Project Overview
The Lake Ontario Coastal Resilience Pilot Project (LOCRPP) is a partnership-driven initiative focused on helping communities along the Lake Ontario shoreline better prepare for flooding, erosion, and extreme weather.
By working together and using the best available science, the project will identify practical short- and long-term actions to reduce risks to people, property, and infrastructure along roughly 100 kilometres of shoreline.Just as important as the science is the lived experience of the people who know this shoreline best. How you use the shoreline, what you value, and where you’ve seen changes over time all play a critical role in shaping effective, locally relevant solutions. As part of this work, we’re inviting you to take part in a social mapping exercise below!
Get Involved
How to get involved & participate
At the heart of this project is one simple idea: the people who know the shoreline best should help shape its future.
We’re developing a Coastal Resilience Management Plan to help communities along the Lake Ontario shoreline better prepare for flooding, erosion, and extreme weather. Indigenous partners, local communities, business owners, NGOs, and municipal staff all play a key role, sharing knowledge and perspectives that ensure the plan reflects real experiences - not just data.
Whether you live on the shoreline, run a business, spend time at the beach, or enjoy local trails—your experiences matter. How you use the shoreline, what you love about it, and what you want to protect will shape what comes next.
Here’s how you can get involved:
📍 Drop a pin on the map and share your shoreline experiences
📝 Take our survey (coming soon) to tell us what you value most
🏡 Join us at an open house to learn more and be part of the conversation
🌊 Connect with us in your community from May to October—we’ll be out near the shoreline, at events, on beaches, and other local spots, hanging out and hearing your experiences firsthand
Your input, alongside insights from partners and community groups, will guide solutions that protect what matters most—our homes, natural spaces, infrastructure, and shared shoreline—for generations to come.
Learn About Project
This project includes the western Lake Ontario shoreline from the mouth of the Niagara River in Niagara-on-the-Lake to Joshua’s Creek in Oakville/Mississauga, encompassing portions of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA), Conservation Halton (CH), and Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) watershed jurisdiction shorelines.
Main objectives:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In 2024, the Canadian Federal Government launched the four-year (2024-2027) Natural Resources Canada's Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities (CRCC) program, allocating $4.1 million in funding for pilot projects across the Great Lakes Region.
In January 2025, Conservation Ontario (CO) announced that it was the successful recipient of $3.1 million of funding from the CRCC program toward the development of three Great Lakes pilot projects, including $1.5 million for the Lake Ontario Coastal Resilience Pilot Project led by NPCA, in partnership with CH, HCA, CO, and many other partners.
A look at the Lake Ontario shoreline
Project Team
DHI Water & Environment, Inc. (DHI) is the Canadian subsidiary of DHI A/S, a Denmark-based independent and research institute dedicated to solving complex water-related challenges worldwide. As part of the DHI Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, we provide advanced research, expert consultancy, and professional training in all areas of water environments. Through decades of innovation and real-world application, DHI delivers science-based solutions, empowering clients and partners with cutting-edge technology, industry-leading software, and deep local expertise.
With over 65 years of experience across 140+ countries, DHI channels its vast knowledge through local teams, tailored solutions, and industry-leading software products. We have a strong Canadian team of experts, scientists and coastal engineers, including staff throughout Ontario, and local to Thunder Bay. Our mission is to make water knowledge globally accessible, helping clients and partners solve complex water-related challenges. Globally, our team consists of 1,300+ specialists, including 60+ scientists,
researchers, and engineers spanning from the Atlantic to the Pacific, working across all time zones. DHI provides a comprehensive suite of technical Services and solutions across multiple sectors.
Learn more about us at www.dhigroup.com
Zuzek Inc. specializes in erosion and flooding assessments, hazard mapping, climate change adaptation, and resilience plans. We implement rigorous scientific analysis, systems thinking, and embrace a team approach to project execution. Working collaboratively with clients and stakeholders, we strive to share information on natural hazards in a meaningful way, develop longterm
sustainable solutions to decrease risk, and to improve the health and resilience of our communities.
Learn more about us at www.zuzekinc.com
The project is managed by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, in partnership with Conservation Ontario, Hamilton Conservation Authority, and Conservation Halton.
A Technical Advisory Committee of local partners will provide guidance and feedback on the execution to the project. In some cases, they will benefit from the updated hazard mapping for municipal planning. The Committee will also help shape the Coastal Resilience Management Plan, which will generate adaptation approaches to address current threats and climate change.
The following organizations have been invited to join the Technical Advisory Committee:
- City of Burlington
- City of Hamilton
- City of St. Catharines
- Halton Region
- Niagara Region
- Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Town of Grimsby
- Town of Lincoln
- Town of Oakville
- Six Nations of the Grant River Elected Council
- Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
- Brock University - Water Lab
- Toronto Metropolitan University - Global Centre for Climate Change and Transboundary Waters
- Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority
- St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation
- Parks Canada
