Sextant Rapids Provincial Park Management Statement

March, 1985

Regional Director’s approval statement

I am pleased to approve this Interim Management Statement for Sextant Rapids Provincial Park.

This Statement will provide direction for the Management of Sextant Rapids Provincial Park until a Park Management Plan is completed. It will aJso set the general direction for the preparation of the more detailed management policies that the Management Plan will contain.

R. A. Riley
Regional Director
Northern Region

Background

Name

Sextant Rapids (formerly Pitt Twp.)

Proposed class

Nature Reserve

M.N.R. district

Cochrane

M.N.R. region

Northern

Area (ha)

3.0

Land

[no information provided]

Water

[no information provided]

Site region

[no information provided]

Site district

[no information provided]

Date in regulation

[no information provided]

Life science target

Site type/landscape unit

[no information provided]

Species/communities

[no information provided]

Earth science target

Geological theme

Paleozoic - Lower Devonian

Feature

Sextant Formation
Lamprophyre intrusions

Cultural resource target

Theme

[no information provided]

Theme segment

[no information provided]

Recreation opportunities target

Day use

[no information provided]

Car camping

[no information provided]

Wilderness/back country

[no information provided]

Inventories

Level/type	Earth science	Life science	Cultural	Recreational
Reconnaissance completion	Yes	No	No	No
Detailed completion	Yes	No	No	No
Required	No	No	No	No

Potential resources use conflict

[no information provided]

Plan of Sextant Rapids Provincial Nature Reserve in the Township of Pitt, District of Cochrane

Management statement

1. Issues

There are no relevant management issues for this park.

2. Resource management guidelines

2.1 Mineral resource management

Analysis

The nature reserve status of the park protects from any form of degrading land use/ activity including such forms of surface exploration/mining as open pit mining.

Guidelines

Geological research may be authorized by the district manager provided that such activity enhances knowledge/understanding of the geological features, and that the results of such work are made available to M.N.R.

Mineral exploration/extraction will not be permitted.

Recommendation

That the guidelines be implemented with the approval of the plan.

2.2 Wildlife Management

Analysis

The park falls within traplines CC-181 and 186.

Guidelines

As hunting and trapping pose no threat to site values, these activities will be permitted.

Recommendation

That the guidelines be implemented with the approval of the plan and following appropriate changes to regulations under the Game and Fish Act.

2.3 Vegetation management

Analysis

The park contains no known significant vegetation sites.

Guidelines

Silviculture which enhances the park’s geological features will be permitted.

Recommendation

That the guidelines be implemented with the approval of the plan.

3.0 Client services management guidelines

3.1 Information

Basic information about Sextant Rapids Provincial Park will be produced for geologists and students. Specifically, a small leaflet providing information about access, the park’s significance, references, and so forth, using photos, access and geological maps, and text should be adequate.

3.2 Education

Prospective visitors should be warned of the resource’s vulnerability to damage from collectors; for example in any publication which is produced for the park.

3.3 Development

At present, the site is undeveloped and access is restricted to the use of watercraft. This situation facilitates protection of the site from human impact, and will be maintained.

4.0 Research

The Ontario Provifncial Parks Planning and Management Policies describes scientific research policy in nature reserves as follows (NR-IV-10).

Scientific research by qualified individuals, which contributes to knowledge of natural…history and to environmental management, will be encouraged in Nature Reserves.

All research progammes will require the approval of the Ministry of Natural Resources and must also meet all requirements under applicable provincial and federal legislation. The Ministry may approve the removal of…geological samples…by qualified researchers…Approved research activities land facilities will be compatible with protection values…in individual Reserves, and will be subject to development and management policies for Nature Reserves unless special permission is given. Sites altered by research activities will be rehabilitated as closely to their previous condition as possible.

Appendix 1: Natural resources background information

Frey (1980) appraises the park’s earth science features as being of national significance according to the follow rationale.

[This is] a typical stratigraphic section of part of the Sextant Formation. It is a Nature Reserve candidate because it included several lamprophyre sills interbedded with lower sandstone bedding units. These mafic intrusive rocks represent the youngest known Paleozoic igneous event in the Moose River Basin. The section is subdivided into four sandstone units of arkosic to conglomeratic composition. They contain thin carbonaceous lenses that have yielded terrestrial plant fossils (Sanford and Norris, 1975, pt. I, p. 34-38: pt. II, p. 1-3).

Appendix 2: District land use guidelines

17 a-h Earth science nature reserve features

a. Area description

Earth science nature reserves are relatively small, significant or representative areas that are identified to achieve part of the Ministry’s protection heritage appreciation objectives. Across the Cochrane Disirict, eight such sites have been identified outside of provincial parks and park candidates. These areas are:

Site	Township	Area (ha.)	Significance
a	Hobson	4.0	Provincial
b	Hobson	0.7	Provincial
c	Valentine	1.5	Provincial
d	Valentine	2.44	National
e	Valentine	2.44	Provincial
f	Pitt	2.44	Provincial
g	Beniah	1.22	National
h	Wilkie	1.22	National

These various geological features cover an area of 15.96 hectares in total. Six of these areas have reserved flooding rights that are held by Ontario Hydro.

Three of these sites are nationally recognized standard reference sections for various earth science formations. The other five are provincially recognized.

b. Land use intent

These areas are being recommended for park status.

Due to the size of the areas, and given the variety of uses that are ongoing within them, it is further recommended that most of the ongoing activities within the areas be permitted to continue. The exception to this would be commercial logging which is not recommended as a continuing use. An outline of those ongoing activities which are recommended for continuation is given in the Land Use Activity section, however it must be realized that in some instances further refinement may be required.

c. Land Use Activity for area No. 17a-h - Earth science nature reserve features

Activity	Acceptable Yes	Acceptable No	Recommended Guidelines
Aggregate Extraction	N/A	x	N/A
Agriculture	N/A	x	N/A
Bait Fishing	N/A	x	Not applicable
Commercial Fishing	N/A	x	N/A
Cottaging	N/A	x	N/A
Forestry	N/A	x	N/A
Hunting	x	N/A	It is recommended that hunting be permitted to continue.
Mining	N/A	x	N/A
Provincial Parks	x	N/A	Recommended for park status
Roads	N/A	x	N/A
Rural Residential	N/A	x	N/A
Sport Fishing	x	N/A	It is recommended that sport fishing be permitted to continue.
Tourism	N/A	x	No commercial facilities will be allowed.
Trapping	x	N/A	It is recommended that existing trapping activity be permitted to continue.
Wildlife Viewing	x	N/A	N/A
Wild Rice Harvesting	N/A	x	N/A
Urban Development	N/A	x	N/A
Other	x	N/A	The Ministry will continue to work closely with Ontario Hydro concerning the planning and design of any future hydraulic proposals in the area.

References

Frey, E. Candidate Earth Science Nature Reserves, Northern Region (unpublished), 1980.

Hughes, O.L. Surficial Geology of Part of the Cochrane District, Ontario, Canada in International Studies on the Quaternary (H.E. Wright. Jr. and D.G. Frey), Geology Society of America, Special Paper 84, 1965.

INQUA. Quaternary Stratotytes of North American, Volume 1. Subcommission on North American Quaternary Stratigraphy, International Union for Quaternary Research, 1977.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Cochrane District Land Use Plan. Background Information. 1981.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Cochrane District Land Use Plan, Proposed Policy and Planning Options, 1983.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Ontario Provincial Parks Planning and Management Policies, 1978.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Report of the Task Force Parks System Planning, Volume 1, 1981.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Land Use Guidelines, Cochrane District, 1983.

Interim management statement for Sextant Rapids Provincial Park

I have read this statement and weighed its recommendations in regards to my area of assigned responsibility. I have made my views known and have participated in the District decision and choice of action.

District approval

District Manager

Lands/Fish & Wildlife Supervisor
Date signed: Jan. 11, 1985

Field Services Supervisor
Date signed: Jan. 11, 1985

Forest Management Supervisor
Date signed: Jan. 11, 1985

Parks and Recreation Areas Supervisor
Date signed: Jan. 11, 1985

District Planner
Date signed: Jan. 11, 1985

Fire
Date signed: Jan. 11, 1985