June

Ecological Land Classification and Existing Land Use

Organization
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

Author
Darren Campbell

ESRI Software
ArcGIS Desktop 9.1

Data Sources
Lake Simcoe Region GIS Services

Description
The Natural Heritage and Land Use mapping was developed for uses such as Natural Heritage Systems planning, Source Water Protection planning, subwatershed plans, and the Assimilative Capacity Study.

The natural heritage component applies the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Ecological Land Classification (ELC) System. The goal of ELC is to establish a uniform and consistent method for identifying, describing, naming, mapping, and organizing landscape patterns and vegetation communities.

The existing or actual land uses were delineated and based upon generally accepted land use categories, such as agriculture, urban, and estate residential. Land use may indicate areas of potential environmental impacts or opportunities for enhancement (i.e., soil erosion, groundwater recharge, wildlife habitat, and restoration).

Acknowledgements
Kim Baker, Natural Heritage Biologist, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority; Mike Dennis, GIS Technician, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority. The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority would like to thank its municipal partners for their support and funding on this significant initiative.