Ira Lake Provincial Park Management Statement
This document provides direction on the management of Ira Lake Provincial Park.
Interim Management Statement
March 6, 1995
Regional Director’s approval statement
This Interim Management Statement will provide interim direction for the management of Ira Lake Provincial Nature Reserve until a comprehensive Park Management Plan is prepared.
This statement will provide the basis for the subsequent preparation of the Park Management Plan.
I am pleased to approve the Ira Lake Provincial Nature Reserve Interim Management Statement.
Additional copies of this document may be obtained by contacting:
Park Planning Specialist
Midhurst Parks Zone
Ministry of Natural Resources
Midhurst, Ontario
L0L 1X0
Telephone: 705-725-7600 or
Park Superintendent
MacGregor Point Provincial Park
R.R. #1
Port Elgin, Ontario
N0C 2C0
Telephone: 519-389-9056
Signed by:
Gail Beggs
Regional Director
Southern Region
Background information
| Name: | Ira Lake Provincial Nature Reserve |
|---|---|
| Proposed class: | Nature Reserve |
| MNR parks zone: | Midhurst |
| MNR region: | Southern |
| Total area: | 30 ha. (Crown) 112 ha. (recommended) |
| Site district: | 6-14 |
| Regulation: | Ont. Reg. 256/89 |
Figure 1 - Regional Setting
Scale: 1:250,000
Enlarge Figure 1 - Regional Setting
Targets
1. Life science representation (provincial significance)
| Site type/Landscape unit | Feature |
|---|---|
|
|
2. Earth science representation (local significance)
| Geological theme | Feature |
|---|---|
|
|
3. Cultural resources representation
| Theme | Theme segment |
|---|---|
| not available | not available |
4. Recreational opportunities
| Day use | Car camping | Back country |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
Inventories
| Level/Type | Earth Science | Life Science | Cultural | Recreational | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check Sheet | Blachut, 1976 | Walshe, 1970 Waldron, 1971 Cuddy, 1976 |
|||
| Reconnaissance | (required) | (required) | |||
| Detailed | (required) |
Ira Lake Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (Lindsay Township, Bruce County, Ontario)
Enlarge Ira Lake Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest map
Management guidelines
I. Land tenure
A total of 30 hectares (74 acres) of acquired Crown land, adjacent to Bury Road and northeast of Ira Lake, are currently regulated under the Provincial Parks Act as part of Ira Lake Provincial Nature Reserve (Ont. Reg. 256./89). The nature reserve is on the Lake Huron side of the Bruce Peninsula, on part of Lot 8, Concession I, West of Bury Road, in Lindsay Township, County of Bruce. The nature reserve is managed by the Superintendent of MacGregor Point Provincial Park.
Bruce County owns approximately 28 percent of the 282 hectare (698 acre) Ira Lake Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI). About ten percent of the ANSI is included in the provincial nature reserve. The remaining land is privately owned.
II. Land acquisition and disposition
A total area of 112 hectares (277 acres) is proposed for inclusion in the Ira Lake Provincial Nature Reserve. The lands surrounding Ira Lake (the most significant feature of the ANSI) have not as yet been acquired by the Crown.
Guidelines:
Subject to the availability of land acquisition funding, additional land will be acquired on a willing seller/willing buyer basis.
Additional lands acquired by the Crown within the proposed park boundary will be regulated under the Provincial Parks Act as part of the provincial nature reserve.
III. Existing and proposed development
Existing development is limited to signs demarcating the park boundary and permitted uses.
No development is proposed save for additions or improvements to existing fencing or gates as required to control unauthorized access.
Guidelines:
No development will be undertaken prior to completion of a park management plan (excluding improvements related to public health and safety and resource protection).
IV. Recreational activities
Passive recreational activities such as nature appreciation or walking are permitted in the nature reserve. Waterfowl hunting occurs on Ira Lake.
Guidelines:
Hunting and access by mechanized vehicles will not be permitted in the nature reserve.
V. Commercial activities
Guidelines:
No commercial activities, including trapping or logging, will be permitted.
VI. Native interests
Provincial lands in the Bruce Peninsula are currently influenced by as yet unresolved Native land claim negotiations.
Guidelines:
Local native communities will be consulted during the park management planning process.
VII. Natural resources
Life science
Ira Lake, presently not acquired as part of the provincial nature reserve, has been identified as a provincially significant Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. The area is representative of a shallow lake on limestone, showing excellent examples of primary shore succession. The lake is largely covered with emergent reeds and mats of floating vegetation, with exceptionally well developed vegetation zones about its margins. To the east and west of Ira Lake are bands of deciduous swamp forest. Upland hardwood forest is also represented.
The provincially significant black tern, and the nationally and provincially threatened eastern massasauga rattlesnake occur.
Earth science
A flat-lying, deeply jointed Ordovician Georgian Bay dolomite is exposed over some of the area. This area is typical of the Lake Huron side of the Bruce Peninsula and can therefore be considered to be of local significance (Blachut, 1976).
VIII. Cultural resources
Little is known about the pre-history and history of the nature reserve or local area. Native peoples have lived and/or hunted in the Bruce Peninsula.
Guidelines:
A reconnaissance level cultural resources inventory and evaluation of the local area may be undertaken prior to preparation of a park management plan.
IX. Natural heritage education
Existing facilities consist of signs identifying the property as Ira Lake Provincial Nature Reserve.
Guidelines:
An Ira Lake Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest fact sheet is available to the public upon request.
X. Research
Guidelines:
Approved research or inventory projects will be encouraged.
XI. Marketing
There are no plans to promote use of the park apart from general information provided to the public regarding Provincial Nature Reserves.
Guidelines:
A marketing plan will not be required.
XII. References
Blachut, S. Spring Creek Special Area Earth Science Inventory Checklist. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Parks Planning Branch, Toronto, 1976.
Cuddy, D.G. Environmental Planning Series 7.2, Niagara Escarpment Study - Ira Lake Life Science Inventory Checklist. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Parks Planning Branch, Toronto, 1976.
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Ira Lake life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. (Factsheet). Owen Sound, 1994.
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Ontario Provincial Park Management Planning Manual. Provincial Operations Branch, 1994.
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Ontario Provincial Parks: Planning and Management Policies, 1992 Update. Provincial Parks and Natural Heritage Policy Branch, Toronto, 1992.
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Owen Sound District Land Use Guidelines. Owen Sound, 1983.
Waldron, G. International Biological Programme Check Sheet for Survey of Ira Lake Swamp. University of Toronto, 1971.
Walshe, S. International Biological Programme Check Sheet for Survey of Ira Lake. University of Toronto, 1970.