Timmins Local Citizens Committee

Minutes of the March 09, 2005 Meeting

Mar 09 hours: 30
Year to date: 423.6
Total: 4106.40

Date: March 09, 2005

Location: Gallery Meeting Room, Gold Mine Tour

Present: Bill Russell, Gary Scripnick, Marvin Frew, Corrie King, Michael Fallat, Dino Pellarin, Bob Bielek, Jenny Millson, Nicholas Schwehr, Real Gendron,

Regrets: Robert Vien, Mark Joron, Mike Malek, Melanie Johnson, Greg Corrigal, Robert Calhoun, Alan Moyle, Paul Demers

MNR: Randy Pickering, Megan Kilgour, Karen Stokes, Jamie Mucha

Guest: Kys Stryland

7:00 p.m. Meeting called to order by chairman, Bill Russell

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS and CORRESPONDENCE:

· Email from Greg Corrigal regarding satellite imagery maps
· LCC Bank Statement
· Notification of Plan Inspection of Gordon Cosens Forest
· Memo from Mac Kilgour regarding brush piles
· Letter from Mac Kilgour regarding a revision to Annual Work Schedule-Romeo Malette Forest 2004/2005. Also an amendment to the FMP. This amendment is to allow aerial seeding of jackpine this March in Childerhose township.
· Two Northwatch email
· Email from Mark Joron regarding an agenda item for the May agenda.

Gary Scripnik asked that “White Moose” be added to the agenda. Randy Pickering requested the addition of “Site Release for Water Power” to the agenda. Moved by Mike Fallat and seconded by Marvin Frew. Motion carried.

A correction will be made to the minutes of February 09, 2005. Mike Malek will be added to the “regrets” list.

Nicholas moved that the minutes of February 09, 2005 be accepted. Seconded by Real Gendron. Motion Carried.

A motion to accept the administrative amendment to the AWS for the Romeo Malette Forest as well as the amendment to the FMP to allow aerial seeding of jackpine in Childerhose Twp. was made by Michael Fallat. Seconded by Gary Scripnick. Motion carried.

GRASSY RIVER AND TATACHIKAPIKA CONSERVATION RESERVES

Megan Kilgour made a presentation to the LCC regarding the Statement of Conservation Interest of the Tatachikapika River Plain conservation reserve as well as the Grassy River Halliday Lake Forests & Lowlands. Megan’s presentation was very informative. A copy of the Grassy River Halliday Lake presentation can be obtained from the secretary. Thank you for your time and effort Megan.

This item is presently in the Public Consultation phase.

Gary Scripnick asked whether water can be sold commercially. Megan replied that it is not a permitted use presently but an application could be made to the MNR.

Bill Russell commented that Mert Lake of Timmins wanted the Grassy River declared a heritage river. Randy Pickering clarified that the Statement of Conservation Interest deals with a different section of the Grassy River - being the section below Peter Long Lake.

LAKE TROUT STRATEGY

Karen Stokes made a presentation to the committee regarding Northeastern Lake Trout Enhancement Project.

Lake Trout were chosen for the study because this unique species was a good barometer of ecosystem health due to a few key factors. They inhabit deep, cold, well-oxygenated lakes; are slow growing and maturing; have limited reproductive potential and sustainable yields.

Management efforts to date have been reactive (lake by lake) rather than proactive (regional or provincial scale). Issues such as acidification, exploitation and introduced species can be effectively dealt with at a regional or provincial scale.

Fifty percent of acid-damaged lakes in NER have demonstrated significant water quality improvements. Sudbury SO2 emissions have been reduced by 90%.

Going forward, the MNR will continue to restock damaged lakes, finalize restoration strategies, analyse data & gather additional data, forcast trends/ risks using simulation modeling.

A copy of Karen’s presentation can be obtained from the secretary. Thank you Karen.

A Q&A followed.
· Karen was asked where the fish used for re-stocking come from. They come from a hatchery in Englehart. There are 4-5 strains of lake trout. An incompatible strain would not be introduced to a lake. Some fish die due to the stress of transportation.
· Lake Trout are mature at 6-7 years and can reach 35cm in some lakes although they are very variable in maturity size.
· the possibility exists of marking yearlings with clips and sampling in the years ahead to make decisions on re-stocking - the MNR would not continue to re-stock a lake that is producing on its own.

MOOSE AERIAL INVENTORY

The moose aerial inventory was done in an area bordered by Kapuskasing, Porquis Junction and Foleyet. The area is approximately twice the size of Algonquin Park.

The area is divided into plots approximately 10 km X 2.5 km. Of the 530 plots, 30 are randomly selected and a grid is flown.

A population of 2293 moose were counted in the 30 plots. The unit is pretty stable at 3000 so this indicates a decrease of approx. 20%. The target or ‘carrying capacity’ of the unit is 4000.

Cow to bull ratio was 1.5:1 which was well within the range. Number of calves/100 cows counted was 20/100 and is usually approximately 30/100. This will be looked at closely.

The relative percentage of calves vs. bulls & cows is usually 15-17% and is now 10%. Jamie believes the reason for these numbers has something to do with the number of calves harvested in the unit last year.

A post card survey was mailed out and showed that the success rate for adult moose was down this past year. 2002-174, 2003-167, 2004-162.

A hand-out explaining tag allocation was handed out to all members.

A Q&A followed:

Bill Russell suggested that the abolition of the spring bear hunt may have contributed to the decline in calf numbers. Increase in bear population / more predation of calves.

It was suggested that the MNR follow-up on the success of tag holders by mail or phone.

WHITE MOOSE

Gary Scripnick informed the committee that Timmins City council had passed a resolution in favour of protecting the white moose. This item will be put on a future agenda.
NOMINATION OF CHAIR

Deferred to next meeting.

Randy Pickering informed the LCC that the Grassy River in the Timmins District is one of 18 sites available for potential water development projects. There is 3 megawats of potential and no direction on ‘type’ of development.

NEXT MEETING

Peter Hynard will be attending our next meeting to talk with us about the Forest Roads and Water Crossings Initiative.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

The next meeting will be held on April 13, 2005 in the Gallery Meeting Room at the Timmins Underground Goldmine Tour. (behind the Shania Twain Centre)

Dinner at 6:00 p.m. Meeting at 7:00 p.m.