Unique Habitats

Environmentally Significant Areas (ESA’s) are designated areas that represent a range of significant environmental functions and natural attributes. There are three types of ESA’s: physical, hydrological and biological. A Physical ESA includes lands of an unusual or significant physical or landform feature, an example of which is the Holland Marsh. Hydrological ESA’s are those areas of significant groundwater recharge/discharge or those that contribute to surface water quality or quantity. An example is the Vivian Infiltration Area. A Biological ESA may support any one of a number of significant natural functions or attributes, including the presence of rare flora or fauna, areas of high species diversity or specialized ecological function. The Brown Hill ESA is an example of a large biological ESA within the Lake Simcoe watershed.

Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI’s) are provincially designated areas of land and water that represent significant geological (earth science) and biological (life science) features. Earth science ANSIs include areas that contain examples of rock, fossil and landform features in Ontario. These features are the result of billions of years of geological processes and landscape evolution. The Musselman Lake Kettle Complex is an example of this type of ANSI. Life science ANSIs are areas that contain examples of the many natural landscapes, communities, plants and animals found in the 14 natural regions of the province. Within the Lake Simcoe watershed there are several Life Science ANSIs, with the Zephyr Creek Swamp being one of the largest.

Maps

ESA's and ANSI's
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