Planned Operations 2017-2022 for the Second Term of the 2012-2022

Planned Operations

2017-2022

for the Second Term of the

2012-2022 Forest Management Plan for the Kenora Forest

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TEN-YEAR FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN, April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2022 for the Kenora Forest (Sustainable Forest Licence #550400, Management Unit #644)

PLANNED OPERATIONS For the 2nd 5-year term from April1, 2017 to March 31, 2022

Kenora District, Northwest Region, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Miisun Integrated Resource Management Co. on behalf of Miitigoog LP For the 10-year period from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2022

I hereby certify that I have prepared these planned operations, including the Silvicultural Ground Rules, to the best of my professional skill and judgement with the assistance of an interdisciplinary planning team in accordance with the requirements of the Forest Management Planning Manual and Forest Information Manual.

______Date: ______R.P.F. seal Kurt Pochailo, R.P.F. Plan Author, Miisun Integrated Resource Management Co.

Submitted by: ______Date: ______Chief Lorraine Cobiness President, Miitigoog LP

I recommend that these planned operations be approved for implementation and certify that it has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Forest Management Planning Manual, the Forest Information Manual and relevant policies and obligations (including any relevant MNRF agreements with Aboriginal peoples). I also certify that these planned operations have been prepared using the applicable forest management guides. In these planned operations, prescriptions that differ from specific direction or recommendations in the applicable forest management guides are identified in the attached List of Exceptions.

Recommended by:

______Date: ______Shelley Isleifson District Manager, Kenora District Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

Approved by: ______Date: ______Amanda Holmes Regional Director, Northwest Region Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

Forest Information Portal Submission Identifier: ______

The original signed and stamped version of this page is retained at the MNRF Kenora district office and the Miisun Integrated Resource Management Co. office in Kenora.

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List of Exceptions

1 List of Exceptions 2 3 PLANNED OPERATIONS 4 for the 2nd 5-year term from April1, 2017 to March 31, 2022 5 for the 6 Kenora Forest 7 8 Kenora District, Northwest Region, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 9 Miisun Integrated Resource Management Co., on behalf of Miitigoog LP 10 for the 10-year period from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2022. 11 12 13 All silvicultural treatments in the silvicultural ground rules (Table FMP-4) which are exceptions to 14 the recommendations in the silvicultural guides, and all operational prescriptions for areas of 15 concern which are exceptions to the specific direction or recommendations (standards and 16 guidelines) in the applicable guides, are provided in this list of exceptions. The specific section 17 of the planned operations that provides documentation of the exception is also referenced in this 18 list. 19 Description of Exception Specific Section of Plan The following are exceptions to the Silvicultural Guide to Managing for Black Spruce, Table FMP-4, Jack Pine and Aspen on Boreal Forest Ecosites in Ontario (3 volumes, MNRF 1997) Section 8.2.2.1: Silvicultural Ground Rules, and Section - Full tree logging on ES 11 and 12 where total soil depth is less than 20cm. 8.7.2: Monitoring - Artificial seeding of black spruce on ES 14, 21. - Aerial seeding of jack pine on ES 21. - Natural regeneration of jack pine on ES 21. 20

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP v

Plan Contributors

1 List of Management Plan Contributors 2 3 Forest Management Plan 4 for the 5 Kenora Forest 6 7 Kenora District, Northwest Region, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 8 Miisun Integrated Resource Management Co., on behalf of Miitigoog LP 9 for the 5-year period from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2022.

10 Planning Team Members

Planning Team Role Member Kurt Pochailo, R.P.F. Miisun Plan Author Ian Pyke, R.P.F. MNRF Area Forester Amy Smart, R.P.F. MNRF – Regional Planning Forester Dean Hample, R.P.F. A/MNRF – Regional Planning Forester Donna Puls Miisun – GIS Specialist Allan Anderson Consultation Coordinator for Ochiichagwe’babigo’inning First Nation (Dalles)

Marvin Macdonald Lands & Resources Co-ordinator, Wabaseemoong Independent Nations Francis Kavanaugh Naotkamegwanning Anishinabe First Nation Darlene Paypompee Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation Bob Boyce, R.P.F. Forester, Weyerhaeuser Dale Munro, R.P.F. Woodlands Manager, Kenora Forest Products Shawn Stevenson Resources Management Supervisor

Chris Martin MNRF- Management Biologist Christy MacDonald MNRF- Resource Liaison Specialist Brenda Skene MNRF – Forestry Specialist Wayne Bruce LCC – Member Josh Peacock MNRF – Management Biologist

12 Planning Team Advisors Miisun: Position: Shannon Rawn, R.P.F. Operations Manager Erik Holmstrom, R.P.F. Vice President- Miitigoog Limited Partnership District MNRF: Position: Shawn Stevenson Resources Management Supervisor Pat Harvey Fire Management Supervisor John Mash Fire Operations Supervisor

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Plan Contributors

Abby Anderson A/Resources Operations Supervisor Abby Anderson District Planner Darren Ellery GIS Data Technician Joan Hubay Enforcement Supervisor Megan Smith A/Integrated Resource Management Technical Specialist Jim McNulty Fish and Wildlife Technical Specialist Kevin Keith Lands and Waters Technical Specialist Brenda Skene Forestry Technical Specialist Janet Fedoruk Aggregate Specialist MNRF Region/Province Position Kevin Ride, R.P.F. Regional Forest Resources Supervisor Leona Tarini A/ Regional Forest Resources Supervisor ( Alternate for K. Ryde to March 31st, 2016) Chris Schaefer, R.P.F. Forest Management Planning Specialist Garnet Beemer, R.P.F. Regional Planning Analyst Brian Campbell R.P.F, Forest Industry Liaison Officer Glen Hooper Regional Planning Biologist April Mitchell Species at Risk Biologist Bill Taylor Regional Aboriginal Advisor Renee Bellini Cultural Heritage Specialist MNRF Parks Advisors Position Julie Sullivan Senior Parks Planner-Northwest Region Matt Yeo Park Superintendent - Rushing River Provincial Park Ron Leekam Natural Heritage Specialist MNRF Science Advisors Position Nick Buda, R.P.F. Forest Science Specialist Ricardo Velasquez, R.P.F. Forest Science Specialist Ministry of Northern Position Development and Mines Ryan Tuomi Regional Land Use Geologist Elizabeth Norman Northern Development Officer Ministry of Citizenship and Position Immigration Paige Campbell Regional Archaeologist Andrew Hinshelwood Regional Archaeologist Ministry of Tourism, Culture Position and Sports James Antler RSA Advisor Ministry of Environment Position Len Maki Regional Planner & Environ. Assessment Coordinator

1 Local Citizens Committee Members Clarke Anderson (Chair) Kenora Trappers Council Mark Scott Kenora Independent Loggers Rod McKay Forest Industry

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Plan Contributors

Alasdair Mowat Mining Wayne Bruce (Planning Team Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Member) Association Alex Rheault Tourist Industry David Canfield City of Kenora Sandra Triskle Kenora Metis Council Karen Cederwall Independent Francis Kavanaugh Naotkamegwanning Anishinabe First Nation 1 2 The Local Citizens Committee (LCC) was involved in the development of the development of the 3 Kenora Forest planned operations. The LCC committee’s report on its involvement in the 4 planning process is included in Supplementary Documentation H of the FMP. 5

6 Plan Reviewers Plan Reviewer Name Position Ian Pyke, R.P.F. Management Forester Chris Martin & Peter Hettinga Management Biologists Christy Macdonald Resource Liaison Specialist Kevin Keith Lands and Waters Technical Specialist TBD Integrated Resource Management Technical Specialist Brenda Skene Forestry Technical Specialist James Williams Resource Management Technicians John Mash Fire Operations Supervisor MNRF Region/Province Position Amy Smart, R.P.F. Regional Planning Forester Dean Hample, R.P.F. A/Regional Planning Forester Chris Schaefer, R.P.F. Regional Forest Management Planning Specialist Garnet Beemer, R.P.F. Regional Planning Analyst Glen Hooper Regional Planning Biologist MNRF Parks Position Julie Sullivan Senior Planner, Ontario Parks Ron LeeKam Natural Heritage Specialist

7 8 Any Plan Advisor who provided direction during the production of this Forest Management Plan 9 was required to ensure that sections of the plan pertaining to their advice were reviewed.

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP viii

1 Table of Contents 2 List of Exceptions ...... v 3 List of Management Plan Contributors ...... vi 4 Planning Team Members ...... vi 5 Planning Team Advisors ...... vi 6 Local Citizens Committee Members ...... vii 7 Plan Reviewers ...... viii 8 9.0 FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN TABLES ...... xii 9 List of Tables ...... xiii 10 List of Figures ...... xiii 11 List of Supplementary Documentation ...... xiii 12 8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS FOR THE SECOND FIVE-YEAR TERM ...... 1 13 8.1 Introduction ...... 1 14 8.2 Prescriptions for Operations ...... 1 15 8.2.1 Operational Prescriptions for Areas of Concern ...... 1 16 8.2.1.1 Operational Prescription for Areas of Concern Information Products ...... 9 17 8.2.2 Operational Prescriptions for Harvest, Renewal and Tending Areas ...... 10 18 8.2.2.1 Silvicultural Ground Rules ...... 10 19 8.2.2.1.1 Exceptions ...... 12 20 8.2.2.1.2 General Treatments Included in the SGRs ...... 13 21 8.2.2.1.3 Most Common SGRs by Forest Unit ...... 15 22 8.2.2.2 Conditions on Regular Operations ...... 19 23 8.2.2.3 Silvicultural Treatments of Special Public Interest ...... 33 24 8.2.2.4 Species at Risk ...... 33 25 8.3 Harvest Operations ...... 35 26 8.3.1 Harvest Areas ...... 35 27 8.3.1.1 Stand Level Residual in Harvest Areas ...... 36 28 8.3.1.1.1 25 in 500 ha Analysis Results ...... 37 29 8.3.1.1.2 5 of 25 ha Analysis Results ...... 37 30 8.3.1.1.3 20% Residual Analysis Results ...... 38 31 8.3.1.1.4 0.5 in 50 ha Analysis Results ...... 38 32 8.3.1.2 Licensing of Harvest Areas ...... 39 33 8.3.2 Surplus Harvest Area ...... 39 34 8.3.3 Planned Clearcuts ...... 39 35 8.3.4 Harvest Volume ...... 40 36 8.3.4.1 Harvest Volume by Working Circle ...... 42 PHASE 2 - PLANNED OPERATIONS 2017-2022 KENORA FOREST

1 8.3.5 Wood Utilization ...... 43 2 8.3.5.1 Wood Utilization by Working Circle ...... 45 3 8.3.6 Salvage ...... 47 4 8.3.7 Contingency Area and Volume ...... 47 5 8.4 Renewal and Tending Operations ...... 48 6 8.4.1 Renewal and Tending Areas ...... 48 7 8.4.1.1 Eligibility and Selection Criteria for Renewal and Tending Activities ...... 49 8 8.4.2 Renewal Support ...... 50 9 8.4.2.1 Tree Improvement ...... 50 10 8.4.2.2 Seed Collection and Planting Stock Procurement ...... 51 11 8.4.3 Renewal and Tending Information Products ...... 51 12 8.5 Roads ...... 51 13 8.5.1 Primary and Branch Roads ...... 52 14 8.5.1.1 Operational Roads ...... 54 15 8.5.1.2 Area of Concern Crossings – Primary and Branch Roads ...... 55 16 8.5.1.3 Area of Concern Crossings – Operational Roads ...... 56 17 8.5.2 Existing Roads ...... 57 18 8.5.3 Road Information Products ...... 59 19 8.5.4 Forestry Aggregate Pits ...... 59 20 8.5.4.1 Aggregate Extraction Areas Information Products ...... 67 21 8.5.5 Decommissioning of New and Existing Roads and Road Networks ...... 67 22 8.6 Expenditures ...... 68 23 8.7 Monitoring and Assessment ...... 69 24 8.7.1 Forest Operations Inspections ...... 69 25 8.7.1.1 Compliance Goal ...... 69 26 8.7.1.2 Background ...... 70 27 8.7.1.3 Objectives, Strategies and Actions ...... 71 28 8.7.1.4 Roles and Responsibilities ...... 73 29 8.7.1.5 Notification of Status ...... 74 30 8.7.1.6 Prevention, Avoidance, and Mitigation ...... 75 31 8.7.1.7 Compliance Reporting Areas (CRAs) ...... 75 32 8.7.1.8 Risk Analysis and Management ...... 75 33 8.7.1.9 Monitoring Compliance of Forest Operations ...... 78 34 8.7.1.10 Opportunities for LCC Involvement ...... 79 35 8.7.2 Exceptions ...... 79 36 8.7.3 Assessment of Regeneration Success ...... 80 x Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

PHASE 2 - PLANNED OPERATIONS 2017-2022 KENORA FOREST

1 8.7.3.1 Assessment Methods ...... 81 2 8.7.3.2 Area to be Assessed for Regeneration Success ...... 83 3 8.7.4 Roads and Water Crossings ...... 84 4 8.8 Fire Prevention and Preparedness ...... 85 5 8.8.1 Fire Prevention ...... 85 6 8.8.1.1 Fire Situation Awareness ...... 85 7 8.8.1.2 Operational Modifications ...... 86 8 8.8.1.3 Determining Operational Risk and Fire Danger ...... 88 9 8.8.2 Fire Preparedness ...... 89 10 8.8.2.1 Trained and Capable, and Limited Operators ...... 89 11 8.8.2.2 Fire Suppression Equipment ...... 89 12 8.8.3 Managed Fire Response Plan ...... 91

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

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1 9.0 FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN TABLES 2 3 The following is a listing of the tables that have been updated for Phase 2: 4 5 FMP-4 Silvicultural Ground Rules 6 FMP-10 Operational Prescriptions for Areas of Concern 7 FMP-11 Planned Harvest Area 8 FMP-12 Planned Clearcuts > 260 Ha (5-Year) 9 FMP-13 Planned Harvest Volume by Species (10-Year) 10 FMP-13a Planned Harvest Volume by Species (10-Year) - Working Circle 1 Only 11 FMP-13b Planned Harvest Volume by Species (10-Year) - Working Circles 2 and 3 Only 12 FMP-14 Planned Harvest Volume and Wood Utilization (5-Year) 13 FMP-14a Planned Harvest Volume and Wood Utilization (5-Year) - Working Circle 1 Only 14 FMP-14b Planned Harvest Volume and Wood Utilization (5-Year) - Working Circles 2 and 3 15 Only 16 FMP-15 Planned Wood Utilization by Mill (5-Year) 17 FMP-15a Planned Wood Utilization by Mill (5-Year) - Working Circle 1 Only 18 FMP-15b Planned Wood Utilization by Mill (5-Year) - Working Circles 2 and 3 Only 19 FMP-16 Contingency Area: Harvest Area and Volume 20 FMP-17 Planned Renewal and Tending Operations 21 FMP-18 Road Construction and Use Management 22 FMP-19 Road Crossings, Landings and Aggregate Pits in Areas of Concern 23 FMP-20 Planned Expenditures (5-Year) 24 FMP-21 Area Planned for Assessment of Regeneration Success (10-Year) 25

26 27

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1 List of Tables 2 Table 1: Changes to Area of Concern Prescriptions……………………………………………….2 3 Table 2: Summary of Planned Harvest Area……………………………………………………….36 4 Table 3: 10-Year Planned Harvest Volumes by Working Circle………………………………….43 5 Table 4: 5-Year Planned Harvest Volumes by Working Circle…………………………………...46 6 Table 5: Work Modifications by Operational Risk and Intensity Code…………………...... …...88 7 Table 6: Required Equipment by Type of Operations and Number of Machines………..…..…90 8

9 List of Figures 10 Figure 1: Available and Planned Harvest Volume 2012-2022 by Forest Unit…………………..40 11

12 List of Supplementary Documentation 13 Supplementary Documentation A – Aboriginal Background Information Report 14 Supplementary Documentation B – Summary of Aboriginal Involvement 15 Supplementary Documentation C – Monitoring Programs for Exceptions 16 Supplementary Documentation D – Monitoring Program for Regeneration Success 17 Supplementary Documentation E – Roads Planning Documentation 18 Supplementary Documentation F – Operational Prescriptions for Areas of Concern 19 Supplementary Documentation G – Summary of Public Consultation 20 Supplementary Documentation H – Local Citizens Committee Activity Report 21 Supplementary Documentation I – Final List of Required Alterations 22 Supplementary Documentation J – Planning Team Terms of Reference 23 Supplementary Documentation K – Statement of Environmental Values 24 Supplementary Documentation L – Species at Risk on the Kenora Forest 25 Supplementary Documentation M – Moose Emphasis Area Supplemental Review 26

xiii Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

1 8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS FOR THE SECOND FIVE-YEAR TERM 2

3 8.1 Introduction 4 This section of the Forest Management Plan (FMP) consists of the detailed planned operations 5 for the second five-year term (Phase 2), which will occur from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2022 on 6 the Kenora Forest. The Phase 2 planned operations are part of the ten-year FMP (April 1, 2012 7 to March 31, 2022) for the Kenora Forest. This section consists of the operational prescriptions 8 for areas of operations (harvest, renewal and tending), roads, expenditures, monitoring and 9 assessment, and the fire prevention and preparedness. 10 11 Any approved access, harvest, renewal and tending operations for the first five-year term (Phase 12 1 2012-2017) of this FMP, that were not completed during first five-year term, remain approved 13 for implementation during second five-year term, with no further planning requirements. The 14 Phase 2 areas that were planned in the 2012-2022 ten-year FMP remain relatively consistent and 15 will contribute to the planned allocations throughout the forest in this term. 16 17 An updated planning team Terms of Reference document is located in the Supplemental 18 Documentation (Supp Doc J). 19 20 The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) Statement of Environmental 21 Values (SEV), legislated under the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR), describes how the 22 purposes of the EBR will be considered whenever decisions that might affect the environment are 23 made within the Ministry. This SEV has been considered in the development of these planned 24 operations, which are intended to reflect the direction set out in the SEV, and to further the 25 objective of achieving sustainable natural resource management in Ontario. An SEV 26 consideration document has been prepared for this plan, and is provided in the Supplementary 27 Documentation (Supp Doc K). 28 29 The following sections outline the detailed planning of operations for the second five years of the 30 ten-year FMP (2012-2022) and associated contingency areas, including prescriptions for areas 31 of concern, harvest, renewal and tending, and planned road construction and maintenance. 32 These sections also describe the harvest volumes, wood utilization, and expenditures for this 33 term, as well as the monitoring and assessment programs in effect on the Kenora Forest for the 34 second five-year term. 35 36

37 8.2 Prescriptions for Operations

38 8.2.1 Operational Prescriptions for Areas of Concern 39 An “area of concern” (AOC) is defined as a geographic area associated with an identified natural 40 resource feature, land use or value that may be affected by forest management activities. A 41 detailed prescription is developed for the area of concern in order to prevent, minimize or mitigate 42 adverse effects of forest management operations on the value. MNRF guidelines, site inspection 43 by ground and air, regular and supplementary aerial photographs, contour and elevation maps, 44 slope analysis, and local knowledge of trappers, Aboriginal groups, tourist operators and forestry PHASE 2 - PLANNED OPERATIONS 2017-2022 KENORA FOREST

1 workers were used to develop area of concern prescriptions in order to consider and protect 2 identified values. 3 4 During AOC planning for the planned harvest areas in the second five-year term (2017-2022), 5 preliminary AOC prescriptions developed for the 2012-2022 FMP were reviewed and updated as 6 required. All operational prescriptions for areas of concern (AOC) to be followed during the 7 second five-year term of this FMP are presented in the revised Table FMP-10. Area of concern 8 identifiers are included in Table FMP-10 and are cross-referenced and illustrated on appropriately 9 scaled operations maps (electronic version of FMP – Composite Maps, Operations Maps). All 10 areas of concern associated with planned harvest operations are identified on the Area of 11 Concern Layers associated with the Planned Harvest Layer spatial information supplied to MNRF 12 for verification of FMP information. 13 14 Table 1 – Changes to Area of Concern Prescriptions 15 AOC AOC Description Changes between Phase 1 Identifier and Phase 2 A01 Archaeological Potential Area No change B01 Bat Hibernacula New AOC B02 Bat Roosting Site New AOC Active Great Blue Heron BH01 No change colonies Inactive Great Blue Heron BH02 No change colonies Active colonies of BG01 No change Bonaparte’s gull BS01 Active bank swallow nests Minor wording change BS02 Barn Swallow Nests New AOC Caribou Calving and CC01 Nursery Habitat, Cavalary New AOC Lake D01 Occupied black bear dens No change D02 Occupied grey fox dens No change D03 Occupied cougar dens No change D04 Wolf dens No change D05 Wolverine dens New AOC FL01 First Nation Reserve Land Minor wording change HB01 Highway Corridor Aesthetics No change Primary nests of great grey owl, northern HO01 No change goshawk, or red-shouldered hawk Alternate nests of great grey HO02 owl, northern goshawk, or No change red-shouldered hawk

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Inactive nests of great grey HO03 owl, northern goshawk, or No change red-shouldered hawk M01 Mineral licks No change Bald eagle primary nests N01 No change Identified Prior to Operations Bald eagle N02 No change alternate nests Bald eagle N03 No change inactive nests Bald Eagle Primary Nest N04 Discovered During No change Operations Natural Gas Transmission NG01 No change Pipeline NH01 Common Nighthawk Nest New AOC Trumpeter Swan Nesting NE9 No change Site Stick nests of barred owl, broad-winged hawk, common raven, Cooper’s NO01 hawk, great horned owl, Minor wording change long-eared owl, merlin, red- tailed hawk, or sharp- shinned hawk. Nests/ communal roosts in cavities occupied by or previously used by American kestrel, barred NO02 owl, boreal owl, eastern Minor wording change screech-owl, great horned owl, northern hawk owl or northern saw-whet owl, chimney swift. Ground nests occupied by NO03 northern harrier, short-eared Minor wording change owl, or turkey vulture NO04 Whip-poor-will Nest Sites New AOC Osprey primary nests ON01 No change Identified Prior to Operations Osprey ON02 No change alternate nests

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Osprey ON03 No change inactive nests Primary Osprey Nest ON04 Discovered During No change Operations PGP01 FESC PGP G&Y Trial Plot No change PL01 Patent Land No change

RR01 Railroad Right of Way No change Snapping Turtle – Nesting ST01 New AOC Habitat Tourism – Aesthetics Along TV01 Large High Volume Tourism Minor wording change Lakes Tourism – Aesthetics along Added to Ph1 through TV02 Dogpaw Lake and Wapus amendment Lake Tourism – Aesthetics Along TV03 New AOC Denmark and Caviar Lake TVa Tourism – access trail No change Austin/Deacon/Schnarr – TVatv atv trail/snowmobile New AOC trail/hiking trail TVcb Tourism – noise disturbance No change TVm Tourism – noise disturbance No change Tourism – Viewscape Buffer TVmc New AOC - Minaki Tourism - portage TVp No change

Tourism – Aesthetics Along TVr Recreational Property No change Access Roads Tourism aesthetics along TVsh New AOC Schnarr Lake TVsnl Tourism – noise disturbance No change TVstr Tourism – OFSC trail No change TVw Tourism – noise disturbance No change Large lakes, Medium lakes, WL01 Small lakes, Minor wording change Ponds - high or moderate potential sensitivity (HPS or

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MPS) to forest management 1 operations 2 Ponds – low potential 3 sensitivity (LPS) to forest 4 WL02 management operations Minor wording change 5 Identified Prior to Plan 6 approval 7 Rivers 8 Stream segments - 9 high or moderate potential 10 WS01 Minor wording change sensitivity (HPS or MPS) to 11 forest management 12 operations 13 Stream segments - 14 low potential sensitivity 15 (LPS) to forest management 16 WS02 Minor wording change operations 17 Identified Prior to Plan 18 approval 19 Wetlands occupied by 20 breeding black terns, 21 WW01 No Change golden-winged warblers, 22 least bitterns, or yellow rails 23 24 25 26 For areas of concern prescriptions that required the completion of supplementary documentation, 27 the required information is included in Supplementary Documentation F. When required, the 28 supplementary AOC information includes comments from the public and/or Aboriginal 29 communities, any objections to an operational prescription for an area of concern as a result of 30 public or Aboriginal community comment and the responses to those objections. 31 32 Although road location and construction activities are not directly incorporated in the development 33 of AOC prescriptions, they are considered in overall area of concern planning. If conditions are 34 applied to AOCs for primary roads, branch roads, operational roads or forestry aggregate pits, 35 the existence of the conditions is noted in Table FMP-10 and the specific conditions are 36 documented in Table FMP-19. 37 38 The AOC prescriptions were applied to known values and common prescriptions from the 39 previous FMP were used where possible and relevant. New prescriptions were created based on 40 new direction in new forest management guides and new values found on the forest. 41 Prescriptions can be one of the following: 42 • Reserve – no harvest, renewal or tending operations. 43 • Modified – modified forest management activity – timing, operational conditions. 44 • Regular – no conditions on harvest, renewal or tending operations. 45 46 Where slope-dependent reserves are required for an AOC, the actual widths will be measured in 47 the field based on field condition and AOC prescription. As a result, reserve widths may be 48 adjusted based on slopes encountered in the field at the time the harvest boundary is established. 49 Any unmapped or incorrectly mapped values that are encountered during pre-harvest inspections 50 or during actual forest operations (e.g. intermittent or permanent streams, nesting sites, etc.) will 5 Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

PHASE 2 - PLANNED OPERATIONS 2017-2022 KENORA FOREST

1 be reported by Miisun or Miitigoog to MNRF in accordance with the Forest Information Manual. 2 Prompt response by the company and MNRF in accordance with the Forest Information Manual 3 will be required to ensure operations can continue appropriately if a new value is identified during 4 a pre-harvest inspection. The value must be confirmed in consultation with the MNRF to ensure 5 that the appropriate prescription is applied. The need for a plan amendment will depend on 6 conditions such as whether or not the appropriate AOC prescription associated with the same 7 value already exists (Table FMP-10) or is included in conditions on regular operations (Section 8 8.2.2.2), or if any necessary conditions on the location and /or construction or the crossing are 9 followed or if there are primary or branch road crossings of non-water AOCs. 10 11 Conditions on regular operations (CROs) (Section 8.2.2.2) also apply to operations in areas of 12 concern. 13 14 Discovery of Cultural Heritage Values During Forest Operations 15 16 If a cultural heritage value is discovered during operations then operations must immediately stop 17 and the district MNRF staff is to be contacted. The value class of the discovery will determine 18 who of the following will be contacted: Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport staff, the 19 local Aboriginal community, Registrar of Cemeteries, and/or the provincial cultural heritage 20 specialist. 21 22 As per the Guide, if human remains are discovered, operations at the site must stop immediately. 23 Contact will be made with MNRF district staff, the local or Ontario Provincial Police, and the 24 Registrar of the Cemeteries Regulation Section of the Ministry of Government and Consumer 25 Affairs at (416) 212-7499 as soon as possible. The police will investigate the report to determine 26 if the human remains are of forensic interest or represent a burial site as defined by the 27 Cemeteries Act. All involved parties must act to safeguard the location until the police attend the 28 site, and to limit media contact or display. In addition, if the protection measures for an area of 29 archaeological potential are not complied with, operations must immediately cease within the area 30 of concern and a Stage 2 archaeological assessment per the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture 31 and Sport’s current standards and guidelines for consultant archaeologists shall occur. 32 33 34 Archaeological Potential Areas (AOC A01) 35 36 Forest management activities are to be planned and carried out in a manner to prevent adverse 37 effects on cultural heritage values. Area of concern planning for cultural heritage values will be 38 carried out in accordance with the Forest Management Guide for Cultural Heritage Values (2007). 39 40 Archaeological Potential Areas (APAs) for the Kenora Forest were determined through the use of 41 an archaeological potential area modelling tool. The model predicts areas where archaeological 42 sites are likely to exist based on the presence of specific landscape features that resemble the 43 location and site conditions of known sites on the forest management unit. Each archaeological 44 potential area on the Kenora Forest is an area of concern. The APA areas of concern are 45 identified on maps as AOC A01 and their prescription is found in Table FMP-10. If the protection 46 measure(s) for an area of archaeological potential are not complied with, operations must 47 immediately cease within the area of concern and a Stage 2 archaeological assessment per 48 Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport’s current standards and guidelines for consultant 49 archaeologists shall occur. 50 6 Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

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1 2 Furbearer Dens (AOCs D01 to D05) 3 4 Furbearer Dens (AOCs D01 to D05) In accordance with the Forest Management Guide for 5 Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand and Site Scales (MNRF, 2010), prescriptions for the 6 protection of furbearer dens have been included in revised Table FMP-10 as AOCs D01 to D05. 7 These prescriptions apply to identified black bear, grey fox, cougar, wolf and wolverine dens. In 8 general, regular harvest, renewal, and tending operations are permitted within the AOC outside 9 the denning period (varies by species) and are subject to the general direction for the protection 10 of dens of furbearing mammals (text Section 8.2.2.2 Conditions on Regular Operations). 11 12 Cougars, grey foxes, Algonquin wolves and wolverines are designated as a Species at Risk. 13 When a wolverine den site is identified, MNRF will a den site management plan that will outline 14 the extent and timing of harvest, renewal and tending operation acceptable within the AOC. 15 16 17 Mineral Licks (AOC M01) 18 19 In accordance with the Forest Management Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand and 20 Site Scales (MNRF, 2010), a prescription has been included in Table FMP-10 (AOC M01) to 21 protect known mineral licks. 22 23 24 Bird Nests (AOC numbers starting with N, ON, BH, BG, HO, BS, B, NH, NE or NO) 25 26 Bird nests that have been identified are recorded in the current Land Information Ontario (LIO) 27 values database. Each nest has a unique identifier as per LIO numbering system and LIO maps 28 (not shown on FMP operational maps). Other bird nests will be identified during forest operations 29 as encountered. 30 31 In accordance with the Forest Management Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand and 32 Site Scales (MNRF, 2010), prescriptions have been included in Table FMP-10 to protect identified 33 bird nests. The level of protection around the nests are based on many factors: the bird species 34 associated with the nest(s), location of the nest (trees or ground), whether the nest is a primary, 35 alternate or inactive nest, the nest occupancy, the timing since the nest was known to be 36 occupied, timing of identification of the nest (before or during operations), timing of the critical 37 breeding period (varies by bird species), and the relative impact of harvest, renewal or tending 38 operations on the birds and their nests. 39 40 41 Growth and Yield Plot (AOC PGP01) 42 43 The FESC PGP Growth and Yield Trial Plot is a value that has an associated prescription in Table 44 FMP-10 for adjacent harvest, renewal or tending operations. 45 46 47 Land Ownership or Non-timber Use Values (AOCs FL01, PL01, NG01, RR01, HB01) 48 49 Areas were identified that were not owned by the Crown (patent land, federal land) or Crown land 50 with management uses other than or in addition to timber production (e.g. provincial parks, railway 7 Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

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1 right of way, natural gas transmission pipelines, and highway corridors). Where these land 2 ownership/management use areas were in proximity to planned operations on the Kenora Forest, 3 area of concern prescriptions were developed to protect the values. Prescriptions included in 4 Table FMP-10 include precautions to identify the location of the land value, slash management 5 adjacent to railway right of ways, communication with natural gas pipeline and other utilities 6 representatives prior to operations on pipelines and delay of harvest adjacent to highway corridors 7 until adjacent forest is a minimum height. 8 9 10 Tourism Values (AOC numbers starting with TV) 11 12 Prescriptions for the enhancement of tourism values were developed through consultation with 13 the affected stakeholders and tourist outfitters, either as a component of Resource Stewardship 14 Agreement negotiations or through regular communication with stakeholders during area of 15 concern prescription development. 16 17 Miisun and the planning team, with input from interested tourist outfitters and/or the public, applied 18 varied prescriptions around various tourism values. These prescriptions included increased 19 riparian reserves in specific locations to enhance shoreline aesthetics, conditions on operational 20 roads to address access concerns, seasonal restrictions on harvest, road construction or 21 mechanical site preparation. 22 23 MNRF provided contact information for approximately 100 previously identified Resource-based 24 Tourism Establishments (RBTEs) associated with the Kenora Forest. During Stage 1 of the 25 planning process, the company presented each of the identified RBTEs a letter providing the 26 opportunity to negotiate individual RSAs. All concerns identified by RBTEs were considered 27 through area of concern and harvest block planning. 28 29 Due to concerns and comments on the possible visibility of harvest areas, visual assessments 30 were completed for a variety of areas. If “bare ground” was visible as a result of the modelling 31 exercise, additional no-cut reserves may be added to reduce the potential visibility. It was agreed 32 that the model outputs represented the “worst case” visibility assessment as the residual trees 33 and patches required to be left were not included in the visibility analysis. It is believed that these 34 additional patches and residual trees will add to the visual barrier to logging operations. The 35 blocks upon which this visibility analysis occurred was agreed to by cottage associations or 36 interested members of the public. In the Minaki area, cottagers were represented by the Minaki 37 Cottagers Association. 38 39 In addition to the Minaki Cottagers Association, several other cottage or camping associations as 40 well as individual cottagers and recreationalists were involved in the development of tourism value 41 areas of concern, in locations such as Kramer Lake, McConnell Lake, Austin Lake, Deacon Lake, 42 Schnarr Lake, Grassy Lake and Norway Lake. Additional groups and associations were involved 43 in Phase 1 public consultation as well. Input has been documented in the Supplementary 44 Documentation G – Summary of Public Consultation. 45 46 All negotiated areas of concern are included in the Area of Concern (AOC) Planning 47 Supplementary Documentation F. The terms of any Resource Stewardship Agreements do not 48 bind or limit the Minister’s right to make land use decisions for Crown land in Ontario. 49 50 8 Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

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1 Lakes, Ponds, Streams and Rivers (AOCs starting with WL and WS) 2 3 Values associated with lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers were identified in accordance with 4 definitions included in the Forest Management Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand and 5 Site Scales (MNRF, 2010). The values are classified based on the type of water body, as well as 6 the relative potential impact from forest management activities (low, moderate or high potential 7 impact from operations). 8 9 Areas of concern are identified adjacent to the specific aquatic values. Depending on the value 10 being protected, some AOCs are of a fixed dimension (e.g. 15 metres from ponds with low 11 potential sensitivity to forest management operations) or are variable width based on shoreline 12 slope (e.g. 30-90 metres AOC on lakes with high potential sensitivity to forest management 13 operations). 14 15 Within the AOC, the width of the reserve or permitted harvest, renewal or tending activities will be 16 dependent on the value being protected and the potential sensitivity of the value to forest 17 management operations. 18 19 20 Wetlands Occupied by Breeding Black Terns (AOC WW01) 21 22 Specific restrictions are identified for wetlands occupied by breeding black terns (Species At Risk). 23

24 8.2.1.1 Operational Prescription for Areas of Concern Information Products 25 26 The spatial locations of areas of concern are included in the forest management plan in two 27 information formats: illustrated on maps and included in the digital coverages of electronic 28 information to be viewed with the planned harvest layer of information. 29 30 In both formats, the (a) area of concern identifier, and (b) the area of concern type are identified. 31 The spatial location of the area of concern when cross referenced with the operation prescription 32 for the area of concern (Table FMP-10) identifies the operational prescriptions for harvest, 33 renewal and tending to be applied to the specific AOC. 34 35 There is no second-pass harvest planned in this FMP. 36 37

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1 8.2.2 Operational Prescriptions for Harvest, Renewal and Tending Areas 2 3 Prescriptions for harvest, renewal and tending operations are discussed in the following sub- 4 sections: 5 6 Section 8.2.2.1 Silvicultural Ground Rules 7 Section 8.2.2.2 Conditions on Regular Operations 8 Section 8.2.2.3 Silvicultural Treatments of Special Public Interest 9 10 Digital spatial information products for harvest, renewal and tending operations that are included 11 with the FMP will serve as the stand list for forest operations. The information product for the 12 harvest, renewal and tending areas is the SGR field in the planning composite (PCM) coverage 13 and linked information for the planned harvest is in the PHR coverage. 14

15 8.2.2.1 Silvicultural Ground Rules 16 Silvicultural Ground Rules (SGRs) are defined as “Specifications, standards, and other 17 instructions, that direct silvicultural activities on a management unit during the period of the forest 18 management plan” (FMPM, 2009). The description and development of the SGRs is discussed 19 in this section and the SGRs are presented in Table FMP-4. There were no SGRs added or 20 removed through Phase II planning, however the regeneration standards were updated to be 21 more clearly understood. 22 23 The SGRs for the harvest, renewal, and tending operations will serve as the prescriptions for 24 operations, including naturally depleted areas that are salvaged, for the second five-year term of 25 the forest management plan. SGRs are limited to planned silvicultural intent (i.e. do not include 26 SGRs for failures mathematically represented in SFMM to account for lack of success in achieving 27 the desired forest unit). SGRs are consistent with the development information used in the model 28 projections. 29 30 The Kenora Forest is located in the Boreal Forest Region, with elements of the Great Lakes - St 31 Lawrence forest region. As a result, the Silviculture Guide to Managing for Black Spruce, Jack 32 Pine, and Aspen on Boreal Forest Ecosites in Ontario, Books I-II (MNRF, 1997) and the 33 Silviculture Guide to Managing Spruce, Fir, Birch, and Aspen Mixedwoods in Ontario (MNRF, 34 2003) were used in the development of the silvicultural ground rules. The silvicultural ground 35 rules incorporate historical data on forest succession and the culmination of years of field 36 measurement and experience, as well as local knowledge from the company and MNRF district, 37 region, and Science and Information foresters. 38 39 Table FMP-4 includes renewal and forest development information for native tree species to the 40 Kenora Forest. Exotic tree species, not naturally found on the forest, will not be planted or 41 otherwise encouraged through renewal efforts. 42 43 Silvicultural Ground Rules were established to specify the silvicultural systems, types of harvest, 44 renewal and tending treatments that will be used to manage forest cover on the Kenora Forest. 45 The silvicultural ground rules also identify the type of forest that is expected to develop over time 46 and the regeneration standards used to measure renewal success (see Section 8.7.3 Assessment 10 Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Prescriptions for Operations Prescriptions for Harvest, Renewal and Tending Areas – Conditions on Regular Operations

1 of Regeneration Success). Each silvicultural ground rule identifies a unique combination of 2 current forest unit/ecosite and future forest unit. 3 4 The plan SGR represents the best estimate of the proposed operations at the time of FMP 5 preparation, and will not limit the selection of any of the acceptable alternative silvicultural 6 treatments in the silvicultural ground rules at the time of implementation of operations. 7 8 For each forest unit, the most common silvicultural treatment package in Table FMP-4 is 9 considered to be the package of treatments most likely to be used that will reflect the silviculture 10 strategy for each forest unit. Section 8.2.2.1.3 (below) states the most common SGR and the 11 silviculture strategy for each forest unit. 12 13 Overall the most common silviculture treatment packages are designed to meet the Long-term 14 Management Direction strategy of moving the forest to a more natural (pre-fire suppression) state 15 where there are fewer mixedwood stands and more pure conifer and hardwood stands. 16 17 Acceptable alternative treatments are also identified in the silvicultural ground rules. It is 18 recognized that individual treatments within a silvicultural treatment package or alternate identified 19 acceptable treatments are implemented in succession, and therefore it may take longer than a 20 five-year phase of the FMP for an entire silvicultural treatment package to be implemented. 21 22 There is a range of acceptable silvicultural treatments (silvicultural treatment package or STP) for 23 the activities of harvest, renewal and tending which can be undertaken at various intervals 24 throughout the life of individual forest stands. Implementation of the silvicultural ground rules 25 directly influences the achievement of Desired Forest and Benefits (Section 3.4) and Management 26 Objectives and Indicators (Section 3.5, Table FMP-9). 27 28 Occasionally, previously depleted areas require follow-up treatments to enhance regeneration 29 stocking. Renewal treatments may also be applied to old road landings, areas containing full tree 30 logging slash piles, that have been burned and require planting or seeding, or applied on sites 31 that are generally free-to-grow, but have inadequately stocked patches. 32 33 As harvested areas are regenerated, operational roads, where in accordance with the use 34 management strategy for the road, will also be regenerated where possible. Site preparation will 35 cross ungravelled roads and they will be planted or seeded. Those roads that cannot be site 36 prepared will be planted tightly to the edge. 37 38 All 1:20,000 maps (FMP Maps) show ecosite type for each stand. The information products (i.e. 39 PHR & PRT layers) for harvest, renewal and tending operations will serve as the stand listing. 40 Silviculture Ground Rules are found in the field “SGR” in the Planning Composite inventory (PCM) 41 coverage. 42 43 There are some silvicultural treatments that are of special public interest (also discussed in 44 Section 8.2.2.3 Silvicultural Treatments of Special Public Interest). These activities include the 45 aerial application of herbicides. The aerial application of herbicide as a tending operation is 46 proposed in this plan, with the location of eligible areas identified on renewal and tending maps 47 in FMP Maps – Composite Maps. Areas identified for aerial chemical tending will require approval 48 as per the process in the FMPM. Approvals by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate

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1 Change (MOECC) will be required prior to the aerial application of registered herbicides on the 2 Kenora Forest.

3 8.2.2.1.1 Exceptions 4 5 Any silvicultural ground rules involving treatments that are “not recommended” (NR) in the 6 approved silvicultural guides are documented as “exceptions” in Table FMP-4 and in the List of 7 Exceptions following the Title, Certification and Approval page for this plan. “Not Recommended” 8 activities cannot be implemented until the associated rationale and effectiveness monitoring plan 9 is approved in an FMP. 10 11 Any silvicultural ground rule involving treatments that are “conditionally recommended” (CR) in 12 the approved silvicultural guides are identified in Table FMP-4. The conditions under which these 13 guideline recommendations apply, and any associated conditions or best management practices 14 that must be applied during the implementation of the silvicultural treatment are identified for each 15 silvicultural ground rule included in Table FMP-4. Through implementation of any stated 16 conditions, the treatments for the specific sites are not considered “exceptions” to approved 17 guides. 18 19 Full Tree Logging on Ecosites 11 and 12 20 21 “Full tree logging on NWO Ecosites 11 and 12, where total organic matter plus soil depth is less 22 than 20 cm, is designated as a ‘conditionally recommended’ practice in the Forest Management 23 Guide to Silviculture in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence and Boreal Forests of Ontario (MNRF, 24 2015). As part of this condition, there is an expectation that our regionally-based monitoring 25 program (summarized below), that has been directed out of the Centre for Northern Forest 26 Ecosystem Research, will continue. 27 28 The forest industry is contributing to a comprehensive, region wide initiative to monitor the effects 29 of this harvest method on site productivity for these shallow-soiled site conditions. As part of this 30 monitoring program these shallow soil sites have been identified in this FMP and operations will 31 be conducted in accordance with the Best Management Practices approved for these conditions' 32 as per the letter from the NWR Regional Director of 3 Oct 2007: Full Tree Harvesting of Ecosites 33 11 & 12 in Northwestern Ontario: Monitoring Procedures and Best Management Practices April 34 1, 2001 (Supplementary Documentation C - Monitoring Programs for Exceptions). 35 36 Ecosites in the Kenora Forest are identified in the forest resources inventory and are identified 37 within the planned operations digital information supplied to MNRF with the forest management 38 plan. Verification of actual Ecosite 11 and 12 areas scheduled for activities in the Annual Work 39 Schedules (AWS) will be identified through interpretation of aerial photographs and field checked 40 prior to harvest. 41 42 The rationale for using full tree harvesting on these sites is that it is currently the common method 43 of harvest and it remains difficult to attract and source contractors with specialized equipment to 44 harvest the small amounts of scattered areas of shallow soils currently identified. The shallow 45 soil sites on the Kenora forest, for the most part, are productive and it is felt that using full tree 46 logging in a careful manner will preserve the site’s nutrient capacity. 47 12 Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

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1 The regional-wide, monitoring program for evaluating the effects of full-tree harvesting on very 2 shallow sites was established in 2002. The design includes 7 Case Study sites (Level I plots) 3 which had two, paired harvest treatment blocks (tree length versus full tree) applied to them. 4 These case study sites are distributed across the northwest region to account for differences in 5 soil texture and parent material, as well as variations in climatic conditions. On these plots, 6 sampling incorporates intensive monitoring procedures to evaluate tree regeneration success, 7 individual tree and stand-level growth, soil nutrient availability, and foliar nutritional status. Since 8 establishment, both 5th and 10th year remeasurements have been completed, reported on and 9 forwarded to participating partners. 10 11 A second series of permanent growth plots (Level II PGPs) was also established to address the 12 variation of ES 11 and 12 sites across the region, and to confirm that the results from Level I case 13 studies are consistent with the range of normal operations. These plots (99 plots in total) were 14 remeasured in 2007 (5 years after establishment) and have been rolled into the provincial Growth 15 and Yield (G&Y) program for ongoing measurements of stand growth. 16 17 Recommendations emerging from the results of this monitoring program will be followed as they 18 become available. 19

20 8.2.2.1.2 General Treatments Included in the SGRs 21 22 SGR Code – Every silvicultural ground rule for each forest unit has a unique identifying code used 23 for reference in Table FMP-4 and digital operations information. 24 25 Current Forest Unit - Future Forest Unit – Each SGR includes information on the current forest 26 condition and projected future forest condition (forest unit and forest condition development 27 information). Generally, there are three silvicultural intensity levels to describe the future forest 28 condition: extensive, basic and intensive. The extensive treatment option usually results after 29 harvest when the area is left to regenerate naturally. Basic intensity stands usually result from 30 seeding or planting without follow-up spacing. Intensive stands reflect promptly regenerated 31 stands that result in density regulated plantations after spacing operations have been 32 implemented. Intensive treatments are not planned to be applied very often on the Kenora Forest 33 as the predominance of shallow soiled stands (ES 11 and 12) limits the achievement of well 34 stocked, density regulated stands. Since intensive renewal treatments are applied and successful 35 on limited areas, the resulting stands have been planned as a blended component of Basic 36 Intensity stands in order to not overestimate projected success rates and to not over complicate 37 the strategic modelling for treatments that are not widely applied. 38 39 Regeneration Standards – Table FMP-4 defines site-specific regeneration standards for each 40 silvicultural ground rule as they relate to ecological management objectives and local site 41 characteristics. These regeneration standards must address timing of assessment, targets and 42 acceptable crop species, minimum crop tree heights, species composition, stocking and survey 43 methodology. The Assessment of Regeneration Success is discussed in Section 8.7.3. 44 45 Additional Regeneration Standard Considerations: 46 • NWSI TM-009 has been used to assist in developing renewal standards and to ensure the 47 consistent terminology is used. 13 Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

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1 • The regeneration standards are able to achieve, with a reasonable level of confidence, 2 the stated future conditions at maturity (Forest Unit and Stand Characteristics) in FMP-4 3 and track along the respective yield curves. 4 • Acceptable species are compatible with the stand objectives and where competitive 5 species are considered acceptable they are limited (state a maximum % for FTG 6 assessment) to align with the forest conditions represented in the applicable yield curve 7 and in the stated stand characteristics at maturity. Balsam Fir has not been included as 8 an acceptable species unless it is stated in the future stand characteristics. 9 • Regeneration standards include a measure of tree distribution: stocking percentages 10 and/or density standards of trees per hectare. Target and acceptable species per hectare 11 is also identified. 12 • Regeneration standards include a minimum target of 80% of site occupancy (target and 13 acceptable species) based on the productive portion of the assessment area (i.e. non- 14 productive sites do not contribute to the area on which the minimum 80% is calculated). 15 16 Silvicultural System and Harvest Method – Most stands planned for harvest in this plan period 17 will be harvested using the conventional clearcut silvicultural system. During harvest, all 18 requirements for the retention of residual areas, downed wood material and wildlife trees (Section 19 8.2.2.2 Conditions on Regular Operations) will be implemented. Certain stands within the SBL 20 forest unit may also be harvested using the Seed Tree method of clearcut harvest which is 21 appropriate for these species and is documented as an acceptable alternate harvest method in 22 Table FMP-4. 23 24 Logging Method - The majority of the wood harvested on the Kenora Forest is cut using 25 mechanized logging systems that bring full-tree to roadside. The remainder uses a variety of 26 logging systems that bring the wood to roadside as tree-length or cut-to-length. The preferred 27 logging method will be the full-tree harvesting method. 28 29 Site Preparation and Regeneration – Many SGRs include the most common or acceptable 30 treatments of mechanical, manual or chemical site preparation (or no site preparation). On the 31 Kenora Forest, typically managed stands being regenerated to a basic intensity future forest will 32 receive mechanical site preparation before regeneration treatments of planting or seeding. 33 34 Tending - Tending activities are defined as forest management operations that are carried out to 35 improve the growth or quality of a forest. Tending may involve cleaning, (i.e. the removal of 36 undesirable or competing vegetation through the use of registered herbicides as a ground or aerial 37 application or manual treatments), thinning, stand improvement or pruning. In general, tending 38 will be proposed on areas that have been successfully renewed and exhibit detrimental levels of 39 competing vegetation. Chemical tending will be used on only those sites that require the 40 treatment for crop tree survival, growth, and forest composition control. Tending to ensure crop 41 tree survival is essential to create the desired future forest condition to achieve plan objectives 42 related to forest composition and wildlife habitat. 43 44 Juvenile stand spacing, also called pre-commercial thinning, is a tending strategy to improve crop 45 spacing and does not usually yield trees of commercial value. This early crop tree density control 46 improves the sawlog potential of a stand at a specified rotation. Areas selected for spacing are 47 chosen based on specific stand and site criteria, while considering broader landscape objectives. 48 In general, juvenile spacing conducted on the more productive ecosites (i.e. higher biomass 49 carrying capacity) results in greater biological and economic returns. Since the Kenora Forest 14 Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Prescriptions for Operations Prescriptions for Harvest, Renewal and Tending Areas – Conditions on Regular Operations

1 has a majority of lower productivity shallow ecosites ES 11 and 12, juvenile spacing is not planned 2 to be applied during this plan period and has not been included as an eligible treatment in Table 3 FMP-4. 4 5 Aerial application of herbicides is a treatment of special public interest (also referenced in Section 6 8.2.2.3).

7 8.2.2.1.3 Most Common SGRs by Forest Unit 8 9 Table FMP-4 documents treatment package(s) in each silvicultural ground rule for each forest 10 unit/site type combination. For each forest unit, the most common silvicultural treatment package 11 in Table FMP-4 is considered to be the package of treatments most likely to be used that will 12 reflect the silviculture strategy for each forest unit. Utilizing the most common treatment package 13 will help move the forest structure towards the desired future forest condition as detailed in the 14 Long Term Management Direction (LTMD), which is generally to move towards more pure conifer 15 and hardwood stands and less mixedwood stands. Acceptable alternative treatments are also 16 listed in FMP-4 and may be implemented due to consideration for biological appropriateness, 17 economic feasibility, biodiversity and wildlife habitat. Before operations commence, these 18 decisions will be documented in Forest Operations Prescriptions (FOPs) on file at the company 19 office, the planned silvicultural treatment will be identified in Annual Work Schedules and treated 20 area will be reported in the Annual Report related to the year of treatment. 21 22 The most common treatment packages described below are the same treatments indicated for 23 application on the harvested sites, as detailed in the digital planning composite layer provided to 24 MNRF. The preferred silvicultural ground rule (SGR) code is referenced for each forest unit. The 25 digital information products for harvest, renewal and tending operations will serve as the digital 26 stand list as required by the FMPM (2009). 27 28 Following is a description of the silvicultural ground rules which will most commonly be used to 29 regenerate each forest unit: 30 31 32 Balsam Fir Mixedwood (BFM) Forest Unit 33 Balsam fir is a prolific seeder and is shade tolerant, which has the implication that this forest unit 34 will grow through time as older stands mature and begin the succession process. As a result 35 there is no concern for the reestablishment of harvested BFM forest unit stands back to a BFM 36 forest unit as this forest unit will be replenished through forest succession. 37 38 Harvested BFM forest unit areas will be most commonly treated with the Basic intensity treatments 39 of harvesting followed by mechanical site preparation and planting. Juvenile tending (manual or 40 chemical cleaning) may or may not be needed on these sites. Typically a forest unit conversion 41 after renewal treatments from BFM to PJM will result, however conversion to CMX or SPD forest 42 units may also be planned depending on the site and conditions encountered. The most common 43 SGR to be implemented is: BFM-BA1-PJM. 44 45 46 Conifer Mixedwood (CMX) Forest Unit 47 The CMX forest unit is considered a mixedwood forest unit and the second largest forest unit on 48 the Kenora Forest. Therefore it is important that the silviculture strategies of the CMX forest unit 15 Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

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1 reflect the Long-term Management Direction, which is generally to move towards more pure 2 conifer and hardwoods stands and less mixedwood stands. 3 4 The CMX forest unit consists of variable site conditions which lend themselves to the following 5 silviculture treatments: 6 7 CMX forest unit stands on shallow sandy soils with lower percentages of existing hardwood 8 species will receive a Basic treatment and be converted to a pine dominated stand (PJM, PJD) 9 through implementing the following SGRs: CMX-BA1-PJM and CMX-BA1-PJD. 10 11 CMX forest unit natural regeneration on fine textured and fresh loamy soils is expected to result 12 in CMX area (SGR: CMX-EXT-CMX), HMX area (SGR: CMX-EXT-HMX), or where there is 13 greater poplar in the CMX stand – POD area (SGR: CMX-EXT-POD). 14 15 CMX forest unit stands on fresh loamy textured soils with lower percentages of existing hardwood 16 species will receive a Basic treatment and be converted to a spruce dominated stand (SBM, SPD) 17 through implementing the following two SGRs: CMX-BA1-SPM and CMX-BA1-SPD. 18 19 On a small number of appropriate sites, forest unit conversion to PRW will be considered. 20 Establishing additional PRW forest unit stands directly aids the achievement of management 21 objectives to maintain and restore areas of red pine and white pine on the Kenora Forest. 22 23 24 Hardwood Mixedwood (HMX) Forest Unit 25 The HMX forest unit is a mixedwood forest unit and is the largest forest unit on the Kenora Forest. 26 Therefore it is important that the silviculture strategies of the HMX forest unit reflect the LTMD, 27 which is generally to move towards more pure conifer and hardwoods stands and less mixedwood 28 stands. 29 30 The silvicultural strategy for the HMX forest unit is to treat most of the areas extensively since the 31 poplar component of stands will regenerate prolifically and be difficult and expensive to control. 32 Hardwood management is appropriate for these sites. Typically after harvest followed by natural 33 regeneration, POD stands will be created. The most common SGR is HMX-EXT-POD. 34 Depending on the original stand’s poplar composition, HMX stands may also remain after natural 35 regeneration and are included in the SGR: HMX-EXT-HMX. 36 37 HMX stands that have lower species composition percentages of poplar will be targeted to be 38 converted to the CMX forest unit (SGR: HMX-BA1-CMX). In addition, occasionally, the poplar 39 regeneration is not successful. This is often the result of harvesting a site immediately after leaf 40 out. In these cases stand conversion to a conifer dominated stand is realistic and opportunities 41 to create a CMX forest unit will be monitored. 42 43 44 Other Conifer Lowland (OCL) Forest Unit 45 The silviculture strategy for OCL is to maintain this forest unit. Where OCL stands area harvested, 46 they will be primarily left for natural regeneration (Extensive treatment, SGR: OCL-EXT-OCL). 47 48

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1 Other Hardwood (OTH) Forest Unit 2 The silviculture strategy for OTH is to maintain this forest unit. Where black ash OTH stands area 3 harvested, they will be left for natural regeneration (Extensive treatment, SGR: OTH-EXT-OTH). 4 OTH stands are considered of low economic value and are only harvested occasionally. 5 6 7 Jack Pine Dominated (PJD) Forest Unit 8 The silviculture strategy for PJD is to increase the area of this forest unit over time. Therefore it 9 is important that each PJD forest unit harvested is regenerated back to PJD where possible. The 10 most common method of regenerating jack pine dominated stands will be to harvest, mechanically 11 site prepare and aerial seed (SGR: PJD-BA1-PJD) maintaining a PJD future forest unit stand. On 12 certain sites, maintenance of the PJD forest unit can be accomplished through extensive, natural 13 regeneration treatment (SGR: PJD-EXT-PJD). 14 15 Occasionally on richer sites, harvest area may be basically treated through site preparation and 16 planting to maintain the conifer dominance, but increase the spruce component in relation to the 17 jack pine (SGRs: PJD-BA1-PJM or PJD-BA1-CMX). 18 19 20 Jack Pine Mixedwood (PJM) Forest Unit 21 The silvicultural strategy for the PJM forest unit is to maintain PJM or to enhance the jack pine or 22 spruce components on appropriate sites through harvest, mechanical site preparation and 23 planting. The most common SGR to be implemented is PJM-BA1-PJD. 24 25 Natural regeneration of PJM area back to PJM is projected to occur approximate 20% of the time 26 (SGR: PJM-EXT-PJM). 27 28 29 Poplar Dominated (POD) Forest Unit 30 The silviculture strategy for POD is to increase the area of this forest unit. All harvested POD 31 forest unit areas are projected to be treated extensively resulting in a future POD forest unit stand. 32 The most common SGR to be implemented is POD-EXT-POD. 33 34 Depending on a number of factors including soils, species composition, distribution of the poplar 35 component, health of the poplar and drainage, the natural regeneration may result in HMX forest 36 unit area (SGR: POD_EXT_HMX). 37 38 39 Red Pine and White Pine Mixedwood (PRW) Forest Unit 40 The silvicultural strategy for the PRW forest unit will be to maintain or actively convert suitable 41 stands of other forest units that are harvested to PRW in an effort to maintain or enhance the 42 species presence on the Kenora Forest. Most often (SGR:PRW-BA1-PRW) PRW harvest area 43 will be basically treated through mechanical site preparation and planting resulting in a PRW stand 44 - a red pine dominated mixedwood with a small component of white pine. Basic treatment on 45 certain sites may also result in PJM stands (SGR: PRW-BA1-PJM). 46

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1 Approximately 10% of the time, PRW areas will be intensively treated to result in a purer red pine 2 stand that is density regulated. This is accomplished through implementation of SGR PRW-INT- 3 PRW. 4 5 The priority sites for red pine or white pine planting will be ones that already have some scattered 6 remnants from the harvested stand in order to produce PRW forest unit stands. Red pine may 7 be planted in mixtures with white pine to meet the PRW forest unit definition. Red pine will also 8 be planted in pure plantations on good sites to reach the highest potential yield. Silvicultural 9 strategies for red pine are consistent with A Silvicultural Guide for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence 10 Conifer Forest in Ontario (MNRF 1998). 11 12 13 Black Spruce Lowland (SBL) Forest Unit 14 The silvicultural strategy for SBL will be to maintain this forest unit. The most common method of 15 regeneration of lowland black spruce during this plan period will be to extensively leave harvested 16 areas for natural regeneration of black spruce (SGR: SBL-EXT-SBL). Where there is a presence 17 of a black spruce under story there will be an attempt to protect advanced growth during the 18 harvest. 19 20 21 Spruce Dominated Upland (SPD) Forest Unit 22 The silvicultural strategy for SPD will be to increase the area of this forest unit over time. The 23 most common method of regeneration will be to maintain area in this forest unit through site 24 preparation and planting of black spruce and/or white spruce. The most common SGR to be 25 implemented is SGR: SPD-BA1-SPD. 26 27 Coarser textured or shallow soils may receive a basic treatment of mechanical site preparation 28 and seeding of jack pine to supplement natural black spruce with additional jack pine 29 regeneration. This involves implementation of SGR: SPD-BA1-SPM if the spruce composition 30 remains greater than the jack pine, or SGR: SPD-BA1-PJM if the seeded jack pine exceeds the 31 stand composition of the spruce. 32 33 34 Spruce Dominated Mixedwood (SPM) Forest Unit 35 The silvicultural strategy for SPM will be to increase the area of this forest unit over time. The 36 most common method of regeneration will be to site prepare and plant black spruce with a 37 component of jack pine on suitable sites. The most common SGR to be implemented is SPM- 38 BA1-SPM where spruce is planned to have a greater species composition in the resulting stand 39 than jack pine. Where the basic treatment of mechanical site preparation and seeding occurs 40 (SGR: SPM-BA1-PJM), the jack pine component of the stand is expected to exceed the spruce 41 component. 42 43 Creating SPD or PJD forest units where appropriate would be considered a favourable stand 44 conversion to aid in the overall goal of increasing the area of these two forest units. 45 46

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8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Prescriptions for Operations Prescriptions for Harvest, Renewal and Tending Areas – Conditions on Regular Operations

1 8.2.2.2 Conditions on Regular Operations 2 3 This section of the plan documents Conditions on Regular Operations (CRO) that have been 4 developed through application of the Forest Management Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at 5 the Stand and Site Scales (MNRF, 2010). Where these conditions on regular operations apply to 6 a specific management zone, the text identifies the management zone where the condition is 7 applied. For example, Moose Emphasis Areas are such management zones and the associated 8 CROs for these zones are included in the following table. 9 10 11

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Conditions on Regular Operations

NOTES: Conditions on regular operations apply to all harvest, renewal and tending operations. Additional conditions may apply as documented in Table FMP-10 Operational Prescriptions for Areas of Concern and Table FMP-4 Silvicultural Ground Rules. Conditions on roads, landings and aggregate pits are documented in Table FMP-19 (within AOCs) and FMP Section 8.5.7 (all areas of operations).

Biofibre Harvest: • Direction applies to all planned harvest areas regardless of the product derived. • Stumps and all below ground portions of a tree are not available for utilization as a forest product; movement or removal associated with normal operations (skid trails, renewal and tending, slash piling, etc., including incidental movement or removal during harvest operations), is permitted but will be minimized to that required for efficient operations; removal for forest health purposes is permitted. • Organic matter that is not part of a harvested tree (including boles, branches, roots, bark, leaves, needles, debris, soil carbon, etc.) will remain on site; movement of such material for silvicultural purposes is permitted.

Downed Woody Material: • Stems retained as wildlife trees that fall down, or are felled for worker safety reasons, become downed woody material and will be left on site; moving such trees for silvicultural purposes is permitted. • Dead trees present prior to harvest, including those lowered to the ground for safety considerations should be left on site. • Downed trees (or pieces of trees) present prior to harvest will be left on site; moving such trees for silvicultural purposes is permitted. • Trees leaning and downed by a recent disturbance (windstorms or other natural events e.g. snow, ice), which normally would have been available for harvest, may be harvested and utilized. • Unmerchantable logs, or unmerchantable portions of logs that will not be utilized should preferentially be left on site at the stump. • Minimize the windrowing of downed woody material; where long windrows do occur, breaks should be provided to allow animals, other forest users and operations unobstructed access routes across the right of way e.g. a 10 m break for every 100 m of windrow. • During all operations the crushing of large, downed logs and the smothering of coarse woody material by fine woody material or soil will be minimized.

Downed Woody Material – Salvage Harvest Only: • Reasonable efforts will be made to avoid windrowing or crushing of downed woody material.

Erosion: • Shallow soil sites that are particularly susceptible to erosion (i.e. moderate to steep slopes) will be harvested in winter. • Skid trails will avoid moderate to steep slopes where possible. • Wood will be winched or reached with a feller buncher on areas where the skidder operator feels the slope is unsafe for operations. • Forest operations will not be conducted on extremely steep slopes.

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Conditions on Regular Operations

• Green wildlife trees, organic matter and surface vegetation will be preserved on steep slopes. • Stable slopes will be maintained on ditch lines, road fills and cuts. • Slopes and banks will be reinforced (re-vegetate or use logging debris). • Site disturbance associated with forest operations will be minimized on shallow soil sites. • Skid trails will be kept to a minimum, with an emphasis on the protection of advanced regeneration. • Post-harvest prescriptions and renewal efforts will be carried out as quickly as possible on shallow soil sites to encourage full site occupancy. This will minimize problems with erosion and loss of nutrients. • Heavy mechanical site preparation (i.e. blading, heavy drags or continuous disc trenching with down pressure) will not be used on shallow soil sites. • Harvest and site preparation will be scheduled for the appropriate season for the site. Sensitive sites will be cut in winter (or drier periods in summer).

Forest Composition • Harvest, renewal and tending treatments to maintain existing tree species composition at forest unit level unless strategic direction to do otherwise. • Forest unit conversion within Moose Emphasis Areas to move towards desired forest composition ranges.

Furbearing Mammal Dens (other than red foxes, skunks, wolves and wolverines) – in caves, excavated burrows, under large piles of coarse woody material or other enduring features – known to have been occupied at least once within the past 5 years: • Harvest, renewal, and tending operations are not permitted within 20 m of the den entrance.

Furbearing Mammal Dens (other than red foxes, skunks, wolves and wolverines) – in tree cavities, hollow logs, brush piles, other transitory features – known to be occupied: • Known occupied dens encountered during operations will not be destroyed; in this context, destruction means the complete or partial damage of the den structure or its contents (i.e. adults or young). • To minimize disturbance harvest, renewal, and tending operations will be avoided within 3 m of dens known to be occupied that are encountered during operations; this will include the following: retaining trees within 3 m (patch may be counted as a clump of wildlife tees), not felling trees into the area within 3 m, heavy equipment will not travel within 3 m.

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Conditions on Regular Operations

Hydrological Impacts: • Based on local conditions, take reasonable precautions to ensure harvest, renewal, and tending operations will not result in disturbance of the forest floor that impedes, accelerates, or diverts water movement within recognizable ephemeral streams, springs, seeps, and other areas of groundwater discharge connect to lakes, ponds, rivers, or streams. • Based on local conditions, explore reasonable alternatives to crossing organic and saturated mineral soils during the frost-free period. • Minimize the potential for hydrological disruption when crossing during the frost-free period cannot be avoided (See conditions listed under the section titled “Rutting and Compaction” found in this table.). • Train field staff, especially equipment operators, in the recognition and significance of disruption of hydrological function. • On very dry sites, careful logging practices that retain some trees, shrubs, advanced growth, and slash can reduce overall ground temperature and reduce excess drying. • Where possible, locate roads and landings so skidding and forwarding does not have to cross natural drainage patterns. • Regenerate susceptible sites as quickly as possible to restore transpiration and moderate hydrological changes.

Large Landscape Patches – Deer Emphasis Areas (DEAs) - in this forest management plan, there are 30 harvest blocks in Deer Winter Concentration Areas to which this direction applies: • If practical and feasible, the block will be scheduled for harvest in the winter season • All bur oak will be retained except where required to be cleared for road right-of-way • Operations will preferentially retain mature white spruce, white pine and cedar as wildlife trees, priority given to retaining small clumps of trees, as opposed to individual trees, if they occur.

All blocks were reviewed by the Management Biologist and direction was provided on location of residual patches and patch preference. Fifteen of the thirty blocks do not require any additional direction. Comments were provided on the remaining blocks and will be used for placement of residual forest patches. Locations of the DEAs are portrayed on the MU644_2012_FMP_P2_MAP_MEA_DEA_00 index map. Large Landscape Patches – Moose Emphasis Areas (MEAs) - in this forest management plan there are 134 harvest blocks in Moose Emphasis Areas, in two of the three MEA’s on the Kenora Forest. The following direction applies to these areas: • Residual shoreline forest (see FMP-10, WS and WL AOCs) (see Section 8.3.1, the operations maps and Residual, Mapped and Residual, Unmapped in this table) should be retained preferentially when it: o is adjacent to higher quality moose aquatic feeding areas (MAFAs) (i.e., class 4 MAFAs or class 3 MAFAs), o is adjacent to larger MAFAs (i.e., MAFAs > 8 ha are better than MAFAs 4-8 ha which are better than MAFAs < 4 ha),

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Conditions on Regular Operations

o is adjacent to MAFAs without features that restrict access such as steep terrain, o will provide screening from roads, o connects MAFAs to other residual forest (especially identified patches of summer thermal shelter and/or travel corridors), or o minimizes the distance between the aquatic vegetation and cover. • Residual patches required to meet residual forest guidelines (see Section 8.3.1, the operations maps and Residual, Mapped and Residual, Unmapped in this table) can be used to manage for summer cover in areas where forest operations are planned, using the following criteria: o Size and Distribution: minimum 2 ha o Location: Summer cover habitat will normally be adjacent to MAFAs moose are most likely to use (i.e., ≤ 200 m, measured from the edge of the MAFA to the nearest edge of the patch of summer cover). If high quality MAFAs (Class 3 or 4) are not present, suitable summer cover will be adjacent (≤ 200 m) to other MAFAs, or natural openings (e.g., beaver meadows). Link summer cover to immature, mature, old, or residual forests, particularly shoreline forests. Linkages are considered adequate when the distance from the edge of a patch of summer cover to immature, mature or residual forests is ≤ 200 m and the terrain is traversable by moose (e.g., the terrain is relatively flat). o Characteristics: Maintain or retain the best summer cover habitat available. In general, lowland conifer > upland conifer > lowland or upland>hardwood > mixed woods. • Location of the afore-mentioned unmapped residual patches required to meet residual forest guidelines will be determined in consultation with the MNRF Management Biologist at the AWS submission stage. This will include either mapping them on the AWS operations maps or providing more specific direction in the AWS text on a block by block basis. This work has been initially completed by the MNRF Management Biologist for the 134 harvest blocks that occur within the MEAs. Twenty-five of the blocks were provided with specific residual patch locations that will be reflected on the maps at the AWS stage. • Silvicultural prescriptions will be consistent with moose habitat management objectives.

Locations of the MEAs are portrayed on the MU644_2012_FMP_P2_MAP_MEA_DEA_00 index map. Loss of Productive Land: • Harvested sites will be reforested as quickly as possible.

Additional Conditions Regarding Reclamation of Slash and Chip Debris Piles: • Slash and chip debris piles will not accumulate through time or result in a permanent loss of production land.

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Conditions on Regular Operations

• The production land base will be recovered from new slash and chip piles (and existing piles as noted below) and these areas will be renewed except where they were not part of the production land base originally (e.g. rock outcrops). • Operations will be conducted in a manner to prevent or minimize the creation of slash debris piles where full tree and/or tree-length logging is identified as an acceptable logging method in the SGRs. o Unutilized woody material, which accumulates at roadside and is expected to remain unutilized, will be piled, redistributed, or otherwise treated to increase the area available for regeneration. o Avoid piling unutilized fibre on productive non-forest cover types (e.g., brush and alder). o Pile unutilized fibre on non-productive rock where possible. • For any slash and/or chipper debris piles that are created the following will occur: o Operations will be conducted to remove slash and chip debris piles and recover the production land base from these areas (e.g. biofibre harvest, slash pile burning, spreading, site preparation, or planting/seeding). o Slash/chip treatment operations are planned to be completed while equipment is still within the harvest area with renewal planned to be completed within one year of slash/chip pile treatment. Slash/chip treatment operations will be completed no later than two years following the completion of harvest operations and renewal will be completed no later than three years following the completion of harvest operations. o The most applicable SGR will be applied to renew the area, based on the specific site conditions of areas formerly occupied by slash and/or chip piles, and the renewal including regeneration treatments should complement the treatments on the adjacent treated areas. o Existing slash and chip piles (three years old or less) will be treated and regenerated as noted above within three years of the completion of harvest operations. o Older existing slash and chip piles (more than three years old) will be reviewed and where practical treated and regenerated as noted above using the most applicable SGR unless a different rehabilitation strategy including regeneration standards have been documented in Section 8.2.2.1 Silvicultural Ground Rules. o The AWS will identify the location of slash and chipper debris piles scheduled for operations, the operations to be conducted, and the scheduled regeneration treatments. o The AWS will identify the inspection of slash and chip debris pile treatments and subsequent regeneration as a compliance priority and will indicate how the inspections will be completed.

Maintenance of S1, S2 and S3 Natural Heritage Information Centre rare species/ vegetation communities or other uncommon vegetation communities as identified by MNRF, which are likely to occur in areas of planned operations:

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Conditions on Regular Operations

• When a Species At Risk or a rare species (on the S1, S2 and S3 species list) is identified in an area of operations, encountered during forest operations, or confirmed during the duration of the plan, the occurrence will be addressed using an appropriate area of concern prescription developed from the appropriate MNRF guide or a prescription will be developed by the planning team where the species is not covered by an MNRF guide.

Nests – Inactive Nest - great grey owl, northern goshawk, red-shouldered hawk: nests not known or suspected to have been occupied at least once within the past 5 years that are >400m from a primary nest, or <=400m from a primary nest but in poor repair; primary and alternate nests within nesting areas where all nests within the nesting area have been documented as unoccupied for >=3 consecutive years • If the nest is in good repair, harvest is not permitted within 20m (the patch may be counted as residual forest); otherwise, the nest tree will be retained as a wildlife tree. • There is no timing restriction on harvest, renewal, and tending activities. Nests - Unoccupied Stick Nests known or suspected to have been built or used by broad-winged hawk, merlin, sharp-shinned hawk, unknown species small stick nest <75cm diameter • The nest tree will be retained as a wildlife tree if the nest is in good repair or the nest tree contains a good fork. • There is no timing restriction on harvest, renewal, and tending activities.

Nests - Unoccupied Stick Nests known or suspected to have been built or used by barred owl, Cooper’s hawk, common raven, great horned owl, long-eared owl, red-tailed hawk, unknown species large stick nest >=75cm diameter • The nest tree will be retained in an unharvested residual patch ≥20 m radius if the nest is in good repair (the patch may be counted as residual forest); otherwise, the nest tree will be retained as a wildlife tree. • There is no timing restriction on harvest, renewal, and tending activities.

Nests - Unoccupied Nests in cavities known or suspected to have been used by American kestrel, boreal owl, eastern screech-owl, northern hawk owl, northern saw-whet owl • The nest tree will be retained as a wildlife tree if not a safety concern; nest trees that are a potential safety risk should be retained in an unharvested residual patch >=20m radius (the patch may be counted as residual forest). • There is no timing restriction on harvest, renewal, and tending activities.

Nests – Unoccupied Nests/communal roosts in cavities known or suspected to have been used by barred owl, great horned owl, chimney swift

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Conditions on Regular Operations

• The nest/communal roost tree will be retained in an unharvested residual patch>=20m radius (the patch may be counted as residual forest). • There is no timing restriction on harvest, renewal, and tending activities.

Nests – waterfowl, grouse, wild turkeys – known nests containing eggs encountered during forest management operations • Known nests will not be destroyed; in this context, destruction means the complete or partial damage of the nest structure or its contents (i.e., attendant birds, eggs, or young). • To minimize disturbance harvest, renewal, and tending operations will be avoided within 10 metres of known nests containing eggs; this will include the following: retaining trees within 10 m (patch may be counted as a clump of wildlife tees), not felling trees into the area within 10 m, heavy equipment will not travel within 10 m.

Nests – Song Birds or other small birds – known nests containing eggs or young encountered during forest management operations • Known nests will not be destroyed; in this context, destruction means the complete or partial damage of the nest structure or its contents (i.e. attendant birds, eggs, or young). • To minimize disturbance harvest, renewal, and tending operations will be avoided within 3 metres of nests known to contain eggs or young; this will include the following: retaining trees within 3 m (patch may be counted as a clump of wildlife tees), not felling trees into the area within 3 m, heavy equipment will not travel within 3 m.

Nutrient Retention on Shallow Soil Sites • All ES11 & ES12 areas greater than 8 hectares will be identified in the Annual Work Schedule. • Harvesting of shallow soil sites is preferred in the winter. • Avoid harvesting and skidding on steep slopes with shallow soils and modify skidding patterns (i.e. along the contour) where possible. • Site disturbance associated with forest operations will be minimized on shallow soil sites. • Mechanical site preparation will not be used if there is adequate disturbance of the site for renewal purposes. Heavy mechanical site preparation (i.e. blading, heavy drags or continuous disc trenching with down pressure) will not be used on these sites. Planting or aerial seeding without site preparation may be an alternative to mechanical site preparation. • Careful Logging Around Advance Growth (CLAAG) will be used where applicable. • Wildlife trees will be left favouring green hardwood trees. • Renewal efforts will be carried out as quickly as possible to encourage full site occupancy. This should also help to prevent problems with erosion and loss of nutrients.

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Conditions on Regular Operations

• Establish lower nutrient demanding trees (i.e. jack pine) on nutrient poor sites where appropriate. • The application of chemical aerial tending will be carefully assessed on shallow soil sites prior to use to determine if appropriate for the site.

Residual Forest – definition Residual Forest is defined in the Forest Management Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand and Site Scales (MNRF 2010) as: • 35 years old or > 10 m tall • >= 0.1 ha in size • >= 30% crown closure, unless harvested with in the last 20 years, then >=50% crown closure Residual, Mapped – movement of mapped residual (note that there are currently 6 mapped residual areas required to meet the 25/500 Stand and Site Guide rule in this forest management plan, areas where moveable residual is required to meet the 0.5/50 Stand and Site Guide guideline are shown on the operations maps, but the residual patches are not mapped specifically – see next row in this table re Residual, Unmapped) • Mapped residual that is not serving any other purpose (e.g. AOC, specific habitat function, etc.), and would otherwise be available for harvest, can be moved during operational implementation as long as:

o The residual requirements from the Stand and Site Guide are still met after the residual is moved (i.e. 25 ha. residual in 500 ha. circle, or 0.5 ha. residual in 50 ha. circle);

o The planned harvest area is not exceeded;

o The mapped residual polygon is specifically identified in the FMP as eligible for movement;

o The Annual Work Schedule will identify eligible residual areas for movement.

Residual, Unmapped - for areas where residual is not mapped in advance. (see the operations maps, Section 8.3.1 and Large Landscape Patches – Moose Emphasis Areas (MEAs) in this table) • Implementation of the harvest plan will ensure that any point within a new clearcut harvest area will have at least 0.5 ha of residual within a 50 ha circle about that point. • When locating unmapped residual forest, preference will be given to locations connected to habitat features encountered during operations such as bird nests, furbearer dens, woodland pools, MAFAs, etc. When additional habitat features are not encountered, give preference to uncommon forest types, locations connected to known values (water, nests, etc.), or located consistent with expected disturbance behaviour.

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Conditions on Regular Operations

Rich Lowland Hardwood-Dominated Forest (black ash) – mapped and unmapped pockets greater than or equal to 0.5 ha. encountered during operations • Harvest will follow direction for rich lowland hardwood-dominated forest found in FMP-4 Silviculture Grounds (Forest Unit: OTH). • No harvest, renewal or tending is permitted that: does not meet the ‘rutting and compaction’ conditions outlined in this table or that disrupts hydrological function (see above). • Extraction trail crossings are not permitted during the frost-free period. During winter conditions extraction trails will be minimized and will follow the conditions listed under the section titled “Rutting and Compaction” found in this table to minimize potential site damage and effects on hydrological function.

Rutting and Compaction: • No more than 50% of any 0.1 ha circle is permitted in ruts. • No ruts permitted that channel water into, or within 15 m of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, woodland pools, or those portions of mapped non- forested wetlands dominated by open water or non-woody vegetation. • Shallow soils (<30cm): No more than 5% of any 20 ha area (or the operating block if less than 20 ha) is permitted in ruts. • All other soils: No more than 10% of any 20 ha area (or the operating block if less than 20 ha) is permitted in ruts. • The area of rutting and compaction will be minimized. • In advance of any operations, MNRF and industry compliance staff will agree to an approach to measuring the percent coverage, depth and length of a rut, definition of roadside work area, and percent coverage of extraction trails. • Harvest and site preparation will be scheduled for the appropriate season for the site. Sensitive sites will be cut in winter (or drier periods in summer). • During spring break-up, operations will be limited to frozen or dry ground conditions. • In large complex blocks where a return winter cut is planned, organic and wet lowland areas will be harvested after freeze-up. • There will be no mechanical site preparation of organic sites in summer conditions. • Where advanced regeneration is a significant contributor to future forest development (e.g. CLAAG, white pine advanced regeneration) the area in extraction trails will be minimized. On sites susceptible to rutting, achievement will be balanced against the increased rutting that may occur when extraction is concentrated on fewer trails. • Skid trails will be planned in advance. Where conditions warrant due to a high potential of compaction or rutting, skidding will be limited to main trails to reduce the overall disturbance across the block. • Main skid trails will be located on upland areas, wherever possible. Non-productive areas such as rock outcrops shall be selected for skid trails.

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Conditions on Regular Operations

• Log loading areas, and turn-around areas should be located on high ground to avoid rutting and blocking of drainage paths. • Brush mats, slash, or corduroy maybe be placed on heavy traffic areas such as main skid trails and organic sites to reduce rutting. • If damage occurs, operations will shift to less sensitive areas. • High floatation tires or other low impact equipment will be used on organic sites, during the spring and fall. • Drainage will be maintained in areas with sub-surface water flow. • The size of skidder loads will be decreased to prevent breaking through of the organic mat. • Advanced regeneration will be protected, wherever possible, to minimize the area travelled by harvesting equipment. Wetlands – mapped permanent non-forested (polygon types OMS, TMS, and BSH) • No harvest, renewal, or tending operations are permitted that will result in significant damage to wetland vegetation or disruption of hydrological function. • Operations specifically prohibited include:

o Machine travel during the frost-free period within 3 m of those portions of the wetland dominated by open water or non-woody vegetation (i.e., vegetation communities with <25% canopy cover of trees, tall (≥1 m high) woody shrubs such as alder or willow, or low (<1 m high) woody evergreen shrubs such as Labrador tea or leatherleaf);

o Excessive removal or damage of sapling-sized trees (<10 cm dbh) and shrubs within 3 m of those portions of the wetland dominated by open water or non-woody vegetation;

o Felling of trees during the frost-free period into, or within, 3 m of those portions of the wetland dominated by open water or non- woody vegetation; trees accidentally felled into those portions of the wetland dominated by open water or non-woody vegetation will be left where they fall;

o Operations that leaves ruts, a significant area of exposed mineral soil, or disrupt hydrological function within the wetland itself or within forest that is within 15 m of those portions of the wetland dominated by open water or non-woody vegetation. Ruts or significant patches of exposed mineral soil will be promptly rehabilitated. • No contamination of wetlands by foreign materials is permitted.

o The use and storage of fuels will be carried out in accordance with the Liquid Fuels Handling Code;

o No equipment maintenance (e.g., washing or changing oil) is permitted within 15 m of non-forested wetlands. • Extraction trail crossings are not permitted during the frost-free period. During winter conditions, crossings will be minimized and will follow the appropriate operating practices described in rutting and compaction to minimize potential site damage and effects on hydrological function.

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Conditions on Regular Operations

Wildlife Trees – Clearcut Silvicultural System The following is required in any given 20 ha area within a block where harvest has occurred or for the entire block when the block is less than 20 ha: • Because trees or stems desirable as wildlife trees may not always be present, all requirements below include the provision ‘when available’; in situations where wildlife tree requirements cannot be achieved because trees are too small, requirements will be considered to be met if suitable types of trees are retained from the largest size class available. • Wildlife trees must be >=10cm dbh and >=3m in height unless ‘large’ wildlife trees/stubs or cavity, veteran trees or supercanopy trees are to be retained in which case the minimum dbh is >=25cm. • Retain an average of ≥ 25 stems/ha; wildlife trees will generally be well dispersed; retain an average of at least 15 individual stems/ha; the remaining stems may occur in clumps. • Within the Wabaseemoong Traditional Land Use Area: Retain an average of ≥ 36 stems/ha. The additional trees may be smaller than >=10cm dbh and >=3m in height in order to prevent not meeting utilization standards or may be dead (preferred). • Within the Wabaseemoong Traditional Land Use Area: Retain red pine and white pine that do not occur within the road right of way that are incidental within the stand (i.e. not in the PRW forest unit). These trees will contribute to the total wildlife tree retention numbers for the area. • Retain an average of ≥ 10 large stems/ha with a minimum of 5 large living trees on each ha; large wildlife trees must be a minimum of >=25 cm dbh and ≥ 38 cm dbh are preferred, however supercanopy trees will generally be >=60cm dbh; the 10 large trees/ha will be a mix of living cavity trees, stubs, supercanopy trees, veteran trees, mast trees, diversity trees, and safe dead trees. • Large hollow trees and those providing existing nesting or denning sites are preferred as cavity trees. • When the number of large wildlife trees averages < 25/ha, additional wildlife tree requirements may be met by retaining small safe standing dead trees, small stubs or any other living trees. • Do not stub or knock down trees retained to meet specific wildlife functions such as cavity trees, mast trees, veteran trees and supercanopy trees (preferred trees for stubbing are jack pine and black spruce). • Do not stub trees being relied upon as a seed source. • When stubbing, stub to a minimum height of ≥ 3 m (5 m is preferred) and have stubs scattered throughout the clearcut.

Wildlife Trees – Salvage Harvest Only • Salvage harvest will normally retain a minimum average of ≥25 stems/ha ≥3 m in height and ≥10 cm dbh. This is the minimum average for the harvest block (or minimum average per 20 ha if the harvest block ≥20 ha) contingent upon sufficient numbers and types of standing stems being available and in a condition suitable for retention.

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Conditions on Regular Operations

• The trees retained following salvage operations will have a range of distribution patterns (relatively even-spaced to some clumping), recognizing operational limitations, and subject to the availability of standing trees. • In fire salvage areas, preferably retain conifers such as jack pine and black spruce as wildlife trees.

Woodland Pools – encountered during operations • No harvest, renewal, or tending operations are permitted that will result in deposition of sediment within, or reduction of the water-holding capacity of, woodland pools • Operations specifically prohibited include:

o Machine travel within 3 m of the high-water mark of pools during the frost-free period.

o Excessive removal or damage of sapling-sized trees (<10 cm dbh) and shrubs within 3 m of the high-water mark of pools.

o Felling of trees into pools or within 3 m of the high-water mark of pools during the frost-free period; trees accidentally felled into pools will be left where they fall.

o Disturbance of the forest floor that leaves ruts or a significant area of exposed mineral soil within 15 m of the high-water mark of pools; ruts or significant patches of exposed mineral soil will be promptly rehabilitated. • Unmapped residual patches required to meet the direction outlined above [Residual – for areas where residual is not mapped in advance] will preferentially be connected to pools; when connecting residual patches to pools, trees will be retained in and within 3 m of the high-water mark to provide overhead shade and residual forest will be retained within at least 15 m of the high-water mark to provide amphibian cover. • No contamination of pools by foreign materials is permitted. • The use and storage of fuels will be carried out in accordance with the Liquid Fuels Handling Code. • No equipment maintenance (e.g., washing or changing oil) is permitted within 15 m of the high-water mark of pools.

31 Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Prescriptions for Operations Prescriptions for Harvest, Renewal and Tending Areas – Conditions on Regular Operations

Conditions on Regular Operations

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1 8.2.2.3 Silvicultural Treatments of Special Public Interest 2 3 There are some silvicultural treatments that are of special public interest. These activities include 4 the aerial application of herbicides for vegetation management, the application of insecticides for 5 pest management, and the areas available for fuelwood. 6 7 The aerial application of herbicides as a tending operation is proposed in this plan. The 8 locations of eligible areas are identified on the MU644_2012_FMP_P2_MAP_Herb_Comp_00 9 index map. The identification of areas for chemical tending will be approved annually by MNRF 10 in the Annual Work Schedules. Approvals by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Control 11 (MOECC) will be required prior to the aerial application of registered herbicides on the Kenora 12 Forest. 13 14 Areas available for Fuelwood - Fuelwood is available at any approved FMP block. Fuelwood 15 from these areas includes cull wood brought to roadside or wood in slash piles. The public is to 16 obtain personal use fuelwood licences from the MNRF prior to harvesting fuelwood. 17 18 Fuelwood will only be available if timber was not left on site for a specific reason. In all blocks, 19 timber will be left standing intentionally to enhance wildlife habitat and natural disturbance 20 patterns and will be unavailable for fuelwood. No fuelwood will be considered available within a 21 block once renewal activities have commenced, or after a period of two years after harvest 22 operations have ended. This strategy is intended for the protection of regenerating trees, whether 23 they were initiated naturally or artificially. 24 25 There are no areas planned for candidate high complexity prescribed burns or insect pest 26 management. 27

28 8.2.2.4 Species at Risk 29 30 The provincial Endangered Species Act (2007) sets out rules for classifying species as extinct, 31 extirpated, endangered, threatened or special concern species. The Committee on the Status of 32 Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO) is the provincial assessment body that provides 33 recommendations on species status to MNRF. COSSARO is required to assess and classify 34 species and to report the classifications to the responsible Minister. If a species is classified "at 35 risk" they are added to the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List in one of four categories, 36 depending on the degree of risk. The four categories or classes of "at risk" are: 37 38 Extirpated - a native species that no longer exists in the wild in Ontario, but still exists 39 elsewhere (e.g. Greater Prairie Chicken) 40 Endangered – a native species facing extinction or extirpation (e.g. Cucumber Tree) 41 Threatened – a native species at risk of becoming endangered in Ontario (e.g. Fowler’s 42 Toad) 43 Special Concern – a native species that is sensitive to human activities or natural events 44 which may cause it to become endangered or threatened (e.g. Monarch Butterfly). 45

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1 The Species at Risk in Ontario List has been updated since Phase I Planning and approval of this 2 FMP in 2012. In the Kenora Forest, one (1) species’ at risk status changed (Peregrine Falcon 3 now Special Concern – previously Threatened), one species was de-listed (Flooded Jellyskin now 4 not-at-risk, previously Threatened), one species was re-named from Eastern Wolf to Algonquin 5 Wolf and reclassified as Threatened, and four species were newly listed (Northern Long-eared 6 Bat Myotis septentrionalis – Endangered, Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus – Endangered, 7 Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens – Special Concern, and Wood Thrush Hylocichla 8 mustelina – Special Concern). A comprehensive list of species designated under Ontario’s 9 Endangered Species Act (ESA) or the Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) as extirpated, 10 endangered, threatened, or special concern and potentially occurring in the Kenora Forest is 11 provided in Supp Doc L Species at Risk on the Kenora Forest. 12 13 If a species is listed on the Species at Risk in Ontario List as an extirpated, endangered or 14 threatened species, the Endangered Species Act prohibits killing, harming, harassing, capturing, 15 taking, possessing, collecting, buying, selling, leasing, trading or offering to buy, sell, lease or 16 trade a member (part of) of the species. The Act also prohibits damaging or destroying the habitat 17 of the species. Ontario Regulation 242/08 Section 22.1 under the Act provides an exemption 18 from sections 9 and 10 of the Act to persons conducting forest operations under authority of a 19 licence granted under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act 1994. The person(s) must satisfy one 20 of the following conditions in order to qualify for this exemption for any given species at risk: 21 22 1. Conduct forest operations in accordance with an existing AOC operational prescription for the 23 species at risk; or 24 25 2. Conduct forest operations in accordance with an existing CRO for the species at risk; or 26 27 3. Upon encounter of a nest, hibernaculum, den or other feature of the species’ habitat, suspend 28 forest operations in the area of the site specific feature and apply for amendment of the FMP to 29 include an AOC or CRO for the species at risk and then conduct operations in accordance with 30 that AOC or CRO. 31 32 It is possible this exemption will expire on July 1, 2018, at which point FMP amendments may be 33 necessary for compliance with the Endangered Species Act. 34 35 In Phase II, AOCs were also developed for some species of special concern that did not have 36 ecological requirements addressed by the strategic long-term management direction of this plan. 37 38 AOCs developed or amended during Phase II to meet the requirements of the Endangered 39 Species Act are listed below. These AOCs are fully described in Table FMP-10, FMP-19 and 40 Supplementary Documentation F: 41 42 D05 - Wolverine Dens 43 BS01 - Active Bank Swallow Nests 44 BS02 – Barn Swallow Nests 45 NO02 - Nests/ communal roosts in cavities occupied by or previously used by American kestrel, 46 barred owl, boreal owl, eastern screech-owl, great horned owl, northern hawk owl or northern 47 saw-whet owl, chimney swift

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1 B01 – Bat Hibernacula 2 B02 – Bat Roosting Site 3 NO05 – Common Nighthawk Nesting Site 4 ST01 – Snapping Turtle Nests 5 CC01 – Caribou Calving and Nursery Habitat 6 7 The need for habitat-based AOCs for olive-sided flycatcher, Canada warbler, eastern wood- 8 pewee and wood thrush was discussed by the Planning Team. It was determined that the Kenora 9 FMP long-term management direction was sufficient to meet the ecological requirements of these 10 species’ populations, while the songbird and other small bird CRO followed Stand and Site Guide 11 direction and met Migratory Birds Convention Act requirements. 12 13 FMP amendments may be necessary as new information becomes available on the habitat needs 14 of various species at risk. 15 16

17 8.3 Harvest Operations 18

19 8.3.1 Harvest Areas 20 21 Table FMP-11 presents the available harvest area (AHA) and planned harvest are by forest unit 22 and age class. This table also provides the area planned for harvest in Phase 2 (2017-2022) by 23 forest unit and age class. These harvest areas are portrayed on the Areas Selected for 24 Operations Maps. 25 26 Some harvest areas planned for Phase 2 have changed from what was originally shown in Phase 27 1. These include: 28 29 • Planned allocations for Phase 1 which were not harvested have been carried forward for 30 possible harvest in Phase 2. 31 • Several Blocks planned for Phase 2 have had alterations made to the overall boundaries 32 through stakeholder negotiations. 33 • Six blocks were moved from contingency to Phase 2 to make up for area lost through 34 modifying/dropping of other Phase 2 blocks. 35 36 These changes between Phase 1 and Phase 2 allocations have not impacted the landscape 37 pattern objective that are identified in the FMP. 38 39 Some minor variations in the planned harvest areas may result from operational block layout in 40 the field. Minor adjustments to harvest block boundaries may be implemented during block layout, 41 provided that the change does not impact an area of concern. This practice will result in fewer 42 administrative amendments for minor deviations, better wood utilization and better protection of 43 values. The intent of the practice is to complete all layout according to the approved FMP maps. 44 However, phenomena such as FRI discrepancies or "shift" caused by opposing projections when 45 using GPS can cause offsets that don't make sense in real time. For example a stand boundary

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1 on the approved FMP map and aerial photography may indicate that the harvest boundary should 2 be located up to the well-defined, physical boundary of a road, previous harvest area or swamp 3 edge, but the GPS projection has offset operational staff’s line 20m from this physical edge. In 4 this instance the foreman would correct the line in-field to reflect the intent of the approved FMP 5 operations map and notify MNRF of the discrepancy. This facilitates operations by allowing 6 operational staff to complete their layout in an efficient, timely manner and avoid having to 7 unnecessarily return to tear down and relocate the line which in some cases, may be a significant 8 distance away. Any significant changes to block boundaries will be referred the MNRF for 9 approval as a possible FMP amendment. 10 11 Table 2: Summary of Planned Harvest Area Forest Unit AHA (10 year) Planned Planned (ha) Harvest (10 Harvest (5 year year) (ha) – Phase 2) (ha) BFM 145.5 98.8 67.2 CMX 8,678.0 7,804.5 3,810.6 HMX 12,060.3 11,753.2 5,518.3 OCL 0 0 0 OTH 441.0 426.9 86.8 PJD 3,584.0 3,024.3 1,326.7 PJM 7,449.8 6,373.5 3,414.0 POD 5,384.4 4,548.3 2,468.8 PRW 935.3 751.4 378.6 SBL 25.6 21.3 0 SPD 557.0 515.4 262.4 SPM 2,320.8 2,288.6 1,124.7 Total 41,581.7 37,606.2 18,458.1 12

13 8.3.1.1 Stand Level Residual in Harvest Areas 14 15 MNRF Forest Policy Section has developed a series of guiding documents to assist forest 16 managers in the planning and implementation of forest management activities so that forestry 17 activities are consistent with direction contained within the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. 18 19 The Forest Management Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand and Site Scales is one 20 of such documents, and has been developed to provide forest management planning guidance 21 to forest managers at the stand and site level. Of particular relevance to this section of the forest 22 management plan is the requirement to maintain residual forest within clearcut harvest areas. 23 24 The Forest Management Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand and Site Scales directs 25 the amount and distribution of stand level residual. Miisun analyzed the amount of stand level 26 residual associated with the planned harvest for first five years and again for the second five year- 27 term of the 10-year plan period through the use of an MNRF-developed computer spatial analysis 28 program. 29 30 The Stand and Site Guide states that residual forest will be retained as follows:

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1 2 • “25 in 500 ha Analysis” - Operational planning will ensure that any point within a 3 planned clearcut harvest area will have at least 25 ha of mapped residual forest 4 within a 500 ha circle (or hexagon) about that point (results discussed in Section 5 8.3.1.1.1). 6 • “5 of 25 ha Analysis” - A minimum of 5 ha of the mapped residual (minimum 25 ha) 7 within any 500 ha circle (or hexagon) will belong to a patch greater than 5 ha (results 8 discussed in Section 8.3.1.1.2). 9 • “20% Residual Analysis” - Operational planning will ensure the area of residual 10 forest averaged over all planned clearcut harvest areas outside of large landscape 11 patches for habitat management, using a 500 ha moving window assessment, is 12 greater than or equal to 20% of the Crown forested area (results discussed in 13 Section 8.3.1.1.3). 14 • “0.5 in 50 ha Analysis” - Implementation of the harvest plan will ensure that any 15 point within a new clearcut harvest area will have at least 0.5 ha of residual within a 16 50 ha circle (or hexagon) about that point. This residual may or may not be mapped 17 in advance of operations (results discussed in Section 8.3.1.1.4). The conditions on 18 residual, unmapped in Section 8.2.2.2 CROs table apply. 19 • Mapped residual that is not serving any other purpose (AOC, specific habitat 20 function, etc.), and would otherwise be available for harvest, can be moved during 21 operational implementation. Refer to Section 8.2.2.2 CROs table for conditions that 22 apply to movement of Residual, mapped. 23 24 There are 6 mapped residual patches required for the planned harvest operations, these have 25 been shown on the operational maps. 26 27 Note: This stand level residual requirement is only required outside of the caribou zone. Inside 28 the caribou zone, residual will be left in operations, but in more natural patterns emulating the 29 larger hotter fire patterns. 30 31 8.3.1.1.1 25 in 500 ha Analysis Results 32 33 Requirement: Operational planning will ensure that any point within a planned clearcut harvest 34 area will have at least 25 hectares of mapped residual forest within a 500 hectare circle (or 35 hexagon) about that point. 36 37 Results: 38 39 MNRF ran the Evaluate Forest Residual Tool (EFRT) on the Phase 2 allocations and as a result, 40 six planned harvest areas (12.450, 12.271, 12.258, 12.164, 12.049, 12.048) were identified as 41 requiring additional residual forest. 42 43 The residual patches are digitally portrayed in MU644_2012_FMP_P2_Residual00. 44 45 8.3.1.1.2 5 of 25 ha Analysis Results 46

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1 Requirement: A minimum of 5 hectares of the mapped residual within any 500 hectare circle (or 2 hexagon) will belong to a patch greater than 5 hectares. 3 4 Results: 5 6 MNRF ran the Evaluate Forest Residual Tool on the Phase 2 allocations and there were two 7 planned harvest areas (12.164 and 12.271) identified as requiring a minimum residual patch 8 greater than 5 hectares. 9 10 The residual patches or locations of the range of residual movement within each block are 11 identified on the 1:20,000 scale operations maps. 12 13 8.3.1.1.3 20% Residual Analysis Results 14 15 Requirement: Operational planning will ensure the area of residual forest averaged over all 16 planned clearcut harvest areas where Section 3.2.2.2 of the Stand and Site Guide applies, using 17 a 500 hectare moving window assessment, is greater than or equal to 20% of the Crown forested 18 area. 19 20 Results: 21 22 The Evaluate Forest Residual Tool run by MNRF calculated that the area of residual forest 23 averaged over all planned clearcut harvest areas is 38%. This exceeds the minimum average 24 residual requirement by 18%. 25 26 8.3.1.1.4 0.5 in 50 ha Analysis Results 27 28 Requirement: Implementation of the harvest plan will ensure that any point within a new clearcut 29 harvest area will have at least 0.5 hectare of residual within a 50 hectare circle (or hexagon) about 30 that point. 31 32 Results: 33 34 MNRF ran the Evaluate Forest Residual Tool on the Phase 2 allocations and identified the 35 planned harvest areas that require a minimum 0.5 hectare patch of residual to be retained during 36 operations. 37 38 The designated areas where the 0.5 hectare patch of residual are required to be left are identified 39 on 1:20,000 scale operations maps by a polygon, somewhere in which the required residual 40 patch(es) will be left during operations. 41 42 The 0.5 hectare patches will not be in the Planned Residual Patches layer (MU644_12_PRP00) 43 as they are unmapped. Before harvest operations begin, the operators will be given a map 44 showing the above identified areas where a 0.5 hectare residual patch will be required to be 45 placed during operations. 46

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1 The operators must follow the conditions on regular operations (Section 8.2.2.2) for “residual, 2 unmapped”, and “Large Landscape Patches – Moose Emphasis Areas (MEAs)” in determining 3 the location of unmapped residual within the designated boundary. 4

5 8.3.1.2 Licensing of Harvest Areas 6 7 The planned harvest area by licensee for the second five-year term of the pan is documented in 8 Table FMP-14. Overlapping Forest Resource Licensees are allocated 100% of the planned 9 harvest area as there are no SFL company or contractor operations. Based on the allocation of 10 planned harvest blocks for the 10-year period, it is estimated that OFRL licensees will harvest the 11 full 18,458.1 hectares during the second five-year term of the plan. 12 13 Wabaseemoong Independent Nations recently signed a Stewardship Protocol Agreement with 14 the Ministry of Natural Resources which establishes a process for engagement with the First 15 Nation on resource development within an area defined as the Wabaseemoong Stewardship 16 Area. Previous agreements with this First Nation had established a conifer harvesting 17 commitment of 7,200 cubic metres. An additional 23,000 cubic metres of conifer harvest volume 18 was added to this existing commitment in 2008 as part of the Islington Agreement Review process 19 for a total conifer harvest commitment of 30, 200 cubic metres. 20

21 8.3.2 Surplus Harvest Area 22 23 There are no surplus areas in excess of the projected industrial wood requirements and wood 24 supply commitments for the management unit. 25

26 8.3.3 Planned Clearcuts 27 28 Table FMP-12 presents the planned clearcuts that exceed 260 hectares in size, along with the 29 portion of each that is to be harvested during Phase 2 (2017-2022). A range of clearcut sizes 30 have been created to ensure that the size class distribution of planned clearcuts trends towards 31 those of natural fire disturbance size frequencies. 32 33 The maximum planned clearcut size is 2,759 ha, and the average planned clearcut size is 223.6 34 ha. Note that the maximum and average planned clearcut sizes are not comprised solely of 35 harvest from this planning term. These areas are a combination of new harvest and previously 36 harvested areas (<20 years old) that are located adjacent (within 200 meters) to one another. 37 38 As per the Forest Management Guide for Natural Disturbance Pattern Emulation, 80% of planned 39 new clearcuts within the Boreal forest should be less than 260 hectares in size. Of the planned 40 clearcut areas in the 2012-2022 period, 65.5% are less than or equal to 260 hectares. This result 41 is lower than the 80% standard, but is acceptable to the Planning Team as it results from strategic 42 landscape pattern direction (e.g. dynamic caribou habitat schedule, marten core areas, moose / 43 deer emphasis areas) and projected harvest allocations that balance consideration for all desired 44 forest and benefits and operational challenges.

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1 2 Each proposed planned clearcut that exceeds 260 hectares is identified in Table FMP-12. These 3 planned clearcuts over 260 hectares will provide large landscape patches for forest diversity and 4 wildlife habitat in the future and contribute to a range of disturbance sizes on the forest which 5 emulates a more natural disturbance pattern than if all planned clearcuts were the same size. 6 These planned clearcuts result from the consolidation of eligible new cut harvest area adjacent to 7 harvest areas from the past 20 years, or the allocation of a concentration of eligible harvest area 8 in this plan period.

9 8.3.4 Harvest Volume 10 11 The available harvest volume and an estimate of the harvest volume for the planned harvest area 12 for the 10-year period are recorded in Table FMP-13. 13 14 The LTMD projected an available harvest volume of 4,435,839 net merchantable cubic metres for 15 the ten-year period of the plan (2,579,883 cubic metres conifer and 1,855,956 cubic metres 16 hardwood). An additional 746,657 cubic metres of defect (e.g. defect/cull, branches, twigs, leaves 17 and bark) and 161,587 cubic metres of undersized volume (e.g. top wood) are estimated to be 18 generated from the LTMD available harvest volume. 19 20 The total planned harvest volume for the 10-year period of the plan is 3,954,539 cubic metres net 21 merchantable volume with an additional 705,545 cubic metres volume of defect and 153,075 22 cubic metres of undersized volume (Table FMP-13). 23 24 Based on the 10-year planned harvest operations, the total net merchantable conifer volume 25 projected for harvest is 2,281,087 cubic metres, and the net merchantable hardwood volume is 26 projected to be 1,673,452 cubic metres. On an annual basis, the average volume will be a total 27 of 394,074 net merchantable cubic metres per year. Available and planned volumes for the 10- 28 year plan period are portrayed in Figure 1. 29 30 Figure 1 Available and Planned Harvest Volumes 2012-2022 by Forest Unit 3,000,000 SPM 2,500,000 SPD SBL 2,000,000 PRW 1,500,000 POD

1,000,000 PJM PJD 500,000 OTH

Harvest volume (nm cubic metres) - OCL Available Conifer Planned Conifer Available Planned Hardwood (10yr) (10yr) Hardwood (10yr) (10yr) HMX 10-year Harvest Volumes by Forest Unit CMX 31

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1 2 3 The planned harvest volumes are approximately 11% below the projected harvest volumes in the 4 LTMD for both conifer and hardwood species. The minor variance in planned harvest volumes is 5 a result of the 9% under allocation of harvest areas and also some minor age class substitution 6 to stands that have more volume than the age classes projected by the LTMD. 7 8 The available harvest volume (LTMD from SFMM) projects 107 cubic metres per hectare and the 9 actual allocations for the 5-year period of Phase 2 are comparable with an average of 104 cubic 10 metres per hectare. The volume trade-offs through age class substitution resulted in a very minor 11 volume loss. If during implementation of the plan, residual areas are minimized while meeting 12 applicable guides or if yield curve projections prove to be conservative, then additional volume 13 may potentially result from harvesting the planned harvest areas. 14 15 Merchantable Harvest Volumes were calculated based in a combination of estimated yields 16 (SFMM yield curves by forest unit and silvicultural intensity), estimated volumes losses for stand 17 level residual, wildlife trees and inoperable areas (SFMM unharvested volume percentages) and 18 also based on the species composition of the allocated stands. For each forest unit and 19 silvicultural intensity, the total volume from the yield curve was reduced by the applicable 20 unharvested volume percentages. This resulted in a netted down total volume per hectare for 21 each 10-year age class within each forest unit. This net total volume per hectare was then 22 prorated by stand based on the actual species composition for each allocated stand for the 10- 23 year period. While SFMM provides a good strategic estimate of volumes, it bases all calculations 24 on the average condition for each forest unit. By pro-rating net harvested volumes based on each 25 individual allocated stand’s species composition, the estimated harvest volumes are significantly 26 more relevant at the stand and operating block levels. These volumes by stand were used and 27 summarized for all harvest volume tables in the FMP. 28 29 Undersized and Defect Volumes also known as unmerchantable volume represent all of the 30 volume that is not merchantable by the minimum utilization standards defined in the scaling 31 manual. In general, this includes components of the tree that have not traditionally been utilized 32 (i.e. stem tops (below minimum diameter limit based on CFSA standard, and DBH/Height from 33 Plonski), defect or cull, branches, leaves, twigs and bark). 34 35 MNRF developed a science-based approach to estimate the undersize and defect volumes. This 36 methodology for estimating undersize and defect volumes by species group and management 37 unit was provided to the Planning Team to estimate volumes for this forest management plan. 38 39 The methodology uses species specific biomass and stem form equations and eco-regional 40 calibration factors for each major species group. Resulting factors provide an operational 41 estimate of unmerchantable volume that is available for harvest. Factors include ecological and 42 operational netdown factors that address volumes that are not removed from the harvest site due 43 to residual trees, coarse and fine woody debris, operational losses due to breakage and/or 44 harvesting system limitations (i.e. cut to length operations, bark availability). 45 46 These individual tree biomass equations relate mensurational variables for the average tree (i.e. 47 diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height) to oven-dry mass for each biomass component

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1 of the tree. Tree biomass components predicted using these equations include: whole tree, stem 2 wood, branches, bark, twigs and leaves. 3 4 Sources of biomass that are not included in the total volume calculation include trees left on site 5 for ecological reasons, undersized trees in stands, downed wood debris, stumps and estimated 6 breakage and loss due to operations. 7 8 As more experience is gained with operations in Ontario and more information is available, 9 volume estimates (merchantable and unmerchantable) will be adjusted to reflect the most current 10 knowledge.

11 8.3.4.1 Harvest Volume by Working Circle 12 13 Due to the uncertainty surrounding access to WC1 by the crossing of the English River at Caribou 14 Falls, and to ensure that harvest levels are proportionate to the contribution of the area to wood 15 supply, the available harvest area associated with WC1 will be restricted to WC1 for this 10-year 16 plan period. 17 18 The available harvest volume and an estimate of the harvest volume for the planned harvest area 19 for the 10-year period are recorded in Table FMP-13. Ten-year planned harvest volumes are 20 summarized in Table FMP-13a for Working Circle 1 and in Table FMP-13b for Working Circles 21 2+3. Table FMP-13b will reflect the estimated planned harvest volume for this term if access into 22 Working Circle 1 is not developed during this plan period. 23 24 The following table is a summary of 10-year planned harvest volumes for Working Circle 1 and 25 Working Circles 2+3, with a comparison to the total 10-year planned harvest volumes. Volumes 26 were summarized from Tables FMP-13, 13a and 13b, based on actual harvest allocations by 27 working circle. Harvest allocations in WC1 make up 16% of the 10-year planned harvest area, 28 with the remaining 84% of the planned harvest area being located in WC2+3. The percentage of 29 harvest area by Working Circle from Phase 1 remained unchanged through Phase 2 planning. 30 31 Of note is this the alternate corridor for the Caribou Falls Road that is proposed in Phase II. This 32 new alternative (alternative #3) is described in Supplementary Documentation E and utilizes the 33 Werner Lake Road to access Working Circle 1. This alternative is now the selected road corridor 34 and will provide access to the allocations in Working Circle 1 and addresses concerns raised 35 through the planning process. 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46

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1 Table 3: 10-year Planned Harvest Volumes by Working Circle 10-year Planned Harvest Volume (m3) Location of Planned Harvest Area Volume Type Conifer Hardwood Total Working Circles 1, 2 & 3 (FMP-13) Net Merchantable: 2,281,087 1,673,452 3,954,539 Defect (Branches, Twigs, Leaves, Bark): 343,603 364,141 707,744 10-year Planned Harvest (ha): 37,769 Undersize: 79,993 73,544 153,537 Percent of Total: 100% Working Circle Subtotal: 2,704,683 2,111,137 4,815,820

Working Circle 1 (FMP-13a) Net Merchantable: 415,421 216,610 632,031 Defect (Branches, Twigs, Leaves, Bark): 60,261 47,479 107,740 10-year Planned Harvest (ha): 6,016 Undersize: 12,500 7,324 19,824 Percent of Total: 16% Working Circle Subtotal: 488,182 271,413 759,595

Working Circles 2 & 3 (FMP-13b) Net Merchantable: 1,865,666 1,456,842 3,322,508 Defect (Branches, Twigs, Leaves, Bark): 283,342 316,662 600,004 10-year Planned Harvest (ha): 31,590 Undersize: 67,493 66,220 133,713 Percent of Total: 84% Working Circle Subtotal: 2,216,501 1,839,724 4,056,225 2 3 Note: The percentage by WC was calculated using to the total volumes (merchantable + defect + Undersize). 4 5 6

7 8.3.5 Wood Utilization 8 9 The harvest volume for the five-year term planned harvest area is recorded by volume type, 10 product, and species in Table FMP-14. 11 12 The total utilized volume for the five-year term of this operational plan is estimated to be 2,346,511 13 cubic metres, which is comprised of 1,338,692 cubic metres of conifer (1,125,864 m3 net 14 merchantable and 212,828 m3 defect/undersize) and 1,007,819 cubic metres of hardwood 15 (799,696 m3 net merchantable and 208,213 m3 defect/undersized). Markets are currently 16 available or will be sought for all allocated volume. All species are considered utilized at this time, 17 including the defect and undersized volumes. The approval of the forest management plan is not 18 an agreement to make areas available for harvest to a particular licensee, or an agreement to 19 supply wood to a particular mill. 20 21 The proportion of harvest volume planned for the second five-year term is 49% of the total planned 22 net merchantable volume for this 10-year plan period. All planned harvest volumes are broken 23 down by Overlapping Forest Resource Licensees and SFL shareholder operations in Table FMP- 24 14. As discussed in Section 8.3.1.2, OFRLs harvest 100% of the planned harvest area and 25 volume. This proportion was used to determine the planned harvest volumes by licensee reported 26 in Table FMP-14. 27 28 Table FMP-14 presents the estimates of volume that will be utilized from the planned harvest area 29 by fibre species and product. A portion of total stand volumes associated with the allocations will 30 not be available at the time of harvest. Due to wildlife habitat management and the emulation of 31 natural disturbance pattern guidelines, timber volume is expected to be left on site to enhance 32 wildlife habitat and natural disturbance residual patterns. This anticipated unutilized volume

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8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Harvest Operations Harvest Volume

1 associated with wildlife habitat (wildlife tree retention, downed woody material) and natural 2 residual patches was not included in total allocated volumes in Table FMP-14, and was identified 3 as unharvested volumes in the strategic SFMM modelling. The company intends to utilize all 4 available merchantable, live trees from allocated stands. However, certain areas may have 5 residual wood left on site after logging operations have been completed, due to operating 6 conditions (inoperable) such as steep slopes, etc. 7 8 FMP-14 reports estimated volumes for utilized unmerchantable (undersized and defect) material. 9 Markets are developing regionally for this material and it is expected that the Weyerhaeuser – 10 Kenora mill will purchase unmerchantable material to supply hog fuel to their planned co- 11 generation plant on an “as required” basis. 12 13 The harvesting of roadside unmerchantable fibre for biofuel will be permitted in blocks which have 14 been closed to harvest activity, including those outside of the current FMP where the areas have 15 been identified for renewal and tending. Any such activity will comply with existing areas of 16 concern and all road use management strategies. Roadside unmerchantable fibre within 30 17 metres of the road centerline is acceptable, and no standing timber will be harvested. Renewal 18 of these areas will occur and will be consistent with the SGR for the stand; however spot planting 19 of conifer trees on sites left for natural regeneration may be allowed where coppice growth is not 20 occurring. These areas are small and planting conifer along the landings will not impact the 21 achievement of the intended SGR. 22 23 Harvesting of unmerchantable fibre will be done under the authority of a Forest Resource License 24 issued on an annual basis to Overlapping Licensees operating under the overriding authority of 25 Miitigoog’s Sustainable Forest Licence. 26 27 Table FMP-15 lists the mills and the anticipated volumes each will utilize from the planned harvest 28 area for the five-year term. Volumes are summarized by species and product type. This table 29 also shows volume commitments to each mill. The source of information for this table is FMP-13 30 and FMP-14 and a combination of known mill commitments and traditional mill levels previously 31 supplied from the management unit. 32 33 Based on the planned harvest volume identified in Table FMP-15 and the fact that the SFL licence 34 allows for a proportion of open market volume, the forest can supply sufficient wood fibre to satisfy 35 identified commitments. 36 37 Table FMP-15 volumes are subdivided by species and product committed by year. Planned 38 deliveries to specific mills were calculated based on wood supply commitments included in 39 Appendix “E” of the SFL agreement and historic and projected deliveries to mills. The 40 identification of “Open Market” volume in Table FMP-15 reflects fibre that is not directed to a 41 specific mill. 42 43 Weyerhaeuser - Kenora is planned to receive all Poplar fibre harvested from the Kenora Forest 44 (estimated at 722,500 cubic metres) for their laminated strand lumber mill in Kenora during Phase 45 2 of the 10-year plan. The 37,500 m3/year outstanding balance to meet the Ministerial Conditional 46 Commitment of 760,000 m3 will be available from approved harvest areas which remained 47 unharvested from Phase I and are planned to be harvested in Phase II.

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Harvest Operations Harvest Volume

1 2 Prendiville Industries Ltd - Kenora Forest Products Division sawmill in Kenora is projected to 3 receive 780,000 cubic metres of Spruce-Pine- Fir during the five-year term. 4 5 During this second five-year term, red pine and white pine sawlogs are projected to be delivered 6 to E&G Custom Sawing (10,000 m3). 7 8 Resolute FP Canada Inc. permanently closed the Fort Frances pulpmill in 2014 and therefore the 9 2010 conditional Wood Supply Competitive Process offer from the province is in the process of 10 being unencumbered. Given this situation volumes are not shown in Table FMP-15. 11 12 During this five-year plan term, there is 413,060 m3 of net merchantable volume not allocated to 13 any specific mill (335,864 m3 conifer and 77,196 m3 hardwood). There is also an estimated 14 420,951 cubic metres of defect and undersized volume associated with the planned harvest that 15 is being included in this FMP as utilized fibre. These conifer and hardwood volumes are all 16 identified as being Open Market volumes for this plan period. 17 18 Implications of Volume Under Utilization: If all the planned harvest volume is not harvested 19 and utilized, there will be negative socio-economic impacts. Reduced volumes from the Kenora 20 Forest will impact production at wood processing mills, direct and indirect employment rates and 21 reduced socio-economic benefits to local communities. These economic impacts may be partially 22 offset if local mills arrange to receive wood from other sources and can maintain their production 23 levels. 24 25 If planned harvest levels are not achieved in this plan period, there may be a short-term delay in 26 achievement of management objectives and slower progress towards the desired forest condition. 27 The underutilization may result in delaying the movement towards more pure forest units, but 28 should not impact the validity of the LTMD for this planning term.

29 8.3.5.1 Wood Utilization by Working Circle 30 31 FMP-14 reports estimated volumes for utilized unmerchantable (undersized and defect) material. 32 Five-year estimated utilized volumes are summarized in Table FMP-14a for Working Circle 1 and 33 in Table FMP-14b for Working Circles 2+3. Table FMP-14b will reflect the estimated utilized 34 volume for this five-year term if access into Working Circle 1 is not developed. 35 36 The following table is a summary of 5-year planned harvest volumes for Working Circle 1 and 37 Working Circles 2+3, with a comparison to the total 5-year planned harvest volumes. Volumes 38 were summarized from Tables FMP-14, 14a and 14b, based on actual harvest allocations by 39 working circle. Harvest allocations during the five-year term in WC1 make up 23% of the 5-year 40 planned harvest area, with the remaining 76% of the planned harvest area being located in 41 WC2+3. 42 43 44 45 46

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Harvest Operations Harvest Volume

1 Table 4: 5-year Planned Harvest Volumes by Working Circle 2 10-year Planned Harvest Volume (m3) Location of Planned Harvest Area Volume Type Conifer Hardwood Total Working Circles 1, 2 & 3 (FMP-14) Utilized: Net Merchantable: 1,118,411 798,605 1,917,016 Undersize and Defect: 211,317 207,867 419,184 5-year Planned Harvest (ha): 18,519 Utilized Subtotal 1,329,728 1,006,472 2,336,200 Percent of Total: 100% Unutilized: Net Merchantable: 0 0 0 Undersize and Defect: 0 0 0 Utilized Subtotal 0 0 0

Working Circle 1 (FMP-14a) Utilized: Net Merchantable: 313,156 129,551 442,707 Undersize and Defect: 55,472 32,442 87,914 5-year Planned Harvest (ha): 4,387 Utilized Subtotal 368,628 161,993 530,621 Percent of Total: 24% Unutilized: Net Merchantable: 0 0 0 Undersize and Defect: 0 0 0 Utilized Subtotal 0 0 0

Working Circles 2 & 3 (FMP-14b) Utilized: Net Merchantable: 805,255 669,054 1,474,309 Undersize and Defect: 155,844 175,425 331,269 5-year Planned Harvest (ha): 14,131 Utilized Subtotal 961,099 844,479 1,805,578 Percent of Total: 76% Unutilized: Net Merchantable: 0 0 0 Undersize and Defect: 0 0 0 Utilized Subtotal 0 0 0 3 4 5 Table FMP-15 lists the mills and the anticipated volumes each will utilize from the planned harvest 6 area for the five-year term. Table FMP-15a for Working Circle 1 and Table FMP-15b for Working 7 Circles 2 and 3 were calculated based on the projected total mill deliveries for the five-year term 8 from those working circles. If access to Working Circle 1 is not developed during this plan period, 9 the projected mill deliveries in Table FMP-15b will serve as the estimate for this term.

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Harvest Operations Salvage, Contingency Area and Volume

1 8.3.6 Salvage 2 3 Salvage operations in areas of natural depletion were not included in planned harvest area or 4 volumes (Tables FMP-11 to FMP-15), nor are they counted against the available harvest area. 5 The Strategic Forest Management Model incorporates an allowance for natural depletions in the 6 Long-term Management Direction, and therefore, estimated natural depletions are already 7 considered in the determination of the sustainable area available for harvest during the five-year 8 term of this plan. 9 10 No salvage operations are planned on the Kenora Forest at this time. If any additional natural 11 depletions occurs during this term, that are suited to salvage harvest operations, appropriate 12 planning and approval procedures will be followed to facilitate the salvage of the wood fibre. 13 14

15 8.3.7 Contingency Area and Volume 16 17 During the 10-year period of the forest management plan, unforeseen circumstances (e.g. wildfire, 18 blowdown) may cause some of the planned harvest areas to be unavailable for harvest. In order 19 to accommodate such circumstances, “contingency areas” for harvest have been identified and 20 portrayed on the operations maps (FMP MAPS – Composite Maps and Operations Maps). This 21 contingency area will serve as a replacement area for harvest, and will be used only if needed. 22 This area is not in addition to the regular allocated harvest. It is identified as substitute areas, 23 which have already been subjected to public consultation and area of concern planning. 24 Reclassification of these areas from contingency to planned harvest area requires an amendment 25 to the forest management plan. 26 27 Sufficient contingency area was selected from the optional harvest areas, to support 28 approximately 11 months of harvest operations. Areas were chosen that have access along 29 primary or branch roads for easy substitution. The area and volume of the contingency area is 30 summarized in Table FMP-16. A total of 3,666 hectares of contingency area have been identified 31 in the management plan, with an associated total contingency volume of 371,826 cubic metres 32 (217,900 cubic metres conifer, 153,926 cubic metres hardwood). 33 34 Areas allocated as contingency blocks may be allocated for harvest at the beginning of the next 35 ten-year period (2022-2032) if they are not harvested during this 10-year plan period. Most of the 36 contingency blocks are near current allocations, and some are near primary roads to facilitate a 37 spring haul of wood to the mills. A variety of forest units have been allocated as contingency 38 area.

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Renewal and Tending Operations Renewal and Tending Areas - Eligibility and Selection Criteria

1 8.4 Renewal and Tending Operations

2 8.4.1 Renewal and Tending Areas 3 4 The planned levels of renewal and tending associated with harvest and natural disturbance are 5 discussed in this text section. 6 7 The types and levels of renewal and tending operations planned for the ten-year period, and the 8 proposed levels for the first five-year term are summarized in Table FMP-17. The identified 9 renewal program represents the Long-term Management Direction of reducing mixedwood (HMX, 10 CMX) and increasing pure conifer and pure hardwood dominated forest units. The proposed 11 silvicultural work is based on areas depleted through harvesting, prior to the beginning of this plan 12 term, that have not had silvicultural activities completed. Preliminary silvicultural treatment 13 packages, from Table FMP-4, will be confirmed, or changed to reflect actual site conditions if 14 required, at the Annual Work Schedule stage upon site inspection by a Registered Professional 15 Forester. 16 17 During the preparation of the Annual Work Schedule the company will review all identified values, 18 and confirm that proposed renewal activities are planned so that all known values are protected. 19 20 The Forest Management Planning Manual states that a registered professional forester (R.P.F. 21 licenced by the Ontario Professional Foresters Association) will undertake an analysis to 22 determine the necessary levels of renewal and tending activities, and associated expenditures 23 required, to achieve the management objectives. 24 25 Kurt Pochailo, R.P.F., Planning and Silvicultural Forester for Miisun in Kenora, a Registered 26 Professional Forester who has been doing the planning and silviculture work on the Kenora Forest 27 since 2014, undertook a review to determine the necessary level of renewal and tending activities 28 and the associated expenditures required in the long-term management direction to achieve a 29 balance of the management objectives. 30 31 In addition, during development of the 2012 FMP, all wood supply model assumptions were 32 reviewed and supported by the Planning Team and the Strategic Task Team made up of 33 representatives from the MNRF and Miitigoog, which included four (4) Registered Professional 34 Foresters. As well, a number of Registered Professional Foresters from MNRF Northwest Region 35 provided input and review. Model assumptions are documented in the Analysis Package, 36 Supplementary Documentation A of the Phase 1 2012-2022 FMP. 37 38 The assessment and associated Table FMP-17 is based on the projected renewal levels and 39 associated expenditures for the five-year term of an FMP, as an output from the Strategic Forest 40 Management Model (SFMM) based on the long-term management direction. Harvest areas 41 planned in this forest management plan requiring artificial regeneration will be treated in 42 subsequent years either in this phase of operations or the next. Therefore most areas included 43 are in the table. Although the levels of some individual treatments are lower than the annualized 44 five-year average, the silvicultural strategies being employed are the same as the long-term 45 management direction for each forest unit being treated. This is not a reflection of a change in

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Renewal and Tending Operations Renewal and Tending Areas - Eligibility and Selection Criteria

1 the long-term management direction and does not move away from the desired future forest 2 condition 3 4 Table FMP-17 estimates that in the second five-year term approximately 3,717 ha will be renewed 5 annually. Of that, approximately 1,914 ha will be naturally regenerated, and approximately 1,802 6 ha will be artificially regenerated (planting – 1,302 ha; seeding – 500 ha./year), with about 651 ha 7 of mechanical site preparation each year. Generally, hardwood areas are regenerated naturally, 8 and conifer areas are artificially regenerated. Tending levels are projected to be approximately 9 1,021 ha annually for Phase 2 of the 2012 FMP, the majority of which will be aerial application of 10 herbicides. This level of tending is a reflection of the delay in tending treatments compared to 11 renewal treatments, since areas are generally tended several years after harvest and renewal. 12 13 Slash piles created in blocks harvested will be burned in accordance with the conditions on regular 14 operations (Section 8.2.2.2). Once exact site locations and hectares are known, the AWS will be 15 appended following the August submission and approval of the Prescribed Burn Plan for Slash 16 Pile Burning. Approximately 74 hectares of slash piles are projected to be burnt each year during 17 the second 5-year term. 18 19 In addition, Miitigoog may continue grinding slash piles to provide hog fuel if there is a suitable 20 market for the fibre. Grinding will be limited to areas within the Kenora Forest that are in this 21 Forest management plan or shown on the Operations Maps as eligible for renewal and tending. 22 Material available for grinding for use as hog fuel will be contained within slash piles at roadside 23 that would normally be included for slash pile burning, or in bush chipper debris piles. 24 25 Index map MU644_2012_FMP_P2_MAP_ Index_00 shows all areas eligible for renewal and 26 tending during the term of the plan. This includes all areas harvested from 1997 to 2011, including 27 estimated depletion for the 2011-12 contingency plan and areas planned for harvest in this forest 28 management plan. More detail on locations of actual planned renewal and tending treatments 29 will be provided in the Annual Work Schedule. 30 31 There are currently no supplemental treatments or retreatments anticipated or planned. Aerial 32 herbicide spray is considered a silvicultural treatment of special public interest. Areas that are 33 considered eligible to receive this type of treatment are outlined on Index Map 34 MU644_2012_FMP_P2_MAP_Herb_Comp_00. This includes areas previously harvested or 35 planned for harvest in the first phase of operations that are managed for conifer production. 36

37 8.4.1.1 Eligibility and Selection Criteria for Renewal and Tending Activities 38 39 Eligibility Criteria 40 41 Renewal operations eligibility criteria are closely linked to eligibility criteria for harvest 42 operations. All areas eligible for harvest operations are considered eligible for renewal operations 43 during the ten-year period of the plan. In addition, all previously harvested or naturally depleted 44 areas, which have not been deemed free-to-grow prior to plan approval date are also eligible for 45 renewal treatments.

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Roads Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits

1 The eligibility criteria for tending or cleaning operations include all areas eligible for harvest 2 operations during this plan period. Additional areas harvested during the 2001 to 2006 plan term, 3 and approved allocations in the 2006 - 2011 forest management plan and 2011-2012 Contingency 4 Plan are also eligible for tending operations. All harvested areas that have planting stock being 5 suppressed by competing vegetation are eligible for tending operations. Priority will be given to 6 those area planted with improved stock and more productive sites. 7 8 9 Selection Criteria 10 11 The selection criteria for renewal and tending activities are: 12 a) Renew areas that will have been recently harvested at the beginning of this plan term, 13 that have not had renewal work done or completed. 14 b) Conduct renewal operations on areas harvested or naturally depleted during this term. 15 c) Tending will be considered on all harvest depletions that have planting stock that is 16 experiencing severe suppression due to competing vegetation. 17 d) Tending will be considered on all naturally depleted sites, regardless of whether or not any 18 renewal treatments are/were conducted. 19

20 8.4.2 Renewal Support 21 22 Renewal support includes those activities which are necessary to support the planned types and 23 levels of renewal and tending operations during the five-year term of this FMP. Renewal support 24 includes activities such as tree seed collection, planting stock production and tree improvement 25 operations which will be conducted on the Kenora Forest. These activities are discussed in the 26 following sub-sections. 27

28 8.4.2.1 Tree Improvement 29 30 Miitigoog is actively involved with other forest industry companies in the Superior-Woods Tree 31 Improvement Association (SWTIA). Collectively, SWTIA manages the tree improvement program 32 in Northwestern Ontario with the goal of providing improved tree seed for seedling production. 33 Tree improvement can increase both the volume and value of future forest crops. 34 35 First generation seed orchards have been established on the Kenora Forest for black spruce (at 36 Minnisabic Lake) and jack pine (at Fifth Creek). The location of the seed orchards are shown on 37 the operations maps. The jack pine and black spruce orchards have been rogued to less than 38 75% in recent years. Improved seed has been collected from both orchards and will be used in 39 the planting program as much as available. Eventually it is expected that improved seed will 40 completely replace general seed collection for planting jack pine and black spruce on the Kenora 41 Forest. 42 43 Tree improvement activities may include fertilization of the jack pine seed orchard at Fifth Creek 44 – to be determined at the Annual Work Schedule stage. 45

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Roads Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits

1 All tree improvement areas have been mapped on the operational 1:20,000 maps (electronic FMP 2 operations maps) and are illustrated on the Values Map. 3

4 8.4.2.2 Seed Collection and Planting Stock Procurement 5 6 Miitigoog is responsible for seed collection, planting stock planning, procurement and payment. 7 Planting stock will be procured from container nurseries under contract to Miitigoog. The planting 8 stock will be monitored to ensure it meets the minimum specifications in the contract. Seedlings 9 will be monitored for survival. Planting stock procurement for this forest management plan will be 10 completed annually, one year in advance of planting. A mixture of seedlings consisting of black 11 spruce, white spruce, jack pine red pine and white pine will be ordered depending on the areas 12 forecasted for harvest the following year. Current inventories of seed are adequate. Miitigoog 13 may initiate a collection program for red pine or white pine if seed crop conditions are favourable. 14

15 8.4.3 Renewal and Tending Information Products 16 17 The renewal, maintenance and tending information products are portrayed on the Renewal and 18 Tending composite map. 19 20

21 8.5 Roads 22 23 The planning requirements for new primary, branch, and operational roads that are required to 24 access harvest areas, including contingency area that will be constructed during the ten-year 25 period of the forest management plan are described in Section 8.5.1 Primary and Branch Roads 26 and Section 8.5.1.1 Operational Roads. 27 28 Documentation of the environmental analysis of the alternative corridors for each primary road 29 corridor, the rationale for the selected corridor and associated use management strategy, and the 30 rationale for each new branch road corridor and associated use management strategy, is included 31 in Supplementary Documentation E – Road Planning Documentation. 32 33 Planning requirements for new primary and branch road crossings of areas of concern within the 34 corridors (Section 8.5.1.2), and new operational roads within operational road boundaries 35 (Section 8.5.1.3) for the second five-year term are also documented in this section. Planning 36 requirements for existing roads are included in Section 8.5.2. 37 38 Forestry aggregate pits are discussed in Section 8.5.4. Conditions on Roads, Landings and 39 Aggregate Pits outside areas of concern are documented in Section 8.5.4. 40 41 The planning of roads has been completed by the Plan Author, a Registered Professional 42 Forester. 43

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Roads Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits

1 The provision of access is a key strategy to meet the objectives of this plan. The road construction 2 program has been designed to provide efficient access to the forest while minimizing conflicts 3 with other users through the strategies outlined in the plan. 4 5 Roads are generally open to public travel except where there is access control or where access 6 passes through private land. When harvest and renewal operations are completed the roads will 7 be decommissioned as prescribed by the MNRF or will be transferred to the MNRF if they have 8 a use for the road or as part of the transfer process to a third party. 9 10 No new primary roads, branch roads or operational roads are required for forest management 11 purposes that will traverse a provincial park or conservation reserve. 12 13 Where a new primary road, branch road, operational road or landing does not intersect an area 14 of concern for a value, any conditions on the primary road, branch road, operational road or 15 landing as described in MNRF’s guide(s) relating to conserving biodiversity at the stand and site 16 scales will be followed as described in Section 8.5.4 Conditions on Roads, Landings and 17 Aggregate Pits.

19 8.5.1 Primary and Branch Roads 20 21 Primary Road Corridors 22 23 The Forest Management Planning Manual for Ontario’s Crown Forests (MNRF, 2009) defines a 24 primary forest access road as a road that provides principal access for the management unit and 25 are constructed, maintained and used as the main road system on the management unit. Primary 26 roads are normally permanent roads, although there may be significant periods of time when 27 specific primary roads are not required for forest management purposes. 28 29 Each planned new primary road required for the twenty-year period (2012-2032) is identified in 30 Table FMP-18 along with the use management strategy for the road. The length of road to be 31 constructed during the ten-year period of the forest management plan, and the length of road to 32 be constructed during the first five-year term of the forest management plan is also recorded in 33 FMP-18. The planned corridor for each primary road is portrayed on the associated operational 34 maps and Planned Road Corridor layer. Primary road corridors also identify the portion of the 35 corridor within which a road is planned for construction during the 10-year period of the plan and 36 the portions within which a road will be constructed in the five-year term of the plan. 37 38 Final locations of the one-kilometre wide corridors for primary roads are based on the 39 environmental analysis of alternative corridors and public comments received during Phase 2 40 Stage One of the planning process that included consultation with public stakeholders and 41 Aboriginal communities. Primary road use management strategies were also finalized after public 42 consultation. The rationale for the proposed corridor and the associated use management 43 strategy are documented in Supplementary Documentation E - Road Planning Documentation. 44 Although the supplementary documentation may discuss more than one alternative corridor for a 45 new road, only the “Selected Alternative” is planned to be constructed.

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Roads Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits

1 2 During the 2012-2032 period, no primary roads are being considered for transfer to the MNRF, 3 abandonment or decommissioning. 4 5 Where a new primary or landing does not intersect an area of concern (AOC) for a value, any 6 conditions on the primary road, branch road or landing as described in MNRF’s guide(s) relating 7 to conserving biodiversity at the stand and site scales will be documented in the forest 8 management plan. These conditions on roads, landings and aggregate pits (CRLAPs) are shown 9 in Section 8.5.7 in this FMP. 10 11 The Kenora Forest is relatively well accessed except for sub-management unit area WC1, and 12 does require some primary road construction within the next twenty-year period (2012-2032) to 13 provide longer term access to certain areas of the forest. 14 15 The Caribou Falls road corridor is a primary road and construction was to begin in the first phase 16 of this FMP. This corridor was previously approved in the 2006-2026 FMP as a Secondary Road. 17 The road accesses a considerable amount of available timber and opportunity for 18 Wabaseemoong Independent Nations. The construction of this road was not started in phase 1, 19 as planned. Wabaseemoong has been opposed to a bridge across Caribou Falls. An alteration to 20 the corridor is initiated through this plan (Phase 2) that provides for the corridor to be initiated 21 from the Werner Lake Road at the north end of the road corridor. This provides access to the 22 timber planned for harvest north of Caribou Falls and addresses the concerns raised by 23 Wabaseemoong. Supplementary documentation E summarizes the use management strategy 24 and rationale for this road. The one-kilometre wide (or less) primary road corridor for this road is 25 shown on the operations maps. This road construction is indicated in Table FMP-18 as the 26 Caribou Falls Road. 27 28 The Westway Road will access blocks on the Western Peninsula. This was initially approved as 29 an operational road in Phase 1. However, during implementation of the plan it was decided that 30 the amount of wood to be harvested and the shortened harvest season to complete the harvest 31 due to winter access will require the road to be accessed for a longer period of time. During the 32 implementation of Phase1 an amendment was approved that moved this road to a primary status. 33 Within the corridor there are existing trails that may be used for portions of the road. This road 34 construction is indicated in table FMP-18 as Westway Road, and totals about 26 km. This road 35 will access blocks in this FMP. 36 37 Branch Road Corridors 38 39 Branch roads are roads, other than primary roads, designed for all-weather access that branch 40 off existing or new primary or branch roads, providing access to and through areas of operations 41 on a management unit. 42 43 Each planned new branch road required for the 10-year period is identified in Table FMP-18 along 44 with the use management strategy for the road. The length of road to be constructed during the 45 ten-year period of the forest management plan, and the length of road to be constructed during 46 the first five-year term of the forest management plan is also recorded in Table FMP-18. The 47 planned corridor for each branch road is portrayed on the operational maps and Planned Road

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Roads Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits

1 Corridor layer. Branch road corridors also identify the portion of the corridor within which a road 2 is planned for construction during the 10-year period of the plan and the portions within which a 3 road will be constructed in the five-year term of the plan. Although the supplementary 4 documentation may discuss more than one alternative corridor for a new road, only the “Selected 5 Alternative” is planned to be constructed. 6 7 There are two branch roads scheduled for construction. The Goshawk North will access blocks 8 north of Goshawk Lake, north of Whitedog. This branch road was included in the 2006-2011 FMP 9 as an operational road as per the 1996 FMPM definition and in the 2011-12 Contingency Plan as 10 a Branch road. Under the 2009 FMPM, it would be considered a minimal standard branch road. 11 It includes re-construction of an existing road off of the Whitedog Highway. This road construction 12 is indicated in table FMP-18 as Goshawk North Road, and totals about 13 km, of which about 8 13 km is reconstruction of an existing road. This road will access blocks in this FMP. Supplementary 14 documentation E summarizes the use management strategy and rationale for these roads. The 15 one-kilometre wide (or less) branch road corridor for this road is shown on the operations maps. 16 17 The second branch road is the Talbot road, which is located south of Reddit. This road will access 18 a large portion of wood surrounding Talbot Lake and was identified during planning of Phase 2. 19 This road construction is indicated in table FMP-18 as Talbot Road, and totals about 8.9 km. 20 21 Where a new branch road, or landing does not intersect an area of concern (AOC) for a value, 22 any conditions on the primary road, branch road or landing as described in MNRF’s Forest 23 Management Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand and Site Scales (MNRF, 2010) will 24 be documented in the forest management plan. These conditions on roads, landings and 25 aggregate pits (CRLAPs) are shown in Section 8.5.4 in this FMP. 26

27 8.5.1.1 Operational Roads 28 29 “Operational roads are roads within operational road boundaries, other than a primary or branch 30 roads, that provide short-term access for harvest, renewal and tending operations” (2009 FMPM 31 A-57). Operational roads are normally not maintained after they are no longer required for forest 32 management purposes, and are often decommissioned. 33 34 Table FMP-18 lists the new and existing operational roads or road networks that will be required 35 for the 10-year term of the plan. Planned construction, maintenance, monitoring, access control 36 and future use management are recorded in the table. Any extensions to existing roads 37 (construction during the plan period), or changes to the use management strategy for an existing 38 road are documented in Table FMP-18. 39 40 The areas within which new operational roads are to be constructed for the second five-year term 41 will be identified by operational road boundaries (ORBs). An operational road boundary 42 identifies the perimeter of the harvest area and the area from an existing road or planned road 43 corridor to the harvest area. Operational road boundaries for the FMP are identified on the 44 operations maps and shown in the legend as “Operational Road Boundary”. The operational road 45 boundaries have been reviewed, confirmed and updated or revised if necessary during Phase II 46 planning.

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Roads Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits

1 2 Each operational road boundary within which an operational road will be constructed during the 3 plan period and the associated use management strategy (UMS) for the road(s) is recorded in 4 Table FMP-18. Documentation of the use management strategy for each operational road or 5 networks of operational roads is included in Supplementary Documentation E. If the use 6 management strategy restricts public access, the rationale for the restriction is provided in the 7 supplementary documentation. There are four use management strategies identified in 8 Supplementary Documentation E, they are as follows: 9 10 • ORBs listed in table FMP-18 with no existing access restrictions 11 • ORBs listed in table FMP-18 in road network areas with existing access restrictions 12 • ORBs listed in table FMP-18 with no existing access restrictions and located within a MEA 13 • ORBs listed in table FMP-18 in road network areas with existing access restrictions and 14 located within a MEA 15 16 The operational road boundaries are delineated on the 1:20,000 Operational Maps. The 17 applicable road use strategy is outlined in Table FMP-18 and will be the road use strategy for that 18 particular road or network of roads for the period of this plan. Operational roads will be built in 19 the most appropriate location to facilitate harvest; however they cannot traverse planned residual 20 patches of timber. These areas are left to provide biological structure to the site. 21 22 Where a new operational road or landing does not intersect an area of concern (AOC) for a value, 23 any conditions on the operational road or landing as described in MNRF’s Forest Management 24 Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand and Site Scales (MNRF, 2010) will be documented 25 in the forest management plan. These conditions on roads, landings and aggregate pits 26 (CRLAPs) are shown in Section 8.5.4 in this FMP. 27

28 8.5.1.2 Area of Concern Crossings – Primary and Branch Roads 29 30 This section documents the planning requirements that were applied to each crossing of an area 31 of concern (AOC) by a proposed corridor for a new primary or branch road. These AOC crossings 32 are planned for the portion of the road that will be constructed during the first five-year term. 33 Preliminary crossings of areas of concern for the second five-year term were also developed and 34 mapped. During Phase II planning, the preliminary crossings of areas of concern were reviewed, 35 confirmed and updated or revised if necessary. Several verbal comments have been received 36 from members of Whitedog in regards to the crossing at Caribou Falls. Some are in favour of the 37 road, some are opposed. Comments were not specific to an Area of Concern. If requested by 38 the community, a community meeting or referendum will take place prior to road (bridge) 39 construction. 40 41 There are two primary roads and two branch roads planned for construction in this FMP. Table 42 FMP-10 identifies if there are conditions on a crossings, landings or aggregate pits within an AOC 43 associated with the planned primary or branch road. Table FMP-19 contains the conditions and 44 locations of the AOC crossings on the Caribou Falls, Westway, Talbot and Goshawk North Roads. 45 AOCs are individual or grouped according to the value(s) and are assigned a common code 46 identifying the AOC. For each crossing of an AOC within a primary and branch road corridor, the

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Roads Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits

1 conditions on construction and acceptable variations to locations and conditions are documented 2 in Table FMP-19, organized by the same AOC codes used in Table FMP-10. 3 4 Where primary or branch roads cross the above AOCs, the rationale for the crossing is 5 documented in Supplementary Documentation F – Areas of Concern (AOC) Documentation. 6 Supplementary Documentation F includes reference to any public comments received and how 7 they were considered in the AOC prescription. 8 9 AOC crossings are illustrated on the Operational Map series and include the following: 10 • Preferred 100-metre wide crossing location of the road; 11 • Restricted crossing areas, if applicable; 12 • Acceptable variations to the crossing area (remainder of area where there are no restricted 13 areas or area already identified as the preferred crossing location (as above)); and 14 • Crossing reference number. 15 16 The portrayed 100-metre wide road locations and documented conditions on road construction in 17 the forest management plan for area of concern crossings are preliminary locations and 18 conditions. The locations and conditions will be finalized in the applicable Annual Work Schedules 19 consistent with the acceptable variations described in the FMP. 20 21 No new roads required for forest management purposes will traverse a Provincial Park or 22 Conservation Reserve during the 10-year period of the management plan. There are no new 23 primary or branch roads planned for construction within Enhanced Management Areas. 24

25 8.5.1.3 Area of Concern Crossings – Operational Roads 26 27 For new operational road crossings of areas of concern, any necessary conditions on the 28 location(s) and/or construction of the crossings are identified for individual areas of concern or 29 groups of areas of concern. The determination of the conditions involved consideration and 30 documentation of: 31 32 (a) natural resource features, land uses and values, as identified on the values map for 33 the management unit; 34 (b) the results of consultation with interested and affected persons and organizations; and 35 (c) potential preventive and mitigative measures. 36 37 Table FMP-10 identifies if there are conditions on operational road crossings of an area of 38 concern, or landings in an area of concern. AOCs are individual or grouped according to the 39 value(s) and are assigned a common code identifying the AOC. 40 41 For operational road crossings of areas of concern, conditions on the location(s) or construction 42 of the crossing(s) for individual areas of concern, or groups of areas of concern, are documented 43 in Table FMP-19, organized by the same AOC codes used in Table FMP-10. Conditions on a 44 landing within an AOC are also documented in Table FMP-19. 45

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Roads Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits

1 Operational road locations and conditions on construction will be identified in the annual work 2 schedule, consistent with the conditions described in the FMP. There were several public 3 comments received with respect to area of concern crossings on operational roads, these 4 comments are included in the both of the supplementary documentation required for these 5 crossings (Supplementary Documentation E and F). 6

7 8.5.2 Existing Roads 8 9 Each existing road or road network that is the responsibility of the licensee, and the associated 10 use management strategy, is documented in Table FMP-18. Documentation of new or revised 11 use management strategies, and the associated rationale, is included in the Supplementary 12 Documentation E. All roads information for the FMP is included in a single GIS layer submitted 13 electronically with the plan. 14 15 If an existing road and/or landing is planned to be used for forest management purposes during 16 the period of the forest management plan, and the road and/or landing intersects an areas of 17 concern for a value, Table FMP-10 identifies if there are conditions on the road and/or landing. 18 The appropriate conditions on the road and/or landing as described in MNRF’s guide(s) Forest 19 Management Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand and Site Scales (MNRF, 2010), are 20 documented in Table FMP-19. 21 22 If an existing road and/or landing is planned to be used for forest management purposes during 23 the period of the forest management plan, and where the road and/or landing does not intersect 24 an area of concern for a value, conditions on the road and/or landing as described in MNRF’s 25 guide entitled Forest Management Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand and Site Scales 26 (MNRF, 2010) are documented in Section 8.5.4. 27 28 There are changes proposed for the use management strategies of the Werner Lake Road during 29 the term of this FMP. The Werner Lake road (primary) has Public Lands Act road restrictions and 30 is gated. This road is accessed through Manitoba in the northwest portion of the SFL. It was 31 Miitigoog’s intention to abandon this road and all water crossings. As a result of the access 32 restriction it was not expected to have a large impact on public use of the road. During the Phase 33 1 plan development it was proposed that the responsibility for Werner Lake Road would be 34 transferred to a third party. However, during the planning of Phase 2 it was determined that an 35 alternate access would be used as the start of the Caribou Falls Road, this alternate access is 36 the Werner Lake Road. As a result the Werner Lake road will remain as a forestry access road 37 that is restricted under the PLA. 38 39 There are four branch roads that are scheduled for removal over the ten year period of this FMP. 40 These roads are; McDonald, Foreleg Bay, Foreleg 583 and Rainmaker 584 and they are included 41 in FMP-18 for abandonment at the end of the second phase of operations. If no third parties are 42 interested in assuming responsibility for these roads, the water crossings will be removed as per 43 MNRF requirements. 44 45 There are no other existing primary or branch roads planned for additional or modifications to 46 existing access restrictions, decommissioning or road transfer to MNRF during this FMP. Any

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Roads Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits

1 operational roads identified for future abandonment are identified in FMP-18. All existing access 2 restrictions (e.g. Maybrun, Cameron, Trilake (Pipestone) and Werner Lake) will remain in place, 3 as shown in Table FMP-18. 4 5 On the Kenora Forest, there are four primary roads, Maybrun, Werner, Cameron, Trilake 6 (Pipestone) Roads that have travel restrictions in place, as part of their use management strategy. 7 The Maybrun, Cameron and Trilake (Pipestone) road systems, as well as the branch and 8 operational roads coming off of them, have restricted travel conditions to protect remote tourism 9 and lake trout values. Travel on the Werner Lake Road is restricted to mining related activities 10 (or resource extraction activity) only, pursuant to the Werner Lake Restricted Area Order in place 11 to prevent the uncontrolled development of patented mining lands. Travel Permits are required. 12 The travel restrictions for all of these roads have been in place since the mid-1980s. The following 13 is an overview of the existing use management strategies for the Maybrun, Werner Lake 14 Cameron, and Trilake (Pipestone) Roads: 15 16 • All four (4) roads will continue to be managed as closed or restricted travel roads under the 17 Public Lands Act (Section 52). 18 • The road closure for Maybrun, Werner Lake and Cameron and will be year round closures. 19 • Trilake (Pipestone) Road will be managed as closed road from January 1 to September 30 20 and as an open road from October 1 to December 31. 21 • The road closure for the Maybrun Road will start at approximately km 14, as signed. 22 • Guidelines for issuing travel permits have been prepared for each road and will be 23 administered by the Kenora District office. 24 25 Existing operational road networks and their use management strategies are also summarized in 26 Table FMP-18. There has been one change from Phase 1 of the 2012-2022 Kenora Forest Plan 27 proposed for the use management strategies on existing operational road networks during the 28 second phase of this FMP. This change is related to the removal of any new roads that are 29 located within the Moose Emphasis Areas (MEA). This change has resulted in the production of 30 two new use management strategies that further explain the change. 31 32 Many operational roads will be decommissioned the same year that they are built. In particular, 33 winter operational roads that are not required for operations further beyond the block being 34 harvested. In addition, many roads will be decommissioned through site preparation, prior to 35 planting, within two years of harvest completion to minimize the loss of productive land. The use 36 management strategies for these road networks are summarized in Supplementary 37 Documentation E. 38 39 Table FMP-10 identifies if there are conditions on crossings, landings or aggregate pits within an 40 AOC associated with existing roads. Where existing roads, landings or pits are planned to be 41 used for forest management purposes during the period of this FMP, and the road, landing or pit 42 intersects an area of concern for a value, the appropriate conditions on the road as described in 43 MNRF’s guide(s) relating to conserving biodiversity at the stand and site scales, are documented 44 in Table FMP-19. 45

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Roads Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits

1 8.5.3 Road Information Products 2 3 The road information products are portrayed on the Areas selected for Operational Maps. 4

5 8.5.4 Forestry Aggregate Pits 6 7 The criteria for a Forestry Aggregate Pit apply as per regulations under the Aggregate Resources 8 Act, however, Forestry Aggregate Pits (previously Category 14) are exempt from the from the 9 requirement for an aggregate permit under the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA) as per the 10 exemption criteria below. Previously operated Forestry Aggregate Pits may be utilized for a ten- 11 year period starting from the initial aggregate extraction from the pit. Forestry Aggregate Pits 12 must remain within the road corridor or area of operations that was identified in the AWS at the 13 time the site was established. 14 15 The extraction of aggregate from Forestry Aggregate Pits for use on forest access roads on the 16 management unit will comply with the exemption criteria as outlined below: 17 18 Exemption Criteria (2009 FMPM A-60, 1.3.6.6) 19 By regulations under the Aggregate Resources Act, a person engaged in forest operations on 20 Crown land is exempt from subsection 34(1) of that Act, if the following criteria are satisfied. Those 21 criteria are the following: 22 • A Forest Management Plan (FMP) for the management unit has been approved; 23 • The aggregate is required for a forest access road in a management unit; 24 • Aggregate is extracted: 25 (a) no closer than 1.5 metres above the established groundwater table; or 26 (b) closer than 1.5 metres above the established groundwater table if: 27 (i) the proposed site is remote or isolated; and 28 (ii) the excavation limit of the site is not within: 29 • 500 metres of a coldwater stream; 30 • 1,000 metres of a water well, whether dug or drilled; and 31 • 5,000 metres of a receptor; 32 • Aggregate extraction will be completed within 10 years from the commencement of the pit; 33 and 34 • The pit is or has been established within: 35 (a) An approved new primary or branch road corridor in the Forest Management Plan 36 and the Annual Work Schedule; 37 (b) An approved area of operations in the Forest Management Plan and in the Annual 38 Work Schedule; 39 (c) An approved operational road boundary in the Forest Management Plan and in the 40 Annual Work Schedule; or 41 (d) An approved aggregate extraction area in the Forest Management Plan and in the 42 Annual Work Schedule that is located within 500 metres of an existing forest access 43 road. 44 45 Aggregate pits that satisfy these criteria are referred to as “Forestry Aggregate Pits”.

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Roads Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits

1 Aggregate Extraction Areas 2 3 As described in the exemption criteria previously, Forestry Aggregate Pits may be established 4 within an aggregate extraction area. Aggregate extraction areas have been identified for the first 5 five-year term and are shown on the operations maps and will be identified in the Annual Report 6 for the year that they were established and the Annual Work Schedule(s) for the following year. 7 8 If aggregate is required from area not identified as an aggregate extraction area, an amendment 9 to the forest management plan will be required to identify the new aggregate extraction area. The 10 amendment will be consistent with the requirements for an aggregate extraction area identified in 11 the Forest Management Planning Manual. 12 13 Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits 14 15 If an existing road, landing and/or forestry aggregate pit is planned to be used for forest 16 management purposes during the period of the forest management plan, and where the road, 17 landing and/or forestry aggregate pit does not intersect an area of concern, any conditions on the 18 road and/or landing as described in the Forest Management Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at 19 the Stand and Site Scales (MNRF, 2010) are documented in this section of the forest 20 management plan. This section also includes the Operational Standards for Forestry Aggregate 21 Pits both within and outside AOCs. 22 23 Where a new primary road, branch road, operational road or landing does not intersect an area 24 of concern for a value, any conditions on the primary road, branch road, operational road or 25 landing as described in the Forest Management Guide for Conserving Biodiversity at the Stand 26 and Site Scales (MNRF, 2010) are documented in this section of the forest management plan. 27 28 The extraction of aggregate from forestry aggregate pits for use on forest access roads within the 29 forest management unit will comply with the operational standards in this FMP as outlined in this 30 section. 31 32 When a forestry aggregate pit intersects an area of concern, Table FMP-10 identifies if there are 33 conditions on operations. Any operational conditions related to aggregate pits intersecting with 34 area or concerns are stated in Table FMP-19. 35 36 The conditions on operations for forestry aggregate pits must take into consideration the 37 Endangered Species Act, 2007, including any applicable habitat regulations and relevant policy 38 direction. 39 40 All existing forestry aggregate pits will be identified in each Annual Work Schedule. 41 42 The following table documents the Forestry Aggregate Pit Operational Standards as well as 43 conditions on roads, landings and forestry aggregate pits outside of areas of concern. 44 Reclamation of Landings (Section 8.5.7 Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits) 45 applies to conditions on new (primary, branch, operational, existing) roads and landings (outside 46 of AOCs).

Kenora Forest 2012-2022 FMP – Phase 2

8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Roads Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits

Forestry Aggregate Pit Operational Standards (all pits inside and outside of AOCs as applicable):

• Topsoil and overburden, where present, must be stripped and stored on site. • Aggregate material may be removed only within areas where access, harvest, renewal, or aggregate extraction has been planned and approved, with no removal occurring within 15 metres of the boundary of any planned area. • Aggregate material must not be removed from an area of concern or within 15 metres of the boundary of an area of concern, except: o for a cultural heritage landscape or historic Aboriginal value, as defined in the Forest Management Guide for Cultural Heritage Values, if, . Table FMP-19 of the forest management plan documents conditions on location, construction or use of the Forestry Aggregate Pit, as per the advice of a qualified individual as defined by the Forest Management Guide for Cultural Heritage Values, and . the aggregate material is removed in accordance with such conditions; and o for all other values, if, . Table FMP-19 of the forest management plan documents conditions on location, construction or use of the Forestry Aggregate Pit, and . the aggregate material is removed in accordance with such conditions. • Notwithstanding standard 3 above, aggregate material must not be removed from an area of concern or within 15 metres of the boundary of an area of concern for the following values, as defined in the Forest Management Guide for Cultural Heritage Values: o archaeology site; o cemetery; or o archaeological potential area. • When operating within 15 metres of a proposed roadside ditch, no excavation is to take place below the elevation of the planned depth of the proposed ditch; all excavations must be immediately sloped to no steeper than a 2:1 (horizontal: vertical) angle. • During extraction, no undercutting of the working face is permitted and: o the working face must be sloped at the angle of repose; or o the vertical height of the working face must not be more than 1.5 metres above the maximum reach of the equipment. • All trees within 5 metres of the excavation face must be removed. • The maximum disturbed pit area (harvested area including excavation area) must not exceed 3 ha. When a pit or a portion of a pit is rehabilitated (silviculturally treated), it is no longer part of the pit. • When the site is inactive, all pit faces must be sloped at the angle of repose. • Within the excavation area, no ponding is allowed and offsite drainage must be designed to prevent sediment from entering any water feature. • Unless an aggregate permit (e.g. Category 9) has been issued, by the end of the 10-year period starting from the commencement of the Forestry Aggregate Pit: o buildings, structures, or processing equipment must be removed from the site; and o rehabilitation of the site must be completed. • Notwithstanding standard 11 above, MNRF may direct that a Forestry Aggregate Pit be rehabilitated prior to the end of the above-noted 10- year period where the responsibility for the road and associated Forestry Aggregate Pit is being transferred back to MNRF.

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• Final rehabilitation must include: o sloping of all pit faces to a minimum of 3:1(horizontal: vertical); o re-spreading of any topsoil and overburden that was stripped from the site; and o mitigative measures, to the satisfaction of MNRF, to prevent erosion (e.g. establishment of vegetation). • Existing or proposed Forestry Aggregate Pits within areas of concern, or in the vicinity of features that are addressed by conditions on operations, as described in MNRF’s forest management guide(s) relating to conserving biodiversity at the stand and site scales, must not be constructed or operated except in circumstances as identified in the conditions on operations in the forest management plan. This includes any restrictions on the construction of new Forestry Aggregate Pits and timing of aggregate extraction, rehabilitation, or other associated operations in existing pits. • Progressive rehabilitation of the site must be ongoing during the 10-year period, starting from the commencement of the Forestry Aggregate Pit.

Reclamation of Landings

• The production land base will be recovered from landings and these areas will be renewed except where they were not part of the production landbase originally (e.g. rock outcrops). • Operations will be conducted in a manner to minimize the establishment of landings through operational block planning and road layout. • For any landings that are created the following will occur: o Operations will be conducted to recover the production land base from landings (e.g. site preparation, planting/seeding). o Landing treatment operations will be completed no later than two years following the completion of harvest operations and renewal will be completed no later than three years following the completion of harvest operations. o The most applicable SGR will be applied to renew the area, based on the specific site conditions of areas formerly occupied by the landing, and the renewal treatments including regeneration should complement the treatments on the adjacent treated areas. o Existing landings (three years old or less) will be treated and regenerated as noted above within three years of the completion of harvest operations. o Older existing landings (more than three years old) will be treated and regenerated as noted above using the most applicable SGR unless a different rehabilitation strategy including regeneration standards is documented in Section 8.2.2.1 Silvicultural Ground Rules. o Operations are to be completed no later than the decommissioning timelines outlined in the adjacent roads’ UMS. o The AWS will identify the location of landings scheduled for operations, the operations to be conducted, and the scheduled regeneration treatments. o The AWS will identify the inspection of landing treatments and subsequent regeneration as a compliance priority and will indicate how the inspections will be completed.

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8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Roads Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits

The following conditions apply outside of Areas of Concern:

General Conditions on Road Planning, Construction and Maintenance; Landings; Forestry Aggregate Pits:

• These conditions include the mitigative measures/design principles to minimize the risk of sediment/disruption of hydrological function referred to below for LPS ponds/streams, rich lowland hardwood-dominated forest, wetlands, woodland pools. • Plan and construct roads to minimize costs associated with decommissioning (e.g., use temporary re-useable bridges). • Engineering safety considerations will be incorporated into road planning. • When practical and feasible, access should be planned to prevent or minimize site damage (e.g., build roads well in advance of operations so lack of access is not a recurring reason for off-season operations on susceptible sites). • Road right-of-way widths for all primary and branch roads will be a maximum of 40 metres through unallocated stands, with the exception for landings which may be increased to a maximum of 50 metres. • Road right-of-way widths for all operational roads will be a maximum of 30 metres through unallocated stands, with the exception for landings which may be increased to a maximum of 50 metres. • Haul roads and skid trails will avoid steep slopes. • Materials moved during construction, such as grubbed or earth fill material, will not be piled where they block drainage courses. • Fill material for roads built below the high water level, within the floodplain of a water feature, will be erosion resistant and/or protected from erosion • Any exposed mineral soil between the height of land and a water crossing, or within 100 m of a water crossing, whichever is less, will be trimmed to a stable angle and be protected from erosion so sediment will not enter the water after construction • Mitigation techniques will be used to prevent or stop erosion in ditches, on steep slopes, etc. • When all-weather roads must cross wetlands, frequent cross drainage culverts will be provided to ensure that surface water is equalized on both sides of the road and impacts to hydrologic flow and wetland function are minimized. • When the road location and landings within the approved corridor are being finalized, avoid recognizable ephemeral streams, springs, seeps, and other areas of groundwater discharge that are connected to lakes, ponds, rivers, or streams and small unmapped wetlands (e.g. woodland pools) • If recognizable ephemeral streams, springs, seeps, and other areas of groundwater discharge that are connected to lakes, ponds, rivers, or streams, or small unmapped wetlands must be crossed, use construction and maintenance techniques and practices to minimize impacts to hydrologic flow and wetland function; natural water movements will not be impeded, accelerated, or diverted • Identify areas of concentrated surface water flow and prevent blockage through appropriate use of cross drainage culverts; some of these locations may be determined the following spring when ponding is evident at unpredicted locations along a new road. • Where ditches leading downhill from rock cuts pass over earth material, techniques will be used to protect the earth/rock interface from erosion.

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8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Roads Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits

• Grubbing of low vegetative cover between the height of land (e.g., the high point on a ditch line) and a water crossing, or within 100 m of a water crossing, whichever is less, will be limited to that required to address engineering issues and safety concerns, such as the removal of hazards. • Where explosives and blasting are required, this work will be planned to ensure rock or earth remains within the right of way • Windrows or grubbing materials will not be placed across known migration paths of wildlife in a manner that could impede their travel • Minimize the windrowing of downed woody material; if long windrows (e.g. of slash or rock) are created, breaks should be provided to allow animals, other forest users and operations unobstructed access routes across the right of way e.g. a 10 m break for every 100 m of windrow. • Decommission main skid trails constructed on steep slopes by installing water bars, diversion ditches, straw bales, etc. at appropriate intervals or critical landform junctures to filter runoff water through surrounding vegetation. • During decommissioning, workers will prevent contamination of a water feature by foreign materials such as lumber, nails, logs, brush, fuel and oil. • Minimize the amount of area being converted to non-forest (e.g., roads and landings) to that required for efficient operations. . Woody material (logging debris), which accumulates at roadside is expected to be utilized during this plan, but if not utilized, this material will be piled, redistributed or burnt to increase the area available for regeneration. • Avoid piling unutilized fibre on productive non-forest cover types (e.g., brush and alder). • MNRF will ensure that the signs used to identify travel restrictions under the Public Lands Act are maintained. • Harvest of rare tree species (e.g. white pine, yellow birch, burr oak and white elm.) will be avoided where practical, but may occur if encountered during road construction or gravel extraction. • Roads on Crown Land maintained by cottagers and/or public groups (i.e. LRB) that are planned for harvest block access will at a minimum maintain a pre-harvest condition or any other negotiated agreements between the SFL holder and those responsible for the maintenance of the road following the completion of hauling operations.

Roads Crossing Recreational Portage Routes, Trails used for Accessing and Working Traplines that are not AOCs: • Ensure that identified recreational portage routes and trails used for accessing and working traplines are passable following forest management operations.

Biofibre Harvest • Direction applies to all planned harvest areas regardless of the product derived • Stumps and all below ground portions of a tree are not available for utilization as a forest product; movement or removal associated with construction of roads or landings is permitted but will be minimized to that required for efficient operations • Organic matter that is not part of a harvested tree (including boles, branches, roots, bark, leaves, needles, debris, soil carbon, etc.) will remain on site; movement of such material for access is permitted.

Furbearing Mammal Dens (other than red foxes, skunks, wolves, wolverines) – in caves, excavated burrows, under large piles of coarse woody material or other enduring features – known to have been occupied at least once within the past 5 years

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8.0 PLANNED OPERATIONS Roads Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits

• New roads/road construction, landings, and aggregate pits/aggregate extraction are not permitted within 20 m of the den entrance • Hauling and road maintenance operations of existing roads are not permitted within 20 m of the den entrance unless the road predates the den or is required for safety reasons or environmental protection

Furbearing Mammal Dens (other than red foxes, skunks, wolves, wolverines) – in tree cavities, hollow logs, brush piles, other transitory features – known to be occupied • Known occupied dens encountered during operations will not be destroyed; in this context, destruction means the complete or partial damage of the den structure or its contents (i.e. adults or young) • New roads, landings, and aggregate pits are not permitted within 3 m of the den entrance Nests – Inactive Nest - great grey owl, northern goshawk, red-shouldered hawk: nests not known or suspected to have been occupied at least once within the past 5 years that are >400m from a primary nest, or <=400m from a primary nest but in poor repair; primary and alternate nests within nesting areas where all nests within the nesting area have been documented as unoccupied for >=3 consecutive years • New roads, landings and aggregate pits will not be constructed within 20 m • No timing restriction on operations associated with existing roads, landings and aggregate pits

Nests - Unoccupied Stick Nests known or suspected to have been built or used by broad-winged hawk, merlin, sharp-shinned hawk, unknown species small stick nest <75cm diameter • New roads, landings and aggregate pits will not be constructed within 20 m • No timing restriction on operations associated with existing roads, landings and aggregate pits

Nests - Unoccupied Stick Nests known or suspected to have been built or used by barred owl, Cooper’s hawk, common raven, great horned owl, long-eared owl, red-tailed hawk, unknown species large stick nest >=75cm diameter • New roads, landings and aggregate pits will not be constructed within 20 m • No timing restriction on operations associated with existing roads, landings and aggregate pits

Nests - Unoccupied Nests in cavities known or suspected to have been used by American kestrel, boreal owl, eastern screech-owl, northern hawk owl, northern saw-whet owl • New roads, landings and aggregate pits will not be constructed within 20 m • No timing restriction on operations associated with existing roads, landings and aggregate pits

Nests – Unoccupied Nests/communal roosts in cavities known or suspected to have been used by barred owl, great horned owl and chimney swift • New roads, landings, and aggregate pits will not be constructed within 20 m • No timing restriction on operations associated with existing roads, landings and aggregate pits

Nests – waterfowl, grouse, wild turkeys – known nests containing eggs encountered during forest management operations

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• Known nests will not be destroyed; in this context, destruction means the complete or partial damage of the nest structure or its contents (i.e. attendant birds, eggs, or young). • Reasonable efforts will be made to minimize disturbance of known nests encountered during operations including: New roads, landings and aggregate pits will not be constructed within 10 m; and No heavy equipment within 10 m of known nests with eggs. • No timing restriction on operations associated with existing roads, landings and aggregate pits Nests – Song Birds or other small birds – known nests containing eggs or young encountered during forest management operations • Known nests will not be destroyed; in this context, destruction means the complete or partial damage of the nest structure or its contents (i.e. attendant birds, eggs, or young) • Reasonable efforts will be made to minimize disturbance of known nests encountered during operations including: New roads, landings and aggregate pits will not be constructed within 3 m; and No heavy equipment within 3m of known nests with eggs, young. • No timing restriction on operations associated with existing roads, landings and aggregate pits

Ponds, Streams with Low Potential Sensitivity (LPS) to Forest Management Operations • New roads will not be constructed within 15 m of LPS ponds or streams unless there is no practical or feasible alternative (i.e. excessive steep terrain prohibits road construction) and the mitigative measures outlined above under ‘General Conditions on Road Planning, Construction and Maintenance’ are taken to minimize the risk of sediment entering ponds or streams and disruption of hydrological function • Landings and aggregate pits are not permitted within 15 m of LPS ponds or the active channel of LPS streams

Rich Lowland Hardwood-Dominated Forest (black ash, – mapped and unmapped pockets encountered during operations • When practical and feasible, avoid constructing new roads; when construction of roads is necessary, it will follow design principles to minimize disruption of hydrological function outlined above under ‘General Conditions on Road Planning, Construction and Maintenance’. • Landings and aggregate pits are not permitted

Wetlands – mapped permanent non-forested (polygon types OMS, TMS, and BSH) • If practical and feasible, avoid construction of new all-weather roads within wetlands or portions of the wetlands characterized by open water or non-woody vegetation; when this is necessary it will follow the design principles outlined above under ‘General Conditions on Road Planning, Construction and Maintenance’ to minimize risk of sediment entering the wetland and disruption of hydrological function • Landings are not permitted within the wetland itself or within adjacent forest that is <15 m from those portions of the wetland dominated by open water or non-woody vegetation • Aggregate pits are not permitted within 15 m

Woodland Pools – encountered during operations • New roads are not permitted within 15 m of the high-water mark of pools unless there is no practical or feasible alternative (i.e. excessive steep terrain prohibits road construction) and the mitigative measures outlined above under ‘General Conditions on Road Planning, Construction and Maintenance’ are taken to minimize the risk of sediment entering pools and disruption of hydrological function • Landings and aggregate pits are not permitted within 15 m of the high-water mark of pools.

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2 8.5.4.1 Aggregate Extraction Areas Information Products 3 4 Aggregate extraction areas are areas where a Forestry Aggregate Pit may be established. 5 Conditions on aggregate pits within AOCs are identified in FMP-19. The criteria for a Forestry 6 Aggregate Pit apply as per Part A, Section 1.3.6.6 of the FMPM (2009). 7

8 8.5.5 Decommissioning of New and Existing Roads and Road Networks 9 10 The following standard conditions are applied to all new and existing roads inside and outside of 11 AOCs and are documented in Table FMP-18 if applicable: 12 13 • The expected period of use of all roads has been considered during access planning and even 14 when the road is not scheduled for transferred MNRF has in certain circumstances (e.g. 15 tourism, dynamic caribou habitat schedule blocks) made a preliminary determination of 16 whether or not the road will be maintained for public use. 17 • Regardless of whether or not the SFL has indicated when the road will be transferred the 18 preliminary decommissioning provisions, including regeneration conditions and timelines, 19 have been documented for all roads where MNRF has indicated the road will not be 20 maintained for public use after it is transferred. 21 • Road classification and construction standards are consistent with the expected period of use 22 of all roads and will facilitate road regeneration where this is required. 23 • Progressive road decommissioning has been used where progressive harvest is applied and 24 priority zones to focus decommissioning and renewal efforts have been considered and 25 documented where applicable. 26 • Natural access traps, winter roads, corduroy and portable bridges have been used where 27 practical to assist with future road renewal and regeneration. 28 • Signage will be posted to identify planned future decommissioning including regeneration at 29 time of construction. 30 31 In addition to the above, the following conditions apply to all roads planned to be decommissioned 32 and regenerated (including roads not identified for transfer): 33 • Specific use management conditions are included in Table FMP-18 and/or Supplementary 34 Documentation E – Road Planning Documentation. 35 • The production land base will be recovered and these areas will be renewed except where 36 they were not part of the production landbase originally (e.g. rock outcrops). 37 • Operations to be conducted to recover the production land base include the following: site 38 preparation, planting/seeding. 39 • The decommissioning (including renewal) will be completed no later than 5 years from the 40 end of the FMP period in which decommissioning took place. 41 • The most applicable SGR will be applied to renew the road, based on the specific site 42 conditions of areas formerly occupied by the road, and the renewal treatments including 43 regeneration should complement the treatments on the adjacent treated areas. 44 • The Annual Work Schedule (AWS) will identify the location of the road scheduled for 45 decommissioning, the operations to be conducted, including the scheduled regeneration 46 treatments.

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1 • The AWS will identify the inspection of decommissioning treatments including regeneration 2 as a compliance priority and will indicate how the inspections will be completed. 3

4 8.6 Expenditures 5 6 This section of the plan discusses projected expenditures required for renewal and tending 7 operations, insect pest management and renewal support for the five-year term of the plan, 2017- 8 2022. The expenditure data for the second five-year term is presented in Table FMP-20. The 9 following text provides the rationale and methodology for the economic data calculation. 10 11 The planned expenditures required to complete the planned silvicultural activities, renewal 12 support and regeneration assessments for the second five-year term of this plan (as reported in 13 Tables FMP-17 and FMP-20) are $6.4 million. These projected expenditures include $1.2 million 14 for site preparation, $1.98 million for artificial regeneration (planting and seeding), $1.1 million for 15 tending activities, $1.5 million for renewal support and $0.5 million for other eligible activities. 16 Road construction and maintenance costs are not included in the planned expenditure total. 17 18 Rationale for the calculation of silvicultural expenditures includes consideration for: 19 • Estimated expenditures per unit are based on past experience on the Kenora Forest. 20 • Projected cost of all mechanical site preparation activities, including the proportion of area 21 renewed with and without mechanical site preparation, and slash pile burning; 22 • Projected costs of tree seed collection and processing, and the quantity of seed required 23 for aerial seeding and sowing of tree seedlings for planting; 24 • Projected tree planting costs, including the cost of planting stock production, based on 25 projected densities and proportion of tree species planted in a given future forest unit, as 26 well as the proportion of area planted with and without mechanical site preparation; 27 • Projected cost of manual tending and tending by chemical herbicide application, including 28 the cost of the herbicide; 29 • Projected cost of on-the-ground surveys, Free-To-Grow surveys, and forest operations 30 prescription (FOP) verification; 31 • Administrative costs for silviculture 32 • Renewal support includes FTG surveys, the Forest Ecosystem Science Co-operative 33 Permanent Growth Plot (PGP) monitoring program, and supplemental aerial photography 34 (SAP); and 35 • Other eligible activities include fertilization of the jack pine seed orchard, acquisition of 36 supplemental aerial photography, completion of renewal and free-growing surveys. 37 38 For areas planned to be harvested in the 2012-2022 FMP, preliminary silvicultural ground rules 39 were assigned to each area. The regeneration treatments and expenditures were planned based 40 on average annual harvest by forest unit and an estimate of area to be treated during the plan 41 period. The rates for the Forest Renewal Trust Fund (FRTF) will be monitored annually by the 42 MNRF and the company and adjusted, if necessary, to maintain the fund above the minimum 43 balance for the account in order to fund the projected silvicultural program. 44 45 Expenditures funded through the Forestry Futures Trust Fund (FFTF) will include various eligible 46 projects or expenditures approved on an annual basis during implementation of the plan, and a 47 portion of the costs associated with the maintenance of the Forest Resources Inventory (FRI) for 48 the management unit (Forest Trust Forest Resources Inventory, FTFRI).

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2 8.7 Monitoring and Assessment 3 4 This section discusses the monitoring and assessment program for the 10-year forest 5 management plan (FMP) for forest operations inspections, exceptions monitoring, assessment of 6 regeneration success and monitoring of roads and water crossings. 7 8 Forest management operations are routinely monitored to ensure compliance with the 9 management plan, with particular emphasis on prescriptions for operations including: area of 10 concern prescriptions, any restrictions on operations, and adherence to harvest boundary lines. 11 Monitoring is also conducted to evaluate renewal success and changes in forest cover. MNRF 12 also conducts surveys of forest values to support forest management planning. Monitoring of 13 exceptions to silvicultural guides and other guidelines is also conducted. 14 15 MNRF’s web-based Forest Operations Inspection Program (FOIP) will be used to document 16 inspections and operational issues associated with identified compliance issues, and to ensure 17 that appropriate remedial actions have been carried out. 18 19 The general public will be encouraged to report new values in the Kenora Forest, and will be 20 provided opportunities to review the annual work schedules at any time of the year. 21

22 8.7.1 Forest Operations Inspections 23

24 8.7.1.1 Compliance Goal 25 26 The goal for Ontario’s forest is “to ensure the long term health of our forest ecosystems for the 27 benefit of the local and global environments, while enabling present and future generations to 28 meet their material and social needs.” (Source: Policy Framework for Ontario Forests, MNRF). 29 30 The goal of the compliance plan is to encourage and ensure adherence to rules and requirements 31 which contribute to the sustainable management of Ontario’s forests. In doing so this plan will 32 meet the compliance requirements as set forth in the Forest Compliance Handbook (2014) 33 procedure FOR 07 03 05. These goals will be achieved through continual improvement and the 34 implementation of an effective forest compliance program. The goals of the forest compliance 35 program are to: 36 37 • Reduce the number of non-compliance incidents 38 • Minimize and mitigate the effects the non-compliance where possible 39 • Take immediate corrective/preventative action 40 • Report incidents promptly 41 • Identify any emerging trends so that additional training/awareness can be implemented 42

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1 8.7.1.2 Background 2 3 To help meet this goal, the MNRF has prepared a Forest Compliance Strategy, which has as its 4 goal: “to encourage and ensure adherence to rules and requirements which contribute to the 5 sustainable management of Ontario’s forests.” (Source: A Forest Compliance Strategy, 1997, 6 MNRF) 7 8 A condition of the SFL and a requirement of both the Forest Management Planning Manual and 9 the Forest Information Manual is that the SFL holder prepare a Forest Compliance Plan for 10 planning, monitoring, reporting, and education/prevention on its forest management operations to 11 ensure compliance with all applicable legislation, regulation, the forest management plan, and 12 with MNRF manuals and guidelines affecting those operations. 13 14 The purpose of this ten-year forest compliance strategy is to develop a simple, efficient and 15 effective means of ensuring forest operations are conducted in compliance with the Crown Forest 16 Sustainability Act and associated applicable manuals, regulations and guidelines affecting 17 operations. It has been written according to direction from the Forest Compliance Handbook 18 (MNRF 2014), as directed by the Forest Management Planning Manual (MNRF,2009) and Forest 19 Information Manual (MNRF, 2009). 20 21 Company employees and overlapping licensees are responsible for compliance to all guidelines 22 and the management plan and the AWS. Provisions will be made in Overlapping Forest Resource 23 Licence Agreements for Overlapping Licensees to follow the Compliance Plan measures outlined 24 in this section. If the Overlapping Licensee fails to abide by the requirements of the Compliance 25 Plan, they will be ordered by Miitigoog to stop activities, and the MNRF will be notified. 26 27 The MNRF district program for auditing forest operations and conducting forest operations 28 inspections includes receiving and reviewing Forest Operations Inspection Reports, conducting 29 spots checks on in-progress operations and completed reports, and following up on non- 30 compliance issues identified by Miitigoog, MNRF or the public. MNRF will continue to develop 31 an annual compliance plan at the district level and focus on priority areas identified in that plan 32 as appropriate. 33 34 Compliance performance on the forest will be communicated to the local citizens committee for 35 their review during monthly meetings if there are specific issues, and annually in the fall 36 associated with the review of the Annual Report. 37 38 There are a variety of methods and procedures that can be employed as part of the overall 39 monitoring program, including direct methods, such as field inspections and observations, as well 40 as indirect methods such as the use of aerial photography. Both formal and informal procedures 41 will contribute to an effective monitoring program. The Compliance Plan for the Kenora Forest 42 provides specific details of monitoring and assessment to be conducted during the 2012-2022 43 period. 44 45 Miitigoog LP is the Kenora SFL holder and is solely responsible for all obligations and 46 responsibilities under the SFL agreement. As of April 1, 2011, all operational management 47 responsibilities are conducted through a service agreement by Miisun Integrated Resource 48 Management Inc. (Miisun). 49

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1 The compliance strategy outlined within the FMP will assist in improving operating practices. It 2 will guide and direct all company, overlapping licenses, shareholders, and contracted activities. 3 In support of this Miitigoog will be responsible for: 4 • Forest management activities (planning, renewal, roads, etc.) on the Kenora Forest 5 • Implementation of the compliance plan including education, monitoring, and supervision 6 of operations, FOIP maintenance and updates, and; 7 • Reporting of the Kenora Forest compliance program

8 There are a number of focus areas associated with this compliance plan that are based upon 9 historical and/or current trends that highlight potential areas for improvement. These focus areas 10 are summarized below along with their associated action plans that are ongoing. 11 12 i. Water Crossing Installations: Although there have not been many issues with proper 13 watercourse crossing installations on the Kenora forest, it will remain a focus area due to 14 its high importance. 15 ii. Forestry Aggregate Pit Reclamation: There have been concerns with completing 16 consistent and acceptable reclamation of Forestry Aggregate pits. Issues included 17 improper back sloping and pulling back of organics, trees within 5m of excavated face, 18 and pit depth. 19 20 iii. Decked Wood: Generally, seasonal or market constraints were the main factor in this 21 fibre not being moved within an appropriate time.

22 iv. Slash Debris Management: The proper management of this debris in accordance with 23 standards will be a key focus area now and into the future. The specific area of 24 improvement will be the location of slash piles (i.e. not pushed into standing timber)

25 v. Industrial Garbage: In some cases garbage has been left in harvest blocks after 26 operations are completed. 27

28 8.7.1.3 Objectives, Strategies and Actions 29 30 The goal of the compliance plan is to encourage and ensure adherence to rules and requirements 31 which contribute to the sustainable management of Ontario’s forests. There are a number of 32 specific compliance objectives, strategies, and actions set forth in support of achieving this goal; 33 34 Objective: Resource Protection 35 • Strategy: To prioritize forest ecosystem integrity in the planning and implementation of 36 all harvest, access, renewal-maintenance and protection activities 37 o Utilize sound management techniques, adhere to established operating 38 procedures and management guidelines 39 • Strategy: To continuously evaluate forest operations for impacts on the environment 40 o Reviewing pre-works with operators 41 o Ongoing inspections and audits of active operations

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1 o Monitoring operations on shallow soils 2 • Strategy: To manage and protect against fire, disease and insects 3 o Prepare and implement a fire prevention plan as part of the AWS 4 o Monitor and report any changes to the forest cover as a result of disease and/or 5 insect infestation.

6 Objective: Staff & Operator Training 7 • Strategy: To ensure appropriate training is supplied to those with forest management 8 responsibilities regarding current and upcoming standards 9 o Staff, licensees and/or contractors participate in training workshops and site visits 10 • Strategy: To ensure staff, licensees and/or contractors are trained to recognize and 11 implement environmentally sound practices. 12 o Staff licensees and/or contractors are trained at least annually in standard 13 operating procedures, environmental policy, and emergency response 14 processes. 15 o Pre-work reviews with each new block and/or work project 16 o Requiring that licensees and contractors train their employees in all applicable 17 standards and procedures.

18 Objective: Education and Communication 19 • Strategy: To ensure management personnel and operators are knowledgeable and 20 competent in the regulations, guidelines and policies related to compliance. 21 o Promote open communication with MNRF 22 o Staff to participate in all applicable MNRF training sessions (i.e. compliance 23 courses, stand & site guideline training, watercourse crossings, etc.) 24 o Facilitating training sessions as required for various safety and environmental 25 standards that exist on the forest 26 o Continued focus on self-reporting by operators 27 • Strategy: To ensure management personnel are current and updated on the new forest 28 science, planning process and operational techniques related to ecosite management 29 and forest operations. 30 o Ensure non-compliance issues are identified in a timely manner and appropriate 31 action is taken to identify, document, and mitigate concerns. 32 o Staff to participate in all applicable MNRF training sessions (i.e. compliance 33 courses, stand & site guideline training, watercourse crossings, etc.)

34 Objective: Compliance Efficiency 35 • Strategy: To conduct compliance activities in a cost effective and efficient manner 36 o Utilize multiple techniques (aerial, ground, photography, etc.) to monitor 37 operational activities 38 o Encourage joint inspections or joint time in the field to ensure calibration 39 o Ensuring timely submission of FOIP reports 40 Objective: Increase Compliance with Legislation, Plans, Policies

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1 • Strategy: To stay current with changes in compliance policies, procedures and 2 guidelines. 3 o Participate in MNRF training sessions which relate to the compliance program 4 • Strategy: To conduct activities in a manner that meets or exceeds existing standards 5 o Implement all applicable legislation, policies, and procedures 6 o Conduct pre-work reviews with each new block and/or work project 7 o Maintain and continually update operational procedures 8 Objective: Overcome Historical Compliance Problems 9 • Strategy: To actively monitor forest operations, evaluate results, and take corrective 10 action as required. 11 o Analyze forest operations compliance information report data 12 o Include within each AWS focused compliance monitoring areas based upon 13 historical trends and/or changes to compliance standards. 14 o Incorporate focus areas from this compliance plan into field inspections to 15 proactively manage historical trends.

16 Objective: Continuous Improvement 17 • Strategy: To develop benchmarks, both locally and regionally within the forest 18 operations to measure the improvements and performance 19 o Collect appropriate field data to be able to analyze and verify required changes 20 to the compliance program 21 • Strategy: To develop an action plan to remedy recurring problems 22 o Identify and recommend solutions that will improve the overall compliance 23 program 24 o Continue to work with licensees and/or contractors in the process of compliance 25 monitoring and self-reporting.

26 8.7.1.4 Roles and Responsibilities 27 Forest Management Program • Management Forester Identification of Certified Inspectors • General Manager Forest Operations • Forestry Technician • General Manager • Management Forester Compliance Inspections • Forestry Technician Review and Approval of FOIP • General Manager Company Representation • General Manager • Management Forester • Miitigoog President • Miitigoog Vice President Preventative, Mitigative Actions • Forestry Technician • General Manager • Management Forester

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• Overlapping Licensees & Employees and sub-contractors • Contractors & Employees and sub- contractors Prevention, Monitoring, Reporting • Forestry Technician • General Manager • Management Forester • Overlapping Licensees & Employees and sub-contractors • Contractors & Employees and sub- contractors Training • Forestry Technician • General Manager • Management Forester 1

2 8.7.1.5 Notification of Status 3 4 The Forest Compliance Handbook (2014) outlines the specific requirements regarding notification 5 of operational status. Notification will be given to the MNRF when: 6 • Operations are about to commence (Start-Up Notification). Such notification will be 7 provided within 5 working days of the beginning of a new operation. 8 • Operations are temporarily stopped but not finished (Suspended). Such notification will 9 be made within 20 days of suspending an operation or activity, and will clearly describe 10 the operation being suspended, its location, the reason for the suspension, and the likely 11 date of activities being resumed. 12 • Operations are released for final MNRF inspection (Release) in writing, not more than 13 10 working days prior to the start of a new operation within the CRA. A Release 14 Notification must be clear and specific about the location, what is being released, the 15 area being released and why the release is being provided. This may be done where 16 the Licensee wishes to: 17 o Commence a new operation on that area such as renewal; and 18 o To acknowledge harvest is finished but the wood has yet to be hauled; and/or 19 o To allow compliance to be assessed for that portion of the operation that is 20 finished. 21 • A Completed Notice must be filed for those CRSs (blocks) where a Compliance 22 Inspection is not proposed as part of the risk management strategy in the approved FMP 23 or AWS. The Completed Notice must identify the CRA, its location, and must be filed 24 within 20 working days of the operation being completed. 25 26 Notifications will generally take the form of existing digital spreadsheets and will be communicated 27 to all MNRF personnel on a monthly basis that require such notification. Changes in the format 28 and/or distribution of this information will change over time as improvement opportunities arise 29 and/or are requested. One immediate change that will be implemented will be the inclusion of all 30 suspended FOIPs that have not been closed off within the monthly report.

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2 8.7.1.6 Prevention, Avoidance, and Mitigation 3 4 It is the responsibility of the SFL holder to take action to prevent and avoid potential operational 5 issues in a decisive, timely and appropriate manner. 6 Where any industry operating personnel, during ongoing monitoring of operations, identify a 7 situation they believe could be an operational issue(s), they will undertake one of the following 8 actions: 9 1. If they feel it is a violation of the approved plan or a threat to the environment, they will 10 immediately stop the operation and take the necessary steps to stop further possible 11 non-compliance/harm. 12 2. They will immediately report the situation to Miisun staff who will arrange for an 13 immediate compliance inspection of the issue. A Miisun staff will determine if the 14 situation is a violation of an approved plan or a threat to the environment and what 15 further action to take. 16 3. If the situation cannot be immediately corrected, a company certified inspector will 17 submit a report in FOIP that documents their findings and an operational issue. They 18 will also identify the issue to the MNRF and other regulatory agencies as appropriate.

20 8.7.1.7 Compliance Reporting Areas (CRAs) 21 22 In general FOIPs will generally be submitted on a block or project basis. Blocks licensed to the 23 same contractor/licensee in the same geographic area may be grouped together into a CRA. This 24 would apply to harvesting and access inspections. Renewal inspections will be grouped by 25 activity and contractor. 26 27 Block specific inspections will be named by their block and approval number. In cases where 28 more than one block is included within a CRA, the first operational block will be used for the 29 naming of the compliance report, and the description within that report will clearly outline what 30 other blocks are included. 31

33 8.7.1.8 Risk Analysis and Management 34 35 With all forestry operations there are inherent risks that could cause environmental, social or 36 operational concerns. The focus for forest compliance planning is achieving the best risk 37 management decision in the planning and allocation of forest compliance monitoring resources 38 given all the other mitigating measures that may have been put in place so that an appropriate 39 balance is struck among: 40 41 • minimizing of the likelihood of non-compliant occurrences;

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1 • minimizing the probability of the failure of monitoring systems to detect a non- 2 compliance; and 3 • minimizing the amount of or adequately mitigating any loss or damage resulting from a 4 non-compliance. 5 6 The Miitigoog internal Environmental Management System (EMS), which includes annual 7 Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) awareness training, multiple SFI audits annually and EMS 8 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), compliments the compliance reporting requirements of 9 the Forest Compliance Handbook. 10 11 To maintain consistency in assessing risk, a score is assigned based on the likelihood of an 12 impact to a value that is to be protected and the capability of the people applying the protection. 13 It is believed that this method of ranking impacts meets the requirements of the MNRF 14 Compliance Handbook on risk analysis. 15 16 Harvesting Risk 17 All forest operations are evaluated and ranked as to whether they pose a significant impact on 18 the environment or to society (Risk Assessment Impact). Where AOC prescriptions, CROs, 19 Conditions on Roads, Landings and Aggregate Pits (CORLAP) and operating procedures within 20 the FMP are based on the sensitivity of the value to forestry activities, compliance risk is based 21 on the likelihood an impact will occur. 22 23 These Risk Assessment Impacts (RAIs) will be refined and assigned to blocks in the AWS 24 compliance reporting area (CRA) included in the AWS based on the following criteria: 25 • The sensitivity of the value (e.g. increased sensitivity to logging = increased inspections), 26 • The compliance history of licensee/overlapping licensee/contractor (e.g. poor compliance 27 history = increased inspections), 28 • Input from Miitigoog Forest Operations Committee, overlapping licensees and MNRF field 29 staff. 30 31 In addition, the previous performance with regard to compliance issues for all operators is an 32 important consideration: 33 34 • Operators that have received Miitigoog EMS training annually for the previously two (2) 35 years and with no non-compliances within the previous three (3) years are considered 36 “low” risk. A Notice of Completion of the harvest will be submitted to the MNRF. 37 • Operators that have received Miitigoog EMS training annually for the previously two (2) 38 years, but have non-compliances in the past three (3) years are considered “high” risk. A 39 FOIP report will be submitted to the MNRF. 40 • Operators that are newly trained in the Miitigoog EMS procedures or have not operated 41 on the forest in the previous two (2) years are considered “high” risk. A FOIP report will 42 be submitted to the MNRF. 43 44 Forest Renewal Risk 45 Tree planting, aerial seeding, pre-commercial thinning and mechanical site preparation are 46 deemed to be low risk activities. A notice of completion for each renewal activity will be submitted 47 to the MNRF. 48

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1 Herbicide application is considered a “high” risk activity. A FOIP report will be submitted to the 2 MNRF for each contractor/project. 3 4 Road Construction Risk 5 The construction of primary and branch roads will have one FOIP report completed per operator 6 per year and submitted to the MNRF or upon completion of the project. 7 8 Road Maintenance Risk 9 Common road maintenance activities (grading, gravelling, dust control, ditching, cleaning) are 10 considered low risk and do not require notice to MNRF. Ditching or cleaning a right-of-way within 11 a water quality AOC will be inspected. A notice of completion of these road maintenance activities 12 will be submitted to the MNRF. 13 14 Water Crossing Risk 15 Water crossing work is inherently a higher risk operation as there are potentially risks related to 16 erosion, fisheries habitat, bank stabilization, etc. For this reason a FOIP report will be completed 17 for all bridge or culvert (drainage pipes not included) installations or removals. A FOIP report will 18 also be submitted for each winter crossing removal. 19 20 For compliance reporting areas that incorporate multiple water crossings in an access report, an 21 inspection must be done and a FOIP report submitted to the MNRF within ten (10) days of the 22 completion of the final water crossing installation/removal. Multiple water crossings will only be 23 compiled where they are part of a single access operation. When multiple crossings are to be 24 compiled into one FOIP access report, a Start-up notice will be submitted for each crossing. For 25 any water crossing installation/removal where an operational issue occurs, an inspection and 26 subsequent FOIP report will be completed. 27 28 Mitigation Strategies 29 It is the responsibility of the OFRL and contractor to take every reasonable action to prevent and 30 avoid potential operational issues in a decisive, timely and appropriate manner, thereby 31 mitigating any loss or damage, or correcting the situation and ensuring a compliant status. In 32 order to facilitate this and be proactive in preventing non-compliance issues, Miisun completes 33 annual EMS spring training and during this training any compliance issues from the previous 34 year are identified as “focus areas” for the upcoming year. Miisun also conducts EMS audits on 35 harvesting contractors a minimum of twice per year per contractor. 36 37 Prior to an operation starting, a pre-work sheet is given to each OFRL or contractor and 38 reviewed with a Miisun representative. The pre-work sheet contains all pertinent information to 39 the operation (map, AOC prescriptions, work instructions, etc.). This document is reviewed with 40 the OFRL/contractor and signed prior to operations commencing. Miitigoog/Miisun require that 41 OFRL/operators retain a copy of the pre-work, an EMS reference card and SFI binder with each 42 operation. 43 44 During operations, emphasis is placed on the prevention and avoidance of activities that may 45 lead to a non-compliance. This is accomplished through training and communication with the 46 OFRL/contractor. The root cause of an undesirable activity or event will be determined and 47 appropriate action prescribed. Action will be consistent with the potential for non-conformance to 48 legislation and the ability to adapt so that non-compliance does not become a recurring 49 problem.

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2 8.7.1.9 Monitoring Compliance of Forest Operations 3 4 This section provides a description of monitoring compliance of forest operations on the Kenora 5 Forest. 6 7 Forest Operations to be Monitored for Compliance 8 9 Forest operations compliance inspections and reports are related to the operations and their 10 corresponding activities identified below. Activities have been associated with the operations to 11 which the area most closely is related to or are most likely to occur. As well, there will be activities 12 that are associated with all four operations (i.e. Fire Prevention and General Activities). 13 14 Access Operations 15 • Aggregates 16 • Area of Concern 17 • Fire Prevention 18 • Road Construction (new and maintenance) 19 • Water Crossing (new and maintenance) 20 • General Activities 21 22 Harvest Operations 23 • Area of Concern 24 • Cutting 25 • Fire Prevention 26 • Wood Measurement / Measurement 27 • Utilization 28 • Road Construction 29 • General Activities 30 31 Renewal Operations 32 • Pesticide Application 33 • Renewal 34 • Site Preparation 35 • General Activities 36 37 Maintenance Operations 38 • Pesticide Application 39 • Tending 40 • General Activities 41 42 Compliance inspection report procedures on the Kenora Forest will follow direction from the 43 Forest Compliance Handbook (2014) procedure FOR 07 03 05. 44 45

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1 8.7.1.10 Opportunities for LCC Involvement 2 3 The Terms of Reference for the Kenora Forest Local Citizens Committee does not contain specific 4 commitments with regard to the involvement of the LCC in the forest operations inspection 5 program and the MNRF’s monitoring of forest operations. However, committee members are 6 provided with an annual overview of the forest operations compliance activities during the 7 presentation of the Annual Reports, Annual Work Schedule and from time to time updates of 8 issues and trends. Significant non-compliance issues and recent activities will be brought to the 9 LCC attention at regular scheduled meetings in order to provide a sense of awareness as well as 10 educating the LCC members through reporting on the activities in progress on the forest. 11

12 8.7.2 Exceptions 13 14 Exceptions monitoring will be carried out to determine the effectiveness of prescriptions included 15 in the management plan that are not recommended (NR) in MNRF forest management guides. 16 These exceptions monitoring programs are identified below. 17 18 The exception monitoring may occur at either the district, regional or provincial levels, depending 19 on the significance of the exception. A good example of this is the monitoring procedures and 20 best practices for full tree harvesting on shallow soil sites (see below). The Full Tree Harvesting 21 of Ecosites 11 and 12 In Northwestern Ontario: Monitoring Procedures and Best Management 22 Practices (April 1, 2001) is a carryover from the 2006 FMP and 2011 Contingency Plan. 23 24 The LCC will be given the opportunity to review the results of exceptions monitoring. Significant 25 exceptions monitoring issues that concern the LCC will be brought to the committee’s attention at 26 regular scheduled meetings. If the Local Citizens Committee would like to be included in a field 27 visit, the data and maps would be provided. 28 29 Compliance performance on the forest will be communicated to the LCC for their review during 30 monthly meetings if there are specific issues, and annually in the fall associated with the review 31 of the Annual Report. 32 33 34 Monitoring of Full Tree Logging on Shallow Sites 35 36 The full tree logging of ecosites 11 and 12 where total organic matter plus soil depth is less than 37 20 cm. is designated as a ‘not recommended’ practice in the Silvicultural Guide to Managing for 38 Black Spruce, Jack Pine, and Aspen on Boreal Forest Ecosites in Ontario (MNRF, 1997). This 39 practice has been identified as an “exception” in this plan. Where this activity occurs, the 40 monitoring program, including timing and duration, described in Full Tree Harvesting of Ecosites 41 11 and 12 In Northwestern Ontario: Monitoring Procedures and Best Management Practices 42 (April 1, 2001) will be implemented by the company (Supplementary Documentation C). 43 44 The forest industry is contributing to a comprehensive, region-wide initiative to monitor the impact 45 of this treatment on these site conditions, as outlined in this forest management plan. As part of 46 this monitoring program, these shallow soil sites have been identified in this forest management 47 plan and operations will be conducted in accordance with the best management practices. 48

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1 Ecosites in the Kenora Forest are identified in the forest resources inventory and are identified 2 within the planned operations digital information supplied to MNRF with the forest management 3 plan. Actual Ecosite 11 and 12 areas scheduled for activities in the Annual Work Schedules will 4 be identified through interpretation of aerial photographs and field checked prior to harvest. 5 6 The rationale for using full tree harvesting on these sites is that it is currently the common method 7 of harvest and it would be uneconomical to bring in specialized equipment to harvest scattered 8 areas of shallow soils. The shallow soil sites on the Kenora Forest are, for the most part, 9 productive and, it is felt, that using full tree logging in a careful manner will preserve the sites 10 nutrient capacity. 11 12 13 Not Recommended Renewal Treatments 14 The following treatments are included in Silvicultural Ground Rules (FMP-4) and are exceptions 15 to the silvicultural guides. The application of these treatments on these ecosites is not planned, 16 but they may form a very minor component of renewal options for forest unit areas being treated 17 in this plan period. Exceptions monitoring programs will be determined with MNRF if any of the 18 following treatments are planned to be implemented: 19 20 - Artificial seeding of black spruce on ES 14, 21. 21 - Aerial seeding of jack pine on ES 21. 22 - Natural regeneration of jack pine on ES 21.

24 8.7.3 Assessment of Regeneration Success 25 26 An important component of the monitoring program is determining the success of the harvest, 27 renewal and tending operations in regenerating the forest to the desired future forest condition. 28 Assessments are conducted to determine the status of the regeneration on particular sites, the 29 effectiveness of silvicultural treatments and the need for any additional treatments. The 30 monitoring program will assess the success of silvicultural activities in the achievement of 31 standards contained in the silvicultural ground rules (Table FMP-4). 32 33 “Silvicultural Success” is defined as meeting the regeneration standards for a desired future 34 forest unit, by means of an intended silvicultural prescription and treatment, as per the silvicultural 35 ground rules (SGRs) in Table FMP-4. The overall intent is to achieve a successful regeneration 36 standard for all harvested areas. Although some areas may achieve a free-to-grow status, they 37 may not necessarily be considered “successful” with respect to the desired future forest unit or 38 the intended silvicultural prescription and treatment (e.g. the regeneration standards for the 39 intended future forest unit were not met, however regeneration standards for another forest unit 40 were met called “Regeneration Success”). 41 42 One purpose of silviculture effectiveness monitoring is to create a new stand description used to 43 update the forest resources inventory. The basic parameters to be measured are: 44 45 Species Composition - the proportion of canopy-height trees by species (expressed as a %, can 46 be rounded to the nearest 10%) Example: Pj70 Po20 Sb10. The species composition 47 for the new stand description will be comprised of trees that are predicted to form a

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1 component of the mature forest canopy. Under-story trees can be factored in to the 2 listing to note their presence, but it is the canopy-height trees that will form the majority 3 of future volume and basal area in the stand. 4 5 Height – the average canopy height of the working group species. 6 7 Stocking - describes the percentage of the total stand area that is occupied by free-growing trees. 8 For even-aged boreal forest stands, this value (expressed as a %) is meant to express 9 the actual basal area compared with the basal area in a normally stocked stand. In 10 young stands, this parameter is often estimated using surrogate measures such as 11 canopy coverage or percentage of fixed area plots having regenerated trees. 12 13 The effectiveness of silvicultural treatments is related to the achievement of forest management 14 plan renewal objectives. The assessment includes determination of compliance with the minimum 15 regeneration standards (as stated in Table FMP-4, and further described in Section 8.2.2.1 16 Silvicultural Ground Rules). Silvicultural effectiveness monitoring is used to confirm growth and 17 yield development information. Data collected is used to confirm the yield curve on which 18 individual stands are expected to track. 19 20 The results of assessments are the basis for determining if the regeneration levels associated 21 with the Long-term Management Direction have been met. These results can be used to adjust 22 modelling assumptions and future silvicultural strategies. 23

24 8.7.3.1 Assessment Methods 25 26 Assessments are conducted to determine the status of the regeneration on particular sites, the 27 effectiveness of silvicultural treatments and the need for any additional treatments. The 28 monitoring program will assess the success of silvicultural activities in the achievement of 29 standards contained in the silvicultural ground rules (Table FMP-4). Table FMP-21 gives a 30 summary of area to be assessed for regeneration success. The areas listed in the table will be 31 assessed for free-to-grow (FTG) status. These areas are generally assessed 10 years after 32 harvest and renewal. The area in FMP-21 (14,704 ha) is based on the area available for FTG 33 surveys, reflecting areas that were harvested between 2002-2011. 34 35 Estimates of actual SGR applied were made based on the limited digital silviculture data available, 36 and related to the SGRs from the 2012 FMP in table FMP-4. 37 38 Ocular estimate surveys will be conducted from the air via helicopter, with ground truthing. Some 39 areas will also be surveyed on the ground depending on helicopter availability and road access. 40 This survey methodology is intended for use in stands where accurate estimates of stand 41 conditions can be obtained through an ocular assessment, such as found in relatively pure 42 species forest conditions like naturally regenerated poplar. This survey methodology is designed 43 for strata that have undergone extensive or basic silviculture intensity treatments, where density 44 regulation is not desired. These surveys will be conducted by experienced forestry workers who 45 will complete an ocular assessment of species composition, average height and stocking. 46 Previous on-the ground assessments following the pre-free to grow methodology found in 47 Supplementary Documentation D will be used to determine suitability for ocular estimate strata 48 and as a guide for species composition and stocking during the ocular estimate survey..

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1 2 The survey methodology follows the Well-Spaced Free-Growing Regeneration Assessment 3 Procedure for Ontario (MNRF 2005) (Supplementary Documentation D). 4 5 One purpose of free-to-grow surveys is to create a new stand description used to update the 6 forest resources inventory (FRI). The results of the free-to-grow assessments will be documented 7 and reported through the annual reporting process. From past experience on the Kenora Forest, 8 it is expected that over 90% of the area to be assessed will be classed as free-to-grow. The 9 remainder may require additional time (e.g. 5 years) or additional treatment to meet free-to-grow 10 status, as determined by the free-to-grow survey. 11 12 Slash/chip Debris Areas, Landings, Decommissioned Roads 13 • Slash/chip debris areas, landings, and decommissioned roads will be assessed for the 14 effectiveness of treatments during regeneration and free–to-grow assessments and will be 15 considered in the determination of the free-to-grow status for the area. 16 • The methodology to be undertaken is outlined in this section of the FMP and will ensure that 17 a minimum of 70 % on extensive treated areas and 80% on basic or intensive treated areas 18 site occupancy standard is achieved across the entire assessment area. The assessment 19 area will include all harvested areas, landings, slash and chip debris piles and roads that are 20 to be renewed, excluding only those areas that did not originally support production forest 21 (rock outcrops) and retained roads. Assessment areas with more than 20% gaps (16 m2 22 circular plot areas without a single target or acceptable tree species over 30 cm in height) 23 would not be identified as free-to-grow. 24 • The regeneration standards to be achieved on new or existing slash/chip debris areas or 25 landings (three years old or less) will be the same as those in the applicable SGR. 26 • The regeneration standards to be achieved on older slash/chip pile debris areas (more than 27 three years old), landings and decommissioned roads will be the same as those in the 28 applicable SGR unless otherwise stated as part of a different rehabilitation strategy. 29 • The monitoring program includes the creation and maintenance of an inventory of new and 30 existing (three years old or less) slash debris piles, chip debris piles and landings by location 31 (mapped), age and category (biofibre or debris), to enable the scheduling of treatment 32 operations in the AWS, tracking biofibre opportunities, and to report the effectiveness of these 33 treatments in the Annual Reports. 34 • The monitoring program requires reporting of the effectiveness of slash/chip debris, landings, 35 and decommissioned road treatment and regeneration annually, and reporting on the loss of 36 production landbase (objective achievement) in the year 3, 7, and 10 Annual Report. 37 38 All Other Silviculture Operations 39 • This FMP includes a clear and concise survey assessment methodology for both intensive 40 and extensive evaluations (including block stratification, calibration methods, ground truthing, 41 quality control, and documentation). The assessment methodology provides results that can 42 be evaluated against MNRF’s silvicultural effectiveness monitoring assessments which are 43 used to verify the results reported (assessment methodologies in Supplementary 44 Documentation D – Assessment of Regeneration Success). 45 • Site occupancy will be determined as a component of the regeneration assessment and in 46 determining the free-to-grow status for the area. 47 • In determining site occupancy the assessment area will include all harvested areas, landings, 48 slash and chip debris piles and roads that are to be renewed, excluding only those areas that 49 did not originally support production forest (rock outcrops) and retained roads. Assessment

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1 areas with more than 20% gaps (16 m2 circular plot areas without a single target or 2 acceptable tree species over 30 cm in height) would not be identified as free-to-grow. 3 • Silvicultural effectiveness monitoring (SEM) will be undertaken by MNRF. SEM information 4 will be used to verify results reported in year-3/7/10 Annual Reports, to review or determine 5 changes to renewal rates, to determine any necessary modification for Phase II operations 6 (e.g. to address silvicultural shortfalls), and to verify or make adjustment to the silvicultural 7 inputs and yield curves for future FMPs. 8 • Regeneration surveys will be considered to verify establishment (e.g. competition, site 9 occupancy and species composition) and to determine if additional treatments are necessary 10 to ensure projected stand development is in accordance with the SGR and FMP strategic 11 long term management direction (LTMD) with an emphasis on sites with high potential risk of 12 failure and those of high value (i.e. intensive treatments that are of strategic importance to 13 the LTMD). 14

15 8.7.3.2 Area to be Assessed for Regeneration Success 16 17 A summary of the area to be assessed for the determination of regeneration success during this 18 10-year plan period is presented in Table FMP-21. 19 20 The total area planned for assessment during the 2012-2022 plan period is projected to be 14,704 21 hectares of harvested area, no salvage harvest area and no natural depletion area. It is 22 anticipated that at least 50% of these will be assessed as successfully regenerated according to 23 the regeneration standards in Table FMP-4 during the second five-year term of this plan 24 (approximately 7,000 hectares). Additional area is expected to be successfully regenerated in 25 the second five-year term. 26 27 The majority of the surveys will be conducted in depletions from the two previous FMP terms 28 (2001-2006 and 2006-2012), with the most significant amount of area surveyed originating from 29 the intolerant hardwood mix forest unit (HMX, 5,808 hectares), the conifer mixed wood forest unit 30 (CMX, 2,629 hectares), the jack pine mix forest unit (PJM, 1,993 hectares), and the jack pine 31 dominated forest unit (PJD, 1,275 hectares). The vast majority of the surveys will be conducted 32 in recent cutovers (i.e. approx. 5-10 years old). The regeneration standards for these surveys 33 depend on the timeframe in which it was harvested and the last FMP SGR applied to the area. 34 35 The area expected to regenerate successfully during the plan period is lower than the planned 36 harvest area. The area harvested recently is lower than planned due to the down turn in the forest 37 industry. The free growing surveys are up to date at the beginning of this plan term. Prompt 38 regeneration of harvested areas by the company has minimized the areas not yet deemed to have 39 met regeneration standards. 40 41 The results of the assessment of regeneration success will be documented and reported annually 42 through the annual reporting process (AR-13). 43 44 The plan’s Forest Renewal objective as identified in Objective 9 (Table FMP-9) is “To successfully 45 regenerate harvest areas to Free-Growing status in a manner that is consistent with the 46 regeneration standards outlined in the Silvicultural Ground Rules”. There are three indicators for 47 this objective that will be monitored through the implementation of this forest management plan: 48

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1 (9a) Regeneration Success: Percent of harvested forest area assessed as free-growing 2 by forest unit; 3 (9b) Silvicultural Intensity: Planned and actual percent of harvest area treated by silvicultural 4 intensity; and 5 (9c) Silvicultural Success: Planned and actual percent of area successfully regenerated to 6 the projected forest unit by forest unit. 7 8 The results of the assessment of objective achievement will be documented and reported through 9 the annual reporting process (AR-14). 10 11 The annual report will be presented to the Local Citizens Committee. If the Local Citizens 12 Committee would like to include some surveyed areas in a field visit, the data and maps would be 13 provided.

15 8.7.4 Roads and Water Crossings 16 17 All existing and newly constructed primary, branch and operational roads, and associated water 18 crossings that are the responsibility of the company are subject to inspection and monitoring, to 19 ensure no environmental or public concerns arise. Table FMP-18, Road Construction and Use 20 Management, summarizes planned new road construction and use management for all primary, 21 branch, and operational roads or operational road networks, for the ten-year period. Existing 22 roads that are the responsibility of the licensee are also identified. 23 24 While the road/road network is in use for forest management purposes (e.g. Harvest, Renewal, 25 Tending, Transportation and Hauling activities), it will be monitored on an ongoing basis with 26 bridges used for ‘heavy truck hauls’ inspected by a certified inspector at least once a year. When 27 the road is not in use for forest management purposes, monitoring will be based on a yearly 28 schedule of specific roads to be inspected. This yearly schedule will be based upon a risk 29 assessment approach with emphasis on the potential values which could be impacted (fish 30 habitat) and the potential for public safety concerns and, at a minimum, these roads (including 31 bridges open to public travel) will be inspected at least once every three years. Monitoring may 32 occur as part of other forest management work such as an aerial survey of values or reforestation 33 (i.e. Stick nest survey or FTG survey). In addition, all staff and contractors (i.e. harvest, renewal 34 and tending contractors) are to report any existing or potential concerns regarding the road/road 35 network and water crossings encountered while travelling on/or over roads throughout the forest. 36 Reports from the general public and other user groups will also contribute to the monitoring of the 37 condition of the roads and water crossings. Additional monitoring will be considered based upon 38 a risk assessment approach following severe weather conditions (e.g. heavy rainfall). 39 40 Monitoring of road construction (new and maintenance) and water crossing (new and 41 maintenance) will also carried out through forest operations compliance inspections and reported 42 through the Forest Operations Inspection Program (See Section 8.7.1.8 Monitoring Compliance 43 of Forest Operations).

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1 8.8 Fire Prevention and Preparedness 2 This section describes the forest fire prevention and preparedness measures to be implemented 3 during the period of the forest management plan. These measures apply to the entire 4 management unit. These measures will address how Miitigoog will prevent the start of wildfires, 5 and how forest workers will be prepared to take immediate action to suppress small fires. These 6 measures will include any business practices and guidelines for modifying industrial operations; 7 developed for fire prevention, preparedness and suppression purpose. 8 9 Miitigoog recognizes that any forest operation undertaken in Ontario must be done with careful 10 consideration to the prevention of forest fires. Accidental wildfire can have a large impact on 11 annual operations or timber sustainability. Operators must also be prepared to safely take initial 12 action to prevent fire spread, should a fire occur. 13 14 Miitigoog and its Shareholders, Overlapping Licensees and Contractors shall adhere to the Forest 15 Fires Prevention Act and associated regulations. As an operational guideline, Miitigoog and its 16 Shareholders, Overlapping Licensees and Contractors will utilize the Modifying Industrial 17 Operations Protocol when determining restrictions on operations, as well as, the standard to meet 18 for minimum fire suppression equipment requirements. Ultimately, the Modifying Industrial 19 Operations Protocol outlines the minimum standard for fire prevention and preparedness that will 20 be achieved by all industrial forest operations associated with this forest management plan. 21

22 8.8.1 Fire Prevention 23 24 It is the responsibility of Miitigoog and its Shareholders, Overlapping Licensees and Contractors 25 to understand and comply with the Forest Fires Prevention Act and the Modifying Industrial 26 Operations Protocol. 27 28 The Modifying Industrial Operations Protocol will be used on a daily basis by all Shareholders, 29 Overlapping Licensees and Contractors during the Fire Season; so that industrial activities are 30 modified as fire danger increases; to reduce the risk of igniting a wildfire. 31

32 8.8.1.1 Fire Situation Awareness 33 34 Due to the variability of each harvest operation, the Shareholder/Overlapping Licensee will do an 35 evaluation of the Fuel Group (1 to 5) for the different areas in their operating area and the 36 Operational Risk (low, moderate, high or very high) for each operation, based on the Modifying 37 Industrial Operations Protocol. 38 39 The MNRFF weather station closest to each operation will be utilized to determine the woods 40 modification that applies to each operation on a daily basis. No other weather station will be 41 considered or authorized for use unless agreed upon by the MNRF. 42 43 Daily communication will occur with the MNRF by all Shareholders, Overlapping Licensees and 44 Contractors working in the Kenora Forest during the Fire Season to determine the Fire Intensity

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1 Codes on a daily basis. The MNRF will normally publish the Fire Intensity Codes by 3 pm CDT; 2 by internet, telephone or faxed/emailed report. 3 4 It is the responsibility of all Shareholders, Overlapping Licensees and Contractors to know the 5 Fire Intensity Codes for the weather stations used by each area of operations daily (the closest 6 weather station to the operation) and determine the operational modifications for that day. 7 8 Should the Fire Intensity Codes not be available in a timely manner, operators will contact the 9 MNRF Sector Response Officer or the Miitigoog/Miisun office to determine the appropriate woods 10 modification that will be in place for their operations prior to commencing work the next day. 11 Operations will be modified on site the following day according to the daily Fire Intensity Code 12 report (available after 3:00 p.m. daily). 13

14 8.8.1.2 Operational Modifications 15 16 Operational modifications may include one of the following measures, which will be used to modify 17 operations on the Kenora Forest: 18 19 P = Prevention (Normal Operations) 20 21 Site Foreman will: 22 . Monitor operations compliance to the Forest Fires Prevention Act and other fire 23 related conditions that are specified within their Annual Work Schedule. 24 . Correct any deficiencies to ensure that all fire related conditions are being 25 adhered to. 26 . Ensure staff are notified daily of hazard. 27 . Consolidate operations where practical. 28 29 Welding/Acetylene Cutting: 30 . Situate equipment on mineral soil and remove all flammable materials from 31 work area. 32 . Ensure the correct size and number of extinguishers is on hand. 33 . Ensure that 1 shovel and 1 back pack pump is on site. 34 . Use welding blankets to prevent spread of burning material where it is not 35 possible to situate equipment on mineral soil. 36 . For areas of possible fire spread, establish a fire watch during work and one 37 hour after completion of the job. 38 39 Smoking: 40 . Sit down before lighting smoking material. Use a lighter instead of wooden 41 matches. 42 . Remain seated until smoking material is extinguished. 43 . Double check to ensure smoking material is dead out before standing up. 44 . Equipment operators must not smoke in their machine as this is considered to 45 be an extension of the workplace – they must exit the cab and follow the above 46 procedure. 47 48 Open Fires:

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1 . Open fires will not be allowed during the period that prevention measures are in 2 place. 3 4 Power Saws: 5 . Must have operable muffler. 6 . Be kept clean and in good running order. 7 . Hot power saws are to be set on mineral soil or a stump; never on forest litter. 8 . Power saws are to be allowed to cool for five minutes before refuelling. 9 . Power saws are to be refueled on mineral soil, and not to be started within 3 10 metres of the fuelling site. 11 . Power saw operators will have a minimum (225 grams) of dry chemical fire 12 extinguisher (ABC type) readily available during the fire season. 13 14 Equipment Maintenance 15 . Check daily for accumulation of flammable material and remove any 16 accumulation found in a safe manner. 17 . Conduct weekly inspection of electrical systems. 18 . Park equipment on a mineral site when not being used. 19 20 Fire Extinguishers: 21 . All operators must keep a serviceable fire extinguisher rated at least 6A-80BC on the 22 equipment or within five metres from it. 23 . When operations are shut down, fire extinguishers maybe removed for security 24 reasons (theft & vandalism). 25 26 Patrols: 27 . During normal operations and prevention measures patrols will be conducted by 28 staff as they leave the operating area for the day. 29 30 31 SS = Short Shift Operations are not permitted between 12:00 and 19:00, local daylight 32 savings time. Prevention measures still apply and a dedicated patrol of 33 the area must be carried out for one hour after operations shut down. 34 35 RS = Restricted Shift Operations are not permitted between 08:00 and 22:00, local daylight 36 savings time. Prevention measures still apply and a dedicated patrol of 37 the area must be carried out for one hour after operations shut down. 38 Identify water sources close to operations prior to commencing any 39 operations. 40 41 SD = Shutdown Operations are not permitted starting at 06:00, local daylight savings time, 42 on the first day of shutdown. Operations will remain suspended until 43 conditions change and Prevention, Short Shift or Restricted Shift is 44 indicated. Prevention measures still apply and a dedicated patrol of the 45 area must be carried out for one-hour after operations cease. Once this 46 initial patrol is complete, lower risk operations working in the vicinity can 47 offer dedicated fire patrols during the shutdown period. 48

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1 Should any of Miitigoog’s shareholders or overlapping licensees be operating during periods of 2 high fire hazard, resulting in Modified Operations restrictions, their travel to and from the work site 3 will also serve as a daily fire detection patrol. Any wildfires will be reported immediately to the 4 MNRF District Fire Management Headquarters. 5 6 The following table (Table 4) outlines the work modifications for limited and trained and capable 7 operations by Operational Risk and Fire Intensity Code. 8 9 Table 5: Work Modifications by Operational Risk and Intensity Code 10 Fire Work Modifications Operational Risk Intensity Code Limited Trained A SD SD B SD RS Very High Risk C SD SS D P P E P P A SD RS B SD SS High Risk C SS P D P P E P P A SD SS B SS SS Moderate Risk C P P D P P E P P Low Risk A,B,C,D,E P P P= Prevention SS=Short Shift RS= Restricted Shift SD= Shut Down 11

12 8.8.1.3 Determining Operational Risk and Fire Danger 13 14 The Modifying Industrial Operations Protocol provides guidance for determining Operational Risk 15 in section 2.0 Determining Operational Risk & Fire Danger. The following are the steps used in 16 making the operational risk and fire danger determination: 17 18 1. Determine Operational Risk using Table 2 of the Modifying Industrial Operations 19 Protocol 20 2. Determine if the forest is in Leaf On/Leaf Off condition through the local MNRF Fire 21 Management Supervisor. 22 3. Determine Fuel Group (1-5) on the worksite using the Fuel Group Decision Keys – 23 Section 6.0 of the Modifying Industrial Operations Protocol. 24 . Determine initial fuel group 25 . Account for applicable modifiers (+1/-1) 26 . Determine final fuel group 27 4. Obtain the fire intensity code:

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1 . using the closes weather station 2 . based on the worksite fuel group 3 . reported each afternoon for the next day 4 5. Determine work modifications, for the next day - using section 4.0 Operational 5 Modifications Table – Table 5 – of the Modifying Industrial Operations Protocol. 6 6. Modify operations the next day as necessary. 7

8 8.8.2 Fire Preparedness 9 10 Annually, a spring meeting (March 15 – April 15) with representative from the MNRF Fire 11 Management Headquarters and the Miitigoog General Manager is organized to prepare for the 12 upcoming fire season, identify training needs, and convey awareness of fire prevention plans and 13 initiatives. 14

15 8.8.2.1 Trained and Capable, and Limited Operators 16 17 As per the Forest Fires Prevention Act and the Provincial Modifying Industrial Operations 18 Protocol, Miitigoog and its Shareholders, Overlapping Licensees and Contractors will be 19 considered either a) trained and capable or b) limited operators. A forest operation, to be 20 considered trained and capable, must meet each of the following criteria: 21 22 1) Prevention: Implementation of an effective prevention program for the type of operation. 23 24 2) Suppression: Minimum resource and equipment availability as identified in Section 1.2 25 of the Modifying Industrial Operations Protocol. 26 27 3) Communication: The ability to communicate and report fires immediately and to receive 28 or obtain updated information on the fire danger. Satellite phones and FM two-way-radio phones 29 are acceptable means of communication. Cell phones are not advised as their reach is poor 30 outside of the immediate Kenora area. 31 . Immediately means two way radio or telephone capabilities from the site to the 32 Miitigoog or MNRF office. 33 34 4) Training: A minimum 25% of all staff involved in forest operations on a particular site must 35 be trained to the MNRF SP-102 standard. 36 . Miitigoog/Miisun will implement refresher training every three years to ensure that their 37 staff are proficient with the material covered within the SP-102 course. 38 39 Operations that do not meet all of the above criteria will be considered Limited Operators with 40 respect to the modifications that will apply to their operations.

41 8.8.2.2 Fire Suppression Equipment 42 43 As part of the Compliance Plan, all Miitigoog Staff, Shareholders, Overlapping Licensees and 44 Contractors will inspect their operations to ensure that there is the proper amount and type of 45 forest fire suppression equipment as per Modifying Industrial Operations Protocol Table 1, and 46 that it is in good working order.

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1 2 Fire suppression equipment requirements are outlined in Section 1.2 Fire Suppression Equipment 3 of the Modifying Industrial Operations Protocol. The minimum fire suppression equipment 4 requirements are as follows: 5 6 A serviceable fire extinguisher will be on or within 5 metres of all mechanical equipment operating 7 in the forest. 8 9 For groups of workers in the same general area, equipment for the suppression of wildfires may 10 be stored in a centrally located fire equipment cache, no more than 10km from the operations, 11 and accessible by ground transportation in fewer than 20 minutes. This includes those operations 12 which are working independently, but in close proximity of one another. i.e. two or more separate 13 operations may aggregate their fire suppression equipment, provided that their operations are 14 within the 10 km radius of the fire cache. A fire equipment cache* contains at a minimum: 15 . one pumping unit, and 16 . 3 shovels. 17 18 In the event the fire cache is used, the fire cache will be replenished to a serviceable state before 19 operations begin the following day. 20 21 The following table (Table 5) outlines the required equipment by type of operations and number 22 of machines. 23 24 25 Table 6: Required Equipment by Type of Operations and Number of Machines 26 Number of Number of Back Pack Equipment Operations Machines Pumps* Caches Heavy Equipment with tire 1 to 5 0 chains or tracks, working in 1/machine forest fuels 6+ 1 OR** Heavy Equipment at work 1 to 9 0 1/machine or hot within a 10km radius of each work operations other (includes hot work). 10+ 1 Tree Plant, manual tending or 1 for every 4 other labour-intensive n/a 0 workers, to a operations maximum of 10/site

* A serviceable pressurized water delivery system located on a machine can replace a backpack pump. **Only one fire equipment cache will be required on site, providing it is within 20 minutes (by ground transportation of all equipment. 27 28 Most non-mechanical, low-risk forest activities such as timber cruising or regeneration surveying 29 do not require fire suppression equipment. However, labour-intensive activities such as hand 30 tending and tree planting do require some suppression tools, as outlined in the table above. 31

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1 8.8.3 Managed Fire Response Plan 2 3 Managed Fire 4 5 The Wildland Fire Management Strategy (2014) provides strategic direction for MNRF’s 6 management of wildland fire within the province of Ontario. Under this strategy, every wildland 7 fire is assessed and receives an appropriate response according to the circumstances and 8 condition of the fire. Wildland fires that are an immediate threat to high values, such as 9 communities, infrastructure, priority wood supply, or cut timber will be responded to as quickly as 10 possible to minimize damages and disruption. Wildland fires that are not threatening values can 11 be managed effectively to limit negative impacts, enable the beneficial ecological role of fire, 12 reduce fire hazards, and manage costs. In order to accurately assess and appropriately respond 13 to each wildland fire, fire managers need accurate information of not only the values that need to 14 be protected from fire, but also the areas where wildland fire would be beneficial and could 15 contribute to the ecological and resource management objectives of an area. 16 17 The Forest Fire Management Strategy for Ontario (MNRF 2004) calls on fire and resource 18 managers to reduce unwanted fire while also promoting the role of fire in ecosystem health, often 19 on neighbouring landscapes. This requires a balanced approach to fire management that ranges 20 from prompt and complete suppression, to monitoring fires that renew and sustain the forest 21 without threat to human values. This balanced approach when responding to fires is essential to 22 the concept of Managed Fire on which the Fire Strategy is based. 23 24 The Kenora Forest Management Unit contains areas that would benefit both ecologically and as 25 a fire hazard reduction from a wildland fire. Areas such as those affected by insect infestations 26 (e.g., Aulneau Peninsula), blowdown or storm-damaged areas (e.g., near Cygnet Road junction 27 and Ingolf), and islands and peninsulas where there are no or few values at risk on Lake of the 28 Woods and Big Sand Lake. This Forest Management Plan provides direction for the potential use 29 of modified or monitored fire response in designated areas in this Sustainable Forest License 30 area to help to achieve both an ecological benefit and a fire hazard reduction. Designated areas 31 will be discussed with MNRF representatives from the Kenora District Office and the Kenora Fire 32 Management Headquarters annually and identified on a map in the Annual Work Schedule. 33

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