Quinte Conservation

What Quinte Conservation does

Quinte Conservation is a Conservation Authority established under Ontario's Conservation Authorities Act, operating as a non-profit government entity headquartered in Belleville, Ontario. The organization was formed in 1996 through the amalgamation of the Moira River Conservation Authority (est. 1947), Napanee Region Conservation Authority (est. 1947), and Prince Edward Region Conservation Authority (est. 1965), and is one of 36 Conservation Authorities in the province. It serves 18 member municipalities across the Quinte watershed and serves four primary customer segments: member municipalities (watershed planning and flood management), property developers and landowners (regulatory permits in floodplain/wetland/shoreline areas), rural landowners (well water testing, septic guidance, shoreline stewardship), and the general public (outdoor recreation across 16 conservation areas).

The organization manages a portfolio of integrated services spanning watershed management, conservation areas, and community engagement. Core technical capabilities are built on a GIS platform using Geocortex Essentials for ArcGIS, supporting floodplain mapping (combining topography, bathymetry, water resource modeling, and field surveys), real-time water level monitoring, and property regulation screening. Operational assets include 16 conservation areas, dam infrastructure (including the Third Depot Lake Dam), and monitoring programs tied to the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan. The product portfolio spans camping, hiking, education programs (Stream of Dreams, Yellow Fish Road), invasive species control, tree planting, source water protection, permit services, and, as of July 2026, a self-serve kayak rental pilot via partnership with Paddle Pod Canada.

Quinte Conservation's revenue model combines municipal levies from member municipalities (subscription/recurring), permit and planning fees (professional services), recreation revenue from camping and parking at conservation areas (transaction fees), and donations plus merchandise sales (freemium). The organization is governed by a board representing its member municipalities, with no parent company and no venture capital structure. It operates across approximately 32 employees and pursues cross-government coordination on watershed restoration with federal, provincial, Indigenous (Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte), and municipal partners.

Name

Quinte Conservation

Legal name

Quinte Conservation Authority

Website

https://quinteconservation.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Quinte Conservation is a non-profit Ontario Conservation Authority managing 16 conservation areas and watershed programs across the Quinte region. It serves 18 member municipalities, landowners, developers, and the public through floodplain regulation, permits, recreation, and environmental monitoring.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watershed Management and Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration (BPAIABAL), Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Environmental Policy, Planning & Regulation (BPAIAMAA), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Watershed management
• Flood monitoring services
• Source water protection
• Environmental permit services
• Conservation area recreation

Headquarters

HQ city

Belleville

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Municipal Levies: Core funding from member municipalities within the Quinte Conservation watershed region. Quinte Conservation is one of Ontario's 36 Conservation Authorities formed under the Conservation Authorities Act.
2. Permit and Planning Fees: Fees collected for permit applications, property inquiries, legal clearance, and site visit requests related to development in regulated areas.
3. Conservation Area Recreation: Revenue from camping (interior and seasonal), parking, and outdoor recreation activities at conservation areas.
4. Donations and Merchandise: Donations through the Quinte Conservation Foundation, adopt-an-acre programs, and merchandise store sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Quinte Conservation is a statutory Conservation Authority that manages a 5,500 km² watershed in southeastern Ontario, providing flood forecasting and low water response, source water protection, development permitting and planning review, operation of dams and water control structures, environmental monitoring, and public access to 16 conservation areas for outdoor recreation and environmental education.

Product overview

Quinte Conservation operates as a unified conservation authority managing 36 conservation areas across the Quinte watershed in Ontario. The organization offers an integrated portfolio of environmental management services centered on watershed protection, flood risk management, and public outdoor recreation. Core offerings include conservation area access (hiking, camping, paddling), water resource management (dam operations, flood monitoring, source water protection), and environmental stewardship programs (planting, invasive species control, wildlife monitoring). The product portfolio operates as a single integrated service model where permits, planning services, and educational programs support the overarching watershed management mandate. Notable recent additions include a self-serve kayak rental partnership with Paddle Pod Canada at select conservation areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan has achieved 'Restored' status for 6 Beneficial Use Impairments including Fish and Wildlife Populations, Fish Tumors, Degradation of Benthos, Restrictions of Dredging Activities, Restrictions on Drinking Water, and Beach Closures

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Paddle Pod CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 2026Two-year pilot partnership to launch self-serve kayak rentals at Depot Lakes and Massassauga Point Conservation Areas. Paddle Pod Canada is a Toronto-based start-up focused on providing user-friendly and affordable watercraft rental options.
• Environment and Climate Change CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner coordinating implementation of the Remedial Action Plan for the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
• Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial partner coordinating Remedial Action Plan implementation for Areas of Concern on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes.
• Lower Trent ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-chair of the Bay of Quinte Restoration Council alongside Quinte Conservation, jointly facilitating environmental rehabilitation efforts.
• Mohawks of the Bay of QuintecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous partner and council member in the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan, contributing to environmental stewardship and protection of traditional territories.
• Department of National DefenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal council member supporting Bay of Quinte environmental restoration efforts.
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner contributing to fish and wildlife habitat restoration initiatives.
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural AffairsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial partner supporting landowner stewardship and agricultural best management practices.
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial partner contributing to natural resource management and conservation initiatives.
• Government of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal funding partner for Marsh and Macaulay Creek Floodplain Mapping project.
• Province of OntariocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial funding partner for floodplain mapping and environmental assessment initiatives.
• Prince Edward CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality partnered on Marsh and Macaulay Creek Floodplain Mapping project.
• City of BellevillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality partnered on Potter Creek Floodplain Mapping project.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Ducks Unlimited Canada: National non-profit conservation organization focused on wetland and habitat conservation, with overlapping programs in stewardship, landowner engagement, and habitat restoration. Comparable in non-profit conservation mandate but operates under different (federal charity) governance rather than the Conservation Authorities Act.

Direct peers

• Hamilton Conservation Authority: Ontario Conservation Authority managing conservation areas, watershed monitoring, and permitting under the Conservation Authorities Act. Operates a similar portfolio of outdoor recreation, education, and regulatory services.
• Credit Valley Conservation: Ontario Conservation Authority delivering the same integrated package of watershed management, conservation areas, education, and regulatory services to member municipalities. Direct mandate and operational peer.
• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA): One of Ontario's largest Conservation Authorities operating under the same Conservation Authorities Act. TRCA delivers the same combination of watershed management, flood forecasting, permitting, conservation area recreation, and education programs across a different (Greater Toronto) watershed, making it the most directly comparable peer in mandate and governance structure.
• Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority: Ontario Conservation Authority focused on watershed management, conservation lands, and flood control across the Niagara Peninsula. Directly comparable statutory mandate and service offering.
• Conservation Halton: Ontario Conservation Authority providing watershed management, flood forecasting, conservation areas, and permit services in the Halton region. Same statutory framework, same service portfolio, and a useful size/operational comparable.
• Rideau Valley Conservation Authority: Ontario Conservation Authority operating conservation areas, flood forecasting, and permitting under the same Conservation Authorities Act — useful comparable for size, mandate, and funding model.
• Lower Trent Conservation: Adjacent Ontario Conservation Authority co-chairing the Bay of Quinte Restoration Council with Quinte Conservation. Operates the same statutory mandate (watershed management, permitting, conservation areas, flood forecasting) under the Conservation Authorities Act, but in the neighbouring Lower Trent watershed.
• Grand River Conservation Authority: Ontario Conservation Authority with a similar integrated mandate of watershed management, flood control, conservation areas, and permitting — but operating in the larger Grand River watershed. Directly comparable in service mix and governance.

Others

• Conservation Ontario: Provincial umbrella organization representing all 36 Ontario Conservation Authorities, including Quinte Conservation. Relevant as an ecosystem/coordinating body rather than a direct competitor, but central to funding and policy advocacy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/quinteca
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/quinteconservation
• Facebookfacebook.com/quinteconservation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quinteconservation
• Instagraminstagram.com/quinte_conservation/?hl=en

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Quinte Conservation