In 2024, our restoration team completed over 100 projects across the Lake Simcoe watershed. Projects included Low Impact Development, wetland enhancements, streambank erosion, community action projects, and agricultural projects.
Here are some of our favourite projects from 2024. For more information on the Conservation Authority’s annual accomplishments, you can check out our annual report video.
1. Erosion and Sediment Control workshop


The inaugural Erosion and Sediment Control workshop was held in June 2024 at our 1,800 square metre training facility located at Scanlon Creek Conservation Area. Training was provided by some of the leading erosion and sediment control companies and practitioners, and participants learned about innovative products and how they’re applied on slopes and swales including:
- silt socks
- straw waddles
- spring berms
- hydraulic mulches
- waddle fencing
- biodegradable erosion blankets
- turf reinforcement mats
The Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program (Toronto Region Conservation Authority and Credit Valley Conservation) partnered with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority to deliver the event and product demonstrators included Filtrexx Canada, ECB Verydol, FibraMulch, Layfield, and Western Green.
2. Oro Wetland Creation project


The Oro Wetland Creation project was implemented on privately owned property in the Oro Creeks South subwatershed. The site is surrounded by agriculture (primarily hay) and forested wetland, and is adjacent to an existing wetland pocket. A portion of the approximately 44-hectare property contains non-provincially significant wetland and typically floods in the spring.
The objective of this project was to enhance the overall natural heritage and biodiversity of the site by creating and expanding wetland habitat, planting native vegetation, and seeding with a variety of native seed mixes. This involved enhancing approximately 0.5 hectares of wetland habitat as well as planting an additional 1.8 hectares with native trees and shrubs. In all, 167 trees, 800 shrubs, and 738 herbaceous plants were added, and 21 habitat structures were installed as part of this project. Within days of completion, the new wetland was teeming with frogs and other wildlife.
This was our first project funded through Ecological Offsetting completed on private property. Restoration assistance contributed additional funding for both the design and construction.
3. Whiskey Creek Erosion Project


The City of Barrie has undertaken multiple stream restoration and erosion management projects within the last year to protect the local watersheds and stormwater infrastructure from significant rain events. One project, located along Whiskey Creek, involved the removal of failing gabion baskets and regrading of the stream bed to remove a perched culvert. Water can now move more freely through the system during high flow events, reducing erosion and phosphorus entering Lake Simcoe by 0.35 kg each year. Furthermore, the boulders that were added to remove the perched culvert now allow fish to access over 150m of additional habitat upstream.
The Conservation Authority provided in-kind staff time, as well as funding through the Lake Simcoe Phosphorus Offsetting and Restoration Assistance Programs.
4. Beaverton Low Impact Development


In 2022, the Conservation Authority, in partnership with the Township of Brock, began investigating opportunities to improve stormwater management in Beaverton. The firehall was chosen as the best location for enhancement due to impervious landscape, and a consultant was hired at the end of 2022 to begin the investigation. The final design focused on using multiple low impact development features to filter and infiltrate precipitation back into the ground and introduced a water collection and reuse system.
In April 2024, construction began on these Low Impact Development features and was completed in June that year. The project included three bioretention gardens and a bioswale, all planted with native herbaceous plants, grasses, and shrubs. In addition, a water storage facility was built to filter and capture precipitation. Filtered water can now be used for a variety of purposes throughout the warmer months.
This successful low impact development project created additional pollinator habitat, and filters 0.16 ha of stormwater away from the traditional stormwater system. It is estimated that the gardens will infiltrate an estimated 900 m3 of stormwater annually and will reduce phosphorus loading into Lake Simcoe by 0.14kg each year.
This project was funded by the Lake Simcoe Water Balance Offsetting Program, Phosphorus Offsetting Program, Restoration Assistance Program, the Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation and the Ministry of Conservation and Parks.
5. Devlin Place Stream Restoration and Stormwater Pond Retrofit


The Devlin Place stream channel corridor is located within the Town of Aurora and includes a dry stormwater pond. The dry pond controls 3.38 ha of stormwater runoff and outlets into the Tannery Creek, with an estimate upstream drainage area of 213 ha.
This corridor was identified as a high priority for stormwater management remediation, due to stream erodibility, a degraded stormwater pond, and failing gabion basket wall. Furthermore, the stream had migrated towards the adjacent landowners’ properties, reducing riparian vegetation and increasing erodibility of the banks. Construction commenced in 2024 to upgrade the stormwater pond, improve the condition of the creek and adjacent stormwater infrastructure, and remove any impediments that could cause additional flooding.
By upgrading the stormwater pond, and regrading and restoring 197m of stream corridor this project has reduced the area’s susceptibility of flooding. The project will reduce phosphorus entering Lake Simcoe by 8.66 kg each year. In addition, four bat boxes were installed, along with 412 trees, 1477 shrubs, and 412 herbaceous plants installed throughout the project area.
The Conservation Authority provided funding through the Lake Simcoe Phosphorus Offsetting Program, Restoration Assistance Program and the Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation.
6. Ray Twinney Low Impact Development


In 2017, the Town of Newmarket partnered with the Conservation Authority on a Low Impact Development Project at the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex. This project included the creation of a permeable paver parking lot and rain gardens. In 2024, additional Low Impact Development technologies were added to further improve stormwater management at the site.
These features included rain gardens, rock garden soakaways and rock swales that capture rooftop runoff from a portion of the Ray Twinney Recreation Centre, along with some roof drainage improvements, stormwater tie-in and concrete sidewalk and asphalt repair.
This project was funded by the Conservation Authority’s Phosphorus offsetting program, water balance offsetting program, restoration assistance, the Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.
7. Uxbridge Stormwater Pretreatment Project

The South Balsam Pond retrofit project is being led by the Township of Uxbridge. In 2024, storm pond upgrades were completed and 67 catch basin inserts were installed within the surrounding storm drains to reduce stress on the pond and need for future maintenance.
Catch basin inserts prevent the scouring of sediment at the bottom of catch basins. Sediment remains captured at the bottom of the catch basin and can be easily removed during routine cleaning. Compared with stormwater pond dredging, the inserts are significantly more cost-effective, as they act as a pretreatment for the stormwater entering the system. These inserts are estimated to reduce phosphorus entering the local watercourse by 0.021 kg per unit per year, totalling 1.407 kg/year.
Since these inserts were above and beyond the requirements and provide an added benefit to the overall health of the watershed, The Conservation Authority was able to provide this project funding through the Lake Simcoe Phosphorus Offsetting Program.
8. Mini Forest in Durham Region


The first Mini Forest in Durham Region was installed at the Fields of Uxbridge in November 2024. With the help of more than 80 volunteers, 600 native trees and shrubs were planted in just two hours. A mini forest is a densely planted community of native trees and shrubs following the Miyawaki Method of planting. Species are carefully selected to mimic the makeup of nearby forests. Mini forests are installed in urban settings to establish quickly and grow into mature forests. They are thought to grow faster, sequester more carbon, and promote more biodiversity than conventionally planted urban street trees. Mini forests also provide a variety of ecosystem functions that offer both environmental and social benefits.
In the Spring of 2025, volunteers will return to maintain the mini forest with mulching and weeding efforts. After 2-3 years of watering and weeding, the mini forest is expected to become self-sustaining. Plans are already underway for a second Mini Forest to be planted adjacent to the current site, further enhancing the area’s biodiversity.
This project was a collaboration between the Rotary Club of Uxbridge, Little Forests Durham, and the Township of Uxbridge, and was made possible through the generous financial support of Green Communities Canada, the Greenbelt Foundation, and Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
9. Queensville Wetland Creation


In 2022, the Conservation Authority met with the Town of East Gwillimbury to discuss natural heritage improvements at the north end of Queensville park. Restoration staff identified some ecological opportunities to improve the function of the landscape and in September of 2023, a consultant was hired to create a plan to further enhance the biodiversity of the property. In November 2024, construction began on two new wetland features and 400m of passive-use trail.
Overall, the project created 0.25 ha of new wetland habitat. Soil that was removed to create the wetland pockets, was relocated on site to create additional topography. In total, 213 shrubs, and 88 trees were planted throughout the project area. Three patches of phragmites, totalling 0.27 ha, were treated and removed, and the area replanted with native wetland seeds. There were also four basking logs, and four brush piles created to provide additional habitat throughout the project area. An additional 2400 wetland plugs will be planted in early spring of 2025.
This project was funded by Conservation Authority’s Ecological Offsetting program, Restoration Assistance Program, and the Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation.
10. Innisfil Manure Storage Project


Over the years, one landowner in Innisfil has completed seven agricultural best management projects on their farm with the Conservation Authority’s assistance. Having recently transitioned from sheep to cattle, they have had to adapt their manure management. In 2024, they successfully applied to the restoration assistance program for a manure management project. The project was to cement approximately 741 m2 of cattle barnyard to allow for winter clean out of the barnyard manure and prevent the leaching of manure through spring snow melt. Initially, the barnyard had a dirt floor and it was only possible to clean the barnyard out in the winter when the barnyard is frozen, or the late spring when the barnyard is dry. The Conservation Authority contributed restoration funding to this project that improved not only the quality of life of the herd, but also the health of the watershed.
Contact Restoration:
Phone: 905-895-1281
Toll Free: 1-800-465-0437
Email: restoration@LSRCA.on.ca