Pnnrcs - Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce

ONreRro
Pnnrcs
March 21,2072
Mr. Mark Bannerman
President
WasagaBeachChamberof Commerce
Re: PrescribedBum of SavannahHabitat at WasaqaBeach Provincial Park
Dear Mr. Bannerman:
I am writing to update you on plans by Ontario Parks (lvtNR) to undertakea prescribed
burn of savannahhabitat betweenApril I and May 30'n,2012 at WasagaBeach
Provincial Park. MNR is working closelywith the Town of WasagaBeachto ensure
adequatecommunicationsand coordination are in place for this event. I have reviewed
our Low Complexity PrescribedBurn Plan with the Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief and
discussedany questionsor logisticalconsiderations.
This prescribedburn will be completedin one day and will encompasstwo small parcels
of land within WasagaBeachProvincialPark totaling approximately13 hectaresin area.
The deliberateplanting of Red Pine and many years of fire suppressionhave degradedthe
significantRed Oak Woodlandcommunities.This prescribedburn will assistin the
ecologicalrestorationof thesenaturalcommunities.
A prescribedburn is a carefully planned and deliberateapplication of fire to a predeterminedareato allow for a controlled and safe fire. The burn will be undertakenby
MNR/Ontario Parks staff who are trained and experiencedin prescribedburning. Burning
will only be conductedunder weather and moisture conditions that will ensurethat the
expectedresults are achievedand that the burn can be conductedsafely and effectively.
The WasagaBeachneighbourhoodlocatedwest of BlueberryTrails in the Coral Sunrise
Subdivisionwill receivea notification letter from Park Office to individual households.
Other relevantstakeholders(e.g.GanaraskaHiking Club) will receivesimilar
notification. Theseletters will advise that a burn will be taking place and will include the
timing window, reasonsfor the burn, along with the fact sheetattachedhere. Since the
burn will only be ignited with a west wind, we do not anticipatethere will be any smoke
pushedover or into the adjacentsubdivision.
Ministry
of NaturalResources
@ Ontbrlo
A copyof the MNR Low ComplexityPrescribedBurnPlan(PB20I2-LWasagaBlock 12) will alsobe availableat ParkOffice for publicinspection.I will alsoreviewand
servicesandmediapersonnelwith
organizea pre-burnbriefingof key Town,emergency
andmediacommunications.
Burn Bossto ensureeffectiveinter-agency
the designated
freeto sharethis informationwith your membersanddirect any questions
ibedburnto my attentionat ParkOffrceor at (705) 429-6629.
ParkSuperintendent
WasagaBeachProvincialPark
CC
SandyDobbyn,CentralZoneEcologistandBurn Boss,OntarioParks
WasagaBeachProvincialPark
GregForbes,AssistantParkSuperintendent,
WasagaBeachProvincialPark
LaurelFinney,PrescribedBurn Communications,