Smoky Head–

White Bluff

Interim Management Statement

Smoky Head - White BluffProvincial Nature Reserve

Interim Management Statement

March 1, 1997

APPROVAL STATEMENT

This Interim Management Statement will provide interim direction for the custodialmanagement of Smoky Head - White Bluff Provincial Nature Reserve until such time as acomprehensive Park Management Plan is prepared.

This statement will provide the basis for the subsequent preparation of the ParkManagement Plan.

I am pleased to approve the Smoky Head - White Bluff Provincial Nature ReserveInterim Management Statement.

Additional copies of this document are obtainable from:

Park SuperintendentMacGregor Point Provincial ParkR.R. #1Port Elgin, Ontario N0H 2C5

Peter Sturdy, Zone MangerSouthwestern Parks ZoneOntario Parks

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Regional Setting Map

Name: Smoky Head - White Bluff Provincial Nature Reserve

Class: Nature Reserve

MNR Parks Zone: Southwestern, London

MNR Region/District: Southcentral/Midhurst

Total Area: 346.7 ha. (regulated)

Site District: 6 - 14

Regulation: Ont. Reg. 45/85

TARGETS

1. Life Science Representation (Provincial Significance)

Site Type/Landscape Unit FeatureNiagara Escarpment Slopes and Georgian BayShoreBedrock Plain

Post-fire successional broadleaf, mixed and conifer forests, with a boreal element; unusually rich Sugar Maple forests; open block talus shores with rare shoreline species; and dry open talus and exposed cliffs and old- growth White Cedar treed cliff rim.

2. Earth Science Representation (Regional Significance)

Geological Theme Feature

Lower-Middle Silurian Late Wisconsinan (Pleistocene - Holocene)

Cobble beaches, coarse blocky talus slopes, tall cliffs, upland areas with predominantly shallow soils over rolling dolostone bedrock (ancient reef complex), escarpment plain, potholes.

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3. Cultural Resources Representation

Theme Theme Segment

Agriculture and Agricultural Communities Forest Industries and Forest IndustryCommunities

Settlement of Bruce PeninsulaUpper Great Lakes FisheriesGeorgian Bay Lumbering

4. Recreational Opportunities

Day Use Vehicle Camping Back Country

Hiking (Bruce Trail)Cross-country SkiingSnowshoeingNature Appreciation

n/a Bruce Trail Overnight Rest AreaProposed

INVENTORIES

Level/Type EarthScience

LifeScience

Cultural Recreational Other

CheckSheet

Blachut,1977

Cuddy,1976Varga,1994

Reconnais-sance

Varga,Jalava, Kor,Larson,1992

(required) (trail planrequired)

Detailed (required) Varga,Jalava,Larson,1994

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MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES

I. LAND TENURE

Smoky Head - White Bluff Provincial Nature Reserve is located on the Bruce Peninsulaon Georgian Bay approximately six kilometres north of the community of Lion's Head. Atotal of 346.7 hectares (856.7 acres) have been acquired and regulated under theProvincial Parks Act in the Township of Lindsay, in Bruce County (see Figure 1).

Acquired Crown land associated with Smoky Head - White Bluff consists of parts of Lots11, 12, 13 and 14, Concession 9, East of Bury Road (EBR), Township of Lindsay, the planof subdivision (R-172) in part of Lots 7, 8 and 9, Concession 9, EBR, and part of Lot 41,Concession 6, EBR, Township of Eastnor. In The Forty Hills/White Bluff area the BruceTrail Association (BTA) holds title to Part Lot 1, Concession 7, EBR, Township of Lindsay,and part or all of lands in Lots 39 through 44, Concession 5, EBR, Lots 39 through 43,Concession 6, EBR, and Lots 43 and 44, Concession 7, EBR, in the Township of Eastnor(Figure 1). It is proposed that acquired Crown lands and portions of the Bruce TrailAssociation (BTA) lands eventually become additions to the Nature Reserve.

No land use permits or leases presently exist within the Nature Reserve.

The Nature Reserve is a part of the Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Space Systemand is classified as a Nature Reserve in the Niagara Escarpment Plan. Under that Plan,the applicable land use designations for the immediate area are: Escarpment NaturalArea, Escarpment Protection Area, Escarpment Rural Area, and Escarpment RecreationArea.

Guideline:

Subject to the status of the local Native land claim negotiations and/or ashift in government policy, no additional acquired Crown lands shall beregulated as part of the Nature Reserve.

A housekeeping amendment may be processed to correct the regulatedname of the Provincial Nature Reserve (i.e., “Smokey” to “Smoky”).

II. LAND ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION

Land acquisition in the Township of Lindsay is substantially complete except forintervening or abutting (untravelled) municipal road allowances.

The BTA may eventually lease or transfer title of portions of its holdings in The FortyHills/White Bluff area to the province, to be managed by Ontario Parks, Ministry of NaturalResources (MNR). The transfer may include two easement or right-of-way agreementsallowing landowners access to their properties.

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Guidelines:

Land acquisition by the province (including untravelled municipal roadallowances) may proceed to consolidate provincial holdings, to facilitatemanagement and to protect significant natural or cultural features. Landswill be acquired on a willing seller - willing buyer basis as opportunitiesarise, subject to the availability of funding.

Bruce Trail Association lands may be secured and managed by OntarioParks as an addition to the Nature Reserve.

Acquired Crown lands, through time, may be regulated under theProvincial Parks Act subject to the status of Native land claimsnegotiations and/or government policy, no disposition of any surplusCrown land will occur.

III. EXISTING AND PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

The Bruce Trail travels through the length of the Nature Reserve (see Figure 1) with twominor reroutes; one just south of the Cape Chin South Road and the other south of theboundary between Lindsay Township and Eastnor Township. There is an overnight restarea (ORA) which is currently located at Reed's Dump. As a condition of the transfer ofits lands to the province, the BTA wishes to relocate the ORA from Reed's Dump to theopen land in Lot 42, Concession 6, EBR, Township of Eastnor.

At the terminus of the gravel road extending south of the cottages at Cape Chin Souththere are two parking spaces for Bruce Trail hikers.

Guidelines:

The Peninsula Bruce Trail Club will be responsible for maintaining theSmoky Head - White Bluff portion of the Bruce Trail and related facilities. The proposed optimum Bruce Trail route should be based onrecommendations in the Life Science Inventory report (see references -Varga, Jalava, Larson, 1994). A Bruce Trail Overnight Rest Area may beaccommodated on lands leased or transferred from the BTA.

A five vehicle parking area may be established adjacent to Cape ChinSouth Road, following acquisition and gating of the gravel access road.

Interpretive panels/stations may be installed at suitable points along theBruce Trail and/or at access points into the Nature Reserve.

Appropriate signs, fences, gates and barriers may be installed asrequired to control access onto acquired Crown lands and the regulatedNature Reserve and thus to prevent damage to sensitive features withinthese areas.

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IV. RECREATION ACTIVITIES

Hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, picnicking, and nature/historical appreciationare recreational activities permitted in the Nature Reserve.

Guidelines:

Sport hunting will not be permitted.

Horseback riding and mountain biking will not be permitted.

Non-conforming recreational activities will be discouraged through publiceducation, posted signs, and, if necessary, enforcement.

A Trail Implementation Plan shall be prepared prior to establishment ofthe proposed optimum Bruce Trail route.

Recreation programs will not be promoted.

V. COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES

Guideline:

No commercial forest management operations, fishing, bait fishing ortrapping will be permitted in the Nature Reserve.

VI. NATURAL RESOURCES

Life Science - The provincially significant life science Area of Natural and ScientificInterest has a 9.4 kilometre long escarpment slope, and associated plain, containingdiverse vegetation types. It is one of the longest undeveloped escarpment slopes on theBruce Peninsula south of Cabot Head. The escarpment plain has an exceptionalintermingling of northern and southern forest types and a noteworthy reef complexlandscape at The Forty Hills. The diverse flora and fauna include 9 nationally and/orprovincially rare, 38 regionally rare, and 19 locally significant species, as well as oldgrowth Eastern White Cedars (Varga, Jalava, Larson, 1994). Also the nationally andprovincially threatened Massasauga Rattlesnake exists within the area.

Earth Science - At the promontories of White Bluff and Smoky Head, the escarpmentslopes rise up to 65 metres (200 feet) above Georgian Bay. These slopes are topped bythe dolostone cliffs of the Amabel Formation, the cap rock of the Niagara Escarpment. The slopes consist of talus eroded from the main cliff-face and intermittent dolostone cliffsof the Fossil Hill Formation. Back from the escarpment rim, an extensive escarpmentplain varies from relatively flat bedrock in the site's northern portion to the rocky knolls ofThe Forty Hills in the southern half of the site. The Amabel Formation forms most of thebedrock, with the higher dolostone knolls being ancient bedrock reefs of the GuelphFormation (Jalava, Varga, Riley, 1995).

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Guidelines:

A detailed earth science study should be completed prior to preparationof a Park Management Plan.

The biological impacts of the Bruce Trail will be periodically monitored. Sensitive areas will be avoided in any trail related development. Otheractivities having a negative impact upon natural values will not bepermitted.

Approved land acquisition should continue in the area to protectsignificant natural values.

VII. CULTURAL RESOURCES

1. Pre-history - Archaeological evidence dates the earliest human occupation of SmokyHead - White Bluff to the arrival of the Amerindians nearly 2,500 years ago. The BrucePeninsula was originally settled by the Odawa of Algonquin background.

2. History - In 1616, Samuel de Champlain visited the Bruce Peninsula. Logging andfishing became the predominant activities in the late 1800's.

Guideline:

Both archaeological and historical reconnaissance surveys would serveto further document the cultural values of the local area. These surveysmay be completed prior to preparation of a Park Management Plan.

VIII. NATURAL HERITAGE EDUCATION

Guidelines:

A fact sheet on the Smoky Head - White Bluff Life Science Area ofNatural and Scientific Interest will be updated, reproduced, and madeavailable to the public as required.

Interpretive panels/stations may be established at suitable points alongthe Bruce Trail and at access points to the Nature Reserve.

IX. NATIVE INTERESTS

Guideline:

Subject to the status of local Native land claim negotiations and/orgovernment policy, the status of provincially owned lands associated withthe Nature Reserve will not be changed.

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X. MARKETING

Guidelines:

A marketing plan will not be required.

This Provincial Park will not be promoted aside from general informationprovided in the fact sheet and as identified in information presented to thepublic regarding the Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Space Systemand the Bruce Trail Reference.

XI. RESEARCH

Guideline:

Appropriate research or inventory projects will be encouraged, anddirected particularly to subject areas required to assist in preparation of aPark Management Plan and to assist in identifying and protectingsensitive natural features or cultural resources in the local area.

XII. REFERENCES

Blachut, S. Cape Chin Special Area Earth Science Inventory Checklist. Ontario Ministryof Natural Resources, Division of Parks, Parks Planning Branch, 1977.

Bracken, M., Barnes, J., and Oates, C. The Escarpment - A Climber's Guide. BorealisPress, Toronto, 1991.

Bruce Trail Association. Bruce Trail Reference, 19th Edition. Hamilton, 1994.

Cowell, D.W., and Woerns, N. Earth Science Candidate Nature Reserves in the NiagaraEscarpment Planning Area. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Division of Parks,1976.

Cuddy, D.G. Smokey Head - White Bluff Life Science Inventory Checklist. OntarioMinistry of Natural Resources, Division of Parks, Parks Planning Branch, 1976.

Cuddy, D.G., Lindsay, K.M., and Macdonald, I.D. Significant Natural Areas Along theNiagara Escarpment. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Parks Planning Branch,1976.

Jalava, J.V., Varga, S., and Riley, J.L. Ecological Survey of the Niagara EscarpmentBiosphere Reserve (Preliminary). Ontario Heritage Foundation and Ontario Ministry ofNatural Resources, 1995.

Niagara Escarpment Commission. Niagara Escarpment Plan. Ontario Ministry ofEnvironment and Energy, Toronto, 1994.

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Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Ontario Provincial Parks Management PlanningManual. Provincial Operations Branch, Peterborough, 1994.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Ontario Provincial Parks: Planning andManagement Policies, 1992 Update. Provincial Parks and Natural Heritage PolicyBranch, Toronto, 1992.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Owen Sound District Land Use Guidelines. OwenSound District, Owen Sound, 1983.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Smokey Head - White Bluff Life Science Area ofNatural and Scientific Interest Fact Sheet. Owen Sound District Office, 1994.

Varga, S., Jalava, J., Kor, P.S.G., Larson, B. Reconnaissance Survey of the Vegetation,Fauna and Landforms of the Bruce Trail Association Forty Hills Property, Bruce County. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Southern Region, 1992.

Varga, S., Jalava, J.V., and Larson, B. Biological Inventory and Evaluation of the SmokeyHead - White Bluff Provincial Nature Reserve and Area of Scientific Interest. OntarioMinistry of Natural Resources, Southern Region, Aurora, 1994.