A Source Protection Plan outlines the steps that municipalities, the province, landowners, industries, farmers and others need to take to keep water clean before it enters our streams, rivers and groundwater systems.
These watershed-based plans identify the threats to water quality and water quantity/supply, identify vulnerable areas and then propose steps to reduce the risks to our water.
The public process of developing a source protection plan involves watershed residents, municipalities, conservation authorities and other agencies.
The Approved Source Protection Plan
The Source Protection Plan was approved by Glen Murray, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, on October 16, 2015. These documents are approved and policies are effective.
November 7, 2022 – Section 36 Amendments approval letter: David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
Select a report section below to expand its contents. Clicking on the name of a pdf (Acrobat) file will open that file in a new window.
- SPP Table of Contents 2018
- SPP Chapter 1: Background
- SPP Chapter 2: Assessment Report
- SPP Chapter 3: Drinking Water Threats
- SPP Chapter 4: Policy Background
- SPP Chapter 5: Understanding Policy – Tables of where policies apply
- SPP Chapter 6: Policy for Threats – Text for existing and future threats
- SPP Chapter 7: Implementation
- SPP Chapter 8: Consultation
- Source Protection Plan APPENDICES A-E
- Source Protection Plan Chapters 1-8 (236 pages)2022
- Explanatory Document
- Explanatory Document Updated Chapters 1-3 2025
- Appendix A.2 for Explanatory Document
- Appendix A.3 for Explanatory Document
- Acronyms and Glossary
- MAP_5_1_AE_AE_1_ARRAN_ELDERSLIE_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_B_C_1_CHEPSTOW_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_B_LR_1_LAKE_ROSALIND_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_B_LR_2_LAKE_ROSALIND_WHPA_E.pdf
- MAP_5_1_B_LR_3_LAKE_ROSALIND_WHPA_Q.pdf
- MAP_5_1_B_W_1_WALKERTON_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_GH_M_1_MARKDALE_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_H_H_1_HANOVER_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_H_H_2_HANOVER_RUHL_LAKE_IPZ.pdf
- MAP_5_1_HK_L_1_LAKESHORE_BLAIRS_GROVE_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_HK_L_2_LAKESHORE_HURONVILLE_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_HK_L_3_LAKESHORE_MURDOCK_GLEN_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_HK_L_4_LAKESHORE_POINT_CLARK_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_HK_R_1_RIPLEY_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_K_A_1_ARMOW_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_K_K_1_KINCARDINE_EVENTS_POLICY.pdf
- MAP_5_1_K_SP_1_SCOTT_POINT_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_K_T_1_TIVERTON_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_K_U_1_UNDERWOOD_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_M_C_1_CLIFFORD_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_M_MP_1_MINTO_PINES_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_SB_M_1_MILDMAY_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_SB_T_1_TEESWATER_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_SS_S_1_SOUTHAMPTON_EVENTS_POLICY.pdf
- MAP_5_1_WG_D_1_DURHAM_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_WG_D_2_DURHAM_WHPA_E.pdf
- MAP_5_1_WG_N_1_NEUSTADT_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_1_WN_MF_1_MOUNT_FOREST_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_2_AE_T_1_TARA_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_2_AE_T_2_TARA_WHPA_E.pdf
- MAP_5_2_BM_T_1_THORNBURY_EVENTS_POLICY.pdf
- MAP_5_2_C_C_1_CHATSWORTH_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_2_C_C_2_CHATSWORTH_WHPA_E.pdf
- MAP_5_2_C_WF_1_WALTERS_FALLS_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_2_C_WF_2_WALTERS_FALLS_WHPA_E.pdf
- MAP_5_2_GB_P_1_POTTAWATOMI_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_2_GB_SL_1_SHALLOW_LAKE_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_2_GB_SL_2_SHALLOW_LAKE_WHPA_E.pdf
- MAP_5_2_GB_EL_1_EAST_LINTON_EBA.pdf
- MAP_5_2_GH_K_1_KIMBERLEY_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_2_GH_K_2_KIMBERLEY_WHPA_E.pdf
- MAP_5_2_M_M_1_MEAFORD_EVENTS_POLICY.pdf
- MAP_5_2_OS_RN_1_OWEN_SOUND_EVENTS_POLICY.pdf
- MAP_5_2_SBP_AS_1_AMABEL_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_2_SBP_AS_2_AMABEL_WHPA_E.pdf
- MAP_5_2_SBP_F_1_FOREMAN_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_2_SBP_HW_1_HURON_WOODS_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_2_SBP_HW_2_HURON_WOODS_WHPA_E.pdf
- MAP_5_2_SBP_O_1_OLIPHANT_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_2_SBP_O_2_OLIPHANT_WHPA_E.pdf
- MAP_5_2_SBP_W_1_WIARTON_EVENTS_POLICY.pdf
- MAP_5_3_NBP_LH_1_LIONS_HEAD_EVENTS_POLICY.pdf
- MAP_5_3_NBP_T_1_TOBERMORY_WHPA.pdf
- MAP_5_3_NBP_T_2_TOBERMORY_WHPA_E.pdf
Approved Assessment Reports
Supporting Documents
A water budget quantifies the inputs, outputs and flows of water through our watershed region.
- Chapter 3 – Saugeen Valley Source Protection Area
- Chapter 3 – Grey Sauble Source Protection Area
- Chapter 3 – Northern Bruce Peninsula Source Protection Area
The Watershed Characterization is a detailed examination of the physical and human characteristics of the planning region. Numerous maps and tables support the textual report on what makes up the watershed. Topics include population, geology, vegetation, land use, infrastructure and government, plus many others.
- Chapter 2 – Saugeen Valley Source Protection Area
- Chapter 2 – Grey Sauble Source Protection Area
- Chapter 2 – Northern Bruce Peninsula Source Protection Area