The Indian Arm Brook Watershed Protected Area

[Edward Smith]

Proposal for the Indian Arm Brook Watershed Protected Area as a representative of the Central Newfoundland Forest.

Indian Arm Brook/Central Newfoundland Forest Reserve

Section 1 Location

1. Nominated Study Area: Indian Arm Brook/Central Newfoundland Forest Reserve

2. Date Nominated: originally proposed in 2002 at District 8 Forestry Planning Committee by Caribou Adventure Tours (P. Wood) and the Notre Dame Rod and Gun Club. Proposal passed on to Sian French, Manager of Natural Areas in 2002. Tentative proposal submitted March 12, 2009 to WERAC. Revised proposal submitted on October 15, 2010.

3. Location : An area of approximately 300 km2 covering the watershed of the Indian Arm Brook system. This area stretches from the Town of Campbellton southwestward to Bradbury lake area on Indian Arm Brook and Templeton lake area on Neyles Brook (headwater streams of the Indian Arm Brook system).

4. Outstanding Features: Representative of the Central Newfoundland Forest Region, Old growth and some younger forest (Balsam Fir and Black Spruce). Mature and immature White Pine stands. Year round localized Woodland Caribou population, Moose, Black Bear. Extensive Canada Goose breeding and feeding area. Extensive contiguous bogland. Very productive and diverse aquatic Indian Arm Brook system with significant Atlantic Salmon, large genetic stock Brook Trout including sea run, American Smelt sea run and landlocked pygmy smelt (Indian Arm Lake). This system is the most productive fresh water system studied in NL with respect to Atlantic Salmon. There are extensive spawning areas within the proposed reserve. Extensive river sections of rapids and large pools. Arctic Charr (large) and pygmy Charr confirmed in headwater areas. Large population of American Eel. Large breeding population of Black Backed Gull on Dan’s Pond (possibly 50 - 100 pairs). Common Morel located in the area. Indian Arm Brook named in relation to the river’s usage by Beothuk. No known archeological research done in the reserve area but confirmed camp at the river mouth.

2/

5. Site Description: An area of approximately 10 km wide and 30 km long covering rolling terrain with old growth and re growth forested areas with Balsam fir, Black Spruce, White Pine, White Birch, Mountain and Red Maple, extensive bands of contiguous bog lands, with approximately twenty-two large shallow lakes with very high productivity, many scattered small ponds, and bog pools. Extensive diverse plant types including bogland , woodland, and aquatic species. Wildlife as above in #4 also bird populations of Black Duck, Ring Neck Duck, Merganser, Scaup, Loon, Greater Yellow Legs, Tern, Wilson Snipe, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Great Horned Owl, Goshawk, various song bird species, etc.. Mammal populations including Otter, Mink, Ermine/Weasel, Red Squirrel, Beaver, Muskrat, Vole, Shrew, Fox, Lynx, Coyote.

6. Existing Land Use Activities: The river watershed does not have a lot of land use activities due to the efforts of DFO to limit cabins on this very productive river area. There is a crown land cabin development area on Indian Arm Lake with approximately 75 structures. This area has been under a cabin freeze for a number of years as it has reached capacity. There are also about 25 other cabins in the reserve wilderness and about 20 others on the reserve boundary and provincial trail way which crosses the area. Forest harvesting has been limited to some commercial harvesting on the eastern boundary area near Dan’s Pond and near First and Second ponds at the lower end of the watershed. There has been no real mining activity with one staked claim on the eastern boundary and a couple of claims showing near the Neyles Brook area as shown on the attached map. There was some granite quarry work done in the Neyles Brook area in the 1990’s (no recent activity). There is no hydro facility but a concrete dam was built in the Town of Campbellton as part of a pulp operation in the 1910’s. This dam collapsed twice, the company went bankrupt and remains as relic of the past. The Anglo Newfoundland Development company (forestry) did have some wooden dams on some lakes which were removed in 1966 to help enhance Salmon migration. The area is used by hunters, fishers, and trappers. There is one old trail (Peyton’s Trail) which extends down to the centre of the reserve area. It was used in the 1930 – 40’s as a forest harvesting road and is now overgrown for most of its length. There is also a snowmobile association trail leading to Mt. Peyton which passes through the central south area.

7. Is the area under immediate threat? This area is part of Forestry Management Districts 6 and 8. The area around this proposed protected area has had many clear cuts in last 10 years with cutting ongoing now on the northern perimeter. There is planned cutting in the proposed protected area in the 5 and 10yr plans (5yr plan is from 2007 – 2011). The way the plan harvests are made a forestry company can combine their 5 and 10 year cuts to ease the cost of cutting. This means that this area is under immediate threat of being clearcut. Most of the proposed area is on Abitibi limits which have now been expropriated by the Govt. of NL. Apparently Forestry NL(Dept of Natural Resources) intends to honour agreements made with companies to access wood.



8. Principle Sources:
Forestry Planning Districts 6 and 8, 25 yr Plan, Dept of Natural Resources
Fisheries and Oceans, Canada, Mr. Peter Downton, DFO White Hills, St. John’s NL. Ongoing Salmonid Research Station, Campbellton River Counting Fence

Notre Dame Rod and Gun Club Inc., P.O. Box 1239, Lewisporte, NL, A0G3A0

Paul Wood, 19 Conway Street, Grand Falls - Windsor, NL, A2A 2P4,

9. Field Work:
Paul Wood, BSc Honors, American Eel in Insular Newfoundland
Peter Downton, DFO, Ongoing Research on the Atlantic Salmon/Brook Trout/Lake Surveys etc. of Campbellton River (Indian Arm Brook)
White Pine Blister Rust Thinning Program

Contact Information:
11. Nominated by: The Notre Dame Rod and Gun Club Inc.

12. Contact Individual:
Paul Wood, President, Notre Dame Rod and Gun Club Inc.
P.O. Box 1239, Lewisporte, NL
A0G3A0

Phone: H 709 489 3363 CELL 709 486 7674 OR 709 541 1188

[Brendan Kelly]

This sounds like an amazing back country. If there is anyway i can get involved i would like to. I am avaiable all summer long.

[Brendan Kelly]

Also it defintaly should be protected, I have seen 1st hand how much damage clear cutting can do. ITS NOT RIGHT.

[Paul Wood]

Thanks  Ed for posting this, Good job!