Timmins Local Citizens Committee
Minutes of June 14, 2011
June 14, 2011
LCC hours: 36 hours
Year to Date: 128
Total: 6201.4
Date: June 14, 2011
Location: Ontario Government Complex, Fire Boardroom
Present: Robert Calhoun, Barry Edwards, Mark Joron, Lino Morandin, Pam Reid, Dave Stringer, Bob Bielek, Marc Lapalme
Regrets: James Naveau, Bill Russell, Gail Krawchuk, Jenny Millson, Kees Pols, Rusty Fink, Ron Johnson, Andy Chartrand, Allan Moyle, Gilbert Fortin, Stefanie Thibeault, Scott Tam, Kees Stryland
Absent: George Sackenay, Rodney Wincikaby
MNR: Glen McFarlane, Randy Pickering, Nikki Wood
Guests: Bree Andrews, Planning Forester, First Resources Management Group
Call to Order:
Robert Calhoun called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Summary of Action Items for This Meeting:
Action Item 06-11-01: A presentation on the Mattagami River sturgeon restoration project will be provided to the Timmins LCC this fall
Action Item 06-11-02: The revised version of the LCC Terms of Reference will be signed by the District Manager and LCC Chairman and copies provided to the LCC members
Review and Approval of April 27, 2011 Minutes:
Motion to accept- Mark Joron
Seconded by- Marc Lapalme
All in favour-Carried
Review and Approval of May 25, 2011 minutes from field tour:
Motion to accept-Bob Bielek
Seconded by-Barry Edwards
Review and Approval of tonight’s agenda:
Mark Joron requested some time on the agenda to present an update on the Timmins naturalists
Motion to accept- Bob Bielek
Seconded by- Dave Stringer
All in favour-Carried
Letters/Correspondence
Received a copy of account statement from Credit Union; account has been zeroed out
Ongoing City of Timmins municipal adjustment meetings discussing the Strategic Plan 2020
District Manager Update- Randy Pickering
Randy provided the LCC members with a District update as follows:
Mattagami River Sturgeon Restoration project is a stewardship project that involves the Timmins Fur Council, Club Navigateur, Ontario Power Generation, Xstrata, Kidd Mine Division and Ministry of Natural Resources; their intent is to rehabilitate the stretch of the Mattagami River that was once populated with sturgeon. In 2002, 50 sturgeon were re-introduced back into a stretch of the Mattagami River between Wawaitan Falls and Sandy Falls. In the last 8 years there has been angler success with catching small sturgeon in the system. The intent over the next couple of years is to collect more baseline data on habitat, capture and fit sturgeon with telemetry tags and monitor their migration routes in the river over time. This spring, netting field work took place with the band of volunteers from the different groups and a number of sturgeon were caught and measured; larger ones were fitted with transmitters and released back into the river. A presentation will be provided to the LCC this fall to update everyone on the stewardship project.
Action Item 06-11-01: A presentation on the Mattagami River sturgeon restoration project will be provided to the Timmins LCC this fall
There has been ongoing monitoring of the blandings turtle (a turtle that had been captured and released back into the wild in 2010, fitted with a radio transmitter). The turtle has come out of hibernation and has migrated to Simpson Lake area. There has been another sighting of a blandings turtle in the Dalton Road area. There is now an assumption that there is a native population of blandings in this area. There is no documented range data for blandings turtles this far north; not sure if the range is moving north or if there was an historic range this far north.
Ontario Power Generation are proposing the re-development of the Mattagami Lake dam into a power generating station; A final Design consultant is proposing a different configuration of the dam and penstocks; currently having discussions with MOE with regards to whether the proposed change will trigger a new environmental assessment.
MNDM&F have cancelled a portion of the wood supply competition related to the +300,000m3 of Spruce Pine Fir (SPF) on the Romeo Malette Forest. SPF wood supply has been adversely affected by restraints in wood supply such as caribou protection, harvesting and marketing of mixed wood stands and FMP allocations. They are currently exploring options for an enhanced SFL stakeholder arrangement.
Following Randy’s update there was an opportunity for questions:
Q- What is a penstock
A- A penstock is a large tube that directs water to the turbines.
The Chairman thanked Randy for his update.
Timmins Naturalists Update-Mark Joron
Mark provided the LCC members with an update on Timmins Naturalists as follows:
The Naturalists are making cards that people can carry to assist them with identifying types of turtles they may come across in the area. The cards will have a number of turtles that are indigenous to the Timmins area and will provide identifying features to assist people in the differentiation of turtles.
Other products that the club have made are the “Birds of Timmins” poster, again to assist people with identification of bird species.
The Naturalists are always looking for information to keep their “Honour role of Trees” updated. If you come across a large tree, let them know.
The Chairman thanked mark for his update.
Abitibi River Forest Long Term Management Objectives (LTMD)- Bree Andrews
Bree provided the LCC with the Long Term Management Objectives for the 2012 Plan. The objectives are described in FMP 9 of the LTMD. The objectives that she presented and discussed with the LCC members (see attachment).
FMP 9 is self explanatory and provides the objective description, plan start level, desirable level to achieve and timing of assessment.
A question/answer period followed Bree’s presentation and discussion:
Q- the ratio of access roads/km2 seemed to be low given that the Timmins District is well accessed; please explain this ratio
A- The planning team has more work to do on the road responsibility table for the forest; currently the SFL responsibility is at .255km/km2 of managed forest Land and Resources Cluster
The Chairman thanked Bree for her presentation and discussion on the LTMD.
LCC Terms of Reference Review-Nikki Wood
Nikki led the LCC members through a review of the LCC Terms of Reference; a number of updates were made to the document specifically with the addition of members to the list and meeting date changes. Everyone agrees with the changes as provided and the document should proceed to the District Manager and LCC Chair man for approval and signatures. The revised Terms of Reference will be reviewed again in two years (2013)
Action Item 06-11-02: The revised version of the LCC Terms of Reference will be signed by the District Manager and LCC Chairman and copies provided to the LCC members
Other Items/House Items
Nikki provided everyone with two forms to complete and sign as follows:
Volunteer Agreement
Crown Liability Release form
Randy Pickering provided the LCC members with a copy of the Timmins District List of Tourism restricted access lakes; there will be more discussion on this subject in the fall. (List of Lakes attached)
Round Table Discussions
Have a good summer
Interesting discussion
Good to see the willingness to share opinions and ideas around the table
Looking forward to the sturgeon project presentation this fall
Excellent dinner
If you have time this summer, visit Nikki’s trail at Star Lake
More information on the LTMD endorsement and First Information Centres will take place this fall
The meeting adjourned at 6:00 pm
Next Meeting is scheduled for September 28, 2011 at the Fire Boardroom of the OGC.
Please contact Gail Krawchuk at gga@ntl.sympatico.ca if you cannot attend.
Minutes typed by: Minutes approved by:
…………………… …………………………
Gail Krawchuk Bill Russell
LCC Secretary Chair