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Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority > Funding & Expertise > Offsetting Projects

​​Offsetting Projects wheelbarrel.jpg

​​​​​​​​​​Offsetting Projects

Our offsetting policies address loss of natural heritage features (ecological offsetting), groundwater recharge deficit (water balance offsetting) and post development phosphorus loads (phosphorus offsetting), which are all the result of development within the watershed. These policies are here to offset losses or impacts to the environment and are implemented by Planning and Development staff through review of applications made under the Planning Act. Each policy uses a tiered approach; avoid, minimize, mitigate and compensate. Below are the projects we have completed to date under each of the policies. 

​Ecological Offsetting

Our Ecological Offsetting Policy was approved by the Board of Directors in 2017. This policy was developed to address the loss of natural heritage features and their associated vegetation protection zones. The primary key performance indicators for ecological offsetting projects are total natural heritage restored, wetland and woodland area restored, and area acquired/protected.

Ecological Offsetting Projects

Circle Park

​Subwatershed: Innisfil Creeks 

Total Trees Planted: 247 

Total Area Restored: 1.5 hectares 

Funding Partners: 

  • Ecological Offsetting Funding  
  • Restoration Funding 

Total Amount of Funding: $243,137.00 

Rogers Reservoir Wetland Restoration Project

​Subwatershed: East Holland 

Total Trees Planted: 66 

Total Treed Area Planted: 1 hectare  

Total Shrubs Planted:  396 

Total Herbaceous Plants planted: 1020 

Total Area Restored: 2.3 hectares  

Funding Partners: 

  • Ecological Offsetting Funding 
  • Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation
  • Restoration Funding 
  • Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund 

Total Amount of offsetting Funding: $527,174.69

Total Amount of Funding: $586,374.69

More information about this project​

Innisfil Works Department Restoration Project

​Subwatershed: Innisfil Creeks  

Total Trees and Shrubs Planted: 4355 

Total Area Restored: 2.05 hectares 

Funding Partners: Ecological Offsetting Funding Only 

Total Amount of Offsetting Funding $ 26,519.00

More information about this project​

Luck Conservation Wetland Restoration

​Subwatershed: Innisfil Creeks 

Total Plants Planted: 1220 

Total Area Planted: 1.35 hectares 

Area seeded: 0.2 hectares  

Total Area Restored: 2 hectares 

Funding Partners: 

  • Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation
  • Ecological Offsetting Funding 
  • Simcoe County Trees 
  • Restoration Funding 

Total Amount of Offsetting Funding: $88,186 

Total Amount of Funding: $112,975.07

More information about this project​

Pangman Conservation Area Restoration Project

Subwatershed: East Holland 

Total Trees and Shrubs Planted: 2042 

Total Wetland Area: 0.2 hectares  

Total Area Planted:  1.7 hectares  

Total Area Restored: 2 hectares  

Funding Partners: 

  • Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation 
  • Restoration Funding  
  • Ecological Offsetting Funding 
  • Department of Fisheries and Oceans
  • Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry
  • Toronto Dominion Friends of the Environment Foundation​

Total Amount of Offsetting Funding: $70,326.04 

Total Amount of Funding: $344,611.66

More information about this project​

Scanlon Creek Tree Planting

Subwatershed: West Holland 

Total Tree Planted: 1500 

Total Area Planted: 0.765 hectares 

Funding Partners: 

  • Ecological Offsetting   
  • Simcoe County Tree Planting Program  
  • Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

Total Amount of Offsetting Funding: $2,015.29 

Total Amount of Funding: $3,765.00

More information about this project ​

​​Phosphorus Offsetting and Water Balance and Recharge Projects

Since 2018 the Lake Simcoe Phosphorus Offsetting Policy has been improving and protecting the quality of water in Lake Simcoe and its streams and rivers. 

To ensure that adequate groundwater recharge is also maintained throughout the Lake Simcoe watershed, and to mirror the policies of the Source Protection Plan, we developed the Water Balance Recharge​ Policy in 2019. This policy addresses the deficit of groundwater recharge resulting from development.

Phosphorus Offsetting and Water Balance and Recharge Projects

Victoria Woods Parking Lot Retrofit

​Project Subwatershed:  Barrie Creeks 

Project Location and Ownership:  132 Lillian Cresent, Barrie. Owner – City of Barrie 

Current Estimated Infiltration Volume base on the 25mm rain event (m3/year):  42 

Estimated Phosphorous Reduction (kg/yr): 0.5 

Funding Partner: City of Barrie 

Phosphorus Offsetting Funding:  $43,058.06  

Project Total Cost: $177,143.80

More information about this project​

Green Lane and East Holland River Parking Lot Low Impact Development Retrofit

Project Subwatershed:  East Holland 

Project Location and Ownership: Green Lane East and East Holland River Owner – Town of East Gwillimbury  

Estimated Infiltration Volume base on the 25mm rain event (m3/year): 454 

Estimated Phosphorous Reduction (kg/yr): 0.09 

Funding Partners:  

  • Town of East Gwillimbury 
  • Restoration Funding 

Water Balance Offsetting Funding: $23,150 

Project Total Cost: $60,000 – for the Low Impact Development component only

View more information about this project.​

Magna Centre Low Impact Development Retrofit

Project Subwatershed: East Holland 

Project Location and Ownership: Magna Centre – Town of Newmarket  

Estimated Infiltration Volume base on the 25mm rain event (m3/year):  1750 

Estimated Phosphorous Reduction (kg/yr): 0.186 

Funding Partner: Town of Newmarket 

Water Balance Offsetting Funding:   $67,356.74 

Project Total Cost: $184,000 ​

More information about this project​

Nokiidaa Trail Parking Lot Retrofit Project

Project Subwatershed: East Holland 

Project Location and Ownership: 11 Mount Albert Rd.  Owner – Town of East Gwillimbury  

Estimated Infiltration Volume base on the 25mm rain event (m3): 26.25 

Estimated Phosphorous Reduction (kg/year): 0.3 

Total Area Restored: 0.109 hectares 

Funding Partner: Town of East Gwillimbury 

Water Balance Offsetting Funding:  $44,331.72  

Project Total Cost: $82,172.72