Surface Water and Fish Habitat features include features such as rivers, streams, lakes and ponds within the city.  Surface Water and Fish Habitat features are protected as part of the Natural Heritage System through the Official Plan by:
Defining and identifying known surface water and fish habitat features;
Establishing minimum buffer requirements from the bankfull channel of these features for new development;
Restricting development within surface water and fish habitat features as well as the minimum buffers;
Supporting opportunities to restore permanent and intermittent streams and fish habitat; and
Investigating the removal or modification of structural barriers to fish passage in the Speed and Eramosa Rivers and their tributaries in order to permit natural stream processes, improve fish habitat and the restoration of natural stream morphology.