MANITOULIN—Along with a major project that it will be undertaking this summer in Billings Township, Manitoulin Streams Improvement Association (MSIA) is also developing a Manitoulin Angling/Outdoor Recreation Map.
“We’ve been working on developing a Manitoulin Angling/Outdoor Recreation map,” Seija Deschenes, MSIA coordinator told The Expositor last week. “We have GIS software for some mapping and Liam (Campbell) is creating various layers to add onto the Manitoulin Island map. So, for example, if a person is looking for a certain lake and clicks on it, it will indicate what type of fish species is in that lake.”
“Liam also went to every boat launch on the Island to take drone imagery of them, so people can see where and what they look like,” said Ms. Deschenes. “And there is information in regard to what the parking is like and the condition of the boat launches so that when someone is planning a fishing trip to Manitoulin Island they will know what to expect.”
“We are adding on all the municipal marinas on the Island to the mapping and are approaching private marinas for their information and to take photographs to put on the map,” said Ms. Deschenes. “This will provide information on the marina itself, the number of boat slips it has and the services provided at each marina.”
“We will also be adding on various businesses on the map. Basically, we are looking for any businesses that have products or provides any type of services for the recreational fishing industry, things like equipment, selling boats, have canoes-kayaks (buy and/or rentals), safety gear, chargers, bait, fishing charters,” continued Ms. Deschenes. “We will be approaching Island businesses on this.” She pointed out the maps for each lake will also indicate where each of the gas stations and grocery stores that are available in a specific lake location area.
“We will also be approaching various accommodation businesses on the island for information as well. So if someone is planning a fishing trip on the Island they will have easy access to lake maps, and can find places where they can stay, get gas, where to eat, get fishing equipment and where they can get groceries,” explained Ms. Deschenes. “Berry Boats is on board so if someone needs repairs to their boat this will be indicated on the maps. Turners came on board, and they have navigational maps.” The maps will also detail hiking trails and outdoor activities one can enjoy on the Island.
Ms. Deschenes stressed, “this mapping project is still a work in progress, but a good portion of it is done already. We will be approaching a lot more businesses to see if they want to be a participant in this project and some of the marinas will be added on when the ice is gone this spring so we can get drone imagery. And if there is any business that we haven’t approached yet who want to be part of this we would ask that they reach out to us.” She pointed out MSIA is asking $20 from every participating business to update the software on an annual basis and to cover the costs to keep the map up to date.
MSIA has received funding from FedNor for this mapping initiative to promote the Manitoulin angling/recreation on the Island. “We are hoping it will help tourists and locals plan their recreational fishing trips to the Island and create economic stimulus to our local economy,” said Ms. Deschenes.
The link to the map is available on the MSIA website manitoulin.streams.com. “Someone that goes onto our site will be able to zoom in on certain lakes they want to look at, or if they want to look at a certain feature there is a menu on the side of the map so they can select the icons depending on what they want to see,” said Ms. Deschenes.
As well as this project MSIA has plans for a major project to take place in Kagawong this year. “We are planning to restore the mouth of the Kagawong River. We have a site design in place. We hoped to carry out this work last year, but with some funding we hoped for not coming through we couldn’t undertake this project. Instead, we focused our attention on the Manitou River,” said Ms. Deschenes.
“This year we are planning to make improvements to the habitat at the mouth of the (Kagawong) river so we will be putting in things like vortex weirs, root wads and boulder clusters to improve spawning habitat,” said Ms. Deschenes. “And the design for this project that was created will allow for adaptation, if climate events occur (low water levels on the river) to focus the waters energy in the middle of the river so there is still enough water to allow for fish to spawn.”
“We are also hoping to do riparian restoration work on the river mouth and improving habitat,” said Ms. Deschenes. “The mouth of the river is one of the sites that we have listed in our Enhancement Strategy for the Kagawong River.”
MSIA is also planning to put in an angling platform, said Ms. Deschenes. “We have sent out tenders for bids on the work to be done. The whole idea is providing angling opportunities, and the platform will be accessible to everyone, so people of all (mobility) abilities will be able to utilize the platform. The platform will allow locals and tourists to have a great place to fish and observe the river from, and grandparents and parents can bring their children or grandkids to an area without some of the concerns with safety. There will be educational information and signage established. We will be asking members of the community and groups in Kagawong what they would like to see on the education information signs.”
“We are also putting an angling platform in a location in Wiikwemkoong (Unceded Territory),” said Ms. Deschenes. “We have to send out a request for proposals for site design to engineers and hopefully be able to get into the planning of the platform this year (with construction in 2024).”
It is anticipated the restoration work on the Kagawong River will take place in July, followed by the installation of the fishing platform and signage after that. Ms. Deschenes said the habitat work will benefit the rainbow trout that access the river in the spring and the salmon species in the fall, as well as bass and pike at the mouth of the river.
