West English River Provincial Park Management Statement (original) (raw)

Interim Management Statement

© 2004, Queen’s Printer for Ontario

Additional copies of this publication can be obtained from the following offices:

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Kenora District
808 Robertson St.
P.O. Box 5080
Kenora, ON
P9N 3X9
Telephone: 807-468-2501

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Red Lake District
P.O. Box 5003
Howey St.
Red Lake, ON
P0V 2M0

Ontario Parks Northwest Zone Office
Suite 221D
435 James Street South
Thunder Bay, ON
P7E 6S8
807-475-1321

Approval statement

This Interim Management Statement will provide interim direction for the management of West English River Provincial Park until a comprehensive park management plan is prepared.

This statement will provide the basis for the subsequent preparation of the West English River Provincial Park Management Plan.

I am pleased to approve this Interim Management Statement for West English River Provincial Park.

Signed by:
Tim P. Sullivan
Zone Manager, Ontario Parks
Northwest Zone

Date: February, 2004

Prelude

The purpose of this Interim Management Statement is to identify:

  1. park values, which are to be protected
  2. resource management prescriptions necessary to protect these values in their current state; and
  3. restrictions, according to existing park policy, on use of natural resources within the park

This Interim Management Statement is not intended to replace a Park Management Plan. Rather it is intended to guide the use of natural resources and related activities within the park until such a time as a Park Management Plan is prepared.

Park management planning for West English River Provincial Park will be scheduled as issues and development needs arise and as staff and resources become available. Park management planning is a comprehensive public process intended to provide a 20-year horizon for management activities and to set the context for routine park operations.

The guidelines that have been developed are based upon information contained in the Ontario Provincial Parks Planning and Management Policies (1992) and Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Strategy (1999).

Background information

Name: West English River Provincial Park
Classification: Waterway
MNR District: Kenora, Red Lake
MNR Region: Northwest
Total Area (ha): 22,924
Ecoregion / Ecodistrict: 4S-2
Date In Regulation: May, 2003

Refer to the maps at the end of the document.

Life science representation

Site Type / Landscape Unit Species / Communities
Landform/Vegetation Representation Analysis A representation analysis (Lipsett-Moore et al., in prep.; Harris and Foster 2003) in 2003 of the Landform/Vegetation (L/V) Classes within the ecodistricts applicable to West English River Provincial Park reveals important contributions to representation benchmarks for Ecodistrict 4S-2. Ecodistrict 4S-2 The park contributes to approximately 24% (19/78) of the Ecodistrict’s L/V Classes. The following L/V types within West English River Provincial Park make an important contribution (i.e., at least 20%) to achieving L/V representation benchmarks within Ecodistrict 4S-2: Bedrock-Mixed Forest – mainly Deciduous Glaciolacustrine Deposits – Dense Deciduous Forest Glaciolacustrine Deposits – Mixed Forest – mainly Deciduous Glaciolacustrine Deposits – Mixed Forest – mainly Coniferous Glaciolacustrine Deposits – Sparse Coniferous Forest Glaciolacustrine Deposits – Sparse Deciduous Forest Glaciolacustrine Deposits – Bedrock Outcrop Forests of West English River Provincial Park are predominantly mixed wood with balsam fir, black and white spruce and trembling aspen. Ecosites 16,19, & 28 make up approximately 74% of the park with Ecosite 19 (Hardwood – Fir-Spruce Mixedwood on fresh sandy – coarse loamy soils) making up almost half (45%) of the park’s forests (Harris & Foster 2003). (See Racey et al. (1996) for a detailed description of ecosite types) Significant Species Provincially significant plant species include: Siberian Yarrow, Torrey’s Sedge, Wild Licorice, American Parsley Fern, Blue-lips, Clinton’s Club Rush, Inland Rush,June Grass, Little Prickly Pear Cactus, Prairie Onion, Prairie Spikemoss, Ross' Sedge, New England Violet, Long-stemmed Waterwort, Oregon Woodsia, Prairie buttercup, Prairie Gray Sedge, and Vasey’s Rush. Several regionally significant plant species are also found in the park. Provincially rare fauna include: Bald Eagle, American White Pelican, Lake Sturgeon, Elusive Clubtail, Williamson’s Emerald, and Woodland Caribou Significant Communities Red and White Pine Communities (including old growth) The park is near the northern limit of the range of both of these species. Provincially significant Prairie and Savannah Communities

Earth science representation

Geological Theme Feature(s)
Bedrock: English River Subprovince (migmatites with garnet and cordierite) and Winnipeg River Subprovince (grantic rocks of magmatic origin) Surficial: Weakly broken topography with excellent exposures of glaciolacustrine clays along the riverbanks, beaches, sand bars and spits

Cultural resource representation

Cultural Resource Representation Theme Segment
Fur Trade and Fur Trading Communities Lake Superior - Rainy River Area

Recreational opportunities

Day Use Car Camping Wilderness / Backcountry
Angling and hunting N/A Angling and hunting ƒ Remote outposts and lodges ƒ Camping ƒ Canoeing

Inventories

Level / Type Reconnaissance? – Completion Date Detailed? – Completion Date Required?
Earth science Yes – 2002 No Yes
Life science Yes– 2002 Yes- 2003 No
Cultural No No Yes
Recreational No Yes - 2002 Yes
Other N/A N/A N/A

I Introduction

West English River Provincial Park (P2345) was established as part of Ontario’s Living Legacy, a land use strategy developed to guide the planning and management of Crown lands in central and portions of northern Ontario. Under this initiative, 378 new protected areas were identified. West English River Provincial Park is part of this significant expansion of Ontario’s protected areas system.

West English River Provincial Park (22,924 hectares) is designated a Waterway class park in recognition of its representative natural features and high quality recreational water route. West English River Provincial Park runs approximately 65 kms along the English River form Barnston Lake to Tide Lake and abuts Tide Lake and Maynard Lake Provincial Parks. The park contains old growth red and white pine at the northern extent of their range, wilderness environments, tourism and recreational attributes. It is also a historical travel corridor.

II Aboriginal interests

West English River Provincial Park lies within the boundaries of the Treaty 3 Area. The closest First Nation communities to the park are Grassy Narrows (approximately 15 kms south) and Wabauskang (approximately 40 kms east). There are no formal land claims regarding West English River Provincial Park, at this time. Current First Nation activities within the park include trapping, fishing, hunting, and gathering. Three traplines intersecting the park are registered to Aboriginal people.

Guideline:

Any management guidelines will reflect the Ontario government’s approach to aboriginal rights:

III Land tenure/acquisition/disposition

West English River Provincial Park is composed entirely of Crown land within Ministry of Natural Resources Districts of Kenora and Red Lake. The park includes a section of the English River system from Barnston Lake to Tide Lake, including Wegg Lake, Goose Lake, Wilcox Lake, Unexpected Lake, Oak Lake, Maynard Lake and Tide Lake. The park boundary has generally been set at 200m from water’s edge.

Tide Lake Provincial Nature Reserve and Maynard Lake Provincial Nature Reserve abut West English River Provincial Park. Management direction for both these nature reserves is contained in Interim Management Statements, which are available at the Ontario Parks Office in Thunder Bay, the MNR District Office in Kenora and the main Ontario Parks office in Peterborough.

Eight small parcels of private land exist within the park area. These parcels include private cottages and tourist lodges. One land use permit (LUP) associated with commercial fishing exists on Oak Lake. Four LUPs associated with outpost camps have been issued for Goose, Oak, Maynard and Unexpected Lake. There are no mining claims within the park.

Guideline:

IV Natural resource stewardship

West English River Provincial Park (22,924 hectares) is situated within Ecoregion 4S and Ecodistrict 4S-2. A number of landform-vegetation (LV) types found in the park contribute to representation benchmarks (Lipsett-Moore et al., in prep.) for Ecodistrict 4S-2. These LV types include conifer, mixed and deciduous forests on glaciolacustrine deposits, and to a lesser extent on bedrock. The park also includes representative stands of red and white pine, including old growth, as well as provincially significant prairie communities and species.

Lands and waters

The park is located within the English River and Winnipeg River subprovinces of the Archean-age Superior Province. A number of significant earth science values have been identified in the park. The migmatites found in the park are of provincial significance, as they provide good examples of metatexitic and diatexitic metasedimentary rocks.

The boundary between these subprovinces, which runs in a west southwest – east northeast direction, is located north from the north shore of Oak Lake. North of this boundary, in the English River subprovince, the rocks are mostly migmatites derived from the partial to complete melting of sedimentary rocks. The metamorphic minerals found in these migmatites include garnet and cordierite and granitic rocks of the sodic type intrude the migmatites. In the Winnipeg River subprovince, the rocks are predominately granitic of magmatic origin that belong to four different suites. The largest being a group of foliated porphyritic granodiorite to quartz monzonite that underlies much of Tide and Maynard lakes and the central and western portions of Oak Lake.

Glaciolacustrine clays account for approximately half of the park and are predominant along the shorelines. Till ground moraine, often in a veneer over bedrock, occupies most of the rest of the park, particularly on higher ground adjacent to the lower half of the river system.

West English River Provincial Park is 66% water. The park stretches approximately 65 kms and includes parts of the English River, Barnston, Wegg, Goose, Wilcox, Oak, Maynard and Tide Lakes. The lakes are mesotrophic and are relatively turbid compared to other lakes in the area (Harris and Foster 2003). Elevation drops 11 m throughout the length of the park. Upper and lower Oak Falls account for over half of the overall elevation change with a combined 6 m drop. The park is situated between two dams; Manitou Dam (20 km upstream from Barnston Lake) and Caribou Falls Dam (100 km downstream from Tide Lake). Water regulation from the Manitou Dam results in an unnatural flow regime. Water levels peak in October whereas in an unregulated section of the river peak flows are in May. Harris and Foster (2003, p. 13) suggest that "the unnatural flow regime has probably had impacts on wild rice productivity, loon nesting success, shoreline erosion, fish spawning, and shoreline vegetation".

Guideline:

Vegetation management

Forests within West English River Provincial Park are fairly uniform with a relatively small range of primary ecosites and over-story species although, the nutrient-rich soils have given rise to a greater diversity of under-story plants. Ecosites (ES) 16 (Hardwood-Fir-Spruce Mixedwood:Sandy Soil);19 (Hardwood-Fir-Spruce Mixedwood on fresh, sandy-coarse loamy soil); and 28 (Hardwood-Fir-Spruce Mixedwood: Fresh, Silty Soil) make up 74% of the forest within the park, with ES19 accounting for almost half (45%) of the park’s forests (See Racey et al. (1996) for a more detailed description of Ecosite types). The park also contains good examples of red and white pine communities including old growth, prairie and open bur oak communities as well as alluvial thicket swamps.

Flora in West English River Provincial Park is typical of the southern boreal forest with influences from the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest and the prairies. Harris and Foster (2003) documented 307 vascular plant species with a total of 18 provincially rare species. Many of these rare species are associated with the small pockets of prairie and bur oak communities that are found at numerous locations in the park.

Natural disturbances play important roles in influencing the ecology of West English River Provincial Park and the boreal forest of Ecoregion 4S. They include wildfire, insect outbreaks and windthrow. Fire frequency and the proportion of area burned since the 1920's in West English River Provincial Park is lower than that for Ecoregion 4S (Harris and Foster 2003). Much of the park has been affected by severe spruce-budworm infestations from 1988 through 1995.

A great deal of West English River Provincial Park’s forests have been harvested. White and red pine was harvested during the early part of the 20th century. Since then there have been regular forest cutting activities in the park and surrounding area. Large cut over areas dating back to the 1990's can be seen from the waters of the park on Maynard, Wilcox, and Goose Lakes (Harris and Foster 2003). The park is currently contained entirely within the Whiskey Jack Forest which is licensed to Abitibi-Consolidated.

Guideline:

Wildlife management

The fauna of West English River Provincial Park is typical of the southern boreal forest. Banfield (1974) indicates that the park is situated within the geographical range of 42 mammal species. Harris and Foster (2003) recorded 16 species of mammal, 76 birds, 5 amphibians, 2 reptiles, and 18 odonates during the 2001 and 2002 field seasons. Large mammal observations included white-tailed deer, moose, black bear and timber wolf. Bald eagle nests have been reported at 35 locations within the park. Osprey are also known to nest within the park. A great blue heron colony and a trumpeter swan nesting site have been observed adjacent to the park, in the vicinity of Tide Lake.

Eight active Bear Management Areas (BMAs) and seven registered trap lines intersect the park boundaries. BMAs include: RL-05-92, RL-03-43, RL-05-91, KE-05-73, KE-05-144, KE-05-143, DR-05-01, KE-06-28. Traplines include: RL-32, RL-36, RL-37, DR-61, KE-046, KE-041, and KE-040. There are five trap cabins located in the park.

Guideline:

Hunting (general)

Commercial bear hunting

Trapping

Fisheries management

West English River Provincial Park is part of the Winnipeg River Watershed. Lake surveys were conducted for Goose Lake, Maynard Lake, Oak Lake and Tide Lake in the late 1960s. The results of these surveys indicate the main fish species in the park are walleye, sauger, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, rock bass, northern pike, muskellunge, ciscoes and mooneye. Tide Lake appears to have the richest fish community with 16 species. Harris and Foster (2003) suggest that this may be due to its position below the barrier of Maynard Falls. Walleye, northern pike, bass and muskellunge are the most popular sport fish (Harris and Foster 2003).

A commercial fishing operation exists on Oak Lake. The main species harvested are lake whitefish, walleye and northern pike.

Eight registered baitfish blocks intersect the park.

Guideline:

Sport fishing

Bait fish harvesting

Commercial fishing

V Cultural resources

To date, the cultural resources of West English River Provincial Park have not been rigorously investigated. There are a number of archaeological sites within the park. Only one has been registered by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Culture.

Guideline:

VI Existing/proposed development

Existing development within West English River Provincial Park is associated with forestry, trapping, commercial fishing, and remote tourism activities.

Guideline:

VII Recreation activities

West English River Provincial Park provides good opportunities for remote tourism, backcountry canoeing, wildlife viewing, as well as sport angling and hunting. Sport fishing and hunting are the primary recreational activities taking place within West English River Provincial Park (Reaburn and Thomson (2002), Harris and Foster 2003). The tourist lodges and outposts in the park provide facilities and services mostly to anglers and hunters.

Two canoe routes exist within the park. They include the Ball Lake Loop and the Upper Wabigoon– English River Route. The condition of these routes is unknown as they are not maintained by OMNR or Ontario Parks. The level of canoeing currently taking place within the park is minimal (Harris and Foster 2003; Reaburn and Thomson 2002).

There are several boat caches located in the park authorized for commercial tourism, resource harvesting and private recreation purposes.

Guideline:

VIII Access

Road access into West English River Provincial Park is limited. Barnston Lake is the only lake within the park that is easily accessible by road (via Highway 804). The park is easily accessed by water from below Manitou Falls west of Ear Falls and from Ball Lake in the south.

Guideline:

X Client services

There are currently no client services available for West English River Provincial Park. Canoe route information is available from local tourist outfitters.

Guideline:

XI Research and inventories

A detailed life science and recreation resource inventory were carried out in 2002.

Guideline:

XII Marketing

Marketing of West English River Provincial Park has to date been limited to Ontario’s Living Legacy (OLL) initiatives.

Guideline:

XIII Sources/references

Banfield, A.W.F. 1974. Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press, Toronto.

Harris, A.G., and Foster, R.F. 2003. Life Science Inventory – West English River Provincial Park. Northern Bioscience Ecological Consulting Unpublished Report.

Lipsett-Moore, G., Bookey, N., Kingston, S. and J. Shuter. In Prep. Representation, Focal Species and Systematic Conservation Planning for the Northern Boreal Initiative. Ontario Parks, Northwest Zone.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR). 1999. Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Strategy.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR). 1992 Update. Ontario Provincial Parks: Planning and Management Policies.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR). 2002. NRVIS – Kenora and Red Lake Districts.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR). 1983. Kenora District Land Use Guidelines (DLUG).

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) 1983. Red Lake District Land Use Guidelines (DLUG).

Racey, G.D., Harris, A.G., Jeglum, J.K., Foster, R.F. and G.M. Wickware. 1996. Terrestrial and Wetland Ecosites of Northwestern Ontario. Queen’s Printer for Ontario, Thunder Bay.

Reaburn, C., and S. Thomson. 2002. Recreation Inventory Report: West English River Provincial Park (P2345). Ontario Parks, Unpublished internal report.

Permitted Uses Table for West English River Provincial Park

Commercial activities

Activity Permitted? Guidelines
Aggregate extraction No
Bait fishing (commercial) – existing Yes The issuance of licenses for baitfish harvesting will be allowed where the activity has been licensed or permitted since January 1, 1992 unless: The government has taken action to discontinue the activity Proceeding would create/aggravate resource sustainability issues (e.g., wildlife management reasons, impacts on values in nature reserve zones) or Licensing or permitting should be deferred due to Aboriginal issues
Bait fishing (commercial) – new No
Commercial fishing – existing Yes The issuance of licenses for commercial fishing will be allowed where the activity has been licensed or permitted since January 1, 1992 unless: The government has taken action to discontinue the activity Proceeding would create/aggravate resource sustainability issues (e.g., wildlife management reasons, impacts on values in nature reserve zones) or; Licensing or permitting should be deferred due to Aboriginal issues
Commercial fishing – new No
Commercial fur harvest – existing Yes Existing trap line operations can continue indefinitely. New operations, including trap line cabins and trails will not be permitted. The relocation of existing trails and cabins will be subject to ecological principles and management planning. Snowmobile trails used for access to the trap lines are permitted. The issuance of licenses or permits for commercial trapping will be allowed where the activity has been licensed or permitted since January 1, 1992 unless: The government has taken action to discontinue the activity Proceeding would create/aggravate resource sustainability issues (e.g., wildlife management reasons, impacts on values in nature reserve zones) or Licensing or permitting should be deferred due to Aboriginal issues Commercial bear hunting will be allowed to continue in areas of the park where it has traditionally occurred. When a management plan is approved, any hunting that is occurring in a nature reserve zone will be addressed through the management planning process consistent with OLL-LUS and Park Policies. In situations where licenses have not been issued and inventories have been completed that identify candidate or probable nature reserve zones, licensing should not be issued for these areas. Existing commercial bear hunting operations are permitted to continue but the introduction of new operations will not be allowed.
Commercial fur harvest – new No
Commercial hydro development No
Commercial timber harvest No
Commercial Tourism (e.g. outfitting services, outpost camps, resorts/lodges) – existing Yes Existing authorized facilities/operations are permitted to continue, subject to management prescriptions determined through planning. Existing tourism facilities may be eligible for enhanced tenure as decided through planning.
Commercial Tourism (e.g. outfitting services, outpost camps, resorts/lodges) – new Maybe New facilities/operations may be considered through planning.
Energy transmission & communications corridors (new) Maybe Utility line crossings may be necessary to maintain essential public services. The number of new crossings will be minimized where possible and they will be managed to reduce their impact on recreational and aesthetic values.
Mineral exploration and development No
Wild rice harvesting – existing Yes
Wild rice harvesting – new No

Land and resource management activities

Activity Permitted? Guidelines
Crown land disposition – private use No No land disposition for the private use of individuals is permitted, except for minor dispositions in support of existing uses (e.g., reconstruction of a septic system). All existing tenure issued by the Crown for private use, except private recreation camps will be phased out no later than January 1, 2010.
Crown land disposition – commercial use Maybe Land disposition for commercial use may occur, under the authority of a land use permit or lease, subject to approval through planning. Existing tourism facilities may be eligible for enhanced tenure.
Fire suppression Maybe In the absence of a fire management plan for the park, the fire management objectives of the surrounding fire management zone will apply. All human caused fires will be suppressed.
Fish habitat management Maybe May be considered through planning.
Fish stocking – native species Maybe May be considered through planning.
Fish stocking – non-native species No May be considered through planning.
Insect/disease suppression Maybe May be considered through planning.
Inventory/monitoring Yes
Personal use permits for wood harvesting Maybe Long-term management direction will be determined through planning. Existing authorized permits may continue on an interim basis for properties that do not have road access.
Prescribed burning Maybe May be considered through planning.
Roads (non-park use) - existing Maybe Access into the park from traditionally used roads will be permitted to continue pending park management planning.
Roads (non-park use) - new Maybe New roads abutting the park are determined during forest management planning. No new access to the park will be created from adjacent roads until resolved via park management planning. Future road crossings for forestry operations outside park boundaries may be permitted, subject to provisions of the Environmental Assessment Act including park management planning and forest management planning. The number of crossings will be minimized where possible and they will be managed to reduce their impact on recreational and aesthetic values.
Vegetation management Maybe May be considered through planning.
Water control structure –existing Maybe No structures exist in West English River Provincial Park.
Water control structure – new Maybe New structures may be considered through planning.
Wildlife population management Maybe May be considered through planning.

Science, education & heritage appreciation

Activity Permitted? Guidelines
Demonstration areas Maybe May be considered through planning.
Historical appreciation – self-guided Maybe Support facilities to be identified through planning.
Nature appreciation – self-guided Maybe Support facilities to be identified through planning.
Photography and painting Maybe Support facilities to be identified through planning.
Research Yes Subject to authorization.
Wildlife viewing Maybe Support facilities to be identified through planning.

Recreation activities and facilities

Activity Permitted? Guidelines
Aircraft landing (water) Maybe Under the authority of a valid aircraft landing authorization, as per O. Reg 952/01, s. 24(2) under the Provincial Parks Act.
ATV use – on trails Yes Existing ATV use on authorized trails can continue, subject to management prescriptions determined through park management planning.
ATV use – off trails No
Camping Maybe Long-term management direction for camping facilities will be determined through planning. Existing use may continue in the interim, unless park values are threatened.
Horseback riding (trail) Maybe Long-term management direction will be determined through planning. Existing use may continue in the interim, unless park values are threatened.
Hunting Yes Subject to regulation under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Consult the Ontario Hunting Regulation Summary for specific local details. Hunting may be restricted in certain zones as determined through park management planning.
Mountain bike use Maybe Long-term management direction will be determined through planning. Existing use may continue on authorized trails, as designated by the park superintendent, in the interim, unless park values are threatened. No authorized trails exist.
Motor boat use – private Maybe Long-term management direction for private and commercial motor boat use will be determined through management planning. Existing use may continue in the interim, unless park values are threatened. Consult regulations under the Provincial Parks Act for specific local details.
Motor boat use – commercial Maybe Long-term management direction for commercial motor boat use will be determined through management planning. Existing use may continue in the interim, unless park values are threatened. Consult regulations under the Provincial Parks Act for specific local details.
Non-motorized recreation travel (canoeing, kayaking, hiking, cross- country skiing, snowshoeing) Maybe Long-term management direction will be determined through planning. Existing uses may continue in the interim, unless park values are threatened.
Private recreation camps ("hunt camps") – existing Yes Existing authorized camps permitted to continue, eligible for enhanced tenure but not purchase of land.
Private recreation camps ("hunt camps") – new No
Rock climbing Maybe Long-term management direction will be determined through planning. Rock climbing is permitted only in areas designated for that purpose by the park superintendent as per O. Reg 952/01, s. 5.1 under the Provincial Parks Act. No area are currently designated.
Sailing and sailboarding Maybe Long-term management direction will be determined through planning. Existing uses may continue in the interim, unless park values are threatened.
Scuba and skin diving Maybe Long-term management direction will be determined through planning. Existing uses may continue in the interim, unless park values are threatened.
Snowmobiling – on trails Maybe Existing snowmobile use on authorized trails can continue, subject to management prescriptions determined through planning.
Snowmobiling – off trails No
Sport fishing Yes Consult the Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary for specific local details. Using live bait is discouraged.
Trail development Maybe Certain trails may be considered through planning.

Maps

Map 1: Regional context West English River Provincial Park P2345

This map provides detailed information about Regional Context West English River Provincial Park P2345.

Enlarge Map 1: Regional context West English River Provincial Park P2345

Map 2: Site map West English River Provincial Park P2345

This map provides detailed information about Site Map West English River Provincial Park P2345.

Enlarge Map 2: Site map West English River Provincial Park P2345