borer and other invasive pests on the lands and forests that we own. 

There are a number of online resources to help landowners learn about control options on their own property:

• Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program website or call the Invading Species Hotline 1-800-563-7711
• Ministry of Natural Resources website includes the following resources to help identify, manage or control invasive species:
  • Invading Species Awareness Program
  • Invasive Species Centre
  • Ontario Invasive Plant Council
  • Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Association

If you have a question about invasive species, please visit the Ontario Invasive Species website.

• For rare, threatened and endangered species and spaces in Ontario, visit  Ontario’s Natural Heritage Information Centre.
• For species at risk information, consult the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
• Other general ecological information may be found on iNaturalist or eBird.

If you have a concern that beaver activity is leading to flooding or damage on your property, more information is available on the Ministry of Natural Resources website.

Some Gand River Conservation Areas are open all year, and others are open from May 1 to October 15 or only during the summer months. Sometimes areas and properties may close for reasons such as construction, safety concerns or issues outside our control. They may also close if they've reached capacity. To learn which conservation areas are open check the Conservation Area Status page. The page is updated in real time. (To learn about other closures of conservation areas, trails and properties visit our Service Disruptions page.)

Access the conservation area fees.

Camping is offered at eight Grand River Conservation Areas between May 1 and October 15. Learn about camping at our conservation areas, the cost, and how to book nightly sites on our camping page.

Find information about booking seasonal sites here. 

Read our Camping Reservation Policy.

Grand River Conservation Areas membership passes can be purchased online (for both personal use and for gifting). They can also be purchased at conservation area gatehouses and our administration centre, when open. Lost membership passes can be replaced for a fee.

For all details check the membership webpage.

We do not oversee recreational activities such as fishing on local waterways, for example, the Grand River. 

Rules and regulations for recreational fishing are determined by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The Fishing Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary is available on their website. 

The Grand River watershed is within Fisheries Management Zone 16, with the exception of the Grand River from Dunnville Dam to Lake Erie, which is within Fisheries Management Zone 19.

Belwood Lake, Guelph Lake, Laurel Creek, Pinehurst Lake, Rockwood and Shade’s Mills conservation areas are open during the winter months for hiking, walking and other limited activities. Visitors are reminded to heed any trail conditions postings or other safety signage.

Select Grand River Conservation Areas offer formal winter activity programs, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing. For more information, please visit our winter programs page.

No. The GRCA does not permit ice skating on any of its properties, including Grand River Conservation Areas.

Please be aware that ice conditions at our reservoirs and other natural water bodies are generally not monitored, with the exception of our ice fishing program at select Grand River Conservation Areas.

Ice conditions are susceptible to daily changes in temperature, wind, precipitation and underwater currents, and may not be safe. Accessing frozen natural water bodies puts both the public and municipal responders at risk.

We do not oversee recreational activities such as paddling on local waterways, for example, the Grand River. 

We do have some information on river access points found on our properties and those of our muncipal partners, as well as some general paddling information that includes where to look for river flow and water safety information.

You can paddle in several Grand River Conservation Areas.

GRCA property is not Crown (public) Land. Although it is commonly thought that our land is public land, we are, in fact, a private landowner and subject to the same legal obligations as a private landowner.

We own about 19,400 hectares (48,000 acres) of land -- about 2.8 per cent of the land in the Grand River watershed. Most of the property we own is taken up by Grand River Conservation Areas, conservation lands, rail trails and other natural areas. Grand River Conservation Areas receive no tax dollars and operate only on the funds they receive through gate access fees, camping revenue, and pay-for-use items like canoe and tubing rentals. 

Not all GRCA property is accessible to the public. Respect all signage and stay out if indicated.

Canada's federal park system is operated by the Government of Canada, and Ontario's provincial park system is operated by our provincial government.

GRCA conservation areas and lands are owned and operated by the Grand River Conservation Authority.

Federal and provincial parks receive tax dollars to provide the access and services they do to visitors. Grand River Conservation Areas receive no tax dollars and operate only on the funds received through day use fees, camping revenue, and pay-for-use items like canoe and kayak rentals.

Foraging is not permitted in Grand River Conservation Areas nor in any GRCA conservation land or property. Take only pictures and leave only footprints.

We do not operate off-leash dog parks or dog beaches.

Pets must be kept on a leash on all GRCA properties, including all Grand River Conservation Areas, GRCA conservation lands, trails and natural areas. Fines can be issued for allowing your dog off-leash. This law protects your pet as well as the natural areas you're both visiting.

Read more about about dogs in our conservation areas.

We have a collection of tools online in our Grand River Information Network (GRIN) that allow you to create your own maps of areas within the Grand River watershed, using interactive mapping applications. 

You can also download several static (PDF) maps of the watershed here.

Wetland, watercourse and other natural hazard mapping and ecological data is available on the Grand River Information Network (GRIN).

Ecological data is available to the public through our data download tool at https://data.grandriver.ca/downloads.html.

For fisheries and general ecological data, contact the local office of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

For federally listed aquatic species at risk mapping, visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

We have three main sources of revenue:

1. Municipal apportionment: Municipalities pay about one third of our annual operating costs.

2. Self-generated funds: Almost half of our funding comes from fees for services and other sources. These include camping and park user fees, permit and planning fees, property rental income, hydroelectricity production income, donations, among others.

3. Government grants: Provincial, federal and municipal funds make up about 10 to 15 per cent of our revenue. 

You can access our budget documents and financial statements online.

A 26-member Board of Directors is appointed by our 22 participating municipalities, and oversees our policies, programs and budgets. The Board meets monthly, usually on the fourth Friday of the month. 

Board meetings are held in a hybrid format which allows for both in-person and virtual attendance. Meetings are streamed live for public viewing.

Members of the public can address the Board at any public board meeting by registering in advance as a delegation or by submitting formal correspondence by email or letter. Read more about this process, or find the live-stream link here.

The Board agendas, reports and minutes are available in our Board meeting calendar.

We have the responsibility under the Conservation Authorities Act to regulate development in and near rivers, streams, floodplains, wetlands, steep slopes and the Lake Erie shoreline. If you're considering a project in any of these regulated areas you may need a permit.

Check our Permit page for more information.

If you have reason to believe someone is placing fill in a wetland or undertaking a project in a regulated area without permission, please contact the Resource Planner for the area.

Please note we do not regulate tree cutting. For questions or concerns regarding tree removal, contact your municipality.

To receive a formal letter summarizing any GRCA regulated features on a property, please submit a request online through our Title Clearance Portal. Or email your request to the Permits Inbox. A fee of $255 is required. Please allow up to 10 business days for a response.

Check this page to subscribe to receive our News Releases by email.

Taking photographs for personal use, and for events such as weddings, is permitted. Appropriate park entry fees must be paid.

For commercial photoshoots, an agreement may be required. Please contact the conservation area superintendent for more information. Contact information for each area is listed on the individual conservation area webpages.

We may donate a Grand River Conservation Areas Membership pass, or offer a discount of our entry fees, to organizations that align with our strategic priorities. Please note we do not give donations or discounts for silent auctions, stag and does, sports teams, conference or tournament sponsorships, among others.

Please read our Donations and Discounts document for all the details. 

The scattering of ashes is not permitted on any GRCA property due to permitting and licensing requirements. As well, please note we don't have jurisdiction to allow scattering of ashes in the Grand River, as we do not own the river.