Lake Clear Old Growth Forest

Lake Clear Old Growth Forest

The Lake Clear Old Growth Forest (LCOGF) is found within a 68-ha tract of crown land that extends uphill on the eastern slopes of McDonald's Mountain from the southwest shore of the lake to the Opeongo Road. It is one of three well recognized old growth forests in Renfrew County, the Shaw Woods and Gilles Grove Nature Reserve (the site of Ontario's tallest Eastern White Pine) being the others.

What is an Old Growth Forest?

Besides these Old Growth Forests, Renfrew County has many other areas that have always been in a relatively untouched natural state over the years. These include:

1. 8 "Life Science" Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI's): These are areas of land and water that represent significant biological (life science) features. MNR identifies ANSIs that are 'provincially significant' by surveying regions and evaluating sites to decide which have the highest value for conservation, scientific study and education.

2. 26 Provincial parks and conservation reserves. Only two (Bonnechere and Driftwood) are Recreation Class parks with staff at visitor centres, camping facilities, regularly maintained trails, and other visitor amenities. The other 24 occupy small areas of crown land, ranging in size from 30 hectares to just over 2000 ha. Many have been given special conservation status in light of their unique biological and geological features. Others protect portions of significant Ottawa Valley waterways (Barron River, Bissett Creek, Bonnechere River, Grant’s Creek, Lower Madawaska River, Little Mississippi River and the Ottawa River itself). As of November 2012, these 26 protected areas total 16,157 ha (about 2.2% of the County’s area of 744,081 ha).

3. 35 Provincially Significant Wetlands (PSWs) are those areas identified by the province as being the most valuable. They are determined by a science-based ranking system known as the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System (OWES). This Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) framework provides a standardized method of assessing wetland functions and societal values, which enables the province to rank wetlands relative to one another. This information is provided to planning authorities to support the land use planning process.

Little information is available about the Lake Clear Old Growth Forest. It is found on steep slopes on portions of the crown land tract spared from logging activities. Mark Stabb (now with Nature Conservancy of Canada) recommended in the 1990s that the MNR recognize it as an Old Growth Forest. It represents a small piece of the original forest once found along the Mount St. Patrick Fault that marks most of the Lake's southwestern shoreline, and that represents the northern boundary of the Madawaska Highlands and the southern boundary of the Ottawa-Bonnechere Graben.

In 2014, the Ottawa River Institute (ORI) began a preliminary exploration of the area. In August 2015 ORI, in partnership with the Pembroke Area Field Naturalists, conducted a “mini-bioblitz” of the area, which resulted in identification of some rare plant species. Also in August 2015, some residents from the Lake Clear Community visited the area to learn more about the Forest.

The LCOGF is located in biodistrict SE-11 with the potential of having a diversity of Ontario woody species related to trees, shrubs and vines.

LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES

The forest is located on the south west shore of Lake Clear in the general proximity of the Opeongo and Lake Clear Roads. With no signs or obvious entry points the Forest is rather difficult to locate without a map or GPS coordinates.

The most convenient access point is off Lake Clear Rd where one only needs to walk a short distance of approx. 55 m along a well marked ATV Trail to enter the Forest.

TOPOGRAPHY

• several seasonal streams cross the property

• the upper edge of the property from Lake Clear Rd to the Opeongo is in the 335' to 370' contour elevation range

• line A to B marks the steepest slope at approximately 100' over a distance of 500 m.

PATHWAY INVESTIGATION (July 13, 2015)

The Forest has no other pathway except an ATV trail extending from Lake Clear Rd to waymark D in the below map - a distance of approximately 3600' or 1 km

Geography

The Forest appears to have at least four geographical areas characterized by distinct plant communities reflective of the available sunlight, geology, soil type and drainage. Namely, a RIch Hardwood Stand exists along the first 900' of trail entering from Lake Clear Rd, leading into a Dry Ridge Stand before descending a steep Old Growth Slope and ending at a Lakeside Hemlock Grove.

Field Visits:

1. Pembroke Area Field Naturalists mini-bioblitz - August 15, 2015

2. LCC interpretive walk - August 30, 2015