Today the NCC held one of it’s public board meetings. Although I was unable to attend I did manage to get a copy of the CEO’s written report and offer up the following extracts.
Highlights:
- rue Gamelin is going to be closed
- the “outdoor activity plan” or “recreation management plan” appears to have an acronym: GPORP (Gatineau Park Outdoor Recreational Plan)
Gatineau Park’s Visitor Centre
Over the course of the months of June to August, over 24,376 guests visited the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre, while the information agents answered approximately 3,055 phone enquiries. Meanwhile, the information agents at the Gamelin information kiosk served approximately 2,500 visitors.
This fall, the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre was the host of nature interpretation programs on weekends between September 24 and October 16. New this year, Environment Canada with the NCC’s collaboration, organized a special day on October 8 which offered visitors of all ages the opp0rtunity to participate in guided walks, discussions with specialists, attend special presentations, and much more.
Fall Rhapsody
From October 1 to 16, 2011, visitors were encouraged to enjoy the fall colours of Gatineau Park during Fall Rhapsody, on foot, canoe, kayak or cycling. In order to manage attendance, visitors were also encouraged to visit mid-week.
Follies of the Fall Forest Tour, a free guided tom for the general public, was offered in English and French on Saturdays and Stmdays tl:om September 24 to October 16.
During Fall Rhapsody, a section of the Gatineau Parkway was closed to vehicular traffic on Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Only cyclists and pedestrians had access.
Gatineau Park Ecosystem Conservation Plan
Implementation of the Gatineau Park Ecosystem Conservation Plan is continuing with several projects aimed at ensuring the ecological integrity of the Park.
Ecological Corridors- Gatineau Park
The project to identify and describe the ecological corridors adjacent to Gatineau Park is progressing, and the final report is planned for spring 2012. The project is developing with the involvement of various stakeholders, including municipalities, environmental groups and a committee made up of external experts.
The purpose of the ecological corridors is to ensure that the Park is connected to other natural areas and to increase the robustness of the natural areas. To date, we have identified 12 potential corridors. The NCC will not necessarily acquire these lands, but will enter into agreements with municipalities and partner groups to enable it to put protective measures in place.
The implementation of this project will take place over the next fiscal year.
Outdoor Recreational Plan
The main objective of the Gatineau Park Outdoor Recreational Plan (GPORP) is to provide consistent management and intervention frameworks for the outdoor activities, infrastructures and services that will have to be developed and modified in order to optimize the experience of park visitors while maximizing the objectives of ecosystem conservation in Gatineau Park.
The Outdoor Recreational Plan also aims, through a series of concrete measures, to specify the desired types and intensities of outdoor activities offered in the park, mainly as a function of conservation objectives, the role and capacity of the Park’s recreational areas and underlying management principles. The GPORP is currently in the final phase of preparation and will be presented during public consultations this winter.
Restoration of the Eardlev Escarpment and the shores of recreational lakes:
This project aims at evaluating the condition of these ecosystems and proposing a plan for restoring and improving their condition and their long-tenn protection. Implementation of the restoration plan began this fall for the rock climbing sites, and will continue for several years.
Monitoring biodiversity and protection of species at risk
Protection of Gatineau Park is continuing with a long-term program for monitoring changes in biodiversity by monitoring bioindicators and through a plan for protecting at-risk plant and wildlife species. This will allow the NCC to meet all legal obligations regarding environmental protection.
Green Transportation Plan for Gatineau Park
The two first steps are now complete. This has allowed us to assess the existing situation and to identify transportation issues for Gatineau Park. This analysis was based on information collected during the online public consultation that was completed in winter 2010. In addition, consultations with partners were recently conducted in order to validate the analyses. Over the past few months, proposed solutions were evaluated and measures identified that would best lead to attaining the strategic objectives and improving the transportation issues related to the Park. The evaluations were discussed with regional partners during meetings held in November and December 2011. In coming days, we will present the advanced plan to members of the public and invite them to comment on it.
Following these consultations, we will focus our efforts on preparing the action plan that will identify measures that could eventually be put forward, and their possible timing.
Closure of a section of Gamelin Road
The Gatineau Park Master Plan, adopted in 2005, planned for the closing of rue Gamelin, which bisects the Park, once construction of boulevard des Allumettieres is complete. This was supported by agreements between the NCC and the municipality with the goal of establishing a regional road network while limiting the fragmentation of Gatineau Park. On August 30, 2011 , Gatineau city council adopted a resolution to authorize the closure of me Gamelin.
The objective of this road closure is to reduce the fragmentation of habitats in the south part of Gatineau Park, home to the rich Lac des Fees habitat and several species of threatened plants and animals. The closure aims to reduce the amount of road infrastructure and motorized traffic within the Park. by concentrating traffic on the St-Raymond, Allumettieres and Alexandre-Tache boulevards. which cross the park and link communities.
Gatineau Park Cultural Heritage Conservation Strategic Plan
The Gatineau Park Cultural Heritage Planning Study will guide the conservation and interpretation of cultural heritage for the next decade. The first phase of planning presented the vision and guiding principles for the management of cultural heritage in the Park, and outlined the cultural values associated with Gatineau Park, including a thematic framework.
Phase 2 included the development of a methodology, criteria to facilitate the assessment of the Park’s cultural resources, as well as context for the Park’s heritage resources as cultural landscapes. Resources have been prioritized and an action plan for the conservation and interpretation of the Park’s cultural heritage has been developed.
A committee of heritage experts, which includes First Nations representatives, was set up for this project and met on three occasions. Public consultations are under way.
Communication and Interpretation Plan
Phase 1 of the Plan, review and analysis of current messaging and strategic directions as they relate to NCC and Gatineau Park has been completed. Phase 2 is underway and includes the development of a Visitor Experience statement to guide the development of the messaging plan. The Communication and Interpretation Plan will be developed over 2012-2013.
Gatineau Park Storm Related Repairs
The exceptionally heavy rain of June 24, 2011 has caused significant damages to Gatineau Park’s infrastructures at numerous locations. In one instance, the rains caused a flash flood of the Renaud Creek washing out a culvert at the Lac Philippe Camp ground. The NCC was able to build, in 1.5 days, a secondary one lane access to the campground to reestablish access for campers.
Rehabilitation of the main damaged sites was completed before the winter season and paving will take place Spring 2012.
Dismantling of the Brown Lake Dormitory in Gatineau Park
In the fall of 2011, Gatineau Park collaborated with Habitat for Humanity in successfully developing a partnership with Longfields Community Church of Ottawa. The goal was to re-purpose a vacant park building, the Brown Lake Dormitory. The efforts of over 50 volunteers facilitated the dismantling and moving the building off-site tor eventual re-use as the Longfields Community Church. The site of the dormitory will be renaturalized, in keeping with Park conservation objectives.
Other Active Construction Projects
- Lac Philippe – Water treatment Plant
- Gatineau Park – Refuge des pins rehabilitation
- Gatineau Park Wakefield dam/bridge rehabilitation
