Conservation Areas Strategy

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A Conservation Areas Strategy is a new requirement under provincial legislation for all conservation authorities in Ontario. The strategy will provide direction on how a conservation authority’s landholdings should be managed and maintained.

The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority owns and manages several properties within the Lake Simcoe watershed. The properties that have been included in this Strategy are only the properties that are owned by the Conservation Authority.

This Strategy is the guiding document that will help to inform present and future land management decisions, in a high-level way. More detailed property information is provided in other documents that focus on specific properties, such as property Master Plans, Conservation Area Management Plans, Conservation Area Reports, Baseline Documentation Reports, etc. You can access a selection of these documents here.

We would love to hear your thoughts about what we are presenting in the strategy.


A song sparrow perched on golden rod.A song sparrow perched on golden rod.


How to get involved and participate


  • Review important links, frequently asked questions, and resources listed on this page.
  • Submit written comments or questions using the Question and Answer tool below.
  • Visit www.LSRCA.on.ca to learn more about the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
  • All questions / comments are reviewed by staff. For inquiries not related to this project, please visit www.LSRCA.on.ca/contact

A Conservation Areas Strategy is a new requirement under provincial legislation for all conservation authorities in Ontario. The strategy will provide direction on how a conservation authority’s landholdings should be managed and maintained.

The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority owns and manages several properties within the Lake Simcoe watershed. The properties that have been included in this Strategy are only the properties that are owned by the Conservation Authority.

This Strategy is the guiding document that will help to inform present and future land management decisions, in a high-level way. More detailed property information is provided in other documents that focus on specific properties, such as property Master Plans, Conservation Area Management Plans, Conservation Area Reports, Baseline Documentation Reports, etc. You can access a selection of these documents here.

We would love to hear your thoughts about what we are presenting in the strategy.


A song sparrow perched on golden rod.A song sparrow perched on golden rod.


How to get involved and participate


  • Review important links, frequently asked questions, and resources listed on this page.
  • Submit written comments or questions using the Question and Answer tool below.
  • Visit www.LSRCA.on.ca to learn more about the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
  • All questions / comments are reviewed by staff. For inquiries not related to this project, please visit www.LSRCA.on.ca/contact
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

Have your say, Lake Simcoe! We welcome you to ask us a question.  

Note that questions can be responded to privately or publicly. If you wish to receive a private response, kindly state this in your question.

Public questions and our responses will be listed below here. 

Please note, the feedback period will end on June 22 2024.

  • Share In addition to protecting watershed are you also making a plan to electrify space heating, tools and vehicles? on Facebook Share In addition to protecting watershed are you also making a plan to electrify space heating, tools and vehicles? on Twitter Share In addition to protecting watershed are you also making a plan to electrify space heating, tools and vehicles? on Linkedin Email In addition to protecting watershed are you also making a plan to electrify space heating, tools and vehicles? link

    In addition to protecting watershed are you also making a plan to electrify space heating, tools and vehicles?

    ElizabethAnneCarswell asked 4 months ago

    Hello and thank you for your question. 

    The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority has a Carbon Reduction Strategy which is a multi-year commitment to reduce the Authority’s carbon footprint. Some items which have already been implemented have been greening our fleet, which includes fully electric and hybrid Authority vehicles, solar panel installation, changing to LED energy efficient lightbulbs in all our office facilities, and multiple other measures. 

    You can learn more about the Conservation Authority’s Carbon Reduction Strategy here: https://lsrca.on.ca/index.php/home/carbon-reduction/

  • Share I am surprised at how little conservation land we have, especially compared to other places I've visited in Canada and abroad. Is there any ability to protect more? Also, I would really love connected corridors that don't require a car to get to. Putting roads through conservation areas seems absolutely wrong (ecologically, morally, and logically). I can't tell you how many species like turtles and snakes are being destroyed by car traffic on my local roads. I just don't understand. Please, what can we do to preserve more wildlife? on Facebook Share I am surprised at how little conservation land we have, especially compared to other places I've visited in Canada and abroad. Is there any ability to protect more? Also, I would really love connected corridors that don't require a car to get to. Putting roads through conservation areas seems absolutely wrong (ecologically, morally, and logically). I can't tell you how many species like turtles and snakes are being destroyed by car traffic on my local roads. I just don't understand. Please, what can we do to preserve more wildlife? on Twitter Share I am surprised at how little conservation land we have, especially compared to other places I've visited in Canada and abroad. Is there any ability to protect more? Also, I would really love connected corridors that don't require a car to get to. Putting roads through conservation areas seems absolutely wrong (ecologically, morally, and logically). I can't tell you how many species like turtles and snakes are being destroyed by car traffic on my local roads. I just don't understand. Please, what can we do to preserve more wildlife? on Linkedin Email I am surprised at how little conservation land we have, especially compared to other places I've visited in Canada and abroad. Is there any ability to protect more? Also, I would really love connected corridors that don't require a car to get to. Putting roads through conservation areas seems absolutely wrong (ecologically, morally, and logically). I can't tell you how many species like turtles and snakes are being destroyed by car traffic on my local roads. I just don't understand. Please, what can we do to preserve more wildlife? link

    I am surprised at how little conservation land we have, especially compared to other places I've visited in Canada and abroad. Is there any ability to protect more? Also, I would really love connected corridors that don't require a car to get to. Putting roads through conservation areas seems absolutely wrong (ecologically, morally, and logically). I can't tell you how many species like turtles and snakes are being destroyed by car traffic on my local roads. I just don't understand. Please, what can we do to preserve more wildlife?

    Elaine asked 4 months ago
    Hello and thank you for this great question. 

    Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority owns approximately 1,966 hectares of land primarily for conservation purposes. Many of these properties are environmentally sensitive and not suitable for recreation and are therefore not open to the public (and don’t contain roads and trails).  That said, we own several properties open for passive recreation with trails and picnic areas. A list of those conservation areas can be found here: https://lsrca.on.ca/index.php/enjoy-the-outdoors/conservation-areas/. Across Ontario, 36 conservation authorities own and protect a total of 150,000 hectares of greenspace. Conservation Ontario website has a list of all conservation areas in Ontario - https://ontarioconservationareas.ca/ .

    Our Land Acquisition Strategy outlines high priority areas within the watershed where lands contain features we would like to see protected. When there is an opportunity to acquire new lands, we follow a set of criteria outlined in that Strategy which includes habitat connectivity and trail connections. We work to develop connections with other greenspaces owned by other entities such as the Region, Municipalities, and other conservation organizations where possible. Majority of the properties within the watershed are privately owned. So the Conservation Authority relies on willing landowners to expand our holdings, and with limited resources for acquisition, we are strategic in what we can pursue. 

    Having well connected greenspaces is beneficial for humans and wildlife alike. In the past two years the Conservation Authority has acquired over 360 hectares of conservation lands, and we are continually looking for new opportunities to acquire lands that fit within the criteria in this Strategy.
  • Share Does this cover the protection of the south east end of the Barrie waterfront park where the council has voted to put in a multiplex sport field with a proven toxic turf so close to our Lake Simcoe water. on Facebook Share Does this cover the protection of the south east end of the Barrie waterfront park where the council has voted to put in a multiplex sport field with a proven toxic turf so close to our Lake Simcoe water. on Twitter Share Does this cover the protection of the south east end of the Barrie waterfront park where the council has voted to put in a multiplex sport field with a proven toxic turf so close to our Lake Simcoe water. on Linkedin Email Does this cover the protection of the south east end of the Barrie waterfront park where the council has voted to put in a multiplex sport field with a proven toxic turf so close to our Lake Simcoe water. link

    Does this cover the protection of the south east end of the Barrie waterfront park where the council has voted to put in a multiplex sport field with a proven toxic turf so close to our Lake Simcoe water.

    Joy Loverock asked 5 months ago

    The Conservation Areas Strategy is only focused on the lands that are owned by the Conservation Authority, and the lands in question are not owned by the Authority, and are not included in the scope of this Strategy.

    The subject property at Barrie's waterfront is partially regulated by the Conservation Authority due to shoreline hazards including the shoreline flooding and the shoreline erosion hazard.

    The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority regulates development under the Conservation Authorities Act and Ontario Regulation 41/24. The Conservation Authority’s mandate is limited to natural hazards and the designated policies of the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan. Any development within our jurisdiction would be reviewed in that context. We do not have jurisdiction over natural heritage.

    At this time, we have not received any detailed design submission. Depending on the proposal there may be storm water management requirements and/or planting requirements to limit runoff into the lake. However, development would have to occur within the regulated area for the Conservation Authority to have any jurisdiction in the matter.  

Page last updated: 17 Jul 2024, 01:21 PM