Minesing Wetlands Emergency Action Plan

Transcription

1 Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan January 2018 ottaasaga Valley Conservation uthority For more information, or for a copy of this plan in an alternative format, contact VC at or admin@nvca.on.ca.

2 Contents Key Information... 1 Minesing Emergency ction Plan Field Map... 1 Closest ospital... 2 Emergency Contacts... 2 Emergency Response Resources Introduction Purpose of the Emergency ction Plan Roles and Responsibilities VC Staff General Property Description Wateray Descriptions ottaasaga River Mad River Willo Creek ccess Points to the Interior Overvie of Tonship of Clearvie ccess Points ccess Point: 4150 Concession 2, Clearvie ccess Point: McKinnon Road, Clearvie ccess Point: Concession 5, Clearvie ccess Point: Concession 7, Clearvie Overvie of Tonship of Springater ccess Points: ccess Point: Tonline - County Road 90 beteen Line 5 and Line ccess Point: Baldick Lane ccess Point: Pinegrove Road ccess Point: Willo Landing Canoe Corral ccess Point: Glengarry Landing Road South ccess Point: Richardson Road ccess Point: Edenvale Conservation rea ccess Point: Mcabb Road Buildings and Other Structures Primary Wetland Users Support Tools for the Wetland User Roadside Information Signs andouts/website Minesing unter Map Minesing Wetlands Emergency Locate Maps ppendix Direct Emergency Contacts VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page ii

3 Key Information Minesing Emergency ction Plan Field Map full-sized version of this map is attached at the end of this document. VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 1

4 Closest ospital The closest hospital to Minesing Wetlands is the Royal Victoria ospital, located at 201 Georgian Drive, Barrie, O L4M 6M2 Emergency Contacts I CSE OF EMERGECY DIL 911 Direct contacts for VC and local emergency services can be found in appendix (as this list contains personal numbers, it is not included in any online versions). Emergency Contact umber Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Essa Fire Department Clearvie Fire Department Springater Fire Department (ext. 2016) Ministry of Environment (MOE) Environmental Emergencies (MOE) Emergency Response Resources Table 1: Water Equipment Equipment Source luminium boat ith outboard motor Midland OPP luminium boat ith outboard motor OPP - Orillia ot motorized craft Clearvie Fire Water rescue suit (8) Clearvie Fire 16 foot jon boat ith outboard motor VC Table 2: Land Equipment Equipment ll-terrain vehicle (TV) (2) Snomobile (2) Tracked TV ith stretcher trailer Source uronia West OPP uronia West OPP Clearvie Fire VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 2

5 Equipment Wheeled TV and trailer Wheeled TV Source Springater Fire VC Table 3: ir Equipment Equipment elicopter Source OPP - Orillia Table 4: Other Equipment Equipment Thermal imaging cameras (6) Emergency Response Team Source Clearvie Fire Dispatched as required VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 3

6 Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan This document is for use by first responders in the event of an emergency situation ithin Minesing Wetlands. This information has been developed for use in the absence of active involvement of the property oners or managers during an ongoing incident response. This Emergency ction Plan includes information about: ccess points into the interior of Minesing Wetlands Internal information systems that may be used by emergency personnel and the public to respond to an ongoing incident (including signs, marker posts and display panels) References for VC staff on involvement in emergency situation activities 1.0 Introduction The ottaasaga Valley Conservation uthority ons over half of Minesing Wetlands (3,932 ha of the ~6,000 ha) the remainder oned by a number of public and private landoners. The etland spans three municipalities, Clearvie, Essa and Springater. 1.1 Purpose of the Emergency ction Plan The purpose of this plan is to outline the series of tools that are in place to assist first responders, VC and the public in the event of an emergency ithin the Minesing Wetlands. 1.2 Roles and Responsibilities Because of the vast area Minesing Wetlands encompasses, a number of emergency service agencies have been engaged as part of the Emergency ction Plan, including Springater Fire, Essa Fire, Clearvie Fire, Barrie Fire, Barrie Police, Simcoe Paramedic Services. Other agencies may be involved should the tools/equipment/training not be available ithin the service providers ithin the area (e.g. Tiny Fire may be involved if an air boat is required). Fire Protection and Prevention ct (Fire Departments-FD) is in charge of rescue. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) does search (emergency response team), as all searches are assumed to have a criminal aspect until the individual is located. Once located, it turns into a rescue scenario involving the FDs. The County is not involved until it either becomes a situation from a tactical perspective or Emergency Medical VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 4

7 Services (EMS) situation. County supervisor may be at the site to determine the need and to avoid self-deployment. Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services are the first responders trained to handle any type of emergency that may occur ithin Minesing Wetlands. In all emergencies the first action of VC staff and members of the public is to call 911 and rely on the expertise of these services to respond during an emergency. It is helpful to 911 staff to indicate the Tonship in hich the emergency is occurring for them to be able to send the appropriate responders VC Staff VC staff ill not engage in duties or activities for hich they have not been properly trained or provided ith the appropriate personal protective equipment, or that put them or others at undue risk of injury. ll staff ho are involved in an emergency situation involving Minesing Wetlands ill follo the Crisis Communication Plan, particularly the Crisis Communication Policy of hich an excerpt is included belo: a. In emergency situations, maintaining the safety and security of those on site (staff, visitors, members of the public) is paramount, and takes precedent over all other matters. b. ll crises (emergencies and/or issues that may negatively affect the reputation of organization) should be reported to the appropriate manager, director and CO immediately. c. Only the chief spokesperson and back-up spokespeople are authorized to release information to the media and to the public. ll other staff, board and committee members should be professional and helpful to the media by connecting them ith the spokespeople, but ill neither speak to the media, nor provide any information. For media inquiries in all emergency situations, take the name and contact information and provide this information to the appropriate crisis correspondence lead representative. This individual or other VC staff trained in crisis communications ill respond to all media inquiries. Staff should not provide comment to media or release any information regarding an emergency situation, and should indicate that staff are responding to the situation and that the appropriate person ill provide comment hen available. VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 5

8 2.0 General Property Description Set ithin a landscape of agricultural fields, residential nodes and upland forests, Minesing Wetlands stands alone as a complex of treed samp, marsh, fen and floodplain forest, located along the ottaasaga and Mad Rivers, Willo and Coates Creeks. Minesing Wetlands consists of VC oned lands, as ell as privately oned and publicly held properties. Many users assume that all of Minesing Wetlands is entirely publicly accessible, but there are several internal parcels that are not. Minesing Wetlands consists of three main aterays, the ottaasaga and Mad Rivers and Willo Creek. There are also smaller aterays including Coates Creek that meet up at the north end of the Wetlands to form the larger ottaasaga River. 2.1 Wateray Descriptions ottaasaga River The main public access point for ater travel on the ottaasaga River is off of ighay 90, just outside of ngus. From this location small atercraft (canoe/kayak/aluminum boat ith motor) ould be utilized typically from pril to ovember. Emergency responders should expect log jams hich ill require pulling their atercraft over or around. These log jams shift in location every year and precise locations are difficult to identify. There is ample parking at the Essa Fish Park at 888 Don Ross Drive and at 378 Mill Street. lternate access may be achieved from the Edenvale Conservation rea. Please see section for details on the Edenvale C access point Mad River The main public access point for the Mad River is from 4150 Concession 2, Clearvie. From this location, paddlers may use kayaks, canoes and possibly a small jon boat during high ater (pril to early June). Emergency responders should expect log jams hich ill require being able to pull their atercraft over or around. Please see section for details on the Concession 2 access point. During high ater, emergency responders ill be able to navigate the entire marsh and may find it difficult to identify the river channels. VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 6

9 2.1.3 Willo Creek The main public access point for Minesing Wetland Willo Creek is the George Johnston Road canoe corral, hoever, access to Willo Creek may be achieved from alternate locations, depending on the location of the rescue. Paddlers may use kayaks, canoes and possibly a small jon boat during high ater (pril -early June) to access Willo Creek. During loer ater conditions, paddlers ill likely have sand bars donstream of narros hich may require pullovers or doned oody debris hich ill have to be navigated (under/around/over). There are also tight, hairpin turns hich ill be challenging to navigate ith a long atercraft. During high ater, emergency responders ill likely be able to navigate the entire etland and ill not be restricted to the river channels. Please see section for details on the George Johnston Road (Canoe Corral) access point. 3.0 ccess Points to the Interior There are a number of formal and informal access points around the etland. Some of the formal access points have signage and/or an information kiosk ith a map of the area. There are an unknon number of private access points hich may be used in the event of an emergency. Because of the unknon nature of each emergency situation, approval for private access to Minesing Wetlands as not covered in this plan and ould have to be obtained on a case by case basis by first responders. Boat launches are available at the Essa Fish Park and Edenvale Conservation rea (ottaasaga River). earest address indicates the closest address to the access point that is private property. 3.1 Overvie of Tonship of Clearvie ccess Points Concession 2, Clearvie (sign at entrance) 2. McKinnon Road, Clearvie- unopened road alloance (nearest address 9605 McKinnon Road) (sign at entrance) 3. Concession 5, Clearvie (nearest address: 4440 Concession 5) (no sign at entrance) 4. Concession 7, Clearvie (nearest address: 4012 Concession 7) (no sign at entrance) Details of each access point follo. VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 7

10 3.1.1 ccess Point: 4150 Concession 2, Clearvie This access point provides parking for approximately 5 vehicles, hoever due to the infrequent traffic on this gravel road, additional emergency response vehicles could be stationed along Concession 2. Most VC staff and all applicable emergency response departments (Springater/Clearvie/Essa fire and Wasaga/eTecumseth OPP detachments) have a key for the gate hich provides access to the driveay and lookout toer. This access point also provides access to the Mad River. Emergency responders are able to get ater access north into Minesing Wetlands from this location ccess Point: McKinnon Road, Clearvie This access point provides parking along the road side only. There is a narro shoulder and emergency response vehicles ill likely have to block this dead end road. Four heel drive trucks and TV s are able to drive approximately 2km north until reaching the condemned McKinnon Bridge. The structural stability of this bridge is unknon and using it is not recommended. This bridge hoever, is part of the official OFSC trail netork identified as trail 502 and joins ith the County Road 90 Springater/Essa access point (belo). This access point is used for fishing access as ell as for paddling the ottaasaga River ccess Point: Concession 5, Clearvie This access point provides parking along the road side only. Emergency response vehicles ill likely have to block this dead end road ccess Point: Concession 7, Clearvie This access point is not advertised to hunters or recreational users, hoever there is a drain hich canoers use to access the Coates Creek. This access point is only used during high ater levels for boat access only. 3.2 Overvie of Tonship of Springater ccess Points 1. Off of County Road 90 beteen Line 5 and Line 6, heading north, unopened road alloance (nearest address 6088 ighay 90) (no sign at entrance) Official Ontario Federation of Snomobile Clubs (OFSC) trail netork. ote this is the dividing line beteen Springater and Essa. To the est is Springater, to the east is Essa. VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 8

11 2. Baldick Lane (nearest address 3221 Baldick Lane) (no sign at entrance) 3. Pinegrove Road (across from nearest address 3021 Pinegrove Road) (no sign at entrance) 4. Willo Landing- Canoe Corral (2220 George Johnston Road) (information kiosk at entrance) 5. Glengarry Landing Road South (nearest address 1610 Glengarry Landing Road South) (sign at entrance) 6. Richardson Road (nearest address 1503 Richardson Road) (no sign at entrance) 7. Edenvale Conservation rea (3920 y 26 Springater) (sign at entrance and ithin property) 8. Informal entrance at Mcabb Road- unopened road alloance (nearest address 1135 Mcabb Road) Details of each access point follo ccess Point: Tonline - County Road 90 beteen Line 5 and Line 6 This access point provides vehicle access north along the Tonline road alloance and links ith the McKinnon Road trail. This access point is used as part of the official OFSC trail and is by recreational vehicles. This gate is usually locked and VC staff and all applicable emergency response departments have a key for access. Once the gate has been opened, there is ample parking in the field under the hydro corridor. ighay 90 also has a ide shoulder hich ould allo for emergency vehicle parking if required. ccess to the road alloance may also be possible through the adjacent field if emergency responders are unable to open the gate ccess Point: Baldick Lane There is limited parking at this location. Emergency response vehicles ill likely have to block this dead end road. There are no maintained trails past this point ccess Point: Pinegrove Road There is parking at this site for approximately 4 vehicles; all other emergency response vehicles ould have to park on the shoulder of the road. This access point enters into the Simcoe County Forest Miller Tract (east). Logging trails throughout the property provide access to the estern edge of the property and into Minesing Wetland. Motorized vehicles may access the County Forest, but there is a limited trail access past this point, and no formal trails are maintained. VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 9

12 3.2.4 ccess Point: Willo Landing Canoe Corral This access point is the main public access point to Willo Creek, there is parking for approximately 20 vehicles in this seasonally maintained parking lot. This is an ideal staging area for emergency responders to access the eastern portion of Minesing Wetlands. Should a helicopter be required, there should be enough space available (ithout vehicles) to park the helicopter in the parking lot or in the adjacent field ccess Point: Glengarry Landing Road South This access point accommodates road side parking only, or approximately 3 vehicles at the dead end of Ronald Road ccess Point: Richardson Road This access point provides parking along the shoulder of the road only and alk-in access only. There are no motorized vehicle trails from this location and no easy boat access ccess Point: Edenvale Conservation rea This access point is frequently used as the northern exit point for paddlers through Minesing Wetlands. There is parking for over 50 vehicles should it be required. There is also an adjacent moed recreation field hich ill accommodate additional vehicles or helicopter, should that be required. There is an area to launch a small boat hich ould allo access to the north part of the ottaasaga River, pending any fallen logs or oody debris, first responders can expect to travel up to the confluence of the Willo Creek and Mad Rivers ccess Point: Mcabb Road Mcabb Road (unmaintained road alloance) dead ends at the ottaasaga River, this access point provides access to the northern portion of Minesing Wetlands. There is no formal parking at this location other than on the unmaintained portion of alloance. ccess to the ottaasaga River may be achieved from here, the natural streambank ill allo for small atercrafts to be launched, reducing the time required to access the interior of the etland compared to the Edenvale C. VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 10

13 4.0 Buildings and Other Structures There are no VC buildings or infrastructure ithin the interior of Minesing Wetlands. t several access points to the etland there are information kiosk and/or signs. The canoe corral, located off of George Johnston Road has a seasonal dock placed ithin Willo Creek and a seasonal outhouse. There is a parking lot and lookout toer located at Concession 2 Clearvie Tonship, hich is seasonally accessible. 5.0 Primary Wetland Users There are to formal, maintained hiking trails ithin Minesing Wetlands (see images 1-2). The Meado Mouse trail (approximately 500 meters) enters the etland off of George Johnston Road alongside the canoe corral parking lot. The Mad River trail (approximately 1,100 meters) enters the etland off of 4150 Concession 2, Clearvie Tp. Both trails are vehicle accessible, though the Mad River Trail is only seasonally accessible due to of flooding. The trails surfaces are mon grass approximately 2 meters ide. During the spring/early summer/late the interior of the etland is accessible by atercraft (kayak/canoe/small aluminum boat ith motor) (see images 3 for paddle map). The flooding causes the defined aterays to become virtually impossible to identify and paddlers often lose their bearings becoming lost. Late summer access to the interior of the etland is not alays possible depending on the ater conditions. Some paddlers may get stuck in the mud flats or in log jams. Motorized atercraft access is considered to be limited year round. The property is used for hunting, mainly aterfol and deer, but also turkey and small game. unters must obtain a permit from VC to have permission to hunt VC oned property. ll hunters are provided ith a map hich identifies entry locations to the etland and delineates the property boundaries (see image 4). unters are not permitted to access the property using a motorized vehicle (allterrain vehicle). unters are not required to request permission to access for each individual hunting outing. Interest in the natural features of Minesing Wetlands has been increasing over the years, resulting in a noticeable increase in naturalist visiting the interior of the site. Snoshoeing may occur throughout much of the property; hoever users are directed to the primary entrance locations noted above. There is a daily parking fee for users of the property; this cost is included in the cost of purchasing a hunting pass. VC tracks vehicle licence plates of individuals ho have purchased a parking or hunting pass. VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 11

14 VC does not generally undertake timber extraction and farming; hoever adjacent private property oners do and may require emergency services. VC staff and volunteers have been actively promoting tree planting and steardship activities ithin Minesing Wetlands. For the most part, these activities have been focused around the primary entrances identified above. lthough VC staff and volunteers take all reasonable safety precautions, emergency services may be required. 6.0 Support Tools for the Wetland User ccess to Minesing Wetlands is idely publicized in a variety of formats both officially through VC ebsites and publications and informally through user groups such as the Ontario Federation of Snomobile Clubs and Brereton Field aturalists. 6.1 Roadside Information Signs There are a number of roadside information signs catering to visitors to Minesing Wetlands. There are main Minesing Wetlands information signs at the folloing locations: Ronald Road/Glengarry Landing Road, Wildlife Vieing Toer Concession 2, Willo Landing Canoe Corral on George Johnston Road, and the end of McKinnon Road. In addition to these signs, there are tourism/recreation signs that ere placed at the folloing locations: ngus on ighay 90, Edenvale Conservation rea, and Willo Landing Canoe Corral on George Johnston Road. 6.2 andouts/website When visitors come to the office or go to our ebsite, they ill find a number of resources, including snoshoe maps of the to main trails in Minesing and a paddle route map. Images 1-3 are maps that may be distributed to the public. VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 12

15 Image 1 - Meado Mouse Trail - George Johnston Road VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 13

16 Image 2 - Mad River Trail Concession 2 VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 14

17 Image 3 - VC Canoe Route Map VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 15

18 6.3 Minesing unter Map When hunters purchase a permit to access Minesing Wetlands, they are provided ith this map hich provides them ith a number of access points to enter the property through publicly accessible lands (unopened road alloances, VC oned property or Simcoe County Forest) Image 4 - VC Minesing unter Map VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 16

19 6.4 Minesing Wetlands Emergency Locate Maps VC has installed nine ayfind markers along the Willo Creek. These numbered signs are intended to assist locate an individual should they get lost in Minesing Wetlands. The location of these signs are also included on the field map for reference for the first responders. Table 5: Locations of markers Sign ame Latitude (DD.dddd) Longitude (DD.dddd) Willo Willo Willo Willo Willo Willo Willo Willo Willo Image 5 Example of one of the ayfind signs VC Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Page 17

20 E UR CO I DR E m.E LF GO y SE Y PR RR S VE G V I D L G L EY LL CU V 590 E GL O 22 M C M 22 OW B I I EY LL Edenvale Conservation rea S I R m. 85 K T m m.E B B D IR L O R U 26 D Mcabb Road 21 C RI RO M S O ST K ES Y M D L ER 21 R 3 Tall silos O DS FR E DL Communication toer CK LI O GE Glengarry Landing Road South RG E 4920 I JO O ST ID U 9S Richardson Road 19 Willo-ottaasaga confluence O LE IL GV To O S ( Willo 9 Mad-ottaasaga confluence g ( er ie at rv ea rin Cl Sp of Mad River enters trees Willo 8 Willo Creek Change from grasses to deciduous forest W d ( ill o ba W EY LL V 18 1 rs ( ( (Willo 2 17 W o ill OUT OD S o ill o ill W SIDER W ( Sa n P ( Willo 7 GE T R O Fort Willo ID S U W ( o ill 16 6 Co ate River sc ree k LE LE ID D O RC OL Change from grasses to coniferous forest RD 15 E PI otta asa ga U 6S 15 GR GR E OV Pine Grove Road L FE McKinnon (iron) bridge E Concession 5 U 5S LE ID 14 9 U 3S LE ID Orange barn To hi at rv ea er ie dr ive r Ma y Parking Lot Boat Launch Canoe Launch Landmark Municipal Boundary OFSC Snomobile Trail UTM Eastings UTM orthings T metres 1000 metres m. I Roadside ccess Landmark Willo-ottaasaga confluence Mad-ottaasaga confluence Sand bars Willo Creek enters trees 3 Tall silos Change from grasses to deciduous forest Change from grasses to coniferous forest Sno Valley slopes Wildlife vieing toer Mad River enters trees Orange barn McKinnon (iron) bridge Fort Willo Communication toer 89 8T 88 30T 56 Legend 87 R IER P 6T 86 I y ES M ES OL 5T TY L MI L 90 SMIT O R MCC Essa Fish Park D I R P K M OL Ton Line IC SU E L W LD B R m.E ID 12 LE S RO S DO Tonship of Essa MCKI E ORS SU ER LL O g Cl rin of Sp p 11 K IC hi of ns p LE ID KER U 2S W LD B ns To 4150 Wildlife vieing toer Concession 2 McKinnon Road Baldick Lane m r et es Zone 17 T Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) orth merican Datum 1983 (D83) 1 0 Map Scale 1:20,000 Kilometres 94 1 This map has been produced for illustrative purposes only. While every effort has been made to accurately depict the information, data/mapping errors may exist. 2017~ Reproduction of this map is prohibited ithout ritten permission from the ottaasaga Valley Conservation uthority m.E 2 G M 10 21' 181 MILS Use diagram only to obtain numerical values pproximate Mean Declination 2017 for centre of Map nnual Change: 0.5' per Year East Minesing Wetlands Emergency ction Plan Field Map m Willo Creek enters trees of p 15/ p hi LE ID I hi ns ns Concession 7 U 7S ain r D T SE To 18 l ey a S ek Muskrat Cre R ST SU 17 Canoe Corral LE