NOTE: This document has been scanned and formatted, and therefore is slightly different from the original version. -March 2002 We are pleased to approve the Sauble Falls Provincial Park Management Plan, as official policy for the management and development of this park. The plan reflects this Ministry’s intent to protect natural and cultural features of the Sauble Falls Provincial Park and maintain high quality opportunities for outdoor recreation and heritage appreciation for both residents of Ontario and visitors to the Province. Regional Director, Director, Parks and Southwestern Region Recreational Areas Branch TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE No. 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Relationship to the Rankin Resources Management Area 1.2 Relationship to Sauble Beach 2.0 PARK POLICIES................................................................................................... 1 2.1 Classification 2.2 Goal 2.3 Objectives 2.3.1 Recreation 2.3.2 Heritage Appreciation 2.3.3 Tourism 2.4 Boundary 2.5 Zoning 3.0 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ............................................................................... 5 3.1 Vegetation 3.2 Fisheries 3.3 Wildlife 4.0 CLIENT SERVICES .............................................................................................. 5 4.1 Visitor Services 4.1.1 Communications 4.1.2 Interpretation 4.1.3 Outdoor Recreation 4.1.4 Education 4.1.5 Staff Development 4.2 Research 4.3 Marketing 5.0 DEVELOPMENT................................................................................................... 6 5.1 Campgrounds 5.2 Day Use Area 5.2.1 Canoeing 5.2.2 Viewing Station 6.0 IMPLEMENTATION .............................................................................................. 8 7.0 PUBLIC CONSULTATION .................................................................................... 8 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Regional Setting............................................................................................... 2 Figure 2. Local Setting .................................................................................................... 3 Figure 3. Park Facilities and Proposed Development .................................................................................... 7 © 1985 Government of Ontario Additional copies of this publication are obtainable only from the Ministry of Natural Resources. 611 Ninth Avenue East, Owen Sound, Ontario N4K 3E4. Telephone: 519-376-3860. 1 skiing, snowmobiling and bird and plant 1.0 INTRODUCTION viewing. Sauble Falls Provincial Park was Sauble Falls Provincial Park complements established in 1960 under Regulation 498 the natural amenities of the area and the and is located 36 kilometres west of Owen local tourist economy by providing a Sound and approximately 2.5 kilometres variety of facilities. There are 152 campsites north of Sauble Beach on County Road 21. consisting of 130 tent-trailer sites and 22 The park is separated by County Road 21 pull-through. There are no electrical outlets. (Figures 1 and 2). The total park area is 20 One group camping area with a capacity of hectares with the west side at 14 hectares 50 people presently exists. The day-use while the east side has approximately 6 area south of the Sauble River has a hectares. The park derives its name from parking capacity of 123 cars. The day-use the picturesque limestone falls along part of area north of the Sauble River has a parking its northern boundary. capacity of 36 cars. The park is underlain by the Guelph 1.1 Relationship to the Rankin Formation; a middle Silurian reefal complex Resources Management Area composed of greyish to brown dolomite. The Sauble River crosses a resistant The Rankin Resources Management Area portion of the dolomite at County Road 21, immediately north of Sauble Falls Provincial resulting in the falls. Park, is an 80 square kilometre complex of lakes, rivers, wetlands, upland forests and The dunes within Sauble Falls Provincial agricultural lands. In addition to private Park are located on part of a great sand landholdings, substantial tracts of land are plain that was deposited by glacial lakes owned by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Nipissing and Algonquin. These features the Sauble Valley Conservation Authority, are related to the dunes and large barrier the Bruce County Board of Education and bar that runs parallel to the Lake Huron the County of Bruce. The area is being coast. Also of interest is the ox-bow which managed to optimize the production and represents an old course of the Sauble utilization of the resources and to attain the River. outdoor recreational targets for the Owen Sound District. The Sauble River is the major hydrological feature in the park. The Rankin River A strong link between Sauble Falls Provin- converges with the Sauble at the northeast cial Park and the Rankin area will be park boundary. established through cooperative efforts with agencies such as the Sauble Valley Vegetation resources are typical of the Conservation Authority and Bruce County. Great Lakes - St. Lawrence forest. The These efforts will include the management result is a variety of vegetation communities of the Rankin River canoe route, develop- dominated by sugar maple, white birch or ment of trails, a visitor services program and white cedar. outdoor education facilities. Sauble Beach constitutes a major focus for 1.2 Relationship to Sauble Beach recreationists and tourists and with Sauble Falls nearby, both features are within easy Sauble Falls Provincial Park will compliment reach of the major cottage communities the private development at Sauble Beach along the Lake Huron and Georgian Bay through the provision of short term camping shoreline. The Rankin Resources opportunities, access to Sauble Falls and Management Area to the north offers the promotion of area attractions. recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing, cross-country 2 2.0 PARK POLICIES 3 4 2.1 Classification District Land Use Guidelines. A total of 114,788 camping opportunities and 104,474 Sauble Falls Provincial Park is classified as day-use opportunities can be provided if the a Recreation class park for its capability to park were to be operated at its maximum provide a diversity of outdoor recreation potential. These figures represent 24% of activities for large numbers of people in the camping opportunities target and 40% of attractive surroundings. Park visitors may the day-use opportunities. participate in a variety of outdoor physical activities, in car camping, in group Management of these opportunities will recreational and educational programmes recognize the park’ s relationship to the and in natural and historical interpretation. community of Sauble Beach. 2.2 Goal 2.3.2 Heritage Appreciation “To maintain and operate Sauble Falls “Providing opportunities for exploration and Provincial Park so as to provide the highest appreciation of natural and cultural possible quality and variety of outdoor environments through interpretation and recreational experiences for large numbers education based upon the character and of people consistent with the capability of significance of Recreation Parks.” the natural and cultural landscape.” The significance of Sauble Falls Provincial 2.3 Objectives Park relates to the Sauble River that flows through the park and to the park’ s Sauble Falls Provincial Park contributes to associations with the Rankin area and the objectives for recreation class parks by: Sauble Beach. At Sauble Falls Provincial Park, interpretive and educational programs 2.3.1 Recreation will reflect the natural features and cultural resources of the area. “Providing day-use opportunities and facility-based camping opportunities in 2.3.3 Tourism areas of outstanding recreation potential” “Providing Ontario residents and out-of- Sauble Falls Provincial Park is associated province visitors with opportunities to with two areas, Sauble Beach and the discover and experience the distinctive Rankin Resources Management Area, both regions of the Province”. of which possess outstanding recreational potentials. The park provides a variety of Sauble Falls Provincial Park will provide day-use and camping opportunities. Some day-use and camping opportunities for of these opportunities will be available on a those tourists travelling through the area. year round basis (for example, hiking, sport The park will also serve as a destination for fishing and viewing the falls). those tourists attracted to Sauble Beach from considerable distances who are The walking trails in the park will integrate seeking camping and recreation with the Rankin area to the north and the opportunities. County and Crown lands to the south. The park’s camping facilities will act as a base Recreational facilities and opportunities for people wishing to visit nearby areas of offered at Sauble will complement those interest. offered elsewhere by the private sector in the area. Efforts will be directed towards The day-use and camping opportunities promoting the variety of tourist facilities and provided at Sauble Falls Provincial Park will recreation opportunities found throughout contribute to achieving the recreational the Sauble area. targets contained in the Owen Sound 5 2.4 Boundary integrated approach will be required in order The park boundary south and east of for the park to achieve its objectives. County Road 21 will over time be extended slightly southwards to encompass the group 3.1