Nagagamisis Central Plateau Signature Site Strategy

Description of policy

The Nagagamisis Central Plateau Signature Site was identified as one of nine featured areas under Ontario's Living Legacy (OLL) as having a tremendously unique and provincially significant natural and cultural heritage value. In addition, the Plateau has great potential for tourism and recreation in a natural environment that warrants increased planning and management.

The Nagagamisis Signature Site represents one of the most noteworthy time capsules of First Nation history in the province. The area holds numerous pre and post-contact artifacts including documentation of a large number of Culturally Modified Trees (CMTs). CMTs are provincially significant and warrant immediate protection, as they are not duplicated elsewhere in Canada east of the Rockies.

A unique community business venture with Nord-Aski, a non-profit economic development corporation, has been initiated. It includes membership from both Native and non-Native communities. One of Nord-Aski's key initiatives include creating an interpretive center outside the Signature Site area that will promote the use of the Signature Site as determined through management planning.

Increasing the awareness of the Nagagamisis Central Plateau Signature Site through OLL provides MNR with the opportunity to take a comprehensive look at the Nagagamisis area and the opportunities it can provide. These decisions will be made to ensure the right opportunities are promoted in the right locations within the Plateau, and that its unique attributes are sustained over the long term.

The two existing provincial parks, one proposed park addition and one enhanced management area within the Nagagamisis Central Plateau Signature Site are:

EXISTING PROVINCIAL PARKS

• Nagagamisis Provincial Park
• Nagagami Lake Provincial Nature Reserve

PROPOSED DESIGNATIONS

• Nagagamisis and Nagagami Lake Park Addition
• Nagagamisis Lake Enhanced Management Area

In order to meet the objectives for the Nagagamisis Central Plateau Signature Site, the following information will need to be considered:

• Most appropriate locations for future development;
• type of development, activities and investment that can be sustained and promoted;
• areas containing values that should not be subject to development;
• actions required to protect significant attributes of the plateau;
• new approaches to draw tourists into the area; and
• types of new facilities and development needed to support enhanced tourism and recreation.

A Nagagamisis Signature Site Planning Team has been established to carry out the collection and analysis of information and to develop the strategy. A Steering Committee has also been established to provide direction to the Planning Team.

A Terms of Reference has been developed and identifies the goals, Planning Team members and schedule.

The development of the Nagagamisis Central Plateau Signature Site Strategy will include four phases:

PHASE ONE: Terms of Reference, collection of information and Invitation to Participate notice. The first phase is the matter that is the subject of this proposal notice: Winter, 2002

PHASE TWO: Analysis of background information collected, development of a background information report, public consultation: November 4, 2002 - January 3, 2003

PHASE THREE: Management Options - A Working Document, public input and review of the information report and options: May 29, 2003 - July 13, 2003

PHASE FOUR: Preparation of the Draft and the Final Nagagamisis Central Plateau Signature Site Strategy including public consultation and review: Winter 2003.

By the beginning of 2004, the goal of the Planning Team is to have developed a Strategy that includes:

• Overall vision, goals, objectives and direction for the use of lands and resources in the Nagagamisis Central Plateau;
• a management plan for the parks;
• statements of direction for the Enhanced Management Areas within the plateau;
• final boundaries for the regulation of the parks and protected areas in the plateau;
• an outline of the proposed facilities, marketing plans and promotional materials that will enable the vision for the Nagagamisis Signature Site to be fulfilled; and
• local economic benefits.

Purpose of policy

To prepare a Nagagamisis Central Plateau Signature Site Strategy that promotes tourism and recreation development opportunities and ensures the protection and enhancement of the plateau's ecosystems.

Other information

Further information about Ontario's Living Legacy and the Nagagamisis Central Plateau Signature Site can be found on web-link listed below.

An alternate to the government contact for this notice is:

Jennifer Lillie-Paetz, Signature Site Planner

Ontario Parks, Northeast Zone Office

199 Larch Street, Suite 404

Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 5P9

Phone: (705) 564-7290 Fax: (705) 564-3171

Other public consultation opportunities

Aboriginal communities and organizations, resource users (tourist operators, anglers, forest industry, mining industry, etc.), local and provincial interest groups, government agencies, land owners and the general public having an interest in the Nagagamisis Central Plateau will be given direct written notice of the intent to prepare this strategy. Persons not included in this initial mailing but who wish to be involved in the process, will have their names added to the mailing list and will receive mailings at subsequent stages. Public notice has also been placed in the local newspapers in Kapuskasing, Hearst, Hornepayne and Wawa.

Other opportunities for public involvement include:

1. Invitation to Review Terms of Reference and discuss future planning - Winter 2002
2. Public Review of Background Information - Fall 2002
3. Public Review of Issues and Options - Spring 2003
4. Public Review of Draft Strategy - Winter 2005/2006
5. Public Inspection of Approved Strategy - Fall 2006

At each stage of public consultation, open houses/information sessions will be held in the communities within the Nagagamisis Central Plateau area. These open houses will provide information relevant to the particular phase occurring at that time.

The Planning Team members will be present to provide information, collect comments and answer questions. Notice of each open house will be mailed out to all names on the Nagagamisis Central Plateau mailing list at least 15 days prior to the open house. Documents that will be produced throughout this process and made available for public review and comment include Background Information, Management Options, Preliminary Strategy and Inspection of Approved Strategy.