Farah, M. H. George "Planning Issues Related to Water Management:The Case of the Halifax Urban Watershed"

The thesis examines the capabilities of the current land-use planning process to protect the quality and quantity of watercourses in the Halifax Urban Watershed. The objective of the thesis is to recommend improvements to the planning process (where necessary) in relation to water quality and quantity protection.

The thesis is divided into five sections. The first section presents relevant background information as to the Halifax Urban Watershed's administrative location, and the development activities which have occurred in the watershed since its designation. The second section examines the watershed's biophysical characteristics - geology, soils, topography, hydrology, flora and fauna - in relation to various land use activities and their effects on water quality and quantity. Section three reviews the various water-related issues associated with the Halifax Urban Watershed in relation to the planning process legislation and management, altered flow regimes, and land use activities. As well, in this section, the administrative role and legislative powers of various municipal and provincial agencies were examined, in terms of their impact on water quality and quantity in the watershed. The impact of altered flow regimes on the watercourses within the Halifax Urban Watershed were also examined, as were the impacts associated with various land uses and activities (e.g. the Atlantic Winter Fair, Bayer's Lake Industrial Park) occurring within or near the watershed. The fourth section of the thesis discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the existing land use planning process in responding to the major issues affecting the water quality and quantity of the Halifax Urban Watershed. This section recommends a number of possible improvements to the land use planning process based on the establishment of an Inter-Municipal Planning Strategy for the Halifax Urban Watershed. The final section specifies the steps to be taken to implement the recommended improvements.

Atlantic Planners Institute

This page and all contents are produced by the Atlantic Planners Institute, an affiliate of the Canadian Institute of Planners.

This document was last modified on February 15, 2001.