The Conservation Halton Ecology Department deals with many aspects of our natural environment. The environment around us has an effect on our health and wellbeing. The ecology department looks at the ecological aspects of our watershed and is involved with planning review, fisheries, natural heritage inventories, aquatic and terrestrial monitoring (watershed health monitoring), marsh monitoring and many other areas.

The main roles of the Ecology department can be divided into two general categories: Monitoring and Planning. Ecology's monitoring program works to track changes in our watershed over time. It helps the planning ecologists and land use planners in obtaining the quantitative information they need to establish targets and make informed decisions for the planning, management and/or rehabilitation of our natural resources. Ecology’s role in the planning process is primarily through the Ecological And Fisheries Review and the review of Environmental Impact Studies as guided by the Provincial Policy Statement to ensure that developments near wetlands, streams, the waterfront, sensitive natural features and natural hazards are undertaken in a safe and environmentally sound manner. Links to some of these Policies and Guidelines can be found here.

Use the links to the left to explore more areas that the Ecology Department is involved in.