This large area comprises the greater part of Wawa District, including Crown land that surrounds Manitouwadge, Hornepayne, Wawa and well as Crown land south of White River. The area comprises portions of all Forest Management Units within the Wawa District.

Within this area, most activities are presently ongoing and will continue; this includes normal programs of forest management, the disposition of Crown land for commercial tourism facilities, the management of fish and wildlife resources and exploration and development of mineral resources including aggregate.

This area contains the following Designated Remote Tourism Lakes:

· Ahmabel Lake (partially in District)
· Bayfield Lake
· Buffalo Island Lake
· Bulldozer Lake
· East Line Lake (Unnamed Lake East of Line)
· Eris Lake
· Foster Lake
· Fraser Lake
· Garnham Lake
· Goodchild Lake
· Gowan Lake
· Granitehill Lake
· Hayward Lake
· Herrick Lake
· Ice Lake
· Jackfish
· Jembi Lake
· Jim Lake
· Kentron
· Lessard Lake
· Linbarr Lake
· Little Fakeloo
· Little Martinet Lake
· Little Vein Lake
· Long Alice Lake
· Loughlan Lake
· Macutagen Lake
· McCoy Lake
· McCrea Lake
· McGill Lake
· Michal Lake
· Missing Lake
· Nagagami Lake
· North McCrea Lake
· North Skipper Lake
· Obakamiga Lake
· Pickle Lake
· Pinei (Pine) Lake
· Shekak Lake
· Solann Lake
· Spangle Lake
· Vein Lake
· White Owl Lake

This area contains lake(s) designated for lake trout management.

The intent of this area is to promote and encourage a multitude of uses and provide an environment where resource uses take place with minimized conflict. Primary activities and uses include Crown land recreation, forest management, mineral exploration and extraction, commercial power development, hunting, fishing, camping, tourism and various other commercial and recreational activities. The renewable resources in this area will continue to be managed on a sustained yield basis. The control of road locations and their use will be managed to maintain acceptable levels of angling and hunting and other recreational uses. Identified tourism lakes will be managed to protect their remote quality.

All resource extraction/management plans will contain and follow guidelines set out by the District and Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, to protect and promote tourism and recreational values, historical and archaeological sites and significant fisheries and/or wildlife values.

Any land use activities in close proximity to Pukaskwa National Park in this general use area should consider and support Parks Canada's goals for ensuring high quality wilderness experiences and the maintenance of ecological integrity inside the park.

A Zone of Cooperation Committee is in place to ensure Pukaskwa National Park values are taken into consideration when planning forestry activities near the park boundary. The Ontario-Canada Cooperative Fire Management Agreement ensures that fires within the park are managed to protect forest values outside the park.

All Management Direction is subject to the following Land Use Intent:

An area, including each Designated Remote Tourism Lake and the surrounding area of land measured from the productive forest edge at the lake shoreline out to a distance of 2 km for main base lodge lakes and 1 km for outpost camp lakes.

o The intent of these areas is to maintain remoteness, which normally includes:
§ no motorized access to the lake (excluding benchmarked access);
§ access typically by air, rail or non-motorized means;
§ high quality natural resources; and
§ the provision of a perception of inaccessibility and isolation.

o First 120 m (from 0 to 120 m) - No roads will be constructed. No cut forest reserve.

o Next 280 m (from 121 to 400 m) - No roads will be constructed. Use of benchmarked roads may continue. Forest harvesting may occur.

Within viewshed of lake - Partial/modified cutting techniques will apply to Forestry and Industrial harvesting operations. Operations must provide a forested appearance.

Outside of viewshed of lake - Forest management operations consistent with the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (1994) and its applicable manuals and guidelines as amended.

o Last 1.6 km (from 401 m to 2 km) (main base lodge lake) or last 600 m (from 401 m to 1 km) (outpost camp lake) - Harvesting may occur.

Within viewshed of lake - Partial/modified cutting techniques will apply to Forestry and Industrial harvesting operations. Operations must provide a forested appearance.

Outside of viewshed of lake - Forest management operations consistent with the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (1994) and its applicable manuals and guidelines as amended.

New operational or winter roads (Forestry) or roads (Industrial) may be established.

New Roads will be decommissioned upon completion of road lifespan unless otherwise specified under an approved Forest Management Plan or Road Use Management Strategy.

Roads, although discouraged, may be permitted for the purpose of access to natural resources through or between areas of operations on a forest management unit where determined by the MNRF that there are no reasonable alternatives. Under these circumstances, the MNRF must be satisfied that the following conditions are met:

§ The road built to the lowest possible standard.
§ Lowest cost is not the sole or overriding justification.
§ Tourism values have been considered and all reasonable measures will be undertaken to minimize harmful impacts and to protect a perception of inaccessibility and isolation.

o Benchmarked roads will normally be open to public use during the road lifespan.

o Within the 2 km or 1 km areas - Specific plans for road decommissioning will be established in conjunction with the MNRF.

o A seasonal timing restriction to protect Designated Remote Tourism Lakes from potential auditory disturbances as a result of Forestry or Industrial operations will be in place from the beginning of the walleye sportfishing season to the end of the second week of moose gun hunt. The seasonal timing restriction only applies to the use of heavy equipment (> a ½ ton truck). Site preparation is permitted during the hours of 8am to 6 pm throughout the seasonal timing restriction. The seasonal timing restriction will only apply during seasons where the facilities on main base lodge lakes and outpost camp lakes are occupied.

o Seasonal timing restrictions can be modified on a case by case basis where otherwise agreed upon by the MNRF, Forestry or Industrial company, and the tourism establishment through a resource stewardship agreement or other instrument.

West Multiple Resource Management Area General Use Area is located in an area in which one or more First Nations have asserted Aboriginal rights and title, including an unextinguished Aboriginal right to exclusive use and occupancy of the land. The First Nations’ claims are the subject of litigation and negotiations.

Dispositions in West Multiple Resource Management Area General Use Area may be subject to heightened Crown consultation and accommodation obligations.

This may mean a greater degree of engagement with First Nation communities asserting rights and title prior to a decision regarding potential authorizations or dispositions of public lands or resources.

For a map of areas affected by these claims, please go to the Notice of Caution on the Mining Lands Administration System (MLAS)
at https://https:///www.geologyontario.mndm.gov.on.ca/mines/lands/withreop/notices_e.html.

Note: MNRF will consider the Land Use Intent and Management Direction outlined in this policy report when reviewing applications for permitted activities that require licences, leases, permits, or other forms of approval. The review of individual applications involves the consideration of a variety of factors and requirements on a site-specific basis in addition to land use policy.