Thursday, September 10, 2020

No snowmobiling allowed on GRCA lands this winter

The Grand River Conservation is banning snowmobiling on its lands this winter.

It has been allowed in previous years under licencing agreements with several clubs.

But when the clubs asked for amendments to those agreements for the coming year, mainly shifting liability risks from the clubs to the conservation authority, the deals collapsed.

The GRCA said complying with the terms the clubs want would require more inspections, signs, equipment and staff and it simply does not have the money.

The province earlier this year said it wants conservation authorities to limit themselves to the basics and is cutting funding accordingly.

Another aspect of conservation authority programs that is in doubt is subsidies to farmers to encourage investments and practices that reduce erosion, runoff and water pollution.