2014 New Year's Update of ABR Activities

Since the summer of 2013, a number of backcountry issues have progressed and a few are not yet resolved. Most of these issues are ongoing and are typically dealt with at a slow pace. Following are updates of what the Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists have been dealing with over the past months, along with some background details to put them in context.

Algonquins Of Ontario Land Claims - Negotiations Toward an Agreement In Principle

ABR involvement leading up to the release on December 12th, 2012 of the Preliminary Draft Agreement In Principle included ...

▶ May 12th 2011 ABR Position on Algonquins of Ontario Land Claims Process submitted to the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs.

▶ November 28th 2012, participation by three members of the ABR-EC in a day-long workshop of the Committee of External Advisors for the Parks and Harvesting Chapters.

▶ November 30th 2012, follow-up submission in response to the Parks and Harvesting Chapters.

▶ February 22nd 2013, participation by three members of the ABR-EC in a day-long consultation with the Ontario negotiation MNR support team, at which time ABR's concerns were officially recorded.

▶ Through the course of these events, negotiators conveyed the expectation that the Draft Agreement In Principle would be finalized through the spring and would be submitted for ratification by the Algonquins of Ontario over the summer.

On August 13th 2013, the ABR was informed that details of progress would be forthcoming by the end of August and that the draft AIP was expected to be finalized within a few weeks after the end of August.

On September 6th 2013 the ABR was informed that the completion of the Draft AIP would be occurring very shortly and would be including changes to both the Harvesting Chapter regarding interim conservation measures in Algonquin Park and to the Parks Chapter.

On October 31st 2013 the ABR was informed that the process was taking much longer than had been anticipated and that there was no update available.

On December 10th 2013 with a year having passed since the preliminary Draft Agreement-in-Principle was made public, the ABR was informed that all three parties had received extensive feedback resulting in further negotiations between the parties. Again, it was communicated that the process was taking longer than anticipated.

Given that negotiators had originally anticipated that the Draft Agreement In Principle would have been submitted for ratification by the Algonquins of Ontario over the summer of 2013, and since by mid-January of 2014 it still hadn't reached a negotiated form ready for ratification, negotiations might be viewed as having fallen behind schedule or having become somewhat “drawn-out”.

Roads of Concern (Algonquin Forestry Authority) OPU 136-1 Rowan Lake Road

On January 27th 2010, the Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists had submitted a nine-page report titled Roads Of Concern (written by ABR-EC member Jeffrey McMurtie) commenting on the Algonquin Park 2010-2020 Forest Management Plan, as participation in the plan's public review process.

Amongst the report's concerns, was one that construction of the west end of the Rowan Lake Road was being proposed within approximately 105 meters of the shore of Rowan Lake. On December 17th 2013, the ABR was notified by the MNR that there was a new proposal to re-align the west end of the road well beyond the 120 meter setback from the lake, and could the ABR comment on the new proposal. Later that day, after discussion amongst ABR-EC members, the MNR was advised that the ABR had no objections to this new proposed construction route.

Cottage Lease Renewal Submission

On October 29th 2012, the Ministry of Natural Resources announced it was developing policy regarding the transferability of cottage leases and conditions around those transfers that would extend their term of occupation beyond December 31st 2017.

On November 28th 2013, the MNR invited public comment on the environmental effects of the proposal as a Category B project under the Class Environmental Assessment. The submission period expired January 11th 2014.

On January 9th 2014, the Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists sent in its submission (text image) explaining concerns over certain environmental impacts that cottage leaseholds could have on the wilderness-like backcountry experiences of recreationalists, plus its concern with the effectiveness of the current complaint resolution process.

The ABR detailed how it believed the impacts of generator and chainsaw noise, and of light pollution should be eliminated on those lakes shared by cottages and campsites, by adding specific restrictions into the terms of their renewed cottage leases.

Creek-choking Alders .. A Change

Two years ago, a question arose on the ABR forum, pertaining to the clearing of creek-choking alders from a canoe-route creek. It resulted in the questions of “when, by whom and how such alders should be dealt with?”

These questions were originally asked of Park Management back on March 3rd of 2012. The issue was formally re-raised by the ABR on September 20th, 2013, to which an official response was issued on Jan. 10, 2014.

The reply (text image) brought to the fore some important considerations which may not have been recognized in the original laying out of some creek-based canoe routes, involving the balance of resource protection and visitor experience.

The reply explained that the cutting back of alders could increase creek temperatures and harm the vitality of its brook trout. Related research will be reviewed toward protecting these cold water thermal regimes and their brook trout. Creek sections that are to have their alder cutting reduced will be identified on the next issue of the Canoe Route Map.

The original forum posting had the title “LNT Question”. It's interesting that it has provided a very important LNT and environmental lesson. As recreationalists, we should not be “leaving such a trace” or “making such an impact” that we destroy the habitat of the brook trout resource many of us value so much!

Promotion of Leave No Trace Principles

On May 12th 2011, the ABR entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (with Algonquin Provincial Park and The Friends of Algonquin Park) regarding the 'Education and Promotion of Leave No Trace Canada Principles In Algonquin Provincial Park'. Since then, co-operative efforts have involved the design of posters, pamphlets, tabloid articles, etc.

On September 20th 2013, a number of LNT-related concerns and questions were communicated to park management, to which responses were provided on January 10th 2014.

Responses included the following commitments from Algonquin Park, FOAP and Ontario Parks ...

▶ to update the park website to align its LNT messaging with Ontario Parks and ABR's LNT messages.

▶ LNT messaging will continue to be integrated into existing Park information sources.

▶ Ontario Parks will re-activate and update the access point flat-screen monitor information service, (including LNT principles) in advance of the 2014 season.

▶ the flat-screen monitor information service's content will be reviewed in consultation with backcountry staff.

▶ an attempt will be made to update the flat-screen programs' information in a more timely fashion.

CAMIS Reservations and the Canoe Route Map

From 2011 to 2013 there had been repeated instances of difficulties being experienced identifying locations while making backcountry reservations, via the CAMIS phone system, of campsites on river-sections and contiguous bodies of water. The ABR had raised the issue with Algonquin Park (OP) numerous times through that period and finally re-raised it officially on September 20th 2013, by asking if additional river-section and contiguous body-of-water labellings on the Canoe Route Map were being considered, in anticipation of CAMIS's possible expansion to on-line backcountry booking.

The official response (text image) to the ABR came on January 10th 2014. The reply anticipated that the on-line backcountry reservation service will show the reservable backcountry zones, that campers will be able to see each zone and be able to make a selection without confusion, and that the map will have a zoom feature allowing “river section and contiguous body of water labelling” to be seen. The assurance was also given that the Canoe Routes Map will be updated with the appropriate changes to help users plan their trips.