8.0 FEATURED AREAS
Nine parts of the planning area have been identified as Featured Areas that demonstrate the range of approaches in the Strategy, provide specific examples of the types of features that are being dealt with in the Strategy, or warrant special strategies. These featured areas are:
The first two featured areas, the Great Lakes Coast and the Lake Nipigon Basin, have been identified as having a range of highly significant values that warrant special strategies. In both these areas the Strategy identifies a number of Land Use Designations and Enhanced Management Areas that are focused on retaining and enhancing the special characteristics of the area. These areas also have extremely significant tourism and recreation potential that merits increased planning, management and promotion.
The other seven featured areas demonstrate the range of natural and recreational values, and related management issues and approaches, that are dealt with in the Land Use Strategy. This information has been included to provide specific examples of the scope of the Strategy.
8.1 Great Lakes Heritage Coast
The Great Lakes Heritage Coast is not a land use designation -- rather it is a policy statement that identifies the Great Lakes coast for special planning and management consideration. This policy statement supports a comprehensive approach to the protection and enjoyment of the significant values that are found along the coast. In the past, plans have been developed for portions of the coast, but these have often lacked the broader context that will be provided by an overall vision for the area.
The Heritage Coast policy recognizes the internationally significant natural, cultural, scenic, and recreational values of the Lake Superior and Lake Huron/Georgian Bay shoreline within the planning area. The coast provides habitat for numerous significant plant and animal communities, and has fisheries habitat crucial to the ecosystem of the Great Lakes. The shoreline was a key area for both Aboriginal peoples and early explorers. The area offers some of the best -- if not the best -- freshwater boating in the world. The windswept rocky shores are a key part of the image of Ontario and Canada.
The Great Lakes Heritage Coast policies apply to all Crown lands, waters, lakebeds, Crown islands, and intervening coastal areas along the Great Lakes shoreline from Port Severn in Georgian Bay, through the North Channel of Lake Huron, to the international border south of Thunder Bay on Lake Superior. The Heritage Coast varies in width along the shoreline. It spans approximately 2,900 km of shoreline and covers in excess of one million ha of land.
While much of the Great Lakes shoreline is in Crown ownership, there are 18 Indian Reserves and significant concentrations of privately owned land west of Nipigon, around Sault Ste. Marie, and along southern Georgian Bay. Numerous areas along the shoreline are extensively developed for seasonal cottages. The Heritage Coast policies do not apply to Aboriginal or privately owned lands.
The Great Lakes Heritage Coast will be managed to:
Further work is required to define the scope of the Heritage Coast, the associated policies, and a management structure.
8.2 Lake Nipigon Basin
Lake Nipigon, the largest lake entirely within Ontario, is Lake Superior's largest and highest quality tributary basin. It is located to the north of Lake Superior and approximately 120 km northeast of Thunder Bay. The area is known for outstanding wilderness values, ideal for world-class adventure travel and ecotourism, as well as having high potential for angling, hunting, wildlife viewing, and camping. It serves as an ecological corridor between the Wabakimi/Ogoki/Albany wilderness and Lake Superior. The lake basin provides an important habitat for woodland caribou, a species designated as vulnerable.
There are three land use categories proposed for the Lake Nipigon Basin: Provincial Parks, Conservation Reserves and Enhanced Management Areas. These areas contain 385,612 ha.
The Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves in the Lake Nipigon Basin contain areas that:
The EMAs contain specific values that warrant special management. The intent is not to preclude any other resource activity, but to ensure that the values identified are recognized and conserved. These values include
The Ministry of Natural Resources will work with First Nations, other agencies and the public to develop strategies to enhance and promote these values and opportunities.
8.3 Algoma Headwaters
The Algoma Highlands area is located about 90 kilometres east of Sault Ste. Marie. The area contains a range of forest types, including old-growth red and white pine, and dense boreal stands of jack pine or spruce. Linked by a network of rivers, lakes and wetlands, the forests here are some of the richest and most diverse in Canada.
More than 50,000 hectares of this spectacular landscape will be protected in the recommended Algoma Headwaters Provincial Park, the recommended Saymo-Aubinadong-Gong Waterway Park and the existing Ranger North Conservation Reserve. The proposed Goulais River Waterway Park flows out of this headwater area.
Recreational and tourism uses will be encouraged in the protected areas, including canoeing, camping, fishing and hunting. The Ranger North Forest Access Road and other existing authorized roads will be retained for use by the forest industry, as well as for hunting, fishing and backcountry recreational access.
Areas adjacent to the protected areas remain important to the forest industry and existing access for forest industry use will continue.
8.4 Spanish River Valley
The outstanding scenery, waterways and wildlife habitat of the Spanish River valley will be protected for future generations by the recommended Spanish River Provincial Park which covers 33,826 hectares, and includes more than 80 kilometres of the Spanish River. Three EMAs covering 29,200 hectares have also been identified where management will give careful consideration to the larger area's remote access, tourism and recreation values.
8.5 Kawartha Highlands
The scenic Kawartha Highlands, encompassing over 35,000 hectares, is recommended to become the largest protected area in Ontario south of Algonquin Provincial Park. This area is located 50 kilometres north of Peterborough. Situated along the southern edge of the Canadian Shield, this relatively undeveloped area features a rugged rolling landscape of small lakes, wetlands, forests and rocky barrens. Traditional recreational activities will continue, including canoeing, angling, hunting, hiking and snowmobiling.
MNR will establish a local stakeholder committee to work with the Ministry and Ontario Parks to determine the most appropriate protection designation for the area - provincial park or conservation reserve. The committee will also assist in finalizing the protected area boundary; developing management policies; and developing and implementing co-stewardship management of the area. Private land within the area will not be affected by the land use designation.
8.6 Killarney
Killarney Provincial Park is one of the jewels in Ontario's parks system. Its spectacular scenery has long been an inspiration to artists, particularly the Group of Seven. The land use strategy proposals will expand the protected area by more than 30,000 hectares to a total of 78,000 hectares. The new areas include islands and special features along the Georgian Bay shore, as well as the existing park's watershed, a number of lakes to the north and north east, and a sinkhole bog. Three adjacent EMAs and two forest reserves will complement the protected area, while permitting a range of resource use.
Camping, canoeing, backpacking, fishing and wildlife viewing will continue in the existing park. The new parks will also allow continuation of existing activities such as hunting, trapping, motor boating and snowmobiling.
8.7 St. Raphael
The St. Raphael Area encompasses more than 150,000 hectares of remote landscape in northwestern Ontario. This huge area provides important habitat and calving sites for woodland caribou and nesting grounds for sandhill cranes. Circular canoe routes and the waterway connection to the major river system of Lake St. Joseph and the Albany River, are a major attraction for backcountry canoeists.
The area's outstanding scenery, and natural and recreational values, will be preserved within the recommended St. Raphael Provincial Park (89,097 hectares). The potential for increased backcountry and ecotourism activities may contribute to the economies of the nearby communities of Savant Lake and Pickle Lake. Forestry and mineral exploration will be conducted in the adjacent Miniss Enhanced Management Area, giving careful consideration to the larger area's wilderness values.
8.8 Nagagamisis Central Plateau Complex
The Nagagamisis Central Plateau Complex is a rich and varied landscape of geological and natural features including moraines, bluffs, lakes, rivers, forests and bogs. It is located 75 kilometres southwest of Hearst.
The natural and recreational values of the area will be protected within two existing parks totaling 10,924 hectares, which have been joined and expanded by another 29,805 hectares. The parks will provide high quality canoeing, camping, fishing and hiking opportunities. Forestry operations and mineral exploration will be conducted in an adjacent Enhanced Management Area with careful consideration for the natural values and recreation potential of the complex.
8.9 Woodland Caribou
The rugged Canadian Shield landscape of the 537,864-hectare Woodland Caribou complex is a mix of elongated lakes, sudden changes in elevation, and massive bedrock outcrops, carved out by glaciers during the ice age. It is located 120 kilometres north of Kenora, along the Ontario-Manitoba border.
Woodland Caribou Provincial Park is popular for its canoe routes, hiking trails, backcountry camping, fishing and wildlife viewing. The area is also rich in cultural history, with evidence of early occupancy by humans preserved in pictographs, or rock paintings, and archeological sites. Much later, fur traders paddled the Bloodvein River and built a European trading post.
The outstanding wilderness, recreation and cultural values of the Woodland Caribou area will be preserved for future generations by recommended and existing Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves. The existing wilderness park (454,474 hectares) will be expanded through park additions totalling 29,788 hectares, and there will also be an adjacent 34,548 hectare Conservation Reserve. Forestry operations in the adjacent Pipestone Bay-Macintosh Enhanced Management Area will be conducted with careful consideration for the park's wilderness values and remote tourism potential. The management of these protected and enhanced management areas will help ensure the ecological and economic health of the Woodland Caribou complex, and its communities, for future generations.
Modified: January 31, 2007