Comments on the Alfred Bog…

Comments on the Alfred Bog Provincial Park Proposal ERO 019 4868

I strongly support the proposal to create Alfred Bog Provincial Park as outlined
in ERO 019-4868. I am making comments on the proposal for Alfred Bog
Provincial Park.

Recommendations:

1) I am more inclined to classify the proposed Alfred Bog Provincial Park as a
Wilderness class Provincial Park under the Ontario Parks system. I view this as
stronger protection for the raised domes that are the Alfred Bog.

2) There should be absolutely no geocaching, bicycling, ATV use, electric bicycling,
fishing, kayaking, canoeing, or camping in the proposed Alfred Bog Provincial Park.
I would go so far as to confine hiking and snowshoeing to existing trails only
because of the sensitive nature of the Alfred Bog environment.

3) More land acquisition is needed to protect the Northwest Dome which seems to
be Partially Isolated from the rest of the area to be included in the proposed Alfred
Bog Provincial Park.

4) The boundary of the proposed Alfred Bog Provincial Park needs to be regularized
in the north and the southeast. This can be accomplished by buying out peat
operations that intrude into the proposed park proper.

5) I think that scientific research should be encouraged at Alfred Bog in much the
same way as at its sister bog – Mer Bleue – on the east side of Ottawa.

6) Expand the 237 m boardwalk to a length of at least 1 km which would be the
same size as the boardwalk present at Mer Bleue.

7) Park interpretation should be done that explains how Alfred Bog was once a
channel of the Ottawa River as was Mer Bleue.

8) I think it is imperative that ditches around the edge of and in the interior of the
proposed Alfred Bog Provincial Park need to be filled in, this action will arrest the
loss of water from the bog which is drying out. The drying out can be seen in aerial
photos that show trees near the ditches are much larger than the stunted trees in
the interior of the bog. Retention of water is important in maintaining the bog and
its domes as is.

Questions arising from the Alfred Bog Provincial Park proposal:

A) Has the environmental impact of the proposed Colacem cement plant on Alfred
Bog been considered? Will a Detailed Environmental Impact Study be done
for this proposed cement plant which is in an area near Alfred Bog?

B) Has any archeological work been done in the area of the proposed Alfred Bog
Provincial Park?

C) How are floral and faunal invasives to be handled in the area of the proposed
Alfred Bog Provincial Park?

D) Will any of the agricultural and or areas mined for peat be fully restored to bog
condition and then added to the area of the proposed Alfred Bog Provincial Park?

E) Can a fund be setup for the acquisition of future lands for the proposed Alfred Bog
Provincial Park?

Those are my comments in the form of Recommendations and Questions to be
considered. I hope the proposed Alfred Bog Provincial Park, which I strongly
support, is enacted.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to this proposal.