Airport Road Conservation Reserve Management Statement
This document provides policy direction for the protection, development and management of the Airport Road Conservation Reserve and its resources.
Statement of Conservation Interest
March 2001
Dryden District
Ministry of Natural Resources
Approval Statement
We are pleased to approve this Statement of Conservation Interest for Airport Road Conservation Reserve (C2321).
This Statement of Conservation Interest will provide guidance for the management of the Conservation Reserve and form the basis for ongoing monitoring of activities. More detailed direction is not anticipated at this time. Should significant facility development be considered or complex issues arise requiring additional studies, more defined management direction, or special protection measures, a more detailed Conservation Reserve Management Plan will be prepared with full public consultation.
Airport Road Conservation Reserve will be managed under the jurisdiction of the Wabigoon Area supervisor, Dryden District, Ministry of Natural Resources.
Signed:
Charlie Lauer
Regional Director
Northwest Region
Ministry of Natural Resources
Date: May 1, 2001
Signed:
R.G. McColm
Dryden District Manager
Ministry of Natural Resources
Date: April 29, 2001
1.0 Background Information
| Name | Airport Road Conservation Reserve |
|---|---|
| Site Region/Site District | 4S-4 |
| OMNR Administrative Region/District/Area | Northwest Region, Dryden District, Dryden Forest Area, Approximately 7 kilometers northeast of Dryden |
| Total Area (ha) | 66 |
| Regulation Date | Anticipated 2001 |
| First Nations | Treaty 3 |
| UTM | 15-5150-55250 |
| Latitude/Longitude | Latitude: 49°49'41"North, Longitude: 92°45'46"West |
| FRI | 15-5150-55250 |
| FRI Stands | 912, 910, 357, 167, 172, 174 |
| General Location Description | Located on the West side of Highway 601 across from Ghost lake road. Approximately 7 kilometers northeast of the city of Dryden. |
| Access | This site is accessible by roads that pass close to the boundaries of the reserve. A walking trail runs well into the site. |
1.1 Targets
This section provides a summary of the earth and life science system and values and cultural resources represented; and recreational opportunities available or possible.
| Life Science Representation | Shrub-rich treed bog, open low-shrub bog as well as thicket swamp and conifer swamp. |
|---|---|
| Earth Science Representation | High ice-contact delta located in the northeast section of the site is an integral part of the Hartman moraine. |
| Cultural Resource Representation | No research to date; no documented cultural heritage. |
| Recreational Opportunities | Opportunities exist for wildlife viewing, hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hunting. |
1.2 Inventories
This section provides an overview of the inventories completed their level of detail and any further inventories that are needed.
| Survey Level | Reconnaissance | Detailed |
|---|---|---|
| Life Science | Scheduled 2001 | Not Required |
| Earth Science | Scheduled 2001 | Not Required |
| Cultural | Needed | Not Required |
| Recreational | Scheduled 2001 | Not Required |
| Other |
2.0 Values to be Protected
This site contains representative landforms and vegetation types including both basin and flat bogs, thicket swamp, conifer swamp and an ice contact delta, which forms part of the Hartman Moraine.
Carex gynorcrates, a boreal-subarctic sedge that occurs sporadically throughout northwestern Ontario is found within this site.
| Life Science | Shrub-rich Life treed bog, garminoid-rich treed bog, open low-shrub bog and open graminoid bog, thicket and conifer swamp. Carex gynocrates, a boreal sub-arctic sedge |
|---|---|
| Earth Science | High ice-contact delta of the Hartman Moraine |
| Cultural | None identified |
| Aboriginal | None identified |
| Tourism | No specific site values |
| Mining | None on site |
| Aggregate | None on site |
| Forest Harvest | Withdrawn from Dryden Forest Sustainable Forest License |
| Trapping | Part of active Registered Trapline. |
Future land use such as timber harvesting, mining, aggregate extraction and commercial hydroelectric development are prohibited in conservation reserves. Mineral exploration may occur under controlled conditions where provincially significant mineral potential is identified. If a site was deemed viable for development, it would be de-regulated and appropriate replacement area added. Any proposed activity would be planned in a manner that would have no negative impacts on the identified earth and life science values.
3.0 Management Guidelines
3.1 Land Tenure
Airport Road Conservation Reserve consists entirely of Crown land. Private land abuts the conservation reserve on three sides. No dispositions (including Land Use Permits or Licenses of Occupation) will be issued for the site.
Any unauthorized occupations of lands within the conservation reserve will be managed in accordance with approved policy, and will be removed at the owner expense.
New transmission lines, pipelines, highways, and roads corridors will be discouraged. Expansion of road or utility line rights-of-way may be permitted to meet essential public needs. Before disposing of conservation lands for these purposes, the Ministry of Natural Resources will work closely with proponents to ensure that all reasonable alternatives have been considered and impacts on heritage values area minimized.
Industrial uses such as mining, hydroelectric development, and extraction of aggregates, peat, soils and other similar materials will not be permitted.
3.2 Existing and Proposed Development
No development exists in the area. New development such as trails and interpretive sites are not planned. Should public demand warrant additional facilities, a more detailed management plan will be required.
3.3 Recreational Activities
Most recreational activities that have traditionally been enjoyed in this area can continue provided they pose no threat to the natural ecosystems and features protected by the conservation reserve. These permitted uses include wildlife viewing, hunting, walking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing.
Snowmobiles and All Terrain Vehicles are permitted uses on existing trails. New trail developments may be considered where compatible, subject to completion of a Resource Management Plan.
3.4 Commercial Activities
Commercial timber harvesting, mining, aggregate extraction and commercial hydroelectric development are prohibited in the conservation reserve. Careful mineral exploration may occur in specific new conservation reserves proposed through Ontario Living Legacy, in areas that have provincially significant mineral potential. If a portion of the new conservation reserve is to be developed for a mine, it would be removed from the reserve, and appropriate replacement lands would be placed in regulations.
The Airport Road Conservation Reserve will be removed from the Dryden Forest Sustainable Forest License landbase and the Forest Management Plan allocation.
This conservation reserve is part of a registered Trapline, which is presently active.
3.5 Aboriginal Interests
Airport Road Conservation Reserve falls within the area of Treaty "3", however it does not fall within any identified traditional use area of any Aboriginal Group. Nothing in this Statement of Conservation Interest affects in any way existing or future aboriginal or treaty rights.
3.6 Natural Resources Stewardship
3.6.1 Vegetation Management
Airport Road Conservation Reserve will be managed by allowing natural ecosystems, processes, and features to operate normally, with minimal human interference.
Forest Fire Protection will be carried out as on surrounding public lands. Where aggressive fire suppression is undertaken, a 'light-on-the-land' approach to fire management in the conservation reserve is desirable (i.e., minimal use of heavy equipment, trenching, camp construction, tree cutting, etc.).
3.6.2 Fish and Wildlife Management
Fish and Wildlife will continue to be managed in accordance with policies and regulations prevailing in the area. Fishing opportunities are limited due to the lack of significant watercourses and lakes.
3.6.3 Landforms
The high ice-contact delta that is part of the Hartman Moraine will not be altered by landform modification actives such as filling and extraction. Mining and the extraction of aggregates and similar materials are not permitted.
3.7 Cultural Resources Stewardship
The Ministry of Natural Resources will continue to work on identifying potential sensitive areas or values that may be located on this site. To fully manage and protect sites, field surveys area required. To date, there has been no assessment of cultural resources.
3.8 Client Services
Visitors services will primarily deal with responding to inquires about the basic level of information such as access, natural heritage appreciation, wildlife viewing opportunities, and boundaries.
3.9 Research
Additional earth science and cultural surveys are required to refine values and management guidelines. All research programs will require the approval of the Ministry of Natural Resources and will be subject to ministry policy and other legislation.
Permanent plots or observation stations may be established to which researchers can return over time These sited will be compatible with the protection objective of the Conservation Reserve and will be rehabilitated as closely as possible to their original state when no longer required.
3.10 Marketing
Marketing efforts to increase use are not a priority and will be kept to a minimum.
4.0 Implementation
Implementation of this statement of conservation interest will primarily involve monitoring activities to ensure adherence to the management guidelines and responding to inquiries about the site.
Implementation of this statement and management of the reserve are the responsibility of the Dryden Forest Area Supervisor. Partnerships may be pursued to address management needs.
5.0 Review and Revisions
Airport Road Lake Conservation Reserve Statement of Conservation Interest will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
If changes in management direction are needed at any time, the significance of the changes will be evaluated. Minor changes which do not alter the over all protection objectives may be considered and approved by the area supervisor without further public consultation and the Statement of Conservation Interest will be amended accordingly.
In assessing major changes, the need for more detailed Conservation Reserve Management Plan will be first considered. Where a management plan is not considered necessary or feasible, a major amendment may be considered with public consultation. Major amendments will be approved by the District Manager and the Regional Director. This Statement of Conservation Interest will comply with all requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act and the Environmental Bill of Rights.
6.0 Sources of Information
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 1997. Conservation Reserves Policy – PL.3.03.5
Noble, T.W. 1995. Site District 454, Gap Analysis, Dryden Airport Road Peatland
North-South Environmental Inc. 2000, Earth Science and Life Science, Reconnaissance Survey, 14 Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves in the Western Part of Northwestern Ontario.
Figure 1: Site Reference Map 1
Enlarge Map for Figure 1: Site Reference Map 1
Figure 2: Site Reference Map 2
Enlarge Map for Figure 2: Site Reference Map 2
Figure 3: Site Reference Map 3
Enlarge Map for Figure 3: Site Reference Map 3
Figure 4: Site Reference Map 4
