Boyne Valley Park Management Plan

Description of policy

Boyne Valley Provincial Park is situated on the Boyne River approximately 20 kilometres north of Orangeville, four kilometres east of Shelburne and north of the Highway 89 and 10 junction in the Township of Mulmur, Dufferin County. The site was regulated under the Provincial Parks Act in 1985 (Ontario Regulation 279/85) and is classed as a Natural Environment provincial park. Boyne Valley Provincial Park falls partially within the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area. It is part of the Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Space System (NEPOSS) which protects well over 100 significant, natural, and cultural features along the escarpment, and provides for recreation and appreciation of the features.

Adjacent land uses include agriculture, rural residential, the Boyne Valley School of Life Science operated by City of Toronto Board of Education and 639 hectares of provincially acquired lands. The acquired lands upstream of the regulated park may have potential to be added to the park to protect the Boyne River Valley and the coldwater stream habitat.

Boyne Valley Provincial Park lies within Ecodistrict 6E-7 and contains portions of the provincially significant Boyne Valley Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) and the Primrose - Boyne Valley Earth Science ANSI. Boyne Valley is comprised of a number of natural communities including hardwood forest, open fields, bottomland, and swamp. The natural heritage feature representation of Boyne Valley Provincial Park makes a significant contribution to Ontario's system of provincial parks and protected areas.

The Provincial Parks Act and Ontario Park's policy require that a management plan be prepared for Boyne Valley Provincial Park. The plan will define the park's goal, objectives and long term direction for the protection, development, management and use of the park's resources. In particular, management issues such as protection and enhancement of vegetation, and important ecological functions will be addressed in the planning process. The plan will also address such issues as permitted activities, land acquisition, park boundary, and zoning.

The primary role of this planning process will be to identify the contributions that Boyne Valley makes to the achievement of the four Ontario provincial parks system objectives (protection, heritage appreciation, recreation, tourism), and to identify and establish management policies aimed at maintaining or enhancing those contributions. Recent reports, supporting documents, unpublished data, and other relevant information will be made available for public review in the development of this plan.

The Ministry's Statement of Environmental Values will be considered by Ontario Parks during the development of both the preliminary and final management plans for Boyne Valley. Policy proposal and decision notices will be placed on the Environmental Bill of Rights electronic registry at the appropriate stages of the process.

Purpose of policy

A management plan is required for Boyne Valley Provincial Park in order to guide its long term use, development, operation and management. The plan will identify the contributions that Boyne Valley makes to the achievement of the four Ontario Provincial Parks system objectives - protection, heritage appreciation, recreation and tourism.

Other information

In accordance with the provisions of the Ontario Provincial Park Management Planning Manual (1994), consultation is required during the preparation, review and approval of this plan. Ontario Parks' policy requires direct written notice to certain individuals and organizations at each stage of the planning process. Other interested individuals and organizations may request to be added to this list, which is updated at each stage.

Opportunities for consultation are provided at each stage of the management plan review process as follows:

Stage One - Initial Invitation to Participate and Opportunity to Inspect the Approved Terms of Reference (completed)

Stage Two - Opportunity to Review Background Information

Stage Three - Opportunity to Review Preliminary Park Management Plan

Stage Four - Opportunity to Inspect Approved Park Management Plan

This notice of proposal coincides with the formal notice of the opportunity to inspect the background information for the park management planning process. It is the second of four stages in the planning process and will be followed by the release of the preliminary park management plan, and finally, release of the approved park management plan.

Comments will be kept on file for use in making a decision on this matter; and may be included in the documentation of this review, which is available for public review.

The web-links listed below provide additional information about the Ontario Provincial Parks system and about park planning in general, and provide an opportunity to obtain the approved Terms of Reference.

Other public consultation opportunities

Paid advertisements will be placed in the following regional and local print media:

• The Shelburne Free Press and Economist
• Orangeville Banner
• Orangeville Citizen
• The Alliston Herald

Written notice is also being given by mail to property owners within and near the area, interested stakeholders, as well as to other individuals and organizations having a potential interest in the property. Notices will also be posted on site.

An information centre to provide the public with an opportunity to review and comment on the compiled background information, and/or the park management planning process, has been scheduled as follows:

Date: Monday, February 21, 2005
Location: Dufferin County Museum and Archives, Highway #89 and Airport Road, Rosemont, Ontario.
Phone: 1-877-941-7787 (Toll Free) or (705) 435-1881
Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm

A copy of the background information will be available for viewing during normal business hours at:

Dufferin County Museum and Archives
P.O. Box 120, Highway #89 and Airport Road
Rosemont, Ontario, L0N 1R0
PHONE: 1-877-941-7787 (Toll Free) or (705) 435-1881

Earl Rowe Provincial Park
P.O. Box 872, Concession #7
Alliston, Ontario, L9R 1W1
PHONE: (705)  435-2498 FAX: (705) 435-4333

Written submissions pertaining to the background information may be submitted to the contact person listed below until April 6, 2005.

There will continue to be opportunities for public participation at each stage of the park management planning process. Any individuals or organizations who wish to have their name and address added to the mailing list for the duration of the planning process should direct their request to the contact person listed below. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to discuss any concerns with Ontario Parks early in the planning process.