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     PARKS 
     
    
   
   
    
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     WWW 
     
     CANADIAN HERITAGE RIVERS 
     
    
   
   
    
     A year ago in the summer of 1991, a study was done in Prince Edward 
     
     Island on seventeen rivers which had perhaps some potential for 
     
     national recognition in the Canadian Heritage Rivers System. That 
     
     study produced a comparative rating of the values of each of the 
     
     rivers and set the stage for further work in 1992. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The second study, conducted last summer, focused upon the three 
     
     rivers at the the top of the values ratings, the Hillsborough, the 
     
     West (Eliot), and the Morell. Human heritage, natural heritage, 
     
     recreation potential and management feasibility on these three 
     
     rivers had been top—rated in 1991 and the further background 
     
     studies were aimed at determining whether these individual rivers 
     
     met specific values and guidelines set by the Canadian Heritage 
     
     Rivers Board for river nominations. Prince Edward Island does not 
     
     currently have a designated Canadian Heritage River and we have 
     
     something to offer the system not currently recognized with most of 
     
     our watercourses being estuarial. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Background studies are expected to be completed this month and the 
     
     draft reports indicate that all three rivers meet the requirements 
     
     for nomination” Each however” has particular strengths and a 
     
     nomination for one would be justified quite differently from each 
     
     of the others. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Morell River appears to meet all of the recreational value 
     
     selection and integrity guidelines. There is support for a 
     
     nomination in the human heritage values in the lower watershed and 
     
     in the natural heritage values in the nuddle watershed. The 
     
     Hillsborough River was found to meet all of the human heritage 
     
     values and the historical integrity guidelines. It could also 
     
     support a nomination based on recreational values on the entire 
     
     watershed and upon natural values in the middle watershed. The 
     
     West River also was found to meet all of the human heritage values 
     
     and historical integrity guidelines plus the recreational value 
     
     guidelines and integrity. 
     
    
   
   
    
     This was only a part of the consultant's role in preparing the 
     
     background studies. Contact with communities along the rivers was 
     
     also initiated. The process of understanding what it means to have 
     
     a Canadian Heritage River in the province is a very necessary one 
     
     as no nomination will be presented to the Board without community 
     
     support. It is not known therefore at this time if a nomination 
     
     will proceed on any of these rivers. The requirement from this 
     
     point involves the preparation of a nomination document and a 
     
     formal presentation to the Board, after which a management plan is 
     
     prepared for use by communities and interest groups in looking 
     
     after their resource Or in making improvements. These remaining 
     
     activities could take up to four years. 
     
    
   
   
    
     All studies referred to above have been conducted by Island Nature 
     
    
   
   
    
     Trust as a consultant to the Parks Branch of the Department of 
     
     Tourism, Parks and Recreation. -Doug Murray 
     
    
   
   
    
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