Dividing Lake Provincial Park Management Statement: Amendment

1. Background

The following amendments to the Dividing Lake Provincial Nature Reserve Interim Management Statement are required due to the addition of 156 hectares of land and water as identified in the Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Strategy.

This addition provides a more ecologically appropriate southern boundary for the existing Dividing Lake Provincial Nature Reserve. This area protects a spectacular old growth pine and hardwood forest on the southwest edge of Algonquin Park in site district 5E-9. Large old sugar maple and beech trees mingle with white pines reaching 35 metres in height and 100 centimetres in width.

2. Public consultation

Public consultation was achieved through the Ontario’s Living Legacy (OLL) land Use Strategy planning process. This process commenced on August 8, 1997 with an Environmental Bill of Rights [EBR] registry notice inviting the public to participate in the development of the Great lakes - St. Lawrence land Use Strategy. The final decision EBR registry notice for the Ontario’s Living legacy land Use Strategy was published on July 16, 1999. During this entire period, over 40,000 comments were received from the public concern OLL Land Use Strategy policies and park specific boundaries. All comments were taken into consideration in the development of the final OLL Land Use Strategy policies and boundary development for all the new parks and conservation reserve

The Dividing lake Provincial Nature Reserve addition falls within the OLL planning area and is effected by the OLL Land Use Strategy policies.

All Ministry of Natural Resources and Ontario Parks public consultation requirements under the Environmental Assessment Act are satisfied for this Interim Management Statement minor amendment.

3. Amendment

The following amendments to the 1998 Interim Management Statement are listed chronologically.

Background information

p. 1 Total Area (ha), revise to: 469

Inventories

p. 1 Earth Science [Reconnaissance], Life Science [Reconnaissance] and Recreational [Detailed], add: 2001

Land uses

p. 3, Paragraph 1 and 2, revise to:
Dividing Lake Provincial Nature Reserve is currently regulated under the Provincial Parks Act as Ontario Regulation No. 85/01. Figure 2 illustrates the approximate boundary of this 469 hectare Nature Reserve.

There are no hydro transmission lines, pipelines or other easements / corridors in the Park. The disposition of real property rights or Crown resources will not be permitted in the park area that existed prior to the 2001 regulation.

Recreation activities

p. 3, Paragraph 3, revise to: Hunting is not permitted in the Nature Reserve.

Commercial activities

p. 3, Paragraph 1, revise to:

Commercial uses are not permitted (e.g. logging, trapping, hydro development, etc.) within the Nature Reserve. Within the 2001 Ontario’s Living Legacy addition (see Figure 2), mineral exploration may occur under controlled conditions and be subject to the terms and conditions as outlined in the Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Policy.

Figure 2

p.4, Boundary Map, revise as attached.

References

p. 6, add:

Heidorn, Christina, (2001). Dividing Lake Provincial Nature Reserve Addition Recreation Resource Inventory Report. Central Zone, Ontario Parks, Huntsville.

Korol, Burke J.t (2001). A Life Science Inventory of the proposed expansion of Dividing Lake Provincial Park. Central Zone, Ontario Parks, Huntsville.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, (1999). Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Strategy. Queen’s Printer for Ontario.

Dividing Lake Provincial Nature Reserve addition (P63) fact sheet

September, 2000

Background

On July 16, 1999, the Ontario Government released the Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Strategy to guide the planning and management of Crown land in central and parts of northern Ontario. A major part of the Ontario Living Legacy Land Use Strategy was a government intent to establish 378 new protected areas. This commitment marks the biggest expansion of provincial parks and conservation reserves in Ontario’s history. The Dividing Lake Provincial Nature Reserve addition is part of this significant expansion of Ontario’s protected areas system.

Size and location

The Dividing Lake Nature Reserve addition totals 159 hectares in area. The site is located to the immediate south of the existing Nature Reserve, in the eastern part of Livingstone Township, in the municipality of the Townships of Sherborne, McClintock, Livingstone, Lawrence and Nightingale. The park addition is bounded in the west by Rockaway Lake, and in the east by Algonquin Provincial Park.

Area highlights

The intent of this addition is to provide a more ecologically appropriate southern boundary for the existing Dividing Lake Nature Reserve. This area protects a spectacular old growth pine and hardwood forest on the southwest edge of Algonquin Park in ecological Site District 5E-9. The site consists of a mature sugar maple­ American beech - yellow birch tolerant hardwood forest. White pines 100 cm in diameter and 35 metres high are frequently distributed throughout the area; these are most noticeable along the ridge tops and steep rocky shorelines. Beneath the forest canopy, is a dense and lush mof herbaceous and woody plan The site can be accessed by canoe from Algonquin Park or from Rockaway Lake.

Land use intent

Provincial parks are areas of Crown land set aside by regulation under the Provincial Parks Act. Provincial Nature Reserves are one of six park classes in the provincial park system. The Land Use Strategy establishes the Ministry’s intent to manage this park as an addition to an existing natural environment class park.

Provincial parks protect Ontario’s representative natural areas and special landscapes. Parks provide opportunities for outstanding recreational activities. Most recreational activities (e.g. hiking, skiing, tourism related uses, nature appreciation) that have traditionally been enjoyed in the area will continue, provided that these uses do not harm the natural features needing protection.

Nature Reserves are areas selected to represent the distinctive natural habitats and landforms of the province. They are protected for educational purposes, as gene pools for research to benefit present and future generations and for their intrinsic value to society. Visitors to these parks will enjoy spectacular landscapes combined with significant natural and historical features. Where compatible with park values, low intensity day-use activities such as canoeing, hiking, painting, cross-country skiing/snowshoeing, and sport fishing will be encouraged. Motorized land vehicles and watercraft of any kind will not be permitted.

Consistent with the Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Strategy, hunting and fur harvesting will not be permitted within this provincial park addition.

Commercial timber harvesting, mining, aggregate extraction and commercial hydroelectric development are prohibited in new provincial parks. Careful mineral exploration may occur in specific new provincial parks proposed through Ontario’s Living Legacy, in areas that have provincially significant mineral potential. If a portion of a new provincial park is to be developed for a mine, it would be removed from the park, and appropriate replacement lands would be placed in regulation.

Next steps

The Land Use Strategy established the Ministry’s intent to add these Crown lan areas to Ontario’s protected areas system following the extensive public consultation associated with the Ontario’s Living Legacy and Land for Life land use planning initiatives between 1997 and 1999. Prior to the finalization and regulation of the boundary of this recommended provincial park addition under the Provincial Parks Act, the Ministry is inviting public comm during October 2 - November 2, 2000 on the proposed boundary.

In the interim, the area has been withdrawn an protected from resource extraction activities such as timber harvesting, hydroelectric development, aggregate extraction and new mineral exploration.

In the future, Ontario Parks will revise the existing Dividing Lake Provincial Nature Reserve Interim Management Statement to provide long term management direction for this park addition.

Planning, management and permitted uses within this provincial park addition will be consistent with the commitments of the Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Strategy.

For information

For further information on the proposed Dividing Lake Provincial Nature Reserve addition, please contact:

Hank van Luit, Management Planning Specialist
Ontario Parks - Central Zone
Ministry of Natural Resources
R.R. #3, Highway 11 North Huntsville, Ontario, P1H 2J4

You may also visit the Ministry’s internet website for information at about Ontario’s Living Legacy.

Map of proposed boundary of Dividing Lake