Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Reserve (C2222)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2001 Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Reserve (C2222) Statement of Conservation Interest November 2001 Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Nipigon District by Rebecca Zeran OLL Resource Manager Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Reserve (C2222) – Statement of Conservation Interest Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2001 2 Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Reserve (C2222) – Statement of Conservation Interest Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2001 Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Background Information 3. Representation Targets 4. Survey Information 5. Natural & Cultural Heritage Values 6. Management Guidelines 6.1 Land Tenure 6.2 Existing and Proposed Development 6.3 Recreational Activities 6.3.1 Summary 6.3.2 Guidelines 6.4 Commercial Activities 6.4.1 Summary 6.4.2 Guidelines 6.5 Aboriginal Interests 6.6 Natural Resource Stewardship 6.6.1 Vegetation Management and Fire Management 6.6.2 Fish and Wildlife Management 6.6.3 Landforms 6.7 Cultural Resource Stewardship 6.8 Client Services 6.9 Research 6.10 Marketing 7. Implementation 8. Review and Revisions 9. Public Consultation 9.1 Results of Past Consultation 9.2 Present and Future Consultation 10. References 3 Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Reserve (C2222) – Statement of Conservation Interest Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2001 List of Appendices Appendix 1 – Site Location Reference Map Appendix 2 – Site and Values Maps of the Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Reserve Appendix 3 – Permitted Uses Table Appendix 4 – Photographs Appendix 5 – District Policy Report for C2222 Appendix 6 – Earth Science Report Appendix 7 – Life Science Report Appendix 8 – Public and Aboriginal Consultation Documentation Form Appendix 9 – Recreation and Resource Assessment Report and Checksheet 4 Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Reserve (C2222) – Statement of Conservation Interest Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2001 1. Introduction On July 16, 1999, the Ontario Government released Ontario’s Living Legacy (OLL) Land Use Strategy (LUS) to guide the planning and management of Crown Lands within a large part of northern and central Ontario. A major component of this Land Use Strategy was the establishment of 378 new protected areas in this part of Ontario. This commitment will be the largest expansion of Provincial Parks and other protected areas in the history of Ontario. The Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Reserve (C2222) is one site within this expansion of Ontario’s protected areas. Conservation Reserves are areas of Crown land set aside by regulation under the Public Lands Act to complement provincial parks in protecting representative natural areas and specific landscape features. Most recreational activities (e.g. hiking, skiing, tourism related uses, nature appreciation) and non-industrial commercial activities (e.g. fur harvesting, bait fishing and commercial fishing) that have traditionally been enjoyed in the area will continue – provided that these uses do not impact upon the natural features requiring protection. Recreational hunting and fishing are permitted uses within all new conservation reserves identified through the OLL Land Use Strategy. Commercial timber harvesting, mining, aggregate extraction and hydroelectric development are prohibited in conservation reserves. The Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Reserve, which consists of three separate sites south of Highway 17 along the shore of Lake Superior, contains areas of rugged cliffs and bays with many representative landform and vegetation types, rugged coastal terrain, rare plant communities and various archaeological features (LUS, 1999; OLL Factsheet, 2001). More detail is available in the attached Earth Science Report and Life Science Report. All three portions of the site are fairly accessible: · Grant Point Section, located between Cypress Bay and Mountain Bay, is approximately 32 kilometres east-southeast of the Town of Nipigon. The northern end of the reserve runs alongside highway 17 and the Canadian Pacific Railway runs along the western, eastern, and southern boundaries of the reserve. · The Collingwood Bay Section is located just west of the Town of Schreiber. The CP railway forms much of the northern boundary of this site. Part of the Casque Isles Voyageur Hiking Trail also runs along the southern boundary of the reserve. · The third Section is located in Death Valley, just east of Worthington Bay and west of the Town of Terrace Bay. Worthington Bay Road runs west of the site from highway 17 to Lake Superior. The Voyageur Hiking Trail also runs along the southern boundaries of the site. This site also includes the islands known as Les Petits Ecrits. All sections of the Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Reserve can be accessed by boat from Lake Superior. It should be remembered however, that Lake Superior can be a dangerous waterbody and proper equipment and experience are necessary. 5 Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Reserve (C2222) – Statement of Conservation Interest Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2001 The purpose of this Statement of Conservation Interest is to identify the natural heritage values of the Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Reserve; this Statement also intends to identify the activities occurring within the reserve. Through a set of management guidelines, this statement will outline the activities which will be permitted and those which will be prohibited. From this outline, the management direction for the area can be determined. 2. Background Information Name Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Reserve Site Region / Site 3W-5, 3W-3 District OMNR Administrative Northwest/Nipigon/Terrace Bay-Nipigon East Area Region / District / Area Total Area (ha) 1,447 ha Regulation Date April 6, 2001 Interested First Nations Pays Plat, Lake Nipigon Ojibway, Rocky Bay, Red Rock, Sand Point and Ojibways of the Pic River. Lat./Long. Latitude: 48°47’ N and Longitude: 87°19’ W Basemap FRI Stands Specific numbers for the FRI stands occurring within the conservation reserve can be obtained by contacting the Information Management Team in Nipigon or Geraldton General Location Three sections: 1) Grant Point – located approx. 32 km east- southeast of the Town of Nipigon; 2) Collingwood Bay – located just west of the Town of Schreiber; 3) Worthington Bay/Death Valley – located just west of the Town of Terrace Bay. All sections are south of Hwy 17. Access Lakeside portions of all three sites are best accessed by boat via Lake Superior or through the Casque Isles/Voyageur Hiking Trail. Northern portions of the Grant Point section can be accessed from Hwy 17. A number of secondary and tertiary roads run near enough to the two other sections to provide reasonable access. It should be noted that Lake Superior can become dangerous quickly and the hiking trail is quite isolated, therefore proper equipment and adequate experience are necessary when using these avenues to access the site. 6 Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Reserve (C2222) – Statement of Conservation Interest Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2001 3. Representation Targets This section provides a summary of the earth science, life science and cultural resource values represented in the site. It also outlines existing and potential recreational opportunities available. Life Science The majority of the reserve is a white birch dominated mixedwood Representation forest on shallow loamy medium sand. Most of the shoreline is a bedrock shelf, however, a provincially rare community type (Arctic-Alpine Bedrock Shoreline) exists within the site. The reserve also contains a good selection of Arctic-Alpine plant species, such as encrusted saxifrage, common butterwort and pearlwort. A series of waterfalls cascading over a 300m vertical drop are also present along Blind Creek. Earth Science Bedrock exposure is nearly continuous along the length of Representation coastline – each section of the site demonstrates a different type of bedrock formation. A few locations in the reserve may be host to potentially important mineral deposits (the Schreiber-Hemlo Greenstone belt and the Terrace Bay Batholith rocks). A series of old gravel and cobble raised beaches are also present along the shoreline. Cultural Resource One archeological remains site is documented to exist within the Representation conservation reserve. There is also an unconfirmed report of old fishing camps located within the reserve. Recreational Various opportunities exist for hiking, orienteering, picnicking, Opportunities wildlife and landscape viewing, photography, hunting and fishing, as well as for a variety of nature activities, snow sports and water sports. The Casque Isles/Voyageur Hiking Trail runs along the lakeshore throughout much of the reserve. 4. Survey Information This section provides an overview of the inventories completed, their level of detail and any further inventory work required. Survey Level Life Science Earth Science Cultural Recreational Reconnaissance Yes, Yes, No Yes, Nov. 2001 Nov. 2001 Dec. 2001 Detailed No No No No Requirement No further No further Yes No further requirement requirement requirement 7 Lake Superior North Shore Conservation Reserve (C2222) – Statement of Conservation Interest Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2001 5. Values to be Protected This section provides a description of the key natural and cultural heritage values of the site and their condition relative to past and present resource use