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DESCRIPTION:

This area includes numerous natural heritage features including the Hooker lake red pine area and Medcalf Lake, which is known to contain sandhill crane nesting sites, a raised bog, peat margin swamps, patterned ridge and swales, and a ladder fen. There are a large number of remote tourism facilities, woodland caribou calving sites, diverse recreational (angling, canoeing, viewing) uses with remote access. There is excellent representation of bedrock controlled shallow till plains with very few wetlands.

This area is located within the St. Raphael 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.

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.

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 intent is to manage this area as a waterway class park, with a portion as a natural environment class park. Further study is required to determine which portion of the area would be most suitable for the natural environment classification.

St. Raphael Provincial Park was regulated as a water way class park on May 22, 2003. It will be managed in accordance with Ministry of Natural Resources and Ontario Parks Policy.
Road crossing of the waterways is permitted to allow access into the enhanced management areas associated with this park. Crossings will be minimized and removed once logging and renewal has been completed.

This area includes several large lakes forming circular routes. Some of the larger lakes are Churchill, De Lesseps, Hooker, Lawson, Minchin, Miniss, St Raphael and Vincent Lakes. The area within the circular routes has been designated as a remote access Enhanced Management Area (EMA) to complement and enhance values within the park.

The park area generally includes a 500 metre deep strip of land on each side of the lakes and adjoining rivers within the Park. In some areas the configuration of the lakes results in the strip extending upwards of 1,000 metres.

Present uses include water-oriented recreation, sport hunting, sport fishing, backcountry camping, canoeing, commercial tourism and trapping. Tourism is a main feature of the area with six land use permits issued for outpost camps within the park, and two private parcels with mainbase lodges, which will be excluded from Parklands.

Other Commercial activities within the park include portions of eleven traplines, twelve bear management areas and seventeen baitfish blocks.

Access to the area is primarily limited to road, air, snowmachine and canoe. Highway 599 runs along the eastern side of the Park creating access to the landings at Minchin and Medcalf Lakes. From these lakes portages lead throughout the park. Guests of tourist facilities normally fly in on float planes.

St. Raphael Provincial Park comprises part of the St. Raphael 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.

MANAGEMENT DIRECTION:

Management of this provincial park is carried out in accordance with Ontario Provincial Parks: Planning and Management Policies (1992), the Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Strategy (1999) and the Interim Management Statement, where available. The Interim Management Statement provides direction to ensure custodial management of park resources until such time as a park management planning process is conducted, which includes public review of proposals. At that time, significant decisions regarding resource stewardship, operations, development and permitted uses are made.

Where a use may be permitted (Maybe or Yes on the table), the long-term management direction will be determined through planning. Such uses that are existing may continue in the interim, unless park values are threatened.

The following table presents a summary of the policies for this class of park. Readers should consult the above referenced documents for specific direction or further clarification.

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.

The permitted uses associated with provincial parks are found in approved management direction, which are available on the Ontario Parks website.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

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

SOURCE OF DIRECTION:
Amendment to Area specific Crown Land Use Policy #2007-025 (2009)
Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (2006)
Amendment to Area-specific Crown Land Use Policy #2008-010 (2009)
Approved Management Direction for Ontario's Provincial Parks (2013)
Range Management Policy in Support of Woodland Caribou Conservation and Recovery (2014)
Amendment to Area-specific Crown Land Use Policy #2014-007 (2014)
Amendment to Area-specific Crown Land Use Policy #2002-008 (2005)
Amendment to Area-specific Crown Land Use Policy #2003-017 (2003)
Ontario Provincial Parks: Planning and Management Policies (1992)
Ontario's Living Legacy Land Use Strategy (policies for new Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves) (1999)

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