The Perceptions of Stakeholders in Low Impact Development Planning

As part of measures to mitigate the impact of contaminants on Lake Simcoe, a project is being carried out by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) to identify opportunities for the implementation of low impact development (LID) technologies throughout the watershed. Stakeholder engagement has been a strong element since the initiation of the project as demonstrated through various activities carried out by the LSRCA. Building upon these activities, the research study presented in this chapter provides further insight into the current opinions of and the concerns about stormwater management regarding LID practices held by traditional stakeholders. Questionnaires were distributed on three occasions to collect the opinions of specific stakeholder groups regarding LID planning in the Lake Simcoe watershed. The results indicated that traditional stakeholders are supportive of widespread LID implementation; however there are significant concerns and perceptions that must be addressed by proponents of LID. Finally, the conclusions of this research study demonstrate that the involvement of stakeholders from the beginning of the LID planning process is a necessary requirement to facilitate long term successful LID application throughout the watershed.