Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority

What Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority does

Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) is a non-profit environmental organization and one of 36 Conservation Authorities established under Ontario's Conservation Authorities Act, operating since 1958 from its headquarters in Oshawa, Ontario. The organization delivers statutory watershed management services across a jurisdiction spanning seven municipalities (City of Oshawa, City of Pickering, Municipality of Clarington, Town of Ajax, Town of Whitby, Township of Uxbridge, and Township of Scugog) and serving approximately 380,000 residents. Core services include flood forecasting and warning, source water protection under the Clean Water Act, development review and permitting in regulated areas, watershed monitoring (terrestrial, aquatic, invasive species, climate change), and environmental education delivered through eight conservation areas including Purple Woods, Enniskillen, Crow's Pass, Lynde Shores, Heber Down, and Bowmanville Westside Marshes.

The organization operates a hybrid technology platform centered on GIS and mapping for watershed management and flood plain delineation (including an ArcGIS-based public flood plain viewer), supplemented by continuous watershed monitoring systems, Avenza Maps offline GPS integration for visitors, and Honk Mobile for parking payments. Specialized capabilities include modern maple syrup production equipment (650+ tapped trees, ~1,000 litres annually), barrier beach restoration engineering studies in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Phragmites invasive species management programs. Education and community science programs (SMART Watersheds, SNAP, CATS trail stewards) extend operational capacity through volunteer engagement.

CLOCA's revenue model is dominated by municipal levies from the seven member municipalities, supplemented by provincial and federal project grants (e.g., Ontario Trillium Foundation, Invasive Phragmites Control Fund, ECCC), conservation area fees (C$7/day parking, annual passes, facility rentals), planning and permit service fees, and charitable donations (including a C$100 Heritage Brick program). Registered as a charity (BN: 106887102RR0001), CLOCA operates with a staff of approximately 50 across Corporate Services, Planning and Regulations, Engineering, Watershed Planning and Natural Heritage, Land Operations and Education, and Marketing and Communications. As of October 2025, CLOCA faces a structural restructuring risk from the Ontario government's proposal to consolidate the 36 Conservation Authorities into seven regional bodies, with CLOCA designated for absorption into the Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority; the Board responded in December 2025 by requesting a pause for further cost-benefit analysis.

Name

Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority

Legal name

Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority

Website

https://cloca.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority is a non-profit watershed management agency operating eight conservation areas and delivering flood forecasting, source water protection, permitting, and environmental education services to seven municipalities across Durham Region, Ontario.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oshawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Municipal Levies and Government Funding: Primary funding from municipal levies based on the seven municipalities within the CLOCA watershed (City of Oshawa, City of Pickering, Municipality of Clarington, Town of Ajax, Town of Whitby, Township of Uxbridge, Township of Scugog), supplemented by provincial and federal government funding for specific programs and projects.
2. Conservation Area Fees: Revenue from parking fees ($7/day via Honk Mobile), annual parking passes, facility reservations (building and picnic shelter rentals), and event space rentals at venues like Purple Woods Heritage Hall.
3. Program and Education Services: Revenue from educational programs, school field trips, facility bookings, and specialized programs like the PaRx (nature prescription) program.
4. Planning and Permit Services: Fees for planning services, development permits, and regulatory compliance services provided to municipalities and landowners within the watershed.
5. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Donations through the giving-back program, charitable donation requests (parking passes, maple gift baskets, maple syrup for raffles), and the Heritage Brick commemorative program at Purple Woods ($100/brick).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority manages watershed resources across seven municipalities in Durham Region through conservation area operations, regulatory planning/permit services, flood forecasting and warning, source water protection, and environmental education. It operates eight conservation areas offering trails, wildlife viewing, and outdoor recreation, while providing statutory development review and permitting under the Conservation Authorities Act.

Product overview

Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) is a watershed management agency providing environmental conservation services across Durham Region, Ontario. The organization operates eight conservation areas totaling significant acreage, offering trails, wildlife viewing, and outdoor recreation. Core services include watershed monitoring and protection, flood forecasting and warning, source water protection, and planning/permit services for development review. Educational programs serve all ages through school trips, teacher resources, and public events. The authority hosts the annual Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival and manages volunteer programs including CATS trail stewardship. Additional offerings include facility rentals, annual parking passes, and specialized programs such as the Phragmites Control Project and Barrier Beach Restoration at Lynde Shores Conservation Area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 10,000 visitors annually at Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Conservation OntariocoreOthersProvincial organization representing all 36 Conservation Authorities in Ontario. CLOCA participates in Conservation Ontario initiatives and shares best practices with other conservation authorities across the province.
• Durham RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal Memorandum of Understanding with the Regional Municipality of Durham. Durham Region is both a funding partner through municipal levies and a collaborator on regional planning, invasive species management (Phragmites along Victoria Street), and watershed initiatives.
• Toronto and Region Conservation AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in planning services Memorandum of Understanding along with Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, and Kawartha Conservation. Collaboration on regional watershed management and conservation initiatives.
• Environment and Climate Change CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner collaborating on coastal wetland research and barrier beach preservation projects, including the Cranberry Marsh and Lynde Creek Marsh restoration initiative with coastal engineers.
• Conservation Area Trail Stewards (CATS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer organization that maintains and manages conservation area trails in partnership with CLOCA. CATS volunteers play a key role in trail stewardship and conservation area operations.
• YMCAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYMCA Summer Day Camp program operates at Enniskillen Conservation Area, providing outdoor programming for youth and families.
• Invasive Species CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Phragmites management project at Lynde Shores Conservation Area. Administrator of the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund providing project funding.
• Invasive Phragmites Control CentremajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExpert partner providing technical expertise and implementation support for the Phragmites removal project at Lynde Shores Conservation Area.
• University of TorontominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner investigating Phragmites biocontrol through European moth species release at Cranberry Marsh. Research ongoing on water conditions affecting moth establishment.
• University of WaterloominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner conducting restoration planting research at Cranberry Marsh, exploring plant species to support wetland recovery after biocontrol becomes effective.
• Soper Creek Wildlife RescueminorOthersWildlife rehabilitation organization referenced for guidance on injured or abandoned wildlife found in conservation areas.
• Toronto Wildlife CentreminorOthersWildlife rehabilitation service for injured wildlife found in the Durham Region area, referenced for conservation area visitors seeking wildlife assistance.
• Ontario Turtle Conservation CentreminorOthersTurtle rehabilitation and conservation organization; conservation area visitors are directed to contact them for injured turtles.
• Bee City CanadaminorOthersCLOCA is recognized as a Bee City Canada partner, demonstrating commitment to pollinator conservation and habitat protection.
• Oak Ridges TrailminorOthersTrail system connecting through Purple Woods and Crow's Pass Conservation Areas, providing extended hiking opportunities on the Oak Ridges Moraine.
• Indigenous Communities (Williams Treaties Signatories)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLOCA acknowledges the watershed is situated on traditional and treaty territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Anishinaabeg and Williams Treaties signatories including Mississaugas of Scugog Island, Hiawatha, Curve Lake, Alderville First Nations, and Chippewas of Georgina Island, Rama, and Beausoleil First Nations. Engagement conducted for Conservation Area Strategy development.
• Ganaraska Region Conservation AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of seven Conservation Authorities proposed for consolidation into Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority under Ontario's conservation authority reform.
• Kawartha ConservationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of seven Conservation Authorities proposed for consolidation into Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority under Ontario's conservation authority reform.
• Otonabee Region Conservation AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of seven Conservation Authorities proposed for consolidation into Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority under Ontario's conservation authority reform.
• Lower Trent Region Conservation AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of seven Conservation Authorities proposed for consolidation into Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority under Ontario's conservation authority reform.
• Crowe Valley Conservation AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of seven Conservation Authorities proposed for consolidation into Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority under Ontario's conservation authority reform.
• Quinte Conservation AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of seven Conservation Authorities proposed for consolidation into Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority under Ontario's conservation authority reform.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hamilton Conservation Authority: Ontario Conservation Authority operating conservation areas (incl. waterfalls and natural heritage lands), watershed monitoring, and permitting — matches CLOCA's mix of public recreation, conservation land management, and regulatory oversight.
• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA): The largest Ontario Conservation Authority, also established under the Conservation Authorities Act and serving a major urban watershed with flood forecasting, conservation areas, permitting, and education programs — a direct mandate and structural peer to CLOCA, even though its scale is much greater.
• Credit Valley Conservation Authority: Ontario Conservation Authority serving Mississauga and western GTA with the same Conservation Authorities Act mandate — comparable programs in flood forecasting, permitting, and education, though embedded in a more urbanized high-growth setting.
• Halton Region Conservation Authority (Conservation Halton): Ontario Conservation Authority combining watershed protection, conservation areas, and permitting; a strong structural mirror to CLOCA given its blend of urban, suburban, and headwaters catchment.
• Kawartha Conservation: Ontario Conservation Authority providing watershed monitoring, permitting, education, and conservation lands in the Kawartha region; explicit partner in the Eastern Lake Ontario consolidation proposal and matches CLOCA's mandate category-for-category.
• Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority: Adjacent Ontario Conservation Authority serving the Ganaraska watershed with identical statutory mandate (flood, permitting, conservation lands); proposed for consolidation with CLOCA into the new Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority, making it the closest operational peer.
• Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority: Neighbouring Ontario Conservation Authority delivering watershed management, flood forecasting, source water protection, and conservation areas in Durham/York/Simcoe — operating under identical statutory authority and overlapping service profile with CLOCA, and explicitly listed as a planning-services MOU partner.

Broad incumbents

• Nature Conservancy of Canada: Largest private land conservation nonprofit in Canada; comparable to CLOCA on land acquisition, conservation area stewardship, and biodiversity protection, but operates via private fundraising rather than statutory municipal levies.
• Ducks Unlimited Canada: National nonprofit focused on wetland and waterfowl habitat conservation; comparable to CLOCA's wetland restoration, stewardship, and partnership-based funding model, though broader in geographic mandate and not a statutory permitting authority.

Emerging players

• Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust: Regional land trust operating on the same Oak Ridges Moraine where CLOCA's northern watershed sits; smaller, focused on private land securement rather than statutory programs, but a thematic peer on moraine conservation and trail connectivity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CentralLakeOntarioConservation
• Instagraminstagram.com/centrallakeontarioconservation
• Xx.com/cloca1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-lake-ontario-conservation

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority