Westmeath Provincial Park

Infobox_protected_area
name = Westmeath Provincial Park
governing_body = Ontario Parks
location = Ottawa River
nearest_city = Pembroke, Ontario
iucn_category = II
area = 610 ha
coords=coord|45|47|42|N|76|54|35|W|region:CA_type:airport|display=inline,title

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.

Ecology

The park is home to 300 plant species, including 10 which are provincially or regionally rare, as well as prehistoric sand dunes. The Bellows Bay portion is home to the spiny softshell turtle and the map turtle. [cite news|title=Park needs protection|publisher=Ottawa Citizen|last=Champagne|first=Anne|date=10 Dec 1989|page=A8] The spiny softshell is designated as "Threatened" under the Canadian Species At Risk Act [ [http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/search/speciesDetails_e.cfm?SpeciesID=278 Spiny Softshell] ] , while the map turtle is designated as "Special Concern" [ [http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/search/speciesDetails_e.cfm?SpeciesID=712 Northern Map Turtle] ] .

Illegal all-terrain vehicle use in the park constitutes an ongoing threat to its ecosystem. [cite news|title=Thoughtless ATV owners wreak havoc on urban nature zones|publisher=The Ottawa Citizen|date=8 Apr 2002|page=B4|last=Huggett|first=Ian]

History

Before its opening in 1991, the Federation of Ontario Naturalists pushed for the park to be designated as "Nature Reserve", which would give it maximum ecological protection and minimal human use. [cite news|title=Objections may delay park|publisher=The Ottawa Citizen|date= 12 Dec 1989|page=B2] 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". [cite news|title=Westmeath park planned to please hunters, swimmers and naturalists|publisher=The Ottawa Citizen|date=15 Aug 1989|last=Pappin|first=C.B.]

Notes

ee also

* List of Ontario parks

External links

* [http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/westm.html Ontario Parks listing]