Trail change process

Opportunity to Request Trail Changes in St Williams Conservation Reserve (The CR)

As part of The CR’s Operations Plan renewal process we are considering changes to the network of authorized trails for motorized, equestrian and mountain bike users. If your group would like to request changes to the authorized trail network, please fill out an application as follows.

How to Apply:

Review this section about the Trail Change Process.
Download the Trail change application form. Open it in a pdf reader and fill it in. Save the complete form. Here is the same application in Word form in case you’d prefer that.
Download the map below on which you want to make a trail change. Print out this map and draw in your proposed trail change.
Trail Map – St. Williams Nursery Tract
Trail Map – Turkey Point Tract
Send us the completed application form + marked-up map either by email to info@swcr.ca or through regular mail to:
The Coordinator, St. Williams Conservation Reserve Community Council
P.O. Box 472, Port Rowan, ON N0E 1M0

Trail Change Process

If you are a member of a group who uses the trails at The CR, and plan to request trail changes to MNRF, please read the following sections about Trail Change Request timing, the review process, and MNRF criteria for accepting or rejecting trail change requests.

While MNRF will review all trail change requests, they advise individuals who wish to request a trail change to submit their applications with established user groups, where possible. Please see below for list of user groups with a potential interest in The CR.

When Must We Submit a Trail Change Request?

You may submit a trail change request for MNRF review three times from now (2017) until 2028, as follows:

Trail Change Submission Dates	MNRF Review Periods
By Dec 31 2017	Jan – March 31 2018
By Dec 31 2023	Jan – March 31 2024
By Dec 31 2027	Jan – March 31 2028

When Can We Expect A Response From MNRF About Our Request?

In the 2017- 2019 application period, you and MNRF will engage in the following review cycle.

Due Date	Activity
31 December 2017	Submit your Trail Change Application by Dec 31, 2017
31 March 2018	MNRF responses: i. MNRF will consider this request but requires more information… (description) ii. Your request is not being considered because… (explanation)
2018 Field Season spring/summer/ early fall	If you receive a ‘requires more information’ response from MNRF, you will likely need to hire a consultant to complete the environmental assessment survey for MNRF review, which assesses the impact of the trail change on The CR’s natural restoration objective
October 31 2018	Due date for submitting your environmental assessment report
January 31 2019	MNRF will review the environmental assessment report and provide their final response to your trail change request.
Spring 2019	If the environmental assessment meets MNRF criteria and you receive a Yes, you can implement the trail change as early as spring 2019.

What Are MNRF’s Review Criteria?

Restoration of The CR’s ecosystems is the prime reason for The CR’s existence. Recreational use and other objectives are secondary. With this in mind, MNRF will apply the following filters when reviewing trail change requests.

Filter	Description
Filter 0 MNRF Discretion & Sensitive Areas	MNRF has the discretion to close trails, and/or revise the trail network at any time. Trails in sensitive areas (wetlands, ravines, sand barrens, stream crossings, etc.) will not be considered.
Filter 1 Existing Trail Network	Demonstrate that the need for the trail changes cannot be met through the existing trail network
Filter 2 Trail Density & Human Usage	Demonstrate that adding/changing the trail will not exceed thresholds for trail density and human usage
Filter 3 Trail Connectivity	Indicate how the trail change may affect an entry point to the reserve, to other trails, to an adjacent property or to a parking area

Why are you Considering Trail Changes Now?

We (MNRF and St Williams Conservation Reserve Community Council) are heading into a new Operations Plan period where we define priorities and activities for achieving The CR’s goals and objectives. One priority is to set an established network of trails for the next 5 years in order to mitigate the impacts of trail density and human usage on restoring The CR’s natural heritage. This is why MNRF will consider trail change requests submitted by December 31, 2017, and subsequently by December 31, 2023 and 2028.