Activity A: Basin Wide Ecosystem Planning

Under the new direction of LSEMS III, additional efforts to protect natural heritage features throughout the watershed are proposed on a watershed scale. Three main initiatives to be undertaken during the course of Phase III include the production of:

1. State of the Watershed Report,

2. Integrated Water Resource Strategy, and

3. Strategic Resource Management Plan.

These studies will provide direction for future policy to protect natural heritage features by examining the entire Lake Simcoe watershed. These studies will also promote the protection of the quality and integrity of the Lake Simcoe ecosystem through strategic planning. The Lake Simcoe watershed ecosystem will be viewed in the context of its linkages to broader ecosystems such as the Oak Ridges Moraine. Strategic planning for the watershed will also be linked with other provincial planning exercises such as Smart Growth, Managing the Environment Report, the Vision for the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Rural Economic Development Strategy. It is acknowledged that these strategic plans will guide municipal land use plans and decisions.

ACTIVITY A: BASIN WIDE ECOSYSTEM PLANNING
Objective: To determine the state and health of the Lake Simcoe ecosystem through inventory, research, and analysis of terrestrial and aquatic resources, and by assessing the interactions between the biophysical, social and economic systems.
ISSUES	ACTIONS	PARTNERS
1. Ecological Integrity of the natural heritage systems is being threatened	Develop land use strategies and policies that will promote the protection of the quality and integrity of the Lake Simcoe ecosystem through the municipal planning process	LSRCA, Municipalities, MMAH, MNR, MOE, OMAF
2. Water quality and quantity of sub-watershed	Develop land stewardship approaches, including land securement to promote land resource stewardship practices that will support LSEMS objectives	LSRCA, Municipalities

Activity A: Basin Wide Ecosystem Planning
Activity B: Agriculture
Activity C: Urban
Activity D: Monitoring and Scientific Studies
Activity E: Public Awareness, Education and Community Action