State of the River 2005-2006
Bloodvein River, Woodland Caribou Provincial Park–Ontario
and Atikaki Wilderness Park–Manitoba
Deep in the Heart of the Land
Manitoba portion designated 1987 / Ontario portion designated 1998
Manitoba Portion:
The Bloodvein River in Atikaki Provincial Park continued to provide exceptional wilderness canoeing opportunities with no perceptible changes in environmental quality. The summer of 2005 was exceptionally rainy, with recorded flow on the Bloodvein River well above average and at one point exceeding 11,000 cfs in July of 2005. This compares to median values of 3,000 cfs on the Bloodvein River above Bloodvein Bay as recorded by Manitoba Water Stewardship.
Manitoba Conservation continued to conduct exit surveys of canoeists traveling on the Bloodvein River. The 2005 survey suggests a slight decrease in overall numbers of visitors, particularly those from the United States. This decrease may reflect the wet summer weather conditions or other undetermined factors. Survey responses indicate that canoeists spent a similar number of days in Atikaki Provincial Park as in previous years, and that campsite conditions remained stable.
Finalization of a management plan for Atikaki Provincial Park and the Bloodvein Canadian Heritage River is still pending. Atikaki Provincial Park and Woodland Caribou Provincial Park in Ontario remain on Canada's tentative list of World Heritage Sites. Several First Nations and Manitoba and Ontario governments plan to form a non-profit corporation called Pimachiowin Aki to oversee management of a project leading to the development of a nomination for World Heritage Site status. The Bloodvein River flows through the heart of the Pimachiowin Aki study area.
Ontario portion
The Bloodvein River's heritage values remain intact largely due to the remoteness of the River and its limited use. There have been no industrial types of development over the reporting period of 2005/2006. No infrastructure development such as campgrounds, kiosks, privies, campgrounds or other developments have been initiated.
Planning continues to develop a strategy for the Woodland Caribou Signature Site. The Issues and Options phase has been completed.
Any plans for the Bloodvein River will be located in the Woodland Caribou Provincial Park Management Plan, which is imbedded in the signature site document.
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