Briefly, MNR proposes to remove protection from the area immediately surrounding Wolf Lake and from the southern part of Matagamasi Lake. Logging will be prohibited around Wolf Lake, but will be allowed within the former 200 meters reserve of Matagamasi southern area. The existing Chiniguchi Waterway Park will be extended to include part of Chiniguchi Lake. Kukagami Lake Forest Reserve will not be affected at this time.
Contact Scott Dingwall at MNR....705-564-7876
History:
For the past 12 years the area around Wolf Lake has been protected from logging and other development as part of Ontario's Living Legacy. OLL was a 1999 initiative by the Mike Harris government to expand the protected areas to about 9% of Ontario lands and waters. The OLL process identified representative landscapes of all forest types and landforms.
The Wolf Lake Forest Reserve has a dual purpose of protecting the largest area of Old Growth Red Pine in Canada as well as recognizing the importance of the historic Chiniguchi River canoe route.
In 2005, parts of the Chiniguchi River were regulated as a Provincial Park. The Wolf Lake area stayed as a Forest Reserve because it could not be included in the park until the mining claims and leases expired.
To date they have not expired, partly because of Minister's direction to renew the claims, whether the required work was completed or not. The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry has been trying to get the Forest Reserve designation removed since 2002. A process of 'disentanglement' has been underway since 2005.
Repercussions:
Mining
Will continue to be allowed around Wolf Lake and southern part of Matagamasi. Will be prohibited around central and eastern portions of Chiniguchi Lake.
Logging
Will continue to be prohibited around Wolf Lake, but will be allowed around the southern part of Matagamasi. Will be prohibited around central and eastern portions of Chiniguchi Lake.
Recreation
There has been an increase of canoe tripping in the Chiniguchi area in recent years largely due to the publication of "Lost Canoe Routes of Ontario" by Kevin Callan. We can expect this trend to continue with the inclusion of our area in Kevin's latest book, "Top 50 Canoe Routes of Ontario".
As well, the Temagami area Parks started collecting overnight camping fees a few years ago. More people are coming to the Chiniguchi waterway because there are no fees.
Land Use Policies:
Provincial Park: Protected areas that prohibit logging, mining, new land sales, hydro development. New roads and trails are discouraged, but can be created with permission. Administered by Ontario Parks. Some maintenance of parking and campsites possible. Use can be managed though camping fees.
Conservation Reserve: (CR) Protected areas that prohibit logging, mining, new land sales, hydro development. New roads and trails are discouraged, but can be created with permission. Administered by MNR. No maintenance of parking or campsites, and no fees for camping.
Forest Reserve: Areas waiting to be protected as Parks or CRs, where mining claims exist or used to exist in 1999. Protected from everything as above, except mining.
Enhanced Management Area: (EMA) In the Chiniguchi area, the EMAs give recognition to the importance of wilderness recreation in the area. Logging operations may be set back a little further from shorelines than in General Use Areas, clearcutting is kept from view of waterways, and new roads and trails are discouraged, but can be created with permission. Mining activities are allowed.
General Use Areas: Recognized as available for development for mining, logging, etc. Consideration is given to special needs of shorelines, wildlife habitat, and recreation. New roads and trails can be created with permission.
Detailed information on Land Uses and Land Use Planning can be found at http://crownlanduseatlas.mnr.gov.on.ca/ .
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* Go to www.ebr.gov.on.ca and search for Wolf Lake to see this link.
