Tatachikapika River Plain…

Tatachikapika River Plain Conservation Reserve Addition:
The existing Tatachikapika River Plain Conservation Reserve makes good use of natural river and water features as boundaries in conjunction with Highway 144. In contrast, the proposed addition extends the boundary by 200 metres west, across the Tatachikapika River, using an arbitrary east-west line to the south. We suggest that the centre of the Tatachikapika River be used as the boundary for the additional area, removing (i.e. dropping) the area that extends to the west of the Tatachikapika River, thereby making it consistent with the existing boundary. This would reduce the burden of creating an additional Area of Concern prescription for protection during forest management planning. This would also facilitate compliance by the public and enforcement by MNR personnel by using a defined physical boundary.
Additionally, in the northeast corner of the Tatachikapika River Plain Conservation Reserve, we note an unusual boundary choice. Given forest access and operability constraints, the recommendation is to exchange the area along Cripple Creek, i.e. keep the Conservation Reserve to the west and south of Cripple Creek, and deregulate the area on the east and north sides of Cripple Creek. The current location of the Conservation Reserve boundary makes it impractical and economically infeasible to practice forestry in the small area to the south of Cripple Creek, as currently regulated.

Grassy River Halliday Forests & Lowlands Conservation Reserve Addition:
There is value in adding area to connect the Grassy River Halliday Forests & Lowlands Conservation Reserve to the north and the Grassy River Mono Lake Lowlands and Ferris Lake Uplands Conservation Reserve to the south. The outcome of this designation would, from a forest management perspective, landlock area northeast of Halliday Lake, effectively removing a greater area from forest management than the proposed addition itself. As an alternative, kindly consider adding the landlocked area to the proposed addition and remove the lands along the east side of the Grassy River. The lands east of the Grassy River offer significant forest management opportunity in the medium term.
Maintaining existing road access is a key requirement for implementing forest management over the long term. The Halliday Road is recognized in the Romeo Malette Forest Management Plan as a Forest Access Road. Within the proposed addition, it bisects the Grassy River Halliday Forests & Lowlands Conservation Reserve. In the event the Conservation Reserve addition is regulated, it is critical that the Halliday Road remain available for access by the forest industry over the long term. Without access, the proposed addition would effectively cut off existing access to managed Crown Land within the Romeo Malette Forest (Ontario Base Maps 49530 and 49529). Any restriction to this access is strongly opposed.