Windigo Point Provincial Park Management Statement

Interim Management Statement

Ministry of Natural Resources
Hon. Vincent G. Kerrio
Minister

Additional copies of this publication are obtainable only from the Ministry of Natural Resources,
Sioux Loo out District Office,
P.O. Box 309, Prince Street,
Sioux Lookout, Ontario P0V 2T0

©1989 Government of Ontario

January, 1989

Regional Director’s approval statement

This Interim Management Statement will provide interim direction for the management of the Windigo Point 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 this Interim Management Statement for the Windigo Point Provincial Nature Reserve.

Signed by:
D. R. Johnston
Regional Director
Northwestern Region

Introduction

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; and
3. restrictions 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 time as a Park Management Plan is prepared.

Background information

Name:	Windigo Point
Proposed Class:	Nature Reserve
M.N.R. District:	Sioux Lookout
M.N.R. Region:	Northwestern
Total Area (ha):	513 ha.
Land:
Water:
Site Region:	4S - Lake Wabigoon
Site District:	4s-2
Date in regulation:

Regional Setting Map

Targets

1 Life science representation

site type/landscape unit	species/communities
L.U. 25 - Lac Seul Basin	Southern Boreal Forest Region weakly broken lacustrine clay and sand deposit red pine stand at extreme range limit

2 Earth science representation

geological theme	feature
N/A	N/A

3 Cultural resource representation

theme	theme segment
N/A	N/A

4 Recreation opportunities

day use	car camping	wilderness/back country
N/A	N/A	N/A

Inventories

level/ type	earth science	life science	cultural	recreational	other
reconnaissance completion date		Dec. 1979
detailed completion date
required?		yes

Management guidelines

I Land tenure

There are presently no alienated forms of land tenure within the park area and none will be considered pending the completion of the park management plan.

II Land acquisition/disposition

There is presently no patented land within the park area and no disposition will occur pending the completion of the park management plan.

III Existing/proposed development

There is no existing development within the park and none will be considered pending the completion of the park management plan.

IV Recreation activities

Sport hunting, fishing and a limited amount of camping occur along the shoreline of Lac Seul within the vicinity of the park.

Guideline

Sport hunting will not be permitted within the Windigo Point Provincial Nature Reserve. Enforcement will be accomplished through communication within park literature and signage along the shoreline of the park.

Camping along the shoreline of Lac Seul within the park area will be permitted to continue for Ontario residents. Non-residents of Canada are subject to the conditions of the Crown Land Camping Program which presently prohibits Crown land camping within 500 metres of Lac Seul. The Windigo Point Provincial Nature Reserve is considered to be a non-operating park and normal park fees will not apply.

V Commercial activities

A portion of one Native trapline lies within the park.

The park lies within the Lac Seul Forest Management Agreement Area.

Guideline

The above existing trapline will be permitted to continue as a non-conforming use. In the event of a request for a transfer of this licence, the area contained within the park will be excluded from the reissued licence. No trapline cabins will be permitted within the park.

Timber Harvesting is not permitted in the park area. The park has been excluded from the Lac Seul Forest Management Agreement Area. This situation will be reflected in all management and operating plans that cover the park area.

No other commercial activities will be permitted pending the completion of the park management plan.

VI Natural resources

The primary life science value within this nature reserve is a large stand of red pine at the extreme range limit for this species as detailed in the attached check sheet. Interim management efforts will be directed towards the protection of this life science value.

Due to the proximity of the park to forest harvesting areas and the susceptibility of the park values to fire, all fires within the park will be subject to initial attack and fire suppression efforts. Fire suppression techniques used will have as minimal effect as possible on the park environment. Such means of suppression as bulldozing, helipad locations, fire camps, and waterbombing with chemical additives will not be permitted except in critical situations.

VII Research

A more complete and detailed life science inventory will be necessary prior to the preparation of the park management plan.

Research activities that will enhance our scientific and resource knowledge of the park will be encouraged.

VIII Native interests

The park lies within the Treaty #3 area. Status Indians enjoying treaty rights to carry on traditional natural resources harvesting activities will be permitted to carry on those activities in accordance with the terms of their treaty within the Windigo Point Provincial Nature Reserve. Accordingly such Status Indians will be permitted to carry on those activities in certain circumstances. The details of those circumstances will be the subject of further discussion and review.

IX Cultural resources

There are no known cultural resources within the park area.

Sources/references

Gray, Stephen L. 1980. Life Science Systems Planning Report West Patricia land Use Plan.

Harvey, E.T. 1980. Earth Science Systems Planning in the West Patricia Planning Area, Final Report.

Harvey, T., S. L. Gray, B. Thacker 1980. Landscape Units of the West Patricia Land Use Planning Area

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Backgrounder -District Land Use Guidelines, June 1983.

Table IV

Source: Backgrounder
District Land Use Guidelines
OMNR, 1983

Recommended nature reserve candidates

Uses recommended to continue prior to and after regulation

Name	MNR Region	Size (ha)	Mineral Exploration/ Development	Hunting	Trapping	Commercial Fishing	Bait Fishing	Other
1. Trout Lake*	NW	7,850			Phase out
2. Windigo Point*	NW	380			Phase out
3. Lola Lake	NW	6,350	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes
4. Butler Lake	NW	3,290	Yes	Yes	Yes
5. Bonheur	NW	720
6. Minitaki Kames*	NW	4,340			Phase out
7. Sable Island	NW	1,800		Yes	Yes		Yes
8. Gameland	NW	2,200	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes
9. Nelles Township	NW	800	Yes	Yes	Yes
10. Blue Township	NW	1,600	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes
11. West Bay	NC	1,140			Yes
12. Windigo Bay	NC	8,300		Yes	Yes
13. Sedgeman lake	NC	5,800		Yes	Yes			Wild Rice
14. Edward Island	NC	530	Yes
15. Kiashk/Gull River	NC	230
16. White Fish lake (W)	NC	1,150
17. White Fish lake (E)	NC	190	Yes
18. Thompson Island	NC	170	Yes
19. Craig’s Pit	NC	480	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes
20. Matawin River	NC	2,650		Yes	Yes
21. Pantagruel Creek	NC	2,200			Yes
22. Kab River	NC	1,970		Yes	Yes
23. Fraleigh lake	NC	870		Yes	Yes
24. Devon Road Mesa	NC	90
25. Pigeon River Clay Plain	NC	2,870	Yes		Yes
26. Prairie River Mouth	NC	290	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes
27. Gravel River	NC	790	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes
28. Arrowhead Peninsula	NC	490
29. Pie Island Mesa	NC	50
30. Red Sucker Point	NC	380	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes
31. Kama Hill	NC	1
32. Puff Island	NC	2

Windigo Point Provincial Nature Reserve map

Enlarge Windigo Point Provincial Nature Reserve map

Ontario Nature Reserves Program - Life Science Inventory Check-Sheet

Name	Windigo Point - Red Pine Stand
Map Name	McIntyre Bay
Map Number	52K/7
UTM Ref.	190800
County, District or Regional Municipality	District of Kenora
Latitude	50°23'N
Longitude	92°44'W
Altitude Minimum	357 m
Altitude Maximum	390 m
Locality	Lac Seul
Township
Lots
Concessions
Area	1200 acres, 480 ha
Ownership
Administration
Forest Region and District	B. 11-U. English R.
Site Region and District	4S-2 (Lac Seul)
MNR Region and District	NW- Sioux Lookout
Aerial Photographs Year/ Roll/ Flight Line/ Numbers	Base Map: 503923/504923

1: 50,000 NTS Map Showing Area Boundaries

Physical and biological features

A large stand of red pine is located on Windigo Point which juts out into Lac Seul. This stand is located on the extreme range limit for this species as its occurrence at this latitude is somewhat sporadic. Haddow (1948) indicates isolated stands as occurring in the Red Lake, Lac Seul and Lake St. Joseph area with this site on Windigo.Point being one of the locations. Haddow also refers to the fact that the "largest stand of red pine is on Thaddeus Lake". This stand was not visited in the field so it is not known if it still exists.

The pine stand at Windigo occurs within a landscape consisting of weakly broken lacustrine clay and sand deposits. Although not verified in the field, the actual deposits supporting this stand may be glacio-fluvial ice contact material (eskerkame?) that have been modified by lake action. The spatial form of these deposits is that of a large knoll which slopes the lake on all sides. Some cutting has occurred here which has left scattered clumps of red pine. The red pine is regenerating except in small clearings where balsam fir is prolific.

Data sheets attached

Physical description
Vegetation summary
Evaluation sheet
Community Descrs.
Community comp. lists
Summary species lists
Physical features map
Vegetation map b
Bibliography
Photographs

Major information sources

Haddow, 1948. Jour. Arnold Arb. Vol. 29.

Evaluation and priorities

This site is of life science significance and should be protected.

Date compiled: December 4, 1979

Compiler: T. Noble

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Division of Parks, Park Planning Branch, Queens Park, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 1W3

Substrate and temperature	Regime	Arid	Dry	Dry	Mesic	Mesic	Mesic	Wet	Wet	Rated	Water
Colder	Rock
Colder	Sand
Colder	Loam
Colder	Clay
Colder	Organic
Normal	Rock
Normal	Sand
Normal	Loam
Normal	Clay
Normal	Organic
Warmer	Rock
Warmer	Sand			A	A
Warmer	Loam
Warmer	Clay
Warmer	Organic

Note: More site types exist here than indicated above. Field work would be required to more accurately describe the area.

Windigo Point Provincial Nature Reserve Site Map

Enlarge Windigo Point Provincial Nature Reserve Site Map