Bonnechere, Bonnechere River and Foy Property Provincial Parks - Joint Management Planning Process

This notice was originally posted in the old Environmental Registry under number PB01E3005.

Description of Policy

Bonnechere and the Foy Property Provincial Parks are located on Round Lake in the amalgamated Township of Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards, formerly Richards Township, County of Renfrew. Bonnechere River Provincial Park extends along the Bonnechere River from Bonnechere Park northwest to Algonquin Provincial Park. It lies within the former Township of Richards and Burns, now within the amalgamated Township of Madawaska Valley. These three historically and ecologically connected parks are roughly 45 kilometres west of Pembroke.

Bonnechere and Bonnechere River Provincial Parks are located within ecodistrict 5E-10, and lie within the wide sandy valley of the "Little Bonnechere," an ancient glacial spillway. Foy Property Provincial Park is approximately four kilometres across Round Lake from Bonnechere Park, but is located within ecological Site District 5E-11. Its sandy shoreline also has a glacial history, while its forested uplands rise high above Round Lake. The Foy Property crosses and includes a faultline associated with the Ottawa-Bonnechere graben, a significant geological feature that dominates the surrounding landscape.

Bonnechere Provincial Park is a 162 hectare recreation class Park first regulated under the Provincial Parks Act in 1967 and presently described in Ontario Regulation 179/94. Foy, also a recreation class park, is 148 hectares in size and was regulated in 1985 as described in Ontario Regulation 439-93 - Schedule No. 204. Both Bonnechere and Foy were originally patented land and were purchased for park purposes. Although a draft Master Plan written in 1980 proposed amalgamating the two properties into a single park, Foy Property was subsequently regulated as a separate park. Management Plans for Bonnechere and Foy were approved in 1986 and have not been formally reviewed since. The management plan for Bonnechere Provincial Park was amended in 1988, 1993 and 1994 to allow for boundary changes and shifts in management. Foy Provincial Park is currently non-operating. Bonnechere River Provincial Park is an 1,198 hectare waterway class park established in 1986 and described in Ontario Regulation 256/89 - Schedule No. 217. This non-operating park is managed according to an Interim Management Statement written in 1986. The management plan will also involve the 21 hectare Ontario's Living Legacy park addition (P60 Bonnechere River Addition) and the 22 hectare Lafleur Homestead (purchased by Ontario Parks in 2000).

A management planning process, involving a proposed amalgamation of the three parks, will provide more efficient management and effective protection of these naturally and historically connected lands and address outstanding resource issues, especially within Bonnechere River Provincial Park. The management plan will establish and confirm the amalgamated Park's long-term direction, propose an approach to the integration of management of the various park parcels, and establish a baseline against which the impacts of management activities will be monitored.

The management plan will also help raise the profile of the greater Bonnechere area as a tourist destination and better deliver the park's potential to help people appreciate and understand the outstanding natural environment and cultural heritage of the region.

Purpose of Policy

To amalgamate Bonnechere, Foy and Bonnechere River Provincial Parks into one waterway class Provincial Park, under the name "Little Bonnechere River Provincial Park", and guide its management and stewardship for a 20-year period.

Other Information

Ontario Parks proposes amending the Terms of Reference to remove the requirement for an Issues and Options report. Once amended, the planning process will continue to the next planning stage - the preliminary management plan. The park planning process will continue to follow the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves. Previously identified issues in the plan process will be addressed in the preliminary plan. The preliminary park management plan will be released for public review later this year. Persons wishing to obtain more information about the amendment, or wish to have their name added to the mailing list, may contact the person listed below.

Additional information about Ontario Parks and park planning in general may be accessed via the link provided below.

The weblinks listed in blue below provide additional information pertaining to this notice on the following:

• Ontario Parks homepage
• Bonnechere Provincial Park
• Foy Provincial Park
• Bonnechere River Provincial Park

Public Consultation

This proposal was posted for a 44 day public review and comment period starting May 10, 2006. Comments were to be received by June 23, 2006.

All comments received during the comment period are being considered as part of the decision-making process by the Ministry.

Please note: all comments and submissions received have become part of the public record.

Other Public Consultation Opportunities

In accordance with the provisions of the Ontario Provincial Park Management Planning Manual, public consultation is required during the preparation, review and approval of this plan. Direct written notice is required to certain individuals and organizations at each stage of the review process; individuals and organizations may request to be added to this list, which is updated at each stage.

The following are the remaining opportunities for the public to participate in the planning process:

• stage four - Review of Preliminary Park Management Plan: Summer 2006
• stage five - Inspection of the Approved Park Management Plan: Winter 2006