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DESCRIPTION:

The Ranger North Conservation Reserve is located approximately 80 kilometres north of the City of Sault Ste. Marie in the Townships of Gapp, Gaudry, Wlasy, Bracci, Schembri and Scriven. This site is unique in that it is situated within the 100 kilometres wide transition zone between the Boreal forest to the north, and the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence forest to the south.

The conservation reserve contains the largest identified area of old-growth white and red pine forest in northeastern Ontario, which is centred around Quinn Lake, Bliss Lake, and the eastern half of Galloway Lake. This is estimated to be one of the oldest pine forest complexes in Ontario, with some pines estimated at more than 350 years old. Cedar, hemlock, yellow birch, hard maple, white birch, black spruce, and balsam fir are also present. Additionally the reserve is considered to be a provincially significant representative of a landform unit described as moderately broken shallow sandy till uplands, with weakly broken outwash in the valleys.

This area is located within the Algoma Headwaters Signature Site, one of 9 such areas featured in the Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Strategy (1999). Signature Sites are identified for their range of natural and recreational values and their potential to contribute to future recreation and tourism.

Ranger North was regulated as a conservation reserve on February 20, 1997.

Ranger North Conservation Reserve boundary was amended to correct a mapping error by revising the regulated conservation reserve boundary to remove an aggregate pit. The site was then re-regulated on June 25, 2004.

This area contains lake(s) designated for lake trout management. For a current list of designated lakes associated with this area, refer to the Lake Trout Lake Search Index accessible via the ‘Source of Direction’ portion of this policy report.

LAND USE INTENT:

This area accommodates an array of recreational activities such as camping, wildlife viewing, hiking, skiing, fishing and hunting, it is considered to have high recreational values, due in part to limited road access and the resulting remote experience it affords.

Due to the proximity of the Algoma Headwaters Provincial Park (P273), which abuts the conservation reserve to the south, east and west, this site will be considered to be part of the Algoma Headwaters Signature Site and will be considered during the signature site planning process.

MANAGEMENT DIRECTION:

Those uses and management activities not listed in the following table are governed by existing conservation reserve policy and Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, PL 3.03.05, and the Ranger North Conservation Reserve Statement of Conservation Interest (March 1999). Any new uses, and commercial activities associated with conservation reserves, will be considered on a case by case basis, and they must pass a test of compatibility to be acceptable. Compatibility is normally determined through a planning process.

The following tables aim to present current information. However, with the passage of new legislation, updates to provincial policy and the development of protected areas management direction documents, certain content elements may be out of date.

Commercial Activities

Activity	Permitted	Guidelines
Aggregate Extraction	No
Bait Fishing, Existing	No	Baitfish harvesting not permitted; harvest of other bait types (e.g. leeches, crayfish) may be permitted.
Bait Fishing, New	No	Baitfish harvesting not permitted; harvest of other bait types (e.g. leeches, crayfish) may be permitted.
Bear Hunting by Non-residents (guided), Existing	Yes	Existing authorized operations permitted to continue.
Bear Hunting by Non-residents (guided), New	No	New operations not permitted.
Commercial Fishing, Existing	No	Existing use permitted to continue, unless there are significant demonstrated conflicts.
Commercial Fishing, New	No	New operations can be considered, subject to the 'test of compatibility'.
Commercial Fur Harvesting, Existing	Yes	Existing use permitted to continue, unless there are significant demonstrated conflicts. Existing trap cabins can continue.
Commercial Fur Harvesting, New	No	New cabins are not permitted.
Commercial Hydro Development	No
Commercial Power Generation Development	No
Commercial Timber Harvest	No
Commercial Tourism (Services and/or Facilities), Existing	No
Commercial Tourism (Services and/or Facilities), New	No
Energy Transmission and Communications Corridors, Existing	Yes	These facilities should avoid conservation reserve lands wherever possible. Expansion of utility line rights-of-way will be strongly discouraged.
Energy Transmission and Communications Corridors, New	No	The construction of new transmission lines, pipelines, and similar lineal developments will be strongly discouraged.
Food Harvest (Commercial), Existing	No
Food Harvest (Commercial), New	No
Mineral Exploration and Development	No
Peat Extraction	No
Wild Rice Harvesting, Existing	No
Wild Rice Harvesting, New	No

Land and Resource Management Activities

Activity	Permitted	Guidelines
Crown Land Disposition, Commercial or Public Use	Maybe	Sale of lands is not permitted. Renewals of existing leases and land use permits are permitted. Requests for transfer of tenure will be considered in the context of the Statement of Conservation Interest or Resource Management Plan. New leases or land
Crown Land Disposition, Private Use	Maybe	Sale of lands is not permitted. Renewals of existing leases and land use permits are permitted. Requests for transfer of tenure will be considered in the context of the Statement of Conservation Interest or Resource Management Plan. New leases or land
Fire Suppression	Yes	Fire suppression policies are similar to adjacent Crown lands, unless alternative fire policies have been developed through a planning process.
Fish Habitat Management	Maybe
Fish Stocking, Native Species	Maybe	Conservation Reserves policy indicates that 'featured species management' may be permitted. Fisheries and wildlife will continue to be managed in accordance with policies and regulations prevailing in the area.
Insect/disease Suppression	Maybe	Programs may be developed to control forest insects and diseases where these threaten significant heritage, ’sthetic, or economic values. Where control is desirable, it will be directed as narrowly as possible to the specific insect or disease. Biologic
Inventory/Monitoring	Yes
Prescribed Burning	Maybe	The use of fire for management purposes must be approved through a Resource Management Plan.
Private Recreation Camp, Existing	Yes	Existing camps permitted to continue, and may be eligible for enhanced tenure, but not purchase of land.Existing camps permitted to continue, and may be eligible for enhanced tenure, but not purchase of land.
Private Recreation Camp, New	No
Road Development and Maintenance, Existing	Yes	Existing resource access roads can continue to be used.
Road Development and Maintenance, New	No
Vegetation Management	Maybe	Conservation Reserves policy indicates that Featured Species Management and Natural Systems Management may be permitted. Vegetation management can be considered in a planning process.
Wildlife Population Management	Yes	Wildlife management will be in accordance with policies and regulations prevailing in the area.

Recreation Activities and Facilities

Activity	Permitted	Guidelines
All Terrain Vehicle Use, Off Trails	No	ATV off trails is not permitted except for direct retrieval of game.
All Terrain Vehicle Use, On Trails	Yes	Existing use permitted to continue where it does not adversely affect the values being protected.
Campgrounds	Maybe	Will be considered only on sites outside of the old-growth areas.
Food Gathering	Yes
Horseback Riding (trail)	Yes	Existing use on trails permitted.
Hunting	Yes	Hunting is permitted in accordance with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and regulations. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/hunting. Some municipalities have by-laws that apply to hunting including restricting the discharge of firearms. Check with the local municipal office for details.
Motor Boat Use, Commercial	Yes
Motor Boat Use, Private	Yes
Mountain Bike Use	Yes	Existing use on trails permitted.
Non-motorized Recreation Travel	Yes
Rock Climbing	Yes
Snowmobiling, Off Trails	No	Except for the direct retrieval of game.
Snowmobiling, On Trails	Yes
Sport Fishing	Yes	Recreational fishing is permitted in accordance with the Ontario Fishery Regulations. For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/fishing and review the Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary or Fish ON-Line to determine the seasons, catch limits and other restrictions that apply in this area including the location of fish sanctuaries.
Trail Development, Existing	Yes	Existing authorized trails (e.g. hiking, skiing, snowmobiling) can continue unless there are significant demonstrated conflicts.
Trail Development, New	Maybe	Development of trails for a variety of activities (e.g. hiking, cross-country skiing, cycling, horseback riding, snowmobiling) can be considered through a planning process.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Management of this conservation reserve is carried out under the provisions of the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act and within the context of conservation reserve policy.

SOURCE OF DIRECTION:
Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (2006)
Amendment to Area-specific Crown Land Use Policy #2008-010 (2009)
Approved Management Direction for Conservation Reserves (2013)
Ontario's Living Legacy Land Use Strategy (policies for pre-existing Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves) (1999)
Amendment to Area-specific Crown Land Use Policy #2004-013 (2005)
Conservation Reserve Policy (1997)

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