From: bridgeford@abrweb.ca
Subject: Official Request By Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists
Date: Wed, November 2, 2011 7:54 am
To: "Gord Cumming", info@algonquinforestry.on.ca

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Gordon Cumming, R.P.F.
Chief Forester, Algonquin Forestry Authority

The Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists hereby officially requests that the Algonquin Forestry Authority start portraying spring and fall haulage routes on its Schedule of Operations Maps, along with those maps' summer haulage routes.

Recreationalists deserve regular disclosure of these haulage routes along with the existing disclosure of the seasonal work areas, in order to best plan their trips away from all the various noises associated with AFA operations.

By providing backcountry recreationalists such full disclosure, the AFA would be providing recreationalists with a more complete means to avoid unpleasant noise-associated experiences, which otherwise could result in official complaints being lodged during the spring and fall seasons.

The ABR maintains that concerns the AFA might have (that the spring and fall haulage routes being shown on their Schedule of Operations Maps would produce negative impressions of the extent of logging roads) would be self-serving and should not preclude the AFA fulfilling its responsibility to provide recreationalists with a full disclosure of AFA operations.

Thank you.

Barry Bridgeford
President / Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists
905-727-1764

From: "Gord Cumming"
Subject: RE: Official Request By Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists
Date: Mon, November 7, 2011 3:09 pm
To: bridgeford@abrweb.ca

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Hello Barry,

We have reviewed your request below and agree to adding more detail regarding spring/fall haul routes to the AFA Schedule of Operations map. There will be little, if any, spring detail added given that we are usually not operating at that time of year. As usual, we will make our best estimate of the schedule at the beginning of the year (April). As you can appreciate, annual operations may deviate from planned schedules based on factors such as market conditions and weather. We will review the map at the end of the summer and update our fall schedule if necessary.

I trust that these efforts will continue to improve communications between forest managers and back-country recreationalists, and allow us to continue to effectively "maintain the balance" in Algonquin Provincial Park.

Thank you.

Best regards,

Gord Cumming

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