Williams Island Provincial Park Management Statement
This document provides policy direction for the protection, development and management of Williams Island Provincial Park and its resources.
Regional director’s approval statement
March, 1985
I am pleased to approve this interim management statement for the Williams Island Provincial Park.
This Statement will provide direction for the management of Williams Island Provincial Park until a Park Management Plan is completed. It will also 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: Williams Island (formerly Hobson Township #1 & 2)
- proposed class: Nature Reserve
- MNR district: Cochrane
- MNR region: Northern
- total area (ha): 4 ha + 4 ha = 8 ha
- site district:
- date in regulation:
Life science target
[No information provided]
Earth science target
| Geological theme | Feature |
|---|---|
| Paleozoic - Upper Devonian Paleozoic - Middle & lower Devonian |
Long Rapids Formation Williams Island Formation |
Cultural resource target
[No information provided]
Recreation opportunities target
[No information provided]
Inventories
| level type | earth science | life science | cultural | recreational |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| reconnaissance completed | Yes | No | No | No |
| detailed completed | Yes | No | No | No |
| required | No | No | No | No |
Potential resource use conflict
O.H.E.P.C. Flooding
Material appended
D.L.U.G. extract: yes
Other: background information
Management statements
1. Issues
There are no relevant management issues for this park.
2. Resource management guidelines
2.1 Mineral resources management
Analysis
The nature reserve status of the park protects it 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 trapline CC-181 and 189.
Guidelines
As hunting and trapping pose no threat to site values, these activities will be permitted.
Recommendation
That the guidelines are 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.
Guideline
Silviculture which enhances the park’s geological features will be permitted.
Recommendation
That the guidelines be implemented with the approval of the plan.
2.4 Land management
Analysis
There is no leased or private land within the park. However, Ontario Hydro has flooding rights to this section of the Abitibi River.
Guidelines
No disposition of land will be permitted.
Recommendation
This guideline is already in effect.
3. Client services management guidelines
3.1 Information: Basic in information about Williams Island should 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 pf watercraft. This situation facilitates protection of the site from human impact, and will be maintained.
4. Research
The Ontario Provincial Parks Planning and Management Policies describe scientific search 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 programmes 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 and 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: Resources background information
Frey (1980), describes the bedrock geology of the Williams Island earth science Nature Reserves as follows.
[The sites contain]:
(1) the thickest exposed section of the Long Rapids Formation [Pleozoic, Upper Devonian]. Drillcore records describe sections 86.9 m thick elsewhere in the Moose River Basin and 149.4 m in the Hudson Bay Basin. The Abitibi River site consists of 17 district rock units composed mostly of dark coloured, non-calcareous shales and mudstones of various compositions (including bituminous) and fissility, ranging from hard platy beds to thinly laminated soft shales. Microfossils, primarily conodonts and plant spores, are rare to abundant throughout sales and mudstones. These units are inter-bedded with three thin (0.3 - 0.5 m thick) dolmite beds.
(2) the most complete exposed thickness of the upper carbonate member of the Williams Island Formation [Paleozoic, Middle and Upper Devonian]. This sequence of massive, platy, and granular lime tone ad calcareous shale is the thickest of several stratigraphic sections that form a composite type section (standard reference) of the upper carbonate member. The section on Williams Island has been divided into 12 subunits, totalling 15.5 m in stratigraphic thickness.
Frey (1980) appraises the park’s earth science features as being of provincial significance according to the above-mentioned rationale.
Appendix #2- District land use guidelines
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 District, 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 | National |
| f | Pitt | 2.44 | Provincial |
| g | Beniah | 1.22 | National |
| h | Wilkie | 1.22 | National |
These various geological features covers an area of 15.96 hectares in total. Six of these areas have reserved flooding rights that are held by Ontario hydro.
Land Use Activity for Area No. 17a-h-Earth Science Nature Reserve Features
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 instance further refinement may be required.
c. 17 a-h earth science nature reserve features
| Activity | Acceptable | Recommended Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| Aggregate Extraction | No | |
| Agriculture | No | |
| Bait Fishing | No | Not applicable |
| Commercial Fishing | No | |
| Cottaging | No | |
| Crown Land Recreation | No | Not applicable |
| Forestry | No | |
| Hunting | Yes | It is recommended that hunting be permitted to continue. |
| Mining | No | |
| Provincial Parks Roads | Yes | Recommended for park status |
| Roads | No | |
| Rural Residential | No | |
| Sport Fishing | Yes | It is recommended that sport fishing be permitted to continue. |
| Tourism | No | No commercial facilities will be allowed. |
| Trapping | Yes | It is recommended that existing trapping activity be permitted to continue. |
| Wildlife Viewing | Yes | |
| Wild Rice Harvesting | No | |
| Urban Development | No | The Ministry will continue to work closely with Ontario Hydro concerning the planning and design of any future hydraulic proposals in the area. |
Interim management statement
I have read this Interim Management Statement and weighed its recommendations with respect to my area of assigned responsibility. I have made my views known and have participated in the District decision regarding the interim policies that it contains.
District approval
Signed by:
Parks/Engineering supervisor
Fish & Wildlife/Lands Supervisor
Forest Management Supervisor
Regional Planner
District manager