The general manager of the Essex Region Conservation Authority thinks it's time to rethink the way we control flooding and erosion in the region.
Richard Wyma says that's part of the reason the authority is extending its strategic plan from five years to ten. "Five years is a pretty short time frame when you really think about it," he says. "We're sort of adjusting our systems along the way. I think looking at it from a longer perspective allows us to think about how do we change systems."
The authority's $6.3-million budget for 2015 calls for an increase of about $20,000 over last year. It includes capital projects in Windsor and Belle River to control flooding and erosion. The agency is also asking the province for another $400,000 in funding for the projects.
The budget includes a $2.8-million levy split between the City of Windsor and the County of Essex.
Wyma admits it's difficult to quantify what impact climate change will have on future budgets. "How much, if at all, is that going to impact the type of infrastructure that we need to build, and how much will it change the way we think about that infrastructure. So, at this point, it's really hard to say if it will be more or less expensive."