Please click here for all service disruptions.

首页

Research Permits

Research on Conservation Halton Lands

Conservation Halton invites responsible research on our lands. As the steward of over 10,000 acres with diverse natural and cultural landscapes, research activities help us understand watershed conditions and trends. This informs our management, planning and operational practices.

Click here for an interactive map of the watershed
A researcher in waders inside a creek to measure water temperature.

Conservation Halton uses and provides research data to inform management decisions related to natural features and natural hazards within our watersheds. If you are interested in conducting research on Conservation Halton lands, please apply for a research permit using the online form below.

Applicants are encouraged to contact Conservation Halton before submitting a research permit application. For technical support, general questions about the application process, or application status, please contact researchpermits@hrca.on.ca.

Click here to apply for a research permit

Data sharing with Conservation Halton is a standard condition of all research permits.

Data received from researchers conducting projects on Conservation Halton lands deepens our understanding of the physical characteristics and processes that shape our landscape and supports the assessment of conditions, trends, and risks.

Conservation Halton provides watershed-wide data related to regulatory mapping, land use planning, flood forecasting and warning, environmental monitoring, terrestrial and aquatic ecology, stewardship, parks operations, and other related business activities. Researchers may use Conservation Halton’s data holdings to help inform their baseline information gathering and to create mutually beneficial research partnerships.

Click here to access the Open Data and Mapping Platform Click here to obtain GIS data from Conservation Halton

Explore Featured Research

Crawford Lake was selected as the most suitable global marker site, or ‘Golden Spike’, to define the start of the proposed Anthropocene epoch, based on research conducted by Brock University. With its unique physical features, importance to Indigenous community members and international scientific significance, Crawford Lake is truly one of the most remarkable lakes in the world.

Visit conservationhalton.ca/crawford-lake-studies to learn more.

Using Smartphone-GPS Data to Quantify Human Activity in Green Spaces

Conservation Halton worked with the University of Toronto to learn more about how visitors use our parks. The study used anonymous GPS data from smart devices to identify areas of higher and lower human activity. This information is helpful in managing trail systems and understanding biodiversity patterns.

Click here to read the research article.

 

Water Quality Dynamics and Underlying Controls in the Halton Region, Ontario

Conservation Halton, Queens University and Halton Region partnered on a two-year study of water quality in our streams, highlighting the importance of monitoring watershed health and trends. These results help identify sources and potential solutions to water quality issues, as well as ongoing monitoring needs.

Click here to read the research article.

Questions? Please contact researchpermits@hrca.on.ca.