Hey All,

More for your review......


"Was doing a lot of googling tonight and trying to find out more information about the areas in which we wheel - where the magical land of Mazinaw-Lanark begins and ends, about any other land use policies, etc.

Found this:
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business...02_163540.html
which indicates (as we already know) that Mazinaw-Lanark is up for planning for 2009 for implementation in 2011.

What I didn't realize is that we have more than just #140 Mazinaw-Lanark to contend with in 2009:
#780 Ottawa-Valley Forest - area north of Mazinaw Lanark including most of Renfrew
#220 Bancroft-Minden Forest - area west of Renfrew and south of Algonquin Park almost all the way to Lake Simcoe

You can see the plan better here:
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/261617.pdf

or look at the attached map I made out of the Crown Land Use Policy Atlas - the FMUs are outlined in brown and I labelled them by hand for your easy reference.

Just about every single trail we ride falls into one of these areas. I haven't heard about them starting the planning process for the other areas but if they are only running advertisements in the local papers we could have easily missed them.




Time to do some real thinking"

Zeb

 

One of the key things to keep in mind is that we are not Off-Road Vehicles, by law. As long as your truck is street legal (and by that I mean, actually plated), we are not ORV. We are road vehicles. It's actually more difficult to ban us from places. If they pass a law banning ORV from an area, that does not technically include us. It's similar to enduro motorcycles. I have a street legal dirt bike. If they ban ORV, I'm still allowed, because it's not an ORV, it's a road vehicle.

The people who end up getting left behind are those with non-street-legal trucks, and motocross bikes. They are not on-road vehicles, and also they are not technically ORV. So if they ban ORV, they tend to be included in the ban, but in areas where ORV are specifically allowed, they are not included.

 

I just threw the link in FYI the ORV and/or ATV isn't in question here.. but other's on this forum have tried to make improper connections....and cloud the issuse that's all...



Thanks Though

Zeb

 

The link you posted is a very specific and limiting definition of an off road vehicle, as it relates specifically to those off road vehicles allowed in some areas to drive on the shoulders of roadways. Essentially 4 wheel ATV only. The Ontario Off Road Vehicles Act has a broader more appropriate definition that would likely apply to any discussion the MNR is having.
It would included dirt bikes, 3wheel ATV dune buggies or what not.


It will be interesting to see how this progresses, thanks for keeping us up to date on this

Cheers

JKDad

 

I'd love to see the Off Road Vehicles Act. Never heard of such a thing. I've only ever seen the OHV as described by the... HTA? "4 wheels with a seat designed to straddle."

 

link to the ontario off road vehicles act


http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/sta...es_90o04_e.htm

same web site can get you to all other provincial acts and their regulations.


The definition in the act is sort of broad and refers to the regulations, essentially the definiton of an off road vehicle varies in different parts of the act. The regulations tell you what the definition is for different parts of the act. Confusing yes, but also pretty specific.

Cheers

JKDad

 

Not from Central Canada but maybe I can put some light on Forest Management Plan (FMP) which is something similar to what I put together called the Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP) in British Columbia.

These plans are approved by government for a 5 year term and you will get some amendments depending on forest health issues or access changes. The plans show an entire FDU (Forest Development Units) or what you call in an FMU in (Forest Management Units) in Ontario. This FMU will out line basically the Timber Supply Area for certain company's in the area.

The timber company and planning foresters/manager's will come up with Draft or proposed future development and get together maps and managment plans and consider all economic, social and environmental issues such as:

Wildlife issues & Reserves/retention area's
Tourism & Recreation
VIA - Visual Impact Assessments along highly travelled routes
Old Growth Managment Area's
First Nations & Archeological significant area's
Water & Fisheries
Forest Health (insects & Disease)
Coarse Wood Debris Requirements
Silviculture Regimes & Free Growing Area's
Terrain Issues
Guides and Trappers
ATV & Heliski clubs
Parks & Reserves
VRI - Vegetative Resourse Inventory
Roads set for Deactivation or Semi-deactivation.
Cut Control volumes determined by the Chief forester for the TSA.

This information is put together and future blocks and roads are drafted and these drafts can be viewed by any member of the public at the Woodlands office. Letters to interested groups and parties that utilize the area within that TSA are notified of a new draft FMP/FSP or any amendments within the area. Also, the forester will advertise in local newspapers and allow at minimum 60 day public review and get comments and may have set time up at community centers to review the plans. These public comments are considered in the draft FSP/FMP and may change some of the proposed blocks and areas.

If you have concern's about access for off-roading access go visit the Forestry Company's Planning/Area Forester and discuss with them the Forest Management Plan and what they can do for your group of off-roaders. If you get a good relationship I am sure he would inform you of any amendments or new FMP proposed by letter or email.

Mike