Lake Simcoe Conservation Preserve

The Lake Simcoe Conservation Preserve is a recent land acquisition by the Conservation Authority. The property is 890 acres of forest, grasslands, active agricultural fields, and extensive wetlands located in the Town of Georgina. Given the property’s size, and the fact that it has not been managed for decades, the Conservation Authority has begun an assessment of its features to determine how to manage it into the future. The name "Lake Simcoe Conservation Preserve" is temporary until a permanent name is selected during the Comprehensive Planning (i.e., long-term planning) process.

Until such time the property has been fully mapped and a Comprehensive Plan created, it is not open to the public. Please respect the no trespassing signs. This is for safety and legal reasons as well as to protect natural features and species that live there.

This is a multi-year project that will eventually include consultation with the public. On this page you can review work carried out to date, and sign up for updates to receive notification of when public consultation will commence.

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Winter 2023 Activities

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The Conservation Authority received the final documents from the Consultant, including the Baseline Documentation Report, Stewardship Plan, and Opportunity and Constraint Mapping. These documents can be found in the “Documents” section on this page. This collection of documents outlined the baseline conditions that existed on the property at the time of the inventories, as well as provided guidance and stewardship recommendations.
Fall 2022 Activities

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A survey stake marking the property boundary
While still trying to gain a better understanding of the property, the Conservation Authority retained a consultant to complete a series of studies and inventories on the property, including a Baseline Documentation Report, Stewardship Plan, and Opportunity and Constraints Mapping. This included conducting a full inventory of the lands utilizing the Ecological Lands Classification framework, to understand the vegetation zones throughout the property.

Property boundary inspections occurred, which included identifying areas of encroachments and unsanctioned access points. A Contractor was retained to install perimeter fencing and gates at key locations to protect the property from unsanctioned uses and prohibit access to the property temporarily.
Summer 2022 Activities

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Gray tree frog camouflaged on a leaf.This was a busy season for Conservation Authority staff while they were trying to better understand the property, and the features and species it contains. A number of site visits were conducted to document property features and identify immediate actions, such as the installation of signage and fencing. Signage was installed along the property perimeter to identify the lands as owned by the Conservation Authority and to prevent access (through red dots).

Staff utilized a mix of desktop exercises to review landcover layers, and conducted multiple site visits to better understand the variety of ecosystems and species present throughout these large properties. This included conducting a round of breeding amphibian surveys and breeding bird surveys, which provided key ecological knowledge. A thorough inventory of vernal pools was also completed, as those are crucial habitat features for frogs and salamanders.
Property History and Acquisition (Spring 2022)

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Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority officially became owner of the temporarily named Lake Simcoe Conservation Preserve lands in March 2022, through an approved Minister’s Zoning Order. The parcel is 890 acres (359 hectares), and consists of wetlands, woodlands, York Region Greenlands, as well as some agricultural lands. This brings the landholdings owned by the Conservation Authority to 4835 acres (1957 hectares).