PEI Joins Canadian Heritage Rivers System 
     
    
   
   
    
     This was the title of a joint press release last month 
     
     issued by the Hon Tom Macmillan and the Hon Gordon MacInnis 
     
     as Prince Edward Island became the eighth province to 
     
     participate in this program. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Designation of rivers by the Canadian Heritage Rivers Board 
     
     indicates recognition of national significance and ensures 
     
     conservation of their natural, historical and recreational 
     
     values through long-term management plans. The Canadian 
     
     Heritage Rivers System is a federal-provincial program 
     
     established in 1984. It has to date designated six rivers, 
     
     all in Ontario and west. A further eleven rivers have been 
     
     nominated and are in various stages of meeting the extensive 
     
     review process. The only candidate thus far in the Atlantic 
     
     region is the St. Croix in New Brunswick. Both Nova Scotia 
     
     and New Brunswick however are currently engaged in province 
     
     wide system studies to determine the best candidates for 
     
     future nominations and Nova Scotia has a short list of seven 
     
     rivers being considered for their potential. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The objectives of designation are aimed at natural heritage, 
     
     human heritage and recreation opportunity and a candidate 
     
     river may be recognized for one or any combination of these 
     
     values. The term river refers to either the entire length or 
     
     a segment of a river plus its immediate environment including 
     
     ponds, estuaries, etc. The province, which continues to 
     
     retain all traditional jurisdictional powers, makes the 
     
     choice to nominate a river to the System and retains the 
     
     right to operate and manage designated rivers in accordance 
     
     with the objectives of the System. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Outstanding Canadian value will be recognized when a river 
     
     environment meets one or more of the following guidelines: 
     
     Natural heritage - 
     
    

    
     .an outstanding example of river environments as they 
     
     are affected by major stages and processes in the the earths 
     
     evolutionary history. 
     
    

    
     .significant ongoing fluvial, geomorphological and 
     
     biological processes. 
     
    

    
     .unique or outstanding examples of natural phenomena or 
     
     areas of exceptional natural beauty. 
     
    

    
     .habitats of rare or endangered species. 
     
    

    
     Human heritage - 
     
    

    
     .influence over a-period of time on historical 
     
     development in the region in which it is located. 
     
    

    
     .association with significant persons, events, ideas, 
     
     movements or achievements. 
     
    

    
     .outstanding examples of historical structures. 
     
     Recreational values - 
     
    

    
     .opportunity for boating, hiking, swimming plus heritage 
     
     appreciation and quality of scenic beauty. 
     
    

    
     .recreation support without loss of other values.