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DESCRIPTION:

This is a prominent geological canyon/ravine feature, which includes a major moose travel corridor (Cash Creek), diabase sill tablelands, well-known scenic geologic features, and microclimates favourable for arctic and rare plant species. A variety of landform and vegetation types are represented here. The area around the Palisades of the Pijitiwabik is a major glacial spillway from prehistoric Lake Kelvin.

Nipigon Palisades was regulated as a conservation reserve on June 9, 2003.

This area is located within the Lake Nipigon Basin 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.

The Lake Nipigon Basin Signature Site Ecological Land Use and Resource Management Strategy, which includes the Nipigon Palisades Conservation Reserve Resource Management Plan, guides the management of this area.

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.

Part of this area is subject to the Range Management Policy in Support of Woodland Caribou Conservation and Recovery (2014). The Range Management Policy is accessible via the “Source of Direction.””

LAND USE INTENT:

The Nipigon Palisades will be managed to ensure protection of its significant earth and life science features while providing opportunities for Crown land use and recreation. One or more access and parking areas will be developed along Highway 11 to provide access into the conservation reserve for recreational users. Road access for forestry and mineral exploration will be permitted through the conservation reserve along the existing Shadow Creek Road corridor to the Orient Bay Peninsula Enhanced Management Area.

Recreation and tourism related development will be low impact and will include access point, trail and lookout development and signage. Trail development will focus on improving existing trail access from highway access points to ice climbs and scenic lookouts and development of a new recreational hiking trail.

Critical fish and wildlife habitat/values (e.g. eagle nests, osprey nests, peregrine nests, bat hibernacula) will be protected through the implementation of restricted use zones. Increased stocking in some of the lakes within the conservation reserve will be investigated to augment angling opportunities.

Management of this area is also governed by the general policies contained in the Land Use Strategy (1999).

MANAGEMENT DIRECTION:

Those uses and management activities not listed in the following table are governed by the Lake Nipigon Basin Signature Site Ecological Land Use and Resource Management Strategy, which includes the Nipigon Palisades Conservation Reserve Resource Management Plan and where it is silent, by existing conservation reserve policy.

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	Yes	Existing use permitted to continue, unless there are significant demonstrated conflicts.
Bait Fishing, New	Maybe	New operations can be considered, subject to the 'test of compatibility'.
Bear Hunting by Non-residents (guided), Existing	Yes	Existing authorized operations permitted to continue.
Bear Hunting by Non-residents (guided), New	No	There are three bear management areas that overlap with the conservation reserve. New operations not permitted.
Commercial Fishing, Existing	No	No operations exist.
Commercial Fishing, New	No	New operations are not permitted.
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	Maybe	New cabins are not permitted. New operations can be considered, subject to the 'test of compatibility'.
Commercial Hydro Development	No
Commercial Power Generation Development	No
Commercial Timber Harvest	No
Commercial Tourism (Services and/or Facilities), Existing	No	There are no existing operations within the conservation reserve.
Commercial Tourism (Services and/or Facilities), New	No	New operations are not permitted.
Energy Transmission and Communications Corridors, Existing	Yes	These facilities should avoid conservation reserve lands wherever possible.
Energy Transmission and Communications Corridors, New	No	These facilities should avoid conservation reserve lands wherever possible.
Food Harvest (Commercial), Existing	No
Food Harvest (Commercial), New	No
Mineral Exploration and Development	No
Peat Extraction	No
Wild Rice Harvesting, Existing	Yes
Wild Rice Harvesting, New	Maybe

Land and Resource Management Activities

Activity	Permitted	Guidelines
Crown Land Disposition, Commercial or Public Use	Maybe	Sale of lands is not permitted, except for minor dispositions in support of existing uses (e.g., reconstruction of a septic system). Crown land disposition in the form of leases, land use permits, licences of occupation or letters of authority for lodges, outpost camps or recreation camps will not be permitted.
Crown Land Disposition, Private Use	Maybe	Sale of lands is not permitted, except for minor dispositions in support of existing uses (e.g., reconstruction of a septic system). Crown land disposition in the form of leases, land use permits, licences of occupation or letters of authority for lodges, outpost camps or recreation camps will not be permitted.
Fire Suppression	Yes	Fire suppression policies are similar to adjacent Crown lands.
Fish Habitat Management	Yes	Fish habitat in Gorge Creek which has been impacted by road washouts, will be rehabilitated.
Fish Stocking, Native Species	Maybe	The potential for increased stocking within the conservation reserve will be investigated.
Insect/disease Suppression	Maybe
Inventory/Monitoring	Yes
Prescribed Burning	Maybe	Vegetation management techniques using fire will be investigated through the preparation of a fire management plan.
Private Recreation Camp, Existing	No	No private recreation camps exist within the conservation reserve.
Private Recreation Camp, New	No
Road Development and Maintenance, Existing	Yes	Existing roads can continue to be used. Continued use will include maintenance and may include future upgrading. Upgrading of the Shadow Creek road corridor will be permitted to provide access through the conservation reserve to the Orient Bay Peninsula Enhanced Management Area for forestry and mineral exploration purposes.
Road Development and Maintenance, New	Maybe	No new roads are permitted. One or more public parking and access facilities will be developed along Highway 11 to provide access into the conservation reserve for recreational users.
Vegetation Management	Maybe	Vegetation management techniques using fire will be investigated through the preparation of a fire management plan. Sensitive/unique vegetation species/communities will be protected through the implementation of restricted use zoning. This includes the closure of rock climbs where sensitive vegetation is being impacted.
Wildlife Population Management	No

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	No
Food Gathering	Yes
Horseback Riding (trail)	Maybe	No existing use. New use on existing use on trails may be permitted subject to the 'test of compatibility'.
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	Unnecessary pruning, trampling, damage to anchor trees and bolting will be prohibited. Climbing sites will be investigated annually and management action will be taken should negative impacts be occurring. New climbs will only be permitted if impact assessment indicates no impact on sensitive features.
Snowmobiling, Off Trails	No	Snowmobile use off trails is not permitted, except for direct retrieval of game.
Snowmobiling, On Trails	Yes	Existing use permitted to continue where it does not adversely affect the values being protected.
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	Yes	Development of a hiking trail along the top of the Palisades will be permitted subject to vegetation and wildlife assessment surveys.

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)
Range Management Policy in Support of Woodland Caribou Conservation and Recovery (2014)
Amendment to Area-specific Crown Land Use Policy #2014-007 (2014)
Lake Nipigon Basin Signature Site Ecological Land Use and Resource Management Strategy (2004)
Amendment to Area-specific Crown Land Use Policy #2004-028 (2004)
Amendment to Area-specific Crown Land Use Policy #2002-009 (2003)
Amendment to Area-specific Crown Land Use Policy #2003-017 (2003)
Conservation Reserve Policy (1997)
Ontario's Living Legacy Land Use Strategy (policies for new Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves) (1999)

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