A Critical Analysis of The Importance of The Oak Ridges Moraine

The Water of Life
A Critical Analysis of the Importance of the Oak Ridges Moraine
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Introduction
The Oak Ridges Moraine, one of the most unique and important landmasses Canada has a
claim to, is an important and irreplaceable asset to the Canadian environment and wildlife and
provides immeasurable benefits to humans as well. Likely dating back to well before Europeans
arrived on Canadian shores, and likely before the Vikings and First Nations before them as well,
the Oak Ridges Moraine expanded over time, through the ice ages, to make up the landmass that
it is today. Today, despite its contested status, the Oak Ridges Moraine is home to hundreds of
animal species, with many being endangered outside the moraine. Furthermore, due to its size
and location, the moraine contributes heavily to both local and regional water flows, providing
water and indirectly, vegetation, to millions of Ontarians. The following essay will review the
history and makeup of the Oak Ridges Moraine, arguing that it is an essential ingredient in the
long-term health and activity of wildlife and vegetation in the province, as well as an invaluable
resource to the millions of humans in the province who rely on the vegetation the moraine
develops and the water it provides.
Location
The Oak Ridges Morain is a large geological landform in Ontario, Canada. Specifically
located in the south-central region of the province, the Oak Ridges Morain covers approximately
1,900 square kilometres, or 700+ square miles, and is situated roughly between Caledon, Ontario
and Peterborough, Ontario. Due to its relatively massive size, there are 32 municipalities located
within the Oak Ridges Morain, nine conservation authorities and Over 40 non-government
environmental organizations. Stretching throughout the province, numerous rivers and tributaries
flow through the moraine to other parts of the province, making it an invaluable resource to the
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province and its residents, both human and otherwise.
URL: www. oakridgestrail.org
History
Geographers and historians believe that the Oak Ridges Moraine likely formed near the
end of the Wisconsin glacial period. Runoff and melting ice from the Niagara Escarpment flowed
into the landmass that is now southern Ontario and then froze once again to form an east-west
passage, right through the middle of the province (Barnett et al., 1998). Later, erosion of the
glacial rovers created tunnels underneath the landmass, which would eventually turn into water
tunnels. In the later stages of the moraine’s development, mass sedimentation occurred and
makes up the majority of the moraine’s exposed surface, meaning what is above ground (Barnett
et al., 1998). It is supposed that the majority of this sedimentation happened in a relatively short
time period, likely just a few hundred years, as compared to the slow development of the
subterranean aspects of the moraine (Barnett et al., 1998).
Composition
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The Oak Ridges Moraine is actually made up of two ridges and within those ridges are
four distinct, elevated ridges. The upper-most layer of the moraine, and the area exposed above
ground, is largely made up of salt, sediment and dirt. Above the surface, it seems as if it is merely
an elevated dirt or rock platform, in some areas (Sharpe & Logan, 2007). However, it is what is
underneath this surface-level aspect of the moraine where its value truly shines. One of the most
significant features of the Moraine is the groundwater which results from rainwater percolation
into the generally porous soils of the Moraine (Sharpe & Logan, 2007). The Moraine forms the
watershed divide between Lake Ontario and Lake Simcoe and is the headwaters to more than 30
rivers. The aquifer below the Moraine contributes to both local and regional groundwater flows
(Sharpe & Logan, 2007).

URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/jom.2007.9710842#:~:text=It%20consists%20mostly%20of%20silt,iii)%20ridge%20sediment%20(Fig.
Importance
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The Oak Ridges Moraine currently forms the watershed divide between Lake Ontario and
Lake Simcoe and is the headwaters to more than 30 rivers. S previously discussed, due to its
location and formation, the aquifers below the Moraine contribute to both local and regional
groundwater flows, providing water flow and its benefits throughout the province. Beyond being
both a natural and essential resource for groundwater flows, the Moraine is also home to a
variety of diverse vegetation and wildlife species. According to researchers, the Moraine is home
to over 1,000 plant species, 30 unique species of reptiles and amphibians 51 various mammal
species, 73 fish species and at least 70 species of butterflies. Furthermore, at least 80 known
species found within the moraine are considered provincial or national species at risk, otherwise
known as endangered species (Russell et al., 2001). Aside from the ecological perspective, the
Moraine is also home to the Holland Marsh, which produces a large variety and a large amount
of the vegetables and produce that Ontarians consume on a daily basis (Russell et al., 2001).
Conflict
In the late 20th century, Ontario began experiencing the land and property boom that has
continued through to this day. At some point in the early 1990s, developers set their eyes on the
Oak Ridges Moraine as a prime real estate and development target and due to the fact that the
provincial government had given oversight control of the various sectors of the moraine to the
local municipal governments, large swaths of the land began to be developed for residential and
commercial purposes (Sandberg, Wekerle & Gilbert, 2013). Given the moraine’s unique
geographical build and status, as well as its importance to regional wildlife, this intense and
disproportionate development caused a stir and created a strong backlash from environmental
and concerned citizens.
In 1999, then Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs, Steven Gilchrist, announced that the
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government intended to implement a ban on all development on the Oak Ridges Morain
(Sandberg, Wekerle & Gilbert, 2013). Sparked by intense opposition from the development
industry, the story picked up steam in the media and became a controversial and hot-button issue
for many years. Still unresolved over two years later, and arbitration efforts baring no fruit, the
government formally announced a six-month moratorium on development in the moraine. In late
2001, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act was approved into law, dividing the moraine up
into four distinct zones or regions, each with stringent controls on development(Sandberg,
Wekerle & Gilbert, 2013). The Act ultimately prevented over 90%of the moraine from being
eligible for development, excluding projects that had already received zoning and planning
approval.
Conclusion
Despite Ontario’s rapid population growth over the last twenty years, communities and
activist groups have thus far banded together to ensure that the Oak Ridge Morine remains
protected and dedicated to preservation. The moraine is n ancient glacial relic that long predates
our society but today depends on conservation efforts to ensure it remains an ecological
powerhouse and safehouse for both vegetation and wildlife. From a societal perspective,
although Ontario does have a pressing need for more communities and more housing, the value
that the Oak Ridge Moraine provides Ontarians is beyond reproach. The moraine provides
Ontarians with fresh, locally-grown vegetables, clean drinking water from the Great Lakes water
system, and keeps Ontario’s farmers and food producers in business through its environmental
contributions. While developing the moraine would provide more housing options for the
province’s rapidly growing population, the detrimental effect the loss of the moraine would have
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on the Ontario population would ultimately prove catastrophic.
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References
Peer Reviewed Sources
Barnett, P. J., Sharpe, D. R., Russell, H. A. J., Brennand, T. A., Gorrell, G., Kenny, F., & Pugin,
A. (1998). On the origin of the Oak Ridges Moraine. Canadian Journal of Earth
Sciences, 35(10), 1152-1167.
Russell, H. A. J., Sharpe, D. R., Logan, C., & Brennand, T. A. (2001, April). Not without
sedimentology: Guiding groundwater studies in the Oak Ridges Moraine, southern
Ontario. In RC Berg and LH Thorleifson, conveners, Geological Groundwater Flow
Modeling Workshop extended abstracts: Illinois State Geological Survey, Open File
Series (Vol. 1, p. 62).
Sandberg, L. A., Wekerle, G. R., & Gilbert, L. (2013). The Oak Ridges Moraine battles:
Development, sprawl, and nature conservation in the Toronto region. University of
Toronto Press.
Sharpe, D. R., Russell, H. A., & Logan, C. (2007). A 3-dimensional geological model of the Oak
Ridges Moraine area, Ontario, Canada. Journal of Maps, 3(1), 239-253.
Other Sources
Green Belt (n.d). Highlighting Ontario's Natural Wonder: the Oak Ridges Moraine! Retrieved
from: https://www.greenbelt.ca/oak_ridges_blog
Oak Ridges Trail (n.d.). The Oak Ridges Moraine. Retrieved from:
https://www.oakridgestrail.org/moraine/
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The Water of Life

A Critical Analysis of the Importance of the Oak Ridges Moraine

Word Count: 1185

develops and the water it provides.

province and its residents, both human and otherwise.

URL: www. oakridgestrail.org

subterranean aspects of the moraine (Barnett et al., 1998).

(Sharpe & Logan, 2007).

and concerned citizens.

government formally announced a six-month moratorium on development in the moraine. In late

on the Ontario population would ultimately prove catastrophic.

Peer Reviewed Sources

Sciences, 35(10), 1152-1167.

sedimentology: Guiding groundwater studies in the Oak Ridges Moraine, southern

Ontario. In RC Berg and LH Thorleifson, conveners, Geological Groundwater Flow

Series (Vol. 1, p. 62).

Development, sprawl, and nature conservation in the Toronto region. University of

Ridges Moraine area, Ontario, Canada. Journal of Maps, 3(1), 239-253.

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