NATURAL HERITAGE 183 3.8 Conservation Along the Ottawa River The significant and increasing loss of biodiversity and natural heritage areas worldwide has created widespread concern, and is generating a new commitment to conserve and protect threatened species and spaces. In recent years, a succession of world charters have called for accelerated protection of natural heritage. As part of this growing movement, Figure 3.43 Open Water Along the River Canada and 159 other countries signed the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity at the Earth Summit in Brazil in 1992. There, Canada pledged to establish more protected areas, and to find new ways of managing these areas while promoting environmentally sound and sustainable development of natural resources. Conservation initiatives along the Ottawa River, administered by provincial and municipal parks and by other conservation organizations, make a considerable contribution to Canadaʹs commitment. Lavigne Francis : Source 3.8.1 Parks Along or Near the Ottawa River In addition to offering excellent recreational opportunities (as discussed in Chapter 4: Recreational Values), parks and nature reserves contribute to environmental conservation efforts in several ways. First, they provide an important service to the species living in their region: habitat protection. Protecting habitat by restricting development and natural resource extraction means supporting the ecosystems that this habitat sustains. It therefore contributes to the well‐being of the species that make up the fabric of these ecosystems. In addition, parks and conservation areas frequently support scientific studies, the findings of which are often widely applicable and can guide conservation initiatives both within the protected area and more broadly. Finally, parks and nature reserves contribute to the health of our ecosystems more generally by educating the public about the areas that they protect, fostering sensitivity to the importance of sustaining Canada’s natural systems. Numerous parks line the waters of the Ottawa River, with the combined goals of conservation, education, and recreation. Each of these parks and reserves contributes to the protection of the natural environment of the Ottawa River valley. On the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, there are three provincial (Quebec National) parks, two large nature reserves and several small ones, and several ZECs (Zone d’Exploitation Contrôlée, or fishing, hunting and recreation reserve). On the Ontario side are seven provincial parks and three non‐operating provincial parks near the Ottawa River. Municipal parks on both sides of the river also contribute significantly to conservation efforts along the river. Parc National d’Oka Parc d’Oka is a Quebec national park located about 35 minutes from Montreal. The park represents Quebecʹs second largest protected area for threatened or vulnerable plant species (TVP). Oka’s 60‐nest heron colony and wood duck nesting grounds (Quebecʹs most productive) make it a popular destination for bird watchers. Four Romanesque oratories and three chapels built around 1740 are located within the park (SEPAQ: “Oka”). NATURAL HERITAGE 184 Parc National de Plaisance The Parc National de Plaisance, located east of Papineauville along the Ottawa River, is renowned for its biodiversity. Over 235 bird species, 30 varieties of fish, Quebecʹs second highest concentration of beaver colonies, and a large number of threatened and vulnerable land vertebrates call the park home. A rare population of more than 22 pairs of Least Bittern are also found here. The extensive wetlands that lie along the banks of the Ottawa are important habitat for migratory waterfowl (SEPAQ: “Plaisance”). Parc National d’Aiguebelle With its 268 square kilometres located in the Abitibi‐Témiscamingue region northeast of Rouyn‐Noranda, this park features unique geological formations, and houses a great deal of northern wildlife, including hundreds of beaver dams on its many lakes (SEPAQ: “Aiguebelle”). Voyageur Provincial Park Figure 3.44 Voyageur Provincial Park Voyageur Provincial Park on the shores of the Ottawa River represents land that was expropriated as a result of the flooding following the construction of the Carillon Dam in 1959. As a result, the parklands demonstrate a process of ecological succession as old fields develop into young forests and waterfront areas into marshlands. The changing landscapes provide important habitat for a wide range of plant and animal species. The varied landscape of beaver ponds, fern swamps, and hills of mixed forest provides habitat for Deer, Woodchucks, Muskrats Source : Ottawa River Legacy Landmark Network and Beaver. Bird species include Bobolinks, Meadowlarks, Goldfinches, Robins, and Warblers. In the spring and fall, the bays are filled with migrating ducks and Canada Geese. Terns, Gulls, Sandpipers, Herons, Kingfishers and Osprey live along the shore. The park is also home to the Midland Painted Turtle and the Snapping Turtle (ORHDC: “Landmarks – Voyageur”). Fitzroy Provincial Park Figure 3.45 Stream, Fitzroy Provincial Fitzroy Provincial Park upstream of Ottawa protects a locally significant example of southern mixed forest region. A stand of 300‐ year‐old Bur Oak by the Carp River as well as towering, 100‐year‐old White Pine serve as a reminder of what originally drew the lumbermen into the Ottawa Valley. The forest provides habitat for migratory birds as well as various other plant and animal species, including Killdeer, Goldfinches, Flickers and White‐tailed Deer (Ontario Parks: “Fitzroy”). Source : Ottawa River Legacy Landmark Network NATURAL HERITAGE 185 Algonquin Provincial Park Algonquin Park’s 7,725 square kilometres of forests, lakes and rivers, was established in 1893 as a wildlife sanctuary by members of the lumber industry who realized that unmanaged logging and the spread of agriculture threatened the sustainability of the forest. Today, the park plays an important ecological role by preserving a high level of biodiversity and protecting the headwaters of various streams. The park is particularly famous for its Wolves, which are heard but rarely seen, but is also home to significant populations of Moose, White‐tailed Deer and Bear. More than 260 bird species have been recorded in the Park. Many southern and overseas birders make special trips to Algonquin just to see northern specialties such as the Gray Jay and the Spruce Grouse, not to mention the rich variety of Warblers or Algonquinʹs most famous bird of all: the Common Loon, found nesting on most of the park’s lakes. Ottawa River Provincial Park The Ottawa River Provincial Park is a non‐operating Ontario waterway park protecting 125 hectares of shoreline between Mattawa and the Chenaux dam on the Ontario side. Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park is a 2,550‐hectare natural environment park along an eastern section of the Mattawa River, one of the Ottawa’s main tributaries. The park contains a variety of wildlife typical of the area, including Moose, Wolves, Bear and White‐tailed Deer, as well as more than 200 species of birds and waterfowl such as Loons, Common Mergansers, Black Ducks and Wood Ducks. Natural heritage and ecological education programs are available. Westmeath Provincial Park Westmeath Provincial Park is a non‐operating Ontario natural park located east of Pembroke on Lower Allumette Lake. Its 610 hectares of land are situated on a former channel of the Ottawa River, mainly consisting of an active sandspit that encloses Bellows Bay. This habitat is significant for migrating birds, waterfowl, shorebirds, and turtles (Ontario Parks: “Westmeath”). Bonnechere Provincial Park Bonnechere Provincial Park covers 162 hectares of forest and wetland. Located about 45 kilometres west of Pembroke, the park takes its name from the Bonnechere River, an important tributary to the Ottawa. The Bonnechere meanders around several tiny oxbow lakes before reaching Round Lake. Other natural features include a beaver pond and a marsh (Friends of Bonnechere Rivers: “Bonnechere Provincial Park”). Bonnechere River Provincial Park Bonnechere River Provincial Park is a non‐operating but accessible 1198 hectare, or 23 kilometre, waterway. It encompasses a scenic stretch of the Bonnechere River, historically called the “Little Bonnechere” that connects Bonnechere Provincial Park, on the shores of Renfrew County’s Round Lake, with Algonquin Park to the north. Stands of trees, wetlands, and sandy shorelines provide important NATURAL HERITAGE 186 habitat for a wide variety of natural resources. The waterway also acts as a corridor for southern plant species such as the Cardinal Flower in the northern portion of its range, and the White Oak (Ontario Parks: “Bonnechere River Provincial Park”). Driftwood Provincial Park The construction of the Des Joachims hydroelectric dam in 1950 created a sheltered bay on the Ottawa River, later designated an Ontario Provincial Park. More than 200 species of birds have been identified in this riverside park. The southern section of the park was ravaged by a forest fire in 1975, allowing visitors to observe the fascinating process of forest succession. At present, Aspen, Poplar, Jack Pine, and Blueberry bushes are thriving in the ashy soil. Kap Kig Iwan Provincial Park Kap‐Kig‐Iwan Provincial Park is located northwest of Lake Temiskaming near Englehart. The park includes 325 hectares of land and features the Englehart River Valley, providing an excellent opportunity for observing flora, fauna