Westmeath Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
Westmeath Provincial Park is a provincial park
on the Ottawa River
in Renfrew County, Ontario
, Canada
. Located on the section of the river known as Bellows Bay, it features a long sandy beach
and an active sandspit
.
As a non-operating park, the park has no facilities and overnight camping is not permitted. Unlike most Ontario provincial parks, where hunting
and possession of firearms are prohibited, waterfowl hunting is allowed within the park.
, as well as prehistoric sand
dunes. The Bellows Bay portion is home to the spiny softshell turtle
and the map turtle. The spiny softshell is designated as "Threatened" under the Canadian Species At Risk Act
, while the map turtle is designated as "Special Concern".
Illegal all-terrain vehicle
use in the park constitutes an ongoing threat to its ecosystem.
pushed for the park to be designated as "Nature Reserve", which would give it maximum ecological protection and minimal human use. Ultimately, the Ministry of Natural Resources gave it the "Natural Environment" classification, which allowed for hunting, swimming and a proposed parking lot. Under the management plan, 47% of the park area is designated as "Nature Reserve".
Provincial park
A provincial park is a park under the management of a provincial or territorial government in Canada.While provincial parks are not the same as national parks, their workings are very similar...
on the Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
in Renfrew County, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Located on the section of the river known as Bellows Bay, it features a long sandy beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
and an active sandspit
Spit (landform)
A spit or sandspit is a deposition landform found off coasts. At one end, spits connect to land, and extend into the sea. A spit is a type of bar or beach that develops where a re-entrant occurs, such as at cove's headlands, by the process of longshore drift...
.
As a non-operating park, the park has no facilities and overnight camping is not permitted. Unlike most Ontario provincial parks, where hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
and possession of firearms are prohibited, waterfowl hunting is allowed within the park.
Ecology
The park is home to 300 plant species, including 10 which are provincially or regionally rareRare species
A rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon or scarce. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and may be distinct from the term "endangered" or "threatened species" but not "extinct"....
, as well as prehistoric sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
dunes. The Bellows Bay portion is home to the spiny softshell turtle
Spiny Softshell Turtle
The Spiny softshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle, one of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America...
and the map turtle. The spiny softshell is designated as "Threatened" under the Canadian Species At Risk Act
Species at Risk Act
The Species at Risk Act is a piece of Canadian federal legislation which became law in Canada on December 12, 2002. It is designed to meet one of Canada's key commitments under the International Convention on Biological Diversity. The goal of the Act is to protect endangered or threatened...
, while the map turtle is designated as "Special Concern".
Illegal all-terrain vehicle
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
use in the park constitutes an ongoing threat to its ecosystem.
History
Before its opening in 1991, the Federation of Ontario NaturalistsFederation of Ontario Naturalists
Ontario Nature is a non-profit organization that promotes the preservation and conservation of natural areas in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was established in 1931 as the Federation of Ontario Naturalists, and is based in Toronto...
pushed for the park to be designated as "Nature Reserve", which would give it maximum ecological protection and minimal human use. Ultimately, the Ministry of Natural Resources gave it the "Natural Environment" classification, which allowed for hunting, swimming and a proposed parking lot. Under the management plan, 47% of the park area is designated as "Nature Reserve".