The Oak Ridges Moraine is one of Ontario’s most significant landforms. The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, officially known as the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, 2001, is a conservation plan for land situated on or near the Oak Ridges Moraine in Ontario, Canada. The YPDT-CAMC groundwater monitoring network collects information from select locations shown on Figure 1 and listed in Table 1. Clean and cold, the rivers begin here. Solving Moraine Drain Today’s infographic is the … The 1991 Oak Ridges Moraine Planning Study, which began as a tightly focused land use planning exercise, became a catalyst for innovative water resource studies. This understanding is continually being refined and improved. Oak Ridges Moraine Hydrogeology Project Geological Survey of Canada 2 INTRODUCTION Awareness of earth science is fundamental to rational land-use planning and is a prerequisite for informed debate on resource management, environmental health, and public safety (e.g. It is the source of 65 major streams or rivers and provides clean, safe drinking water to over a quarter of a million people living on the Moraine. Scoured off the rocky earth’s crust by giant glaciers, the irregular shaped mounds of sand and gravel that compose most of the Oak Ridges Moraine absorbs water quickly. Agencies and consultants look to the program to provide the regional geological and hydrogeological context for their ongoing technical studies and management initiatives. Water-taking, associated with these new land uses, further exacerbates the pressure on the resource. Geological maps are a key means of While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided in these sections, in the event of a conflict, the Act and the Plan supersede these materials. Dubbed the “rain barrel” of Southern Ontario, the permeable sands and gravels of the Oak Ridges Moraine absorb and collect water from rain and snow, storing it naturally underground. The Oak Ridges Moraine is a place located in south-central Ontario, Canada. The moraine covers a geographic area of 1,900 square kilometres (730 sq mi) between Caledon and Rice Lake, near Peterborough. By identifying areas of high aquifer vulnerability, the aquifer vulnerability maps facilitate the implementation of the provisions of Section 29 and Subsection 42(1)(c) of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. When the glaciers last began to melt, a crack developed in the area of the current Moraine which eventually widened to form an opening where melt water and debris such as sand and gravel that were previously trapped within the glaciers … It stretches more than 160 km from the Niagara Escarpment in the west to the Trent River in the east. The Oak Ridges Moraine probably formed in the Late Wisconsin … This formed a lake basin into which gravel and sand were deposited from ice-bound tunnels. Hydrology. The oak ridges moraine is a geological landform that runs East-West through South-Central Ontario, Canada. Numerous small tributaries coalesce into creeks in the rolling hills of the Oak Ridges Moraine uplands to become the Main Branch of the Humber. The Oak ridges moraine formed about twelve thousand years ago during retreat (and occassional expansion) of Glaciers in the area. ...Its most precious feature lies hidden below the ground surface. Background . have been examined. The Oak Ridges Moraine is an ecologically important geological landform in the Mixedwood Plains of south-central Ontario, Canada. As you can probably tell by my shape, I don’t have the best ears, but I hear you’re a supporter of the Land Trust. Map of Oak Ridges Moraine; Trail map of Oak Ridges Moraine ; What's special about the Oak Ridges Moraine? It is a distinct landform feature, performing essential ecological functions including the provision and main- tenance of groundwater resources and natural habitat. Oak Ridges Moraine in Danger. These sand and gravel aquifers store, filter and release this groundwater to over 65 watercourses flowing north and south into Georgian Bay, Lakes Simcoe, Scugog, Rice and Ontario. The Oak Ridges Moraine is one of these new landscapes. Moraine waters sustain countless green spaces and a large number of diverse species who call the Moraine and related landscapes home. We wanted to show Ontarians how the government is managing its Permit to Take Water program on the Oak Ridges Moraine. Why Extract Aggregates on the Oak Ridges Moraine? Join Us. The site encompasses and extends north, east and west from the City of Toronto within the province of Ontario in Canada. Wholly situated on the Oak Ridges Moraine, much of its terrain is hilly, with pine forests and small creeks still prospering in the southwest. The primary purpose of the legislation is to protect the ecological and hydrological integrity of the Oak Ridges Moraine. The moraine's extent was not established until 1863 when William Logan conducted the Geological Survey of Canada. We wanted to show Ontarians how the government is managing its Permit to Take Water program on the Oak Ridges Moraine. The Oak Ridges Moraine is a natural land formation carved out from the Earth by the movement of glaciers in the Late Wisconsin glacial period that started about 30,000 years ago and end around 10,000 years ago. King Township has approved a plan to fill in the town's best wetlands to make room for houses and condos. Its treasure is its gravel and sand layer in between the surface and bed rock that houses thousands of years of water. King Township has approved a plan to fill in the town's best wetlands to make room for houses and condos. It is the thickest piece of glacial material anywhere in Ontario, created about 13,000 years ago … It was formed 12,000 years ago by advancing and retreating glaciers. In 1993, the Geological Survey of Canada initiated an extensive five-year Oak Ridges Moraine study. The clean water that bubbles up from this aquifer feeds 65 river systems. To view / print a particular section of the Oak Ridges Moraine Area Land Use Designation Map, click the corresponding municipalities listed below. It was formed 12,000 years ago by advancing and retreating glaciers. for Ontario Regulation 140/02 (Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan) made under the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, 2001, dated March, 2002. In Ontario, the government is responsible for protecting the Oak Ridges Moraine, a 160-kilometre ridge of sand and gravel hills running along the northern part of the Greater Toronto Area, for its value to Ontarians: providing headwaters to 65 river systems, homes for more than 70 threatened and endangered species and drinking water for more than 250,000 people. The Moraine acts as a water rechargeable area, which helps to maintain the health of watersheds that initiate in the Moraine. Hikes are currently open only to members. In hydrology, the traditional concept of the water balance begins with precipitation (P), which falls onto the land surface in the form of either rain or snow. The Oak Ridges Moraine is one of the last continuous green corridors in southern Ontario. For three decades, a sleepy rural hydro field sat atop a 64-hectare portion of the Oak Ridges Moraine — a government-protected watershed arcing across south-central Ontario — … Leading national and international researchers are selected to present inspiring dialogue and broadening perspectives on current water issues. Within the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, lands zoned Environmental Policy Area 1 - Oak Ridges Moraine (EPA1-ORM), Environmental Policy Area 2 - Oak Ridges Moraine (EPA2-ORM) or lands within a 90 metre buffer of these zones, are subject to Site Plan Control. It developed about 12.000 years ago, during the Wisconsin glaciation in North America. Solving Moraine Drain Today’s infographic is the … Between 2001 and 2010, five key phases of renewed geological interpretation have led to the development of interpreted digital geological layers across different parts of the ORMGP area. Urban and rural contaminants entering the ground today can remain undetected for many decades given the excruciatingly slow movement of water through the ground. A Permit to Take Water is required for most activities that pump more than 50,000 litres per day. About the Oak Ridges Moraine The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan is an ecologically based plan that provides land use and resource management direction for the 190,000 hectares of land and water within the Moraine. with the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (2017), however, given the broad policy direction of the Regional Official Plans Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan policies, most of the changes to the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (2017) do not require amendments to … The Oak Ridges Moraine is a place located in south-central Ontario, Canada. The Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) is a 160-km long ridge of sand, silt and gravel deposits that is oriented approximately east-west, and lies north of Lake Ontario. About Us. The property is on the Oak Ridges Moraine. It is a ... An estimated amount of more than 250,000 people rely on the ORM to provide them with a clean water source. I’m spluttering out my story to help you see just how water flows through your Moraine—and why it’s so gosh darned important to take care of it! The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan is an ecologically based plan established by the Ontario government to provide land use and resource management direction for the 190,000 hectares of land and water within the Moraine. It has been described as southern Ontario’s rain barrel – its permeable sands and gravels absorb and collect precipitation, which slowly recharge the deep aquifers below the ground. WaterTalks is a lecture series, hosted by the Water Institute, that runs each year from September to March. Geological maps are a key means of land and water within the Moraine. In Ontario, the government is responsible for protecting the Oak Ridges Moraine, a 160-kilometre ridge of sand and gravel hills running along the northern part of the Greater Toronto Area, for its value to Ontarians: providing headwaters to 65 river systems, homes for more than 70 threatened and endangered species and drinking water for more than 250,000 people. With the Oak Ridges Moraine as a central landscape feature, the program’s database and interpretations stretch from the Credit and Nottawasaga Watersheds in the west to the Trent River in the east and reach from the shores of Lake Ontario northwards to beyond Lake Simcoe and the Kawartha Lakes. We hike mostly on the Oak Ridges Trail, but visit other trails too. The program has produced an "authoritative" understanding of: i) the geological layering for the area; ii) the groundwater flow system; and iii) its linkage to the region's surface waters. Neither of these uses is currently permitted by the Greenbelt Plan, Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan or the Growth Plan. The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan Area identifies four geographic specific land use designations including Natural Core Area, Natural Linkage Area, Countryside Area and Settlement Area which specifically permit a mix of environmental, agricultural, mineral aggregate, residential, and recreational uses that benefit from the unique characteristics of the Moraine. It developed about 12,000 years ago, during the Wisconsin glaciation in North America. A complex ridge of sedimentary material, the moraine is known to have partially developed under water. We are excited to announce the coming together of two historic forces. In broad terms, the water balance is a form of accounting, with a currency of water. The ORMGP has long advocated for data driven decision making. Client: Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater Program (ORMGP) Steve Holysh, Chief Hydrogeologist, 416-661-6600 ext. Through the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, 2001, and the accompanying Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, the Province of Ontario established a policy framework for protecting the Oak Ridges Moraine.Municipal planning decisions are required to conform to the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, which prevails over municipal official plans. The Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust is building resilience on the Ontario landscape, allowing for species adaptation and migration. Oak Ridges Moraine The Oak Ridges Moraine is one of Ontario's most significant geological landforms. The Oak Ridges Moraine's hydrological system is a major constituent of the Humber Watershed, so that any impact on this system will be of concern.A specific concern is urbanization, which affects water quality by increasing its load of metals and organic contaminants. Save the Greenbelt and Protect Our Drinking Water. Ontario Greenbelt . The moraine covers a geographic area of 1,900 square kilometres (730 sq mi) between Caledon and Rice Lake, near Peterborough. The Oak Ridges Moraine is an ecologically important geological landform in the Mixedwood Plains of south-central Ontario, Canada. 5588 . The Oak Ridges Moraine is one of Ontario's most significant geological landforms. A study by Cook et al. The region that now forms the moraine was sandwiched between a two large lobes of the Laurentide Glacier, the Simcoe lobe, and the Ontario Lobe (covering their respective lakes), and the Niagara Escarpment which acted as a "Cuesta", or Glacial-guide. However, data only takes you part way to informing water related decisions. Often referred to as the ‘rainbarrel’ of Southern Ontario, the Oak Ridges Moraine provides a critical service to over 200,000 people every time they turn on the tap. The Sumac Ridge wind project is the first industrial wind project approved on the environmentally sensitive and protected Oak Ridges Moraine, the rain barrel of southern Ontario. The YPDT-CAMC groundwater monitoring network collects information from select locations shown on Figure 1 and listed in Table 1. The Moraine forest, wetlands and open meadow are vital in maintaining a healthy ecosystem for Toronto and the GTA. The moraine is an enormous deposit of mixed sand and gravels left behind by the glacier as it retreated from this area over 12,000 years ago. YPDT-CAMC York, Peel, Durham, Toronto and The Conservation Authorities Moraine Coalition Oak Ridges Moraine … With rigorous data management as a core foundation, the program provides a multi-agency, collaborative approach to collecting, analyzing and disseminating water resource knowledge as a basis for effective decision making and stewardship of water resources in this part of Ontario. As the glaciers melted, sediment that was previously trapped in the ice was transported by the glacial rivers. The ORM provides drinking water for over 2 million residents and headwater streamflow for all the major rivers in the GTA. (1) Every upper-tier municipality and single-tier municipality shall, on or before April 22, 2003, begin preparing a water budget and conservation plan, in accordance with subsection (2), for every watershed whose streams originate within the municipality’s area of jurisdiction. • Monitoring by municipalities (York, Peel, Durham) associated with water supply from groundwater sources. By identifying areas of high aquifer vulnerability, the aquifer vulnerability maps facilitate the implementation of the provisions of Section 29 and Subsection 42(1)(c) of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. Due to COVID-19 restrictions hike attendance is limited. This led to the involvement of the Ontario Geological Survey and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Parks and Conservation in developing detailed geological and hydrogeological mapping. A complex ridge of sedimentary material, the moraine is known to have partially developed under water. The root of effective water management is data – ready access to high quality data in a useable format. Clague et al., 1997). The Moraine is an ecologically important part of southern-Ontario and one of the most significant groundwater recharge and land forms in the area. The ORM is an ideal location for aggregate extraction because of how the glacial melt water deposited the 0-200 m of quaternary sediment (Gerber, Howard, 2002). The complex ridge of sedimentary material, the Moraine, as is known, partially developed under the water. Using the extensive database to make skillful interpretations, the knowledge pertaining to the region's subsurface geology and the groundwater flow system has grown extensively. This irregular ridge stretches 160 kilometres from the Trent River in the east to the Niagara Escarpment in the west. Your Land Trust is a group of citizens and neighbours working together to protect and steward Moraine properties for our collective benefit. A Permit to Take Water is required for most activities that pump more than 50,000 litres per day. Bill 66 puts our natural areas and water sources at risk. Land-use changes, primarily the building of residential subdivisions, the construction of roads and the paving of parking lots increase the imperviousness of the ground surface, stopping water from entering the hydrologic cycle. The approval sets a precedent to open up the Oak Ridges Moraine for other wind projects and industrial development of all kinds. This irregular ridge stretches 160 kilometres from just west of the Trent River to the Niagara Escarpment. 2. The Oak Ridges Moraine is a geological landform that runs east-west across south central Ontario, Canada. At the same time, unprecedented human exploitation of this groundwater places the Moraine in a precarious ecological position. Here, it is filtered and stored eventually draining out via the many streams and rivers that originate from the Moraine. A key natural heritage system due to its hydrological significance, the Oak Ridges Moraine was formed over 12,000 years ago by advancing and retreating glaciers, the Oak Ridges Moraine currently forms the watershed divide between Lake Ontario and Lake Simcoe, and is the headwaters to more than 30 rivers. It is the source of 65 major streams or rivers and provides clean, safe drinking water to over a quarter of a million people living on the Moraine. The legislation was enacted by the Government of Ontario in 2001. The first two infographics in our series, Moraine Drain and Moraine Management, were released on earlier this week. The Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust is your Land Trust.. Our Moraine is crucial and ecologically sensitive land. Across a broad swath of south-central Ontario a coalition of 13 government agencies, and more recently local consulting companies, are working collaboratively to better understand and manage water resources. It extends from the Niagara Escarpment to beyond Rice Lake for a total lateral extent of approximately 160 km (Fig. With the Oak Ridges Moraine as a central landscape feature, the program’s database and interpretations stretch from the Credit and Nottawasaga Watersheds in the west to the Trent River in the east and reach from the shores of Lake Ontario northwards to beyond Lake Simcoe and the Kawartha Lakes. The northern half of Richmond Hill is located on a natural feature called the Oak Ridges Moraine. Its treasure is its gravel and sand layer in between the surface and bed rock that houses thousands of years of water. Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, help users of the plan understand how to apply the Plan and legislation. The Oak Ridges Moraine is one of Ontario’s most significant landforms. The Oak Ridges Moraine forms a drainage divide of high sandy ground between Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay. • Monitoring by municipalities (York, Peel, Durham) associated with water supply from groundwater sources. In 1829, John Bigsby conducted the first investigation of the moraine. Moraine waters sustain countless green spaces and a large number of diverse species who call the Moraine and related landscapes home. Project Description: Land development in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is encroaching on the high recharge areas of the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM). Consequently, this surface runoff results in dramatic increases in wet weather flows of the headwater streams on the moraine causing erosion and degradation of these fragile systems. boreholes, water chemistry, etc.) The Oak Ridges Moraine is considered an important part of the Greater Toronto Area landscape. The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, officially known as the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, 2001, is a conservation plan for land situated on or near the Oak Ridges Moraine in Ontario, Canada. The property is on the Oak Ridges Moraine. Despite the focus of the Geological Survey of Canada and its call for integration of land-use planning and groundwater management, municipalities and the provincial government continued to carry on with business as usual – processing applications for development and official plan amendments in the absence of a comprehensive groundwater management strategy. We welcome all to explore and appreciate the Oak Ridges Moraine with us. 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