Development of the St. Raphael Signature Site Strategy, and the associated St. Raphael Provincial Park Management Plan and the Miniss Enhanced Management Area Resource Management Plan

Description of policy

The St. Raphael Signature Site is located in Northwestern Ontario, 450 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay and 150 kilometres northeast of Sioux Lookout, near the communities of Pickle Lake, Savant Lake, Mishkeegogamang First Nation, and the Ojibway Nation of Saugeen.

The Signature Site encompasses more than 153,000 hectares of remote landscape and is comprised of St. Raphael Provincial Park and the Miniss Enhanced Management Area (EMA). The St. Raphael Provincial Park is a Waterway Class Provincial Park (90,521 hectares) and the Miniss Enhanced Management Area (62,705 hectares) is a Remote Access category Enhanced Management Area.

The St. Raphael Signature Site consists of relatively uniform black spruce forest; the terrain is fairly flat with occasional eskers and drumlins. This site contains a number of important plant and animal species, several old growth red pine stands and other significant landform-vegetation communities. The site provides important winter habitat and calving sites for woodland caribou. Circular canoe routes and waterway connections to the major river systems of Lake St. Joseph and the Albany River are a major attraction for backcountry canoeists.

Since the inception of this planning project in 2003, the following planning documents have been consulted upon and completed:

The Background Document presented a summary of the information and data gathered on the St. Raphael Signature Site. This information was gathered by the Project Team with assistance from an Advisory Committee made up of representatives from the public, interest groups, and stakeholders. Information was also received from the public during the Invitation to Participate. The Background Document assists in developing the Signature Site Strategy, the Park Management Plan and the Enhanced Management Area Resource Management Plan.

The Signature Site Issues and Options Document presented the issues identified to date, developed objectives, and offered strategies and management options to meet the objectives and resolve the issues of the Signature Site.

The St. Raphael Provincial Park Management Issues and Options document provided additional information on park topics not fully addressed in the Signature Site Issues and Options Document. The Preliminary Park Management Plan is currently under development.

The St. Raphael Signature Site Strategy provides the overall vision for the signature site and establishes land use and management direction on a variety of topics. The document was approved in January, 2007.

The recently completed Miniss Enhanced Management Area Preliminary Resource Management Plan implements the direction provided in the St. Raphael Strategy, and provides more detailed resource management direction to the area and values contained within the EMA.

Current land use direction for St. Raphael Provincial Park and the Miniss Enhanced Management Area is housed in the Crown Land Use Policy Atlas (see weblink below). Area specific policy for the park and the enhanced management area will be amended to reflect the land use direction from the approved St. Raphael Strategy and the EMA. Plan, when approved.

Purpose of policy

To prepare a signature site strategy, park management plan and enhanced management area resource management plan which will provide direction for recreation, tourism, forestry and other commercial uses in the signature site, while ensuring the protection of ecosystems and significant features, and giving careful consideration to the remote characteristics of the area.

Other information

The approved St. Raphael Signature Site Strategy builds on the previously released St. Raphael Signature Site Preliminary Strategy (November 2005). Public comments submitted during the public comment period for the preliminary strategy were considered during the preparation of the approved strategy.

The Miniss EMA. Preliminary Resource Management Plan has been completed and is available for public review. The preliminary resource management plan outlines what activities may occur, and what standards must be followed to ensure the remote character of the Miniss EMA. is maintained.

Public comment on the preliminary resource management plan will be considered during the preparation of the approved Miniss Enhanced Management Area Resource Management Plan.

The land use amendment details the proposed area specific land use modifications to the Miniss Enhanced Management Area (E2283a) policy report to reflect new direction provided in the St. Raphael Signature Site Strategy and Miniss Enhanced Management Area Preliminary Resource Management Plan. The Crown Land Use Policy Atlas is the official source of area specific land use policy.

This 45-day public inspection period for the St. Raphael Signature Site Strategy is the final opportunity to determine if concerns have been considered and addressed; if necessary an appeal concerning the plan’s contents may be initiated. The 45-day public comment period for the Miniss Enhanced Management Area Preliminary Resource Management Plan and the proposed land use amendment is an opportunity to review and comment on the management of the Miniss EMA.. Both of the 45-day public inspection periods are occurring simultaneously.

There are several options for viewing the documents:

• Download the St. Raphael Signature Site Strategy electronically from http://www. ontarioparks.com/english/str_planning.html
• Download the Miniss Enhanced Management Area Preliminary Resource Management Plan and map from the links listed below.
• Receive electronically on a CD by contacting MNR Sioux Lookout District Office
• Receive a paper copy through mail by contacting MNR Sioux Lookout District Office
• Pick up a paper copy at the MNR Sioux Lookout District Office
• The web-links which appear towards the bottom of this notice provide the following additional information about this notice:
• St. Raphael Signature Site planning documents on Ontario Parks website
• Miniss Enhanced Management Area planning document
• Miniss Enhanced Management Area map
• Crown Land Use Policy Atlas
• The Crown Land Use Policy Amendment Index

Other public consultation opportunities

Aboriginal communities and organizations, resources users (tourist operators, anglers and hunters, forest industry, mining industry, etc.), local and provincial interest groups, government agencies, land owners, and general public having an interest in the St. Raphael Signature Site have been given direct written notice of the intent to prepare this strategy and the associated plans. Persons not included in this initial mailing but who wish to be involved in the planning process, can have their names added to the mailing list by contacting the Project Team at the Sioux Lookout District office at the address given below. Public notice has also been placed in local newspapers in Sioux Lookout, and in northern communities through Wawatay newspaper.

Documents may also be obtained by attending an Information Centre. Information Centres are opportunities to speak with MNR staff about St. Raphael Signature Site planning and provide comments on planning documents. Information and maps for both the St. Raphael Signature Site and Miniss Enhanced Management Area will be on display. Information Centres will be taking place at the following locations:

Sioux Lookout: Knights of Columbus on March 6, 2007 at 6pm to 9pm

Pickle Lake: Community Centre on March 7, 2007 at 6pm to 9pm

Savant Lake: Community Centre on March 8, 2007 at 4pm to 7pm

Comments on both documents and the proposed land use amendment will be accepted until April 20, 2007 and can be submitted by mail, email, fax, or phone to the contacts listed below.

The following are the remaining opportunities for public involvement:

Stage 7: Public Review of Preliminary Park Plan – Early 2007

Stage 8: Public Inspection of Approved Park and EMA Plans – 2007

St. Raphael Signature Site Project Team