The MNR report outlines the findings and recomendations:

Visitor Interactions:

Contact with users was positive.  Most people were surprised to see MNR in the backcountry, and were grateful for the work we were doing.    Some trippers were lost or having difficulty identifying the correct routes, and were happy to see us posting portage signs and widening the correct trails.

Maintenance Concerns:

Portages:  Most portages required cutting and clearing of blow-downs and widening.  Yellow portage signs were installed at both ends and also at confusing intersections along the portages.  Flagging tape was sometimes used to lead users along the correct path, and incorrect sections were blocked-off or decommissioned.  As this was an unusually wet summer, some trails were completely flooded.  Where appropriate, new sections of trail were cut to detour these areas.  In some sections of excessive mud, log pathways were constructed to provide acceptable footing.  Recommendations:  Further brushing is required on many portages to widen the path.  Portage signs seem to disappear from one year to the next, so signage must be annually monitored.  Blow-downs will continue to need clearing.  Continue GPS, and tombstone data collection.  Document and report visits and any work done.

Campsites (Privies):  Most of the properly built and installed privies were functioning well.  Many of these, however, will need to be treated to reduce the mass, or will need to be relocated with a new hole in the near future.  Many unacceptable privy structures with a variety of designs, needed to be removed and destroyed.  Inappropriate location, absence of a hole, damage to living trees, and accessibility to vectors were some of the reasons for removal of these installations.  MNR-built privies were installed in some of the more accessible locations.  Recommendations:  Install proper privies on campsites with appropriate locations and conditions to meet Ontario Parks standards.  Monitor and take action to eliminate inappropriate privies when they are discovered.  Initiate a regular maintenance program of treatment using an environmentally acceptable substance (ie SeptoClean) to reduce the mass, to increase the longevity of these privies.  Continue GPS, and tombstone data collection.  Document and report visits and any work done.

Campsites (Garbage):  Generally, the more accessible campsites had the most litter.  As we travelled further into the back-country, the amount of garbage decreased.  However, some of the remote fly-in lakes had large amounts of debris.  Recommendations:  This makes cleanup somewhat easier in that our crews were able to drive a truck, or a large motor-boat to most of the messiest campsites.  On the remote fly-in lakes, it may be logistically easiest to stockpile garbage in locations where a float-plane could extract this debris.  Extraction of garbage will continue to be part of the annual tasks, however MNR presence and ongoing education of the public will hopefully reduce this problem.  Continue GPS, and tombstone data collection.  Document and report visits and any work done.

Campsites (Environmental Impact):  Damage to trees with axes and nails was observed at every site.  Compaction of the soil was prevalent on the more popular sites.  Many sites had numerous stumps from live trees that were cut for fuel-wood.  Recommendations:  Continued monitoring of heavily used and damaged sites is required.  Some campsites may require temporary or permanent closure to eliminate further degradation.   Continue GPS, and tombstone data collection.  Document and report visits and any work done.                       

Enforcement Concerns:   Camping in excess of 21 days at a time, fisheries infractions, damage to the environment and camping in a Park without a permit are all concerns our crews encountered.  Recommendations:  Enforcement presence (Park Wardens and C.O.s) and continued effort by our Interior Rangers to educate the public, will help to address these concerns.  Document and report occurrences.