Many governments are considering changing the institutional arrangements for resource and environmental management. These changes often shift more responsibility to local governments, and increase the use of land use planning and regulation. This paper examines the implementation of floodplain land use regulations by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) in London, Ontario. Data were collected from application files, an examination of air photographs, site inspections, and interviews with relevant government officials. The research suggests that while the practice of floodplain regulation is effective, present policy does not address basic management issues related to: (1) uncertainty in our understanding of natural systems; (2) shared jurisdiction among the province, local governments and conservation authorities; (3) financial arrangements (4) the lack of enforcement and adequate sanctions to deter development on floodplains; and (5) communication problems within and between different levels of government. Some implications arising from these findings are considered in the context of proposed changes to the institutional arrangements for environmental and resource management in Ontario.
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