Ontario's Natural Heritage Areas - Ministry of Natural Resources

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5.4 Canadian Heritage Rivers Introduction The Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS) was created as a cooperative program between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to help identify, conserve, and encourage public use of important rivers (Parks Canada, 1984, 2006b). The French River was the first Canadian river designated to the Canadian Heritage Rivers program in 1986. Today, 11 of the 36 designated Canadian Heritage Rivers across Canada flow in Ontario (Table 5-2, Fig. 5-3) (Canadian Heritage Rivers Board, 2006; Canadian Heritage Rivers System, 2007). Table 5-2. Canadian Heritage Rivers in Ontario. Designated River Length (km) Bloodvein River*, 1998 306 Boundary Waters, 1996 250 Detroit, 2001 51 French, 1986 110 Grand, 1994 627 Humber, 1999 100 Mattawa, 1988 76 Missinaibi, 2004 501 Rideau, 2000 202 St. Mary’s, 2000 125 Thames, 2000 273 Total 2,621 * The Bloodvein River is partially located in Manitoba. Source: Canadian Heritage Rivers Board (2006). Legislation and Policy Basis Several pieces of legislation are used to manage the Canadian Heritage River System depending on the government responsible for the land over which the river flows (Canadian Heritage Rivers Board, 1997). For example, rivers protected under the Provincial Parks program are governed by the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, National Park rivers are cared for with the National Parks Act, and Conservation Authority rivers are protected under the auspices of the Conservation Authorities Act. Ontario’s Natural Heritage Areas 128 Protection Goal and/or Objectives Each agency and organization responsible for the care of Canadian Heritage Rivers subscribes to a unique suite of goals and objectives. For example, within the context of the Canadian Heritage Rivers System strategy, Parks Canada works “to foster protection of outstanding examples of the major river environments of Canada in a cooperative system of Canadian Heritage Rivers, and to encourage public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of their human and natural heritage” (Parks Canada, 2006b). The Canadian Heritage Rivers System provides for the recognition, conservation, and management of rivers or sections of rivers with outstanding heritage value such that: • Their natural heritage is conserved and interpreted. • Their cultural (human) heritage is conserved and interpreted. • Recreation and heritage appreciation opportunities are available to all Canadians (Parks Canada, 2001b). Selection Criteria Nominated rivers are reviewed according to natural, cultural, recreational, and integrity values (Canadian Heritage Rivers Board, 2001). A river is deemed suitable for inclusion in the Canadian Heritage Rivers System if it meets either the cultural or natural selection guidelines as well as a set of integrity guidelines. Recreational and integrity values are also considered but on their own do not qualify a river as a Canadian Heritage River. The selection guidelines include: Natural Values An outstanding Canadian natural heritage value will be recognized when a river and its immediate environment: • Is an outstanding example of river environments as they are affected by the major stages and processes in Earth’s evolutionary history which are represented in Canada. • Contains outstanding representation of significant ongoing fluvial, geomorphological, and biological processes. • Contains along its course unique, rare, or
outstanding examples of biotic and abiotic natural phenomena, formations or features, or areas of exceptional natural beauty. • Contains along its course habitats of rare or endangered species of plants and animals, including outstanding concentrations of plants and animals of Canadian interest and significance. In addition to meeting one or more of the natural heritage value guidelines, a river must meet all of the following natural integrity guidelines: • The nominated section is of sufficient size to include significant representations of all of the natural process, features, or phenomena, which give the river its outstanding natural values. • The nominated section includes those ecosystem components that contribute significantly to the provision of habitat for species in need of protection. • There are no human-made impoundments within the nominated section. • All key elements and ecosystem components are unaffected by impoundments located outside the nominated section. • The water in the nominated section is uncontaminated to the extent that its natural aquatic ecosystem is intact. • The natural aesthetic character of the nominated section is free of, or not adversely affected by, human developments. Cultural Values An outstanding Canadian cultural value will be recognized when a river and its immediate environment: • Is of outstanding importance owing to its influence, over a period of time, on the historical development of Canada through a major impact upon the region in which it is located or beyond. • Is strongly associated with persons, events, or beliefs of Canadian significance. • Contains historical or archaeological structures, works, or sites which are unique, rare, or of great antiquity. • Contains concentrations of historical or archaeological structures, works, or sites which are representative of major themes in Canadian history. In addition to meeting one or more of the cultural heritage guidelines, a river must meet all of the following cultural integrity guidelines: • The nominated section is of sufficient size to include significant representations of all of the features, activities, or other phenomena that give the river its outstanding cultural value. • The visual character of the nominated section enables uninterrupted appreciation of at least one period of the river’s historical importance. • The key artifacts and sites comprising the cultural values for which the river was nominated are unimpaired by impoundments and human land uses. • The water quality of the nominated section does not detract from the visual character or the cultural experience provided by its cultural values. Recreational Values An outstanding Canadian recreational value will be recognized when a river and its immediate environment: • Possesses a combination of river-related recreational opportunities and related natural and/or cultural values, which together provide a capability for an outstanding recreational experience. • Include water-based recreational opportunities for activities such as canoeing and other forms of boating, swimming, and angling, and other activities such as camping, hiking, wildlife viewing, and natural and cultural appreciation which may be part of a river-touring experience. • Include natural values such as natural visual aesthetics, and physical assets such as sufficient flow, navigability, rapids, accessibility, and suitable shoreline. In addition to meeting all of the recreational value guidelines, a river must meet all of the following recreational integrity guidelines: • The river possesses water of a quality suitable for contact recreational activities, including those recreational opportunities for which it is nominated. • The river’s visual appearance is capable of providing river travellers with a continuous natural experience, or a combined natural and cultural 129 Ontario’s Natural Heritage Areas
Page 1 and 2: Part II Ontario’s Natural Heritag
Page 3 and 4: 4. International Designations and M
Page 5 and 6: The Ontario IBP/CT work helped defi
Page 7 and 8: Figure 4-1. The Site Regions and Si
Page 9 and 10: Image by D. Paleczny philosophy and
Page 11 and 12: 1 ALPS SAND HILLS 2 AUSABLE RIVER -
Page 13 and 14: International Biological Programme
Page 15 and 16: Figure 4-5. International Biologica
Page 17 and 18: Figure 4-6. International Biologica
Page 19 and 20: 4.2 Ramsar Convention Sites Introdu
Page 21 and 22: Figure 4.7. Ramsar Convention Sites
Page 23 and 24: 4.3 Biosphere Reserves Introduction
Page 25 and 26: Figure 4.8. Biosphere Reserves in O
Page 27 and 28: 4.4 World Heritage Sites Introducti
Page 29 and 30: • Sets out the obligations of a c
Page 31 and 32: 4.5 Important Bird Areas Introducti
Page 33 and 34: In general, the threshold for ident
Page 35 and 36: Figure 4.10. Important Bird Areas i
Page 37 and 38: 5. National Designations and Mechan
Page 39 and 40: Figure 5-1. National Parks in Ontar
Page 41 and 42: Motorized access is not permitted i
Page 43 and 44: The Crown, in Right of Canada, owns
Page 45 and 46: Image by T.J. Beechey In selecting
Page 47 and 48: In the Conservation Zone, provision
Page 49: The Degree of Protection for Nation
Page 53 and 54: experience, without significant int
Page 55 and 56: Selection Criteria Candidate areas
Page 57 and 58: 5.6 National Wildlife Areas Introdu
Page 59 and 60: Figure 5-5. National Wildlife Areas
Page 61 and 62: Selection Criteria The Government o
Page 63 and 64: • A considerable group of species
Page 65 and 66: The greenbelt is comprised of seven
Page 67 and 68: Image by P.A. Gray • Natural Area
Page 69: Image by D. Paleczny objective of n

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