Timmins Local Citizens Committee
Minutes of March 30, 2011
March 30, 2011
LCC hours: 60 hours
Year to Date: 234
Total: 6073.4
Date: March 30, 2011
Location: Ontario Government Complex, Fire Boardroom
Present: Robert Calhoun, Bill Russell, Barry Edwards, Ron Johnson, Rusty Fink, Scott Tam, Marc Lapalme, Lino Morandin, Dave Stringer, Kees Pols, Allan Moyle, Stefanie Thibeault. Andy Chartrand
Regrets: James Naveau, Gail Krawchuk, Bob Bielek, Mark Joron, Jenny Millson, Kees Stryland
Absent: George Sackenay, Rodney Wincikaby
MNR: Glen McFarlane, Derrick Romain, Nikki Wood, Randy Pickering
Guests: Bree Andrews, Forester, First Resources Management Group, Wayne Pawson, Silviculture Forester, First Resources Management Group, Rob MacLeod, Forester, Ministry of Natural Resources, Sault Ste. Marie, Marcel Cook, representing Horwood cottagers
Call to Order:
Bill Russell called the meeting to order at 6:25 p.m.
Summary of Action Items for This Meeting:
Action Item 03-11-01: A copy of the presentation on Forest Renewal Trust will be circulated to the LCC members; any questions can be forwarded to rob.macleod@ontario.ca and Rob will attempt to provide your answers.
Action Item 03-11-02: That the Terms of Reference be changed for the LCC meeting dates to be scheduled for the last Wednesday of each month with the caveat to move the meeting in December and June to accommodate member’s schedules.
Review and Approval of February 23, 2010 Minutes:
The minutes require a correction; Kerr and King instead of Robertson rules of meeting engagement
.Motion to accept- Lino Morandin
.Seconded by- Allan Moyle
.Carried
Review and Approval of tonight’s agenda:
Randy Pickering asked for time ahead of the scheduled meeting to present a summary of the Mattagami River and Horwood watershed spring flows for 2011 and a reflection on last year’s flows
.Motion to accept- Marc Lapalme
.Seconded by- Robert Calhoun
.Carried
Letters/Correspondence
.No letters or correspondence to report on this meeting
.The Chairman welcomed a member of the public, Marcel Cook as a spectator at the meeting.
Mattagami River and Horwood Lake Water Management Operating Conditions for 2011 and Reflection on 2010 Flows-Randy Pickering
Randy provided the LCC members with a synopsis of the 2010 management of water levels and present status of the Mattagami system and Horwood Lake. He addressed the following points:
Lake levels are managed according to parameters outlined in the Water Management Plan which is a plan that is approved by the MNR for the management of water levels throughout the Mattagami River watershed.
Water levels are managed to provide a balance between generating electricity, managing flows for spawning and fish habitat and providing for adequate water levels for recreation.
Flow of water can differentiate by dam sites; example of this being that Horwood Lake must operate at a minimum allowed flow throughout the year to accommodate and maintain water levels down stream of the dam.
Some dams require a specified flow throughout the spawning period to facilitate walleye spawning.
In 2010, water inflows were so low due to the lack of precipitation that Horwood Lake could not accommodate even minimum flows as required in the Water Management Plan and Fredrick house Lake’s dam was closed early in March of 2010 and was kept closed all summer.
OPG manages water levels according to “guide curves” which provide for following of historic patterns for operating each dam through the 4 seasons.
March is the crucial month in terms of monitoring inflows and operating out flows in order to allow room for the spring freshet. The snow pack makes up a portion of the total inflows; Spring precipitation makes up for the greater portion of inflows.
Compared to 2010, we still have a snow pack in the bush and our snow stations indicate the equivalent of 3” of water.
MRCA has a web site where you can find recent information on snow levels and also link to OPG website and their dam level information
Q: Is it possible for MNR and OPG to look at extending existing boat launches to allow for easier launching of boats during low levels.
A: We don’t anticipate low water levels to be an issue over the longer term. It is not an option that we are looking at presently.
Marcel Cook, a representative for the Horwood Cottage Association asked if he could discuss the water level issues at Horwood Lake as part of the larger discussion on water levels. The Chairman provided him time to discuss issues and ask questions:
Marcel provided the LCC members with a brief description of the low water level issue at Horwood Lake over the past year:
Water levels were brought down to spring levels in 2010 despite no snow left in the bush
Concerned lake residents brought their concerns up with MNR and OPG at that time
Water levels never did recover last spring/summer which provided negative affects to all recreation and tourism operators.
They have a concern that this issue may repeat itself this year
Q: Is it possible to have lake levels kept higher in the spring, thereby allowing some flexibility if the spring rains do not come or are lower than normal?
A: As discussed earlier, the spring precipitation is very difficult to predict; have to operate dams with historical information. OPG has to operate water levels to ensure that public safety is first priority and maintain the balance expressed earlier between water levels, minimum flows, spawning/fish habitat and maintaining opportunity for recreation.
Q: We are starting to see extremes in weather trends; OPG must work according to the trends with their log operations.
A: We are seeing extremes in weather trends; makes it even harder for dam/log operations
District Manager Update- Randy Pickering
Randy provided the LCC members with an update on an article that had appeared recently in the Daily Press and felt it necessary to clarify access restrictions in the Timmins area. The following are a synopsis of his discussion:
Timmins district has 10,500 kms of Crown roads
Roads that have access restrictions amounts to 240 kms.
An example of a closed gated road is the Metagama Road which is a road that accesses the Spanish River and is located within the Spanish River Special Area, a unique area that is under an Area Protection Plan. The road is closed to access of the East and West Spanish Rivers.
Most roads are restricted by the use of signage with conditions that the use of motorized vehicles are restricted to accessing designated tourism lakes; you are allowed to use the road with motorized vehicles for any other purpose.
The restriction is based on protection of the remote tourism opportunities of certain lakes that have been designated in the District Land Use Guidelines (DLUGS1983).
During the Forest Management Planning process, roads within the vicinity of designated tourism lakes are planned and built for the purpose of conducting forestry operations. They are built for the short term.
Timmins District has 55 lakes that are greater than 300ha. in size; 18 lakes are designated tourism lakes (DLUGS); 6 lakes have road restrictions for access.
There was general round table discussion that followed.
Other updates include:
Q: Is there anything new to report on the sale of the Dam at Iroquois Falls
A: No
Q: Who will replace Jim Abbott now that he has retired?
A: Currently, Denis Beauvais is acting Supervisor
Review of the AWS Siviculture for the Abitibi Forest- Wayne Pawson
As follow up to February’s meeting regarding FRMG presentation on the 2011-12 AWS, they were asked by the Timmins LCC top provide a presentation on their Silviculture Program. Wayne Pawson presented the proposed siliculture program for the ARF. See attached slide presentation. Wayne provided the following points:
The ARF is an amalgamation of 4 management units
In order to review the silviculture program, some objectives were set including the review of past silviculture records, confirm status of FTG area, identify areas requiring silviculture treatment, assess effectiveness of silviculture treatments
In order to complete these objectives, GIS analysis was used to compile and analysis of data, aerial surveys were conducted, data compilation, and analyze results.
Assessment results include approx. 99,000 ha were surveyed, approx 19,000 ha were determined FTG, 31,000 ha. expected FTG
Approx. 49,000 ha will require follow up work including 13,000 ha. of ground surveys, 22,000 ha. tending and 14,000 ha which require about 40% tending as touch up.
FRMG found that CLAAG harvesting systems work well where prescribed
Quite a large poplar decline area was identified
Outstanding tending required
Have a good silviculture tracking system in place
FRMG is proposing a Forest Future Funding project to rehabilitate a poplar decline area on the forest
Approximately 2700 ha were identified as poplar decline of which 1000 ha. will require intensive silviculture treatment.
FRMG are proposing that 1000 ha. receive mechanical site preparation followed by the planting of 2.0 million trees. These areas have regenerated to brush.
A further 1700 ha of decline area require more assessment and possible stratification to identify treatment options.
The silviculture program for 2011-12 will focus on aerial tending of 9500 ha., tree plant 2.3 million trees, ground survey approx. 13,000 ha. and complete FTG surveys on 9,000 ha.
AWS 2012 will increase planting to 3.3 million trees.
Following Wayne’s presentation, there was an opportunity for questions:
Q: Do you spray before any type of regeneration treatment?
A: If an area has regenerated to brush, we will chemically site prepare the area.
Q: Do you use remote sensing imagery for forest resource inventory information.
A: We use aerial photos (digital imagery) for inventorying harvest and treatment areas.
Q: What do you base your silviculture budget on?
A: The silviculture program is built on the need to regenerate all sites that have been harvested. The program is budgeted for each year and funds are provided through the Renewal Funding pot that the forest industry puts into each year through their stumpage.
Q: Will there always be enough money in the Renewal Fund to ensure that silviculture activities will be paid for.
A: The forest industry must maintain a minimum balance in the fund; Renewal rates are established and monitored to ensure that the forest industry stays above the minimum balance by March 31st of each year.
Q: Based on your silviculture program review and projections will you be able to close the gap in silviculture.
A: Yes, we will close the gap over time.
Q: Is the Renewal fund able to sustain increases in treatment costs through increases in cost of living
A: Renewal rates are adjusted annually to reflect real costs.
The Chairman thanked Wayne for his presentation and discussion of the Abitibi River Forest Silviculture program.
Forestry Future Trust Fund- Rob MacLeod
Rob MacLeod provided the Timmins LCC members with a presentation on the Forest Renewal Trust fund and how it relates to forest silviculture programs. (see attached presentation):
The Forest Renewal Trust Fund was established in 1994.
The fund provides for eligible silviculture activities
Forest Companies pay into the Renewal Trust fund through harvesting stumpage revenues
Renewal charge rates are set by the District Manager
The Company has an obligation to stay above the minimum balance set for each forest.
The minimum balance represents one year of silviculture.
The minimum balance must be met by March 31st of each year.
The Forest Company carries out silviculture activities and submits claim to the Trust fund for reimbursement
Slides 3 and 4 show the Forest Renewal Trust fund amounts by both the ARF and RMF forests.
Due to time constraints, Rob was able to provide the LCC members with the “mechanics” of the trust fund; a copy of the full presentation will be sent out to the LCC members and questions can be sent to rob.macleod@ontario.ca for him to answer. There was some time for discussion and questions about the Renewal Trust Funds as follows:
Q: In looking at the ARF and RMF Renewal trust fund slides, does it mean that ARF is doing more silviculture and RMF is doing less?
A: You can’t read that type of indicator into the graph; there are several reasons why the funds fluctuate from month to month. It will provide trends over time with regards to frequency of harvest and silviculture activities.
There was a general discussion about the concept of funding silviculture, dealing with accelerated harvests and building up of silviculture work recognizing the silviculture program fluctuates with the activities.
The Chairman thanked Rob for his presentation and discussion.
Action Item 03-11-01: A copy of the presentation on Forest Renewal Trust will be circulated to the LCC members; any questions can be forwarded to rob.macleod@ontario.ca and Rob will attempt to provide your answers.
LCC Meeting Schedule- All
Bill led the discussion with the LCC members on the scheduling of LCC meetings; at last meeting, the members discussed the possibilities of having the meeting date shift back to its original time of the second Wednesday of each month with July and August off. After a motion to accept, there was subsequent discussion and decision to “keep the last Wednesday in the month as the meeting date as it is a better fit for most people’s schedules with the caveat to move the meeting in December and June to better fit people’s schedules at those times”.
Motion to accept-Kees Pols
Seconded by- Marc Lapalme
All in favour- carried
Action Item 03-11-02: That the Terms of Reference be changed for the LCC meeting dates to be scheduled for the last Wednesday of each month with the caveat to move the meeting in December and June to accommodate member’s schedules.
Round Table Discussions
Good information meeting
Thanks for the discussion on water levels
Less herbicide spraying is good to hear
Excellent agenda
Timmins District has investigated any records of the use of 245-T; to our knowledge this district did not use 245-T
The meeting adjourned at 8:55 pm
Next Meeting is scheduled for April 27, 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