September 12, 2007
Two Provincial Parks Expanded By More Than 14,000 Hectares
Manitobans and visitors will have additional opportunities to take in the splendour of the province’s natural areas with the expansion of two provincial parks, Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced today.
"The expansion of Whitemouth Falls and Paint Lake provincial parks adds important natural and cultural value to the provincial park system,” said Struthers. “The uniqueness of each of these areas will be appreciated by visitors who will benefit from more recreational and educational opportunities in Manitoba’s parks.”
Whitemouth Falls Provincial Park, near Seven Sisters, is being expanded to over 480 hectares from 173. Approximately 355 hectares of the park have been placed in a backcountry land-use category, the first protected lands established to maintain areas of habitat for the provincial bird, the great grey owl.
As well, the permanent designation of the 13,985-hectare East Paint Lake Park Reserve as provincial park land is now confirmed. The designation more than doubles the size of Paint Lake Provincial Park which was about 8,700 hectares. Paint Lake is an important recreational, cottage and camping destination for north-central Manitoba, offering outstanding boating and fishing opportunities for area residents and visitors.
“I am pleased to add to our province’s commitment to the natural and recreational significance of these areas,” Struthers said. “I look forward to continuing to work with the public and industry to find new ways to maintain and enhance the value of these parks, while at the same time remaining respectful of the natural setting of the land.”
Manitoba’s provincial park system includes 80 parks. The latest permanent park designations bring the total amount of land in the system to more than 3.4 million hectares
- 30 -