PAP_etat.qxd 18/9/00 9:33 AM Page 4 (1,1) Provisional Master Plan Parc des Pingualuit Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec **plan Pingang HEL.qxd 21/9/00 10:03 AM Page 1 (1,1) Provisional Master Plan Parc des Pingualuit Direction de la planification et du développement des parcs québécois August 2000 Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec **plan Pingang HEL.qxd 21/9/00 10:03 AM Page 2 (1,1) This document was produced by: Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec Édifice Marie-Guyart 675, boulevard René-Lévesque Est, 10e étage Québec (Québec) G1R 5V7 Phone: 1 800 561-1616 (toll free) Website: http://www. fapaq.gouv.qc.ca Direction de la planification et du développement des parcs québécois Phone: (418) 521-3935 Fax: (418) 528-0834 Direction des communications Phone: (418) 521-3845 Fax: (418) 644-9727 Translation Anglocom inc. Graphic Desing Matteau Parent graphisme et communication inc. Photography Jean Boisclair Michel Damphousse Francis Groleau Raymonde Pomerleau Government of Québec 2000 Legal Deposit – 3rd Quarter 2000 Bibliothèque nationale du Québec ISBN: 2-550-36458-9 Publication No.: 9017a-00-08 **plan Pingang HEL.qxd 21/9/00 10:03 AM Page I (1,1) Acknowledgements The production of this report would not have been possible without the participation of many contributors. I would like to extend my special thanks to the following people: Pingualuit Working Group Ms Vicky Gordon Mr. Willie Adams Mr. Michael Barrett Mr. Michel Damphousse Mr. Charlie Ulaku Municipality of Kangiqsujuaq Ms Ulaayu Arngak Ms Betsy Etidloe Mr. Charlie Arngak Mr. Papikatuk Sakiagak Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec Ms Marthe Laflamme Mr. Serge Alain Mr. Jean Boisclair Mr. Stéphane Cossette Mr. Gilles Harvey Mr. André Lafrenière Mr. Louis Lefebvre Mr. André Rancourt Mr. Jacques Talbot Mr. Denis Vandal Raymonde Pomerleau Parc des Pingualuit Project Coordinator Acknowledgements I **plan Pingang HEL.qxd 21/9/00 10:03 AM Page II (1,1) **plan Pingang HEL.qxd 21/9/00 10:03 AM Page III (1,1) Table of Contents Maps V Foreword VII Introduction XI Goal of the Creation of parc des Pingualuit XI Objectives of the Creation of parc des Pingualuit XII Background of the Creation of parc des Pingualuit XII Provisional Master Plan XVI Harvesting Rights of the Beneficiaries of the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement XVI Descriptive Summary of the Study Area 1 Location 1 Main Biophysical Features 1 Climate 1 Geology 1 Topography 2 Surface Deposits and Geomorphology 2 Hydrography 2 Vegetation 2 Wildlife 7 Archeological and Historical Attractions 7 Potential 7 The “Nouveau-Québec Crater” Sector 7 The “Puvirnituq River Corridor” Sector 8 The “Plateau” Sector 8 The “Great Lakes Necklace” Subsector 11 The “Eastern Fringe Hills” Subsector 11 Constraints 11 Environmental Fragility 11 Technical Constraints 13 Boundaries 15 Proposed Boundaries 15 Human Occupation 15 Zoning Plan 19 Maximum Preservation Zone 19 Preservation Zones 19 Ambience Zone 20 Service Zone 20 Table of Contents III **plan Pingang HEL.qxd 21/9/00 10:03 AM Page IV (1,1) Management Guidelines 23 Managing the Natural Environment 23 Activity Management 24 Educational Activities — Natural Environment and Cultural Heritage 24 Recreational Activities in the Natural Environment 25 Delegation of the Management of Park Activities and Services 25 Development Concept 27 Visitor Reception 27 Access To and Travel Within the Park 28 Land Access 28 Winter Conditions 28 Summer Conditions 28 Maritime Access 32 Air Access 32 Accommodation 35 Huts 35 Shelters 36 Camping 36 Activities and Support Equipment 36 Educational Activities — Natural Environment 36 Recreational Areas 37 Hiking 37 Mountain Biking 37 Canoeing 37 Cross Country Skiing 38 Dogsledding 38 Hunting and Fishing 38 Other Activities 38 Conclusion 39 Bibliography 41 IV Parc des Pingualuit **plan Pingang HEL.qxd 21/9/00 10:03 AM Page V (1,1) Maps Map 1: The Network of Parks and Natural Regions IX Map 2: Ungava Plateau Natural Region (B-39) XIII Map 3: Changes in the Limits of the Study Area 3 Map 4: Location Map: Kangiqsujuaq 5 Map 5: Potential 9 Map 6: The Boundaries 17 Map 7: Zoning Plan 21 Map 8: Development Concept 29 Map 9: Park Access Hypotheses 33 The reduced size of certain maps in this publication has no effect on the linear scale but causes some skewing of the numerical scale. If you would like to obtain an original copy of any of the maps, please contact the Direction des communications of the Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec at (418) 521-3845, ext. 4439. Maps V **plan Pingang HEL.qxd 21/9/00 10:03 AM Page VI (1,1) **plan Pingang HEL.qxd 21/9/00 10:03 AM Page VII (1,1) Foreword The 1990s were marked by much greater awareness of environmental issues. At the June 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, 153 countries, including Canada, signed the Convention on Biological Diversity and Sustainable Use of its components. This political gesture was a reflec- tion of the growing concern in modern society for the protection of our planet. It goes without saying that the creation of parks is an excellent means for governments to live up to their commitment. In the mid-1970s, in an effort to protect natural areas of representative or excep- tional value for the enjoyment of existing and future generations, Québec adopted legislation governing the setup of provincial parks. Under this legislation (Map 1), a network of 19 parks has since been created. A marine park was also inaugurated in 1998. In addition, two planned parks have passed the stage of public consultation. The Convention on Biological Diversity, which Québec is responsible for applying within its borders, also shapes the government’s actions with regard to parks. In August 1992, the Ministère du Loisir, de la Chasse et de la Pêche published its Action Plan on Parks entitled “La nature en heritage.” Parc des Pingualuit was the first Nordic park the plan called for. The park is also notable for the fact that its voca- tion is laid out in the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement. Note that responsibility for parks was turned over to the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Faune in 1994, then the Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec in 1999. Foreword VII **plan Pingang HEL.qxd 21/9/00 10:03 AM Page VIII (1,1) cartes ang pour pdf 20/9/00 9:12 AM Page 1 (1,1) **plan Pingang HEL.qxd 21/9/00 10:03 AM Page X (1,1) **plan Pingang HEL.qxd 21/9/00 10:03 AM Page XI (1,1) Introduction In Québec’s Far North, at the highest point of the Ungava Peninsula, lies a fasci- nating body of water —Pingualuk Lake. The perfectly circular lake with waters as crystal clear as any in the world casts a mirror image of its stark surroundings. Its cliff faces, lake bottom, and waters are gradually revealing the secrets of their origin, believed to date back over a million years. It’s easy to understand the interest that the Nouveau-Québec Crater has sparked in the scientific community since its relatively recent “discovery.” The crater is embedded in a rocky plateau laced with numerous long lakes featuring irregular shorelines. Aside from the meteoric phenomenon, the landscape is gently rolling with minimal vegetation that has been unjustly referred to as nonexistent. Wind and cold reign over this rocky kingdom that comes to life during a very brief summer when the days seem to stretch on forever. The fragile, remote, and unforgiving world of parc des Pingualuit will delight visitors with its remarkable setting and primitive beauty. The creation of this park is also a tribute to all those who recognized the value of the Nouveau-Québec Crater, sensed its vulnerability, and worked to ensure its protection. This is particularly true of the Inuit community of Kangiqsujuaq, whose people realized the value of their natural heritage and acted as its stewards for the benefit of current and future generations alike. Goal of the Creation of parc des Pingualuit In its policy on Québec Parks, the Ministère du Loisir, de la Chasse et de la Pêche announced its intention to set up a park network to protect our natural heritage and meet the outdoor recreational needs of Quebecers (MLCP, 1982). In the case of parc des Pingualuit, the Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec proposes to confer the status of conservation park on the area, with a view to protecting an exceptional site of worldwide renown. The crater is unique for its cleanly defined shape, its relatively young age, and the purity of its water. Moreover, the proposal aims to showcase an area representative of the natural region of the Ungava plateau (B-39), whose location is indicated on Map 2. It should be noted that this immense natural region covers some 240,000 km2, or almost the entire peninsula from which it takes its name (Baron-Lafrenière, 1988). It is a flat area dotted with hills and numerous lakes, with an average altitude of 300 m. The plateau, made up mostly of very old rocks, is virtually devoid of vegetation, except at the very southern edge, which coincides with the end of the forest tundra. It is also notable for the presence of continuous permafrost. As for fauna, the area is home to a typically Nordic array of species, including caribou, Ungava lemming, Arctic fox, polar bear, Arctic char, and many others (MLCP, 1986).