The proposal to greatly…

The proposal to greatly expand the daily use of Big Wind Lake Provincial Wilderness Park is troubling. Any loss of pristine wilderness so close to urban areas is not desirable. It is concerning that the government of Ontario has decided seemingly without much forethought that this Park is no longer worth protecting in its entirety. The amount of damage to the environment and the ecology of the park is definitely going to be extensive. With hundreds (perhaps thousands) of hardwood trees removed and more than 250 groups of campers with vehicles in the park for most of the year, one can scarcely not worry about the destructive impact this must have on the the flora and fauna of the wilderness area. Also damaging will be the hundreds of metres of trenches dug for the electrical sites and the excavation needed of several kilometres of paved roads.
Big Wind Lake and the ponds and small lakes to the northeast of the lake are the start of an important watershed for many lakes, rivers and creeks and south of Big Wind Lake. Any increase in boat traffic or camping on the shores of that lake or the beaver ponds will surely jeopardize the the environmental safety of that important watershed.
Also of concern is the disposal of human waste in this wilderness area. Despite the government’s best efforts it is not conceivable that this will not leak into the watershed and affect the trees, plants and animals that at present have a life untouched by human interference.
I am certainly not opposed to the ministry encouraging a wider use of the park by the people of Ontario.
It is the destruction of large parts of of the Park’s wilderness that is very distressing. I hope that the removal of trees would be significantly minimized. Paved roads, electrical sites and large brick buildings should not be included in the plan. Motorized watercraft should not be allowed. Access to the fragile watershed on and near Big Wind Lake itself should greatly restricted.
This spectacular and precious natural wilderness Park is gift for all Ontarians to enjoy and experience. However the plans recently announced by the government will actually greatly curtail that experience if large parts of the wilderness are cut down and paved over.