Oak Ridges Moraine Watershed Planning

The Oak Ridges Moraine is a significant land feature in Ontario that stretches west-east for 160 km, from the Niagara escarpment to Rice Lake.

It was formed over 12,000 years ago from the melting of two large glaciers that deposited sand and gravel, creating the magnificent rolling hills, clear lakes and river valleys that we see today.

The moraine is important because of its unique concentration of environmental, geological and hydrological characteristics.

We are working in partnership with Durham Region to complete plans for the watersheds within our jurisdiction that drain water off of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Oak Ridges Moraine watershed plans will help protect the ecological and hydrological features and functions of the moraine.

Through the watershed plans, we are:

Identifying environmentally sensitive lands and assessing the impacts of past, current, and future land uses on these areas;
Providing watershed-wide direction for protecting significant watershed features; and
Providing a current information resources for municipalities, consultants, developers, landowners and resource users.

Learn more about the Oak Ridges Moraine and the development of watershed plans:

For more information, please contact us.

Oak Ridges Moraine Watershed Planning is funded by: