Fitzmy Provincial -Management Plan 1984 �. \. '\t 't-t Ministry of Natural � Resources ,,·, Ontario Fitzroy Provincial Park Management Plan 1984 Ministry of � Natural &?) Resources Ontario Limited printed copies of this publication are obtainable only from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Eastern Region Office, Postal Bag # 2002, Kemptville, Ontario KOG IJO. Telephone (613) 258-3411. This publication is also available on microfiche through the Ministry of Government Services, Publications Services, 5th Floor, 880 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M7A IN8. Telephone 1-800-268-7540. 01985 Government of Ontario Printed in Ontario, Canada Ministry of Natural ® Resources Ontario " APPROVAL STATEMENT 1985 03 We are pleased to approve the Fitzroy Provincial Park Management plan as official policy for the management and development of this park. The plan reflects the ministry's intent to protect the natural and cultural features of Fitzroy and maintain high quality opportunities for outdoor recreation and heritage appreciation for residents of ontario and visitors to the province. �,;r-��� . L� NOllTlR:Richards Regional Director Director, Parks and Eastern Region Recreational Areas Branch TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. 0 INT RODUCTION 1. 1 Issues .. ............ 2 2. 0 PARK POLICIES 2. 1 Classification •••••• 4 2. 2 Park goal ••••••••••• 4 2. 3 Objectives •••••••••• 4 2. 4 Park boundary ••••••• 6 2. 5 zoning •••••••••••••• 6 3. 0 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 3. 1 Land-fonu ••••••••••• 8 3. 2 water •.••.•••.••.••• 8 3. 3 vegetation •••••••••• 8 3. 4 Wildlife •••••••••••• 9 3. 5 CUltural resources 9 4. 0 CLIENT SERVICES 4. 1 visitor services ••••10 5.0 DEVELOPMENT 5. 1 Administration ••••••10 5. 2 Traffic ••••••••••••• 10 5. 3 campgrounds •••••••.•10 5.4 Group campgrounds •••12 5.5 Beach facilities ••••12 5. 6 Trails ••••••••••••••12 5. 7 Visitor services facilities ••••••••••12 6.0 IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY ••13 7. 0 PUBLIC CONSULTATION ••••••13 BIBLIOGRAPHY ••••••••••••••••••16 LIST OF FIGURES COVER PHOTO: l. Regional context ••.•••••• 1 Shirreff's 'Point Housel, built 1819 2. Existing development ••••• 3 photo circa 1855 as 3. Significant fea'tures;..... Rev. A. Henderson's residence 5 4. Zoning •••••..••••••.••..• 7 National Photography Collection 5. Proposed development •••••11 Public Archives Canada PA 121 593 figure 1 Regional context Rive r Morris o 1 2 3km J I I I o 20 40 60km I I I I .6. provincial park 1.0 INTRODUCTION near the beach or on the bluffs overlooking the valley. Six popular Fitzroy Provincial Park occupies group camps with a capacity of 600 185 ha along the Ottawa River Valley are used by institutional, about 60 km northwest of ottawa and non-profit organizations and by 20 km east of Arnprior. See Figure adult groups. The park has a boat 1. On its south boundary is the launch and dock and many kilometres 2. village of Fitzroy Harbour. of trails to explore. See Figure Directly west is Ontario Hydro's generating station at Chats Falls. 1.1 Issues Land within the park was first settled in 1819 and farmed Frequently beaches along the Ottawa intennittently until its River downstream from Fitzroy have establishment as a provincial park been closed due to pollution. This in 1959. [9:11-l3] [4] causes croVlding at Fitzroy's beaches. Expansion of the park's The previous levels of proglacial beach facilities will be undertaken and inland sea waters which occupied to accommodate some of this demand. the Ottawa River valley are evident in terraces between the height of Pine plantations will be managed land at the park entrance and the over the long term to restore a more beach on the shore of the ottawa natural character to these areas. River. Glacial rivers, forming channels, cut into sediments laid The park boundary will be extended down millions of years before. vVhen to allow proper management of park this happened the various layers of use and facilities. This extension bedrock displaying the geological will incluce 11.4 ha of the otta\'la history of the region were exposed. River parallel to the water's edge. The Carp River bisects the park Ontario Hydro's rights in this area before emptying into the Ottawa will remain intact. River. Its flow, sluggish in midsummer, has exposed outcrops which display more of the geological history. Remnants of the mixed forest typical of the area still exist and formerly cleared areas are in various stages of natural succession or plantation growth. with the diverse range in soil moisture and depth in the park and various degrees of vegetative succession, a wide variety of plant communities and habitats exist. In and around the park are raninders of the Ottawa Valley's history as a travelway for fur brigades and of the logging industry which was concurrent with agricultural settlement. Today, park visitors can enjoy swimming in the ottawa River, c�nping at one of 248 sites located in two campgrounds and picnicking Figure 2 Existing d evelopm ent 0 Amphitheatre 12] Tra ils E£] Comfort station with showers IE1 telephone I electrical line 0 Parking � Park boundary • \ • XI th Concession • I I f • I i I , I , r '-- r"-' ,�\ \ • ,, :"" \ \ \(' b ,\ P r former group camping a ea ,.----�. .... ______, l(/ - • (-�"""'-----.---"''''-r/ • . ' . I 2. 0 PARK POLICIES 2. 3. 2 Recreation 2. 1 Classification To provide provincial park day use and facility-based camping "Recreation Parks are areas which opportunities in an attractive support a wide variety of outdoor setting. recreation opportunities for large numbers of people in attractive The long-standing use of the park surroundings." [15] Fitzroy is for picnicking and camping will be classified as a Recreation Park maintained and encouraged. Fitzroy providing quality camping, Provincial Park ,annually provides picnicking and swimming in a natural recreational opportunities as setting for visitors to and from the follows. (Shown in brackets is % of Ottawa area. The park contains Carleton Place District supply.) several cultural, geological and vegetation features which are swinming 20 457 (31%) representative in the provincial picnicking 45 276 (26%) park system. As well, the park has camping 63 190 (31%) geological and cultural features of regional significance. Additional opportunities are 2. 2 Park Goal possible with further development as described in sections 5. 3 and 5. 5. The goal for Fitzroy Provincial Park 2. 3. 3 is to provide a range of year-round Heritage Appreciation recreational opportunities within the capabilities of the land base To provide opportunities while encouraging the appreciation for exploration and appreciation of of Ottawa Valley heritage. the outdoor natural and cultural heritage of Ontario. 2. 3 Objectives [14] Fitzroy's special places and 2. 3. 1 Protection features, the pioneer home sites and burial-grounds, the logging, fur To protect provincially trade and geology stories will be significant elements of the natural interpreted through outdoor and cultural landscape of Ontario. exhibits, publications, trail guides and word of mouth. Two small parcels are designated as 2. 3. 4 historical zones, one to protect the Tourism Shirreff building foundations and the other to protect a pioneer To provide Ontario burial-ground. Locally significant residents and visitors from outside natural values of the park will be the province opportunities to protected through appropriate zoning discover and experience the and management policies. For distinctive regions of the province. example, the bluff areas, representing the former banks of the As a base for exploration of the Ottawa, will be protected through local area, the Ottawa Valley and designation as a natural environment the National Capital, Fitzroy zone. This zone also protects an Provincial Park will promote local . example of the southern mixed forest tourism by providing visitors and region along with geological and residents of Ontario with day use geomorphological features. See and camping facilities. Figure 3. Figure 3 Significant features f1B luffs Regionally significant cultural feature f?':'.�"." .. [!] � Regionally significant geological feature [QJ Locally significant cultural feature � Locally significant geological feature Vistas � [§JLocally significant biological feature � I I Internal views \ .. XI th Concession • �, ........... ""�� I Campbell foundation',:'" $�:�'��:�:;�:�>�'. ra �. • • ", .•� �I��'� I .c::nn ....... 2.4 Park Boundary (0.366 ha), a pioneer burial-ground; and theShirreff building To allow proper management of park foundations H2 (0.86 ha) • use and facilities the park boundary Management will focus on scientific will be extended to cover a water research, maintenance and protection area of approximately 11.4 ha. Two of these two sites and on supporting parcels are to be included. One their exploration and appreciation. comprising 10.7 ha, is a 150 m band by visitors. along the Ottawa River parallel to the water's edge from Helen Island 2.5.3 Natural Environment Zone to the intersection of a 150 m southwesterly continuation into the Those parts of the park designated Ottawa River of the park's most natural environment (92.9 ha) southerly boundary. The other is a include blocks of land in the 0.7 ha water area bounded by Helen northeast and northwest of the park Island, the shore and the limits of and corridors along the escarpment Ontario Hydro's right-of-way. These ridge and the Carp River. This areas are shown in Figure 5. zoning protects a locally significant example of the southern 2.5 Zoning mixed forest region of site district 6-12. A distinctive feature of this Three types of zones are designated fo�est is the white pine which drew to guide the management of the park: the lumbermen up the ottawa Valley. two development zones, two The shales and limestones of the historical zones and a natural Rockcliffe Formation along the upper environment zone. See Figure 4. bluff and small outcrops of the All areas will be managed in ottawa Formation on the flats above, accordance with ministry management fall within the protection of this guidelines for the type of zone. zone.