Simcoe County ranks as one of the most ecologically signficant and diverse regions in Ontario.  The northern portion contains extensive tracts of undisturbed forest.  Northeast Simcoe also contains numerous wetlands, and there are three large Provincial Parks in this area.  Much of the development pressure in north Simcoe is being exerted along the shoreline of Georgian Bay (particularly in Collingwood and Wasaga Beach).

North of Barrie, in the central portion, there are vast tracts of woodland, many of which are County Greenlands and County Forests.  Two dominant natural heritage features  in this part of the County are the extensive, provincially signficant Minesing Swamp, which forms part of the Nottawasaga River drainage basin; and the Oro Moraine, a well-wooded area of rolling terrain located between Barrie and Orillia that marks the drainage divide between Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay.  

The primary areas of environmental constraint in south Simcoe are associated with the Oak Ridges Moraine which occupies its southwest corner, the shore of Lake Simcoe, the densely forested lands on and surrounding Canadian Forces Base Borden due west of Barrie, and six major northward flowing creek valleys.  The Pine River and Innisfil, Bailey, and Shelton Creeks are all major headwater tributaries of the Nottawasaga River, which eventually drains to Georgian Bay.  These creek valleys contain provincially signficant wetlands, adjacent woodlands and important coldwater fish habitat.  Farmland is the predominant land use in south Simcoe outside the communities of Barrie, Bradford, Alliston and to a lesser exatent Beeton, Alcona and Cookstown.  The forest cover over much of this farmland, however, is sparse and fragmented, with small woodlots.

For a high resolution PDF of the map, go to Associated Documents below.

For more information on The State of Greenlands Protection in South-Central Ontario click here.