Opasatika Proposed Site 1

Northern Livestock Pilot - Opasatika Site 1

Proposed Opasatika Site 1. This is a map showing existing features and the proposed site plan. Existing features include: Roads, Logging and Passage Trail, Research Plot, Moose Aquatic Feeding Area, Lake, Wetland and Streams. Proposed site plans include buffered areas for protection of waterways to allow for movement of wildlife. Plans include areas for the production of hay as well as built infrastructure, and pasture or silvopasture areas for grazing of livestock.

Project Location and Site Description

District: Cochrane

Municipality: Opasatika

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) Administrative Region: Northeast Region, Hearst District

Size of Proposed Pilot Site:

The total proposed pilot site is approximately 4,936 acres (approx. 1,998 Ha).

Forest Management Unit: Gordon Cosens

Sustainable Forestry Licence Holder: The current Sustainable Forestry Licence (SFL) holder is Rayonier Advanced Materials.

Roads: Cumming Road runs through the east edge of the site. Parnell Road runs across the south-east of the site. The section of the Cumming and Parnell Roads within Opasatika Site 1 are not year-round maintained roads. There appear to be some previously used, internal access roads. These may have been used to access the site for forest harvest and/or planting.

Watersheds: The site is within the tertiary watershed of Opasatika and the secondary watershed of Missinaibi-Mattagami.

Waterbodies: There are several streams and wetland areas on the site. All wetland areas appear to be limited in size. Streams and wetland areas are concentrated on the eastern portion of the site.

Agricultural Capability: The site is comprised largely of agricultural land suitable for livestock farming. Part of the site is comprised of organic soils, which are not suitable for livestock farming.

Additional Site Information:

  • An MNRF held Patent land parcel is located within Opasatika Site 1.
  • The application area contains 3 forest research plots
  • The application area contains moose aquatic feeding areas
  • A snowmobile trail is permitted to be constructed in the application area

Crown Land Use Policies:

Crown Land Use Policy G1736, "Kapuskasing Resource Extraction Area" covers the majority of Opasatika Site 1. Crown Land Use Policy G1737, "Highway Number 11 Corridor" covers a limited amount of Opasatika Site 1 at the north-east corner. OMAFRA has submitted a request for review and amendment as necessary, of existing Crown land use policies to allow for agriculture to occur as a permitted use on proposed Crown land Pilot sites.

The table below provides an overview of current Crown Land Use Polices regarding agriculture for the proposed pilot site.

Crown Land Use Policy Policy Details
G1736, "Kapuskasing Resource Extraction Area" Activity: Crown Land Disposition, Agriculture
Permitted: No
Guidelines: Crown land will be disposed of in this area only to facilitate expansion of existing adjacent farms.
G1737, "Highway Number 11 Corridor" Activity: Crown Land Disposition, Agriculture
Permitted: Yes
Guidelines: This Ministry will permit the disposition of approximately 1,000 hectares of previously cleared Crown agricultural lands for agricultural purposes. In addition, this Ministry will support agricultural expansion into significant amounts of previously cleared private land which are currently not in production.

For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca