Regulation respecting the Réserve de biodiversité Des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc

chapter C-61.01, r. 74 Regulation respecting the Réserve de biodiversité Des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc R É S E R V E D E B I O D I V E R S I T É — M É A N D R E S D E L A T A I T A I P E N I S T O U C Natural Heritage Conservation Act (chapter C-61.01, s. 43 and s. 46, par. 1, subpars. e, f and g, and par. 2). C 6 1 . 0 1 0 2F e b r u a r y 1 3 , 2 0 1 9 0 3M a r c h 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 TABLE OF CONTENTS DIVISION I PROTECTION OF RESOURCES AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. 3 DIVISION II RULES OF CONDUCT FOR USERS............................................................... 9 DIVISION III ACTIVITIES REQUIRING AN AUTHORIZATION........................................ 11 DIVISION IV AUTHORIZATION EXEMPTIONS.................................................................. 14 DIVISION V FINAL................................................................................................................. 17 SCHEDULE I TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION SCHEDULE II CONSERVATION PLAN OF THE RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ DES MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC © Éditeur officiel du Québec Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 This document has official status. Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 1 of 33 1. The Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc is constituted in the territory described in the Schedule. 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 1. 2. For the purpose of this Regulation (1) the words or terms “high-water mark” , “littoral zone” , “floodplain” , “lakeshore” and “riverbank” have the same meaning as the meaning given in the Protection Policy for Lakeshores, Riverbanks, Littoral Zones and Floodplains (chapter Q-2, r. 35); (2) the term “wetlands and bodies of water” has the same meaning as the meaning given in section 46.0.2 of the Environment Quality Act (chapter Q-2); (3) the term “forest development activity” has the same meaning as the meaning given in the Sustainable Forest Development Act (chapter A-18.1). 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 2. DIVISION I PROTECTION OF RESOURCES AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 , D i v . I O.C. 116-2019, Div. I. 3. Subject to the prohibition in the second paragraph, no person may introduce any individuals of a native or non-native species of fauna into the biodiversity reserve, including by stocking, unless the person has been authorized by the Minister. No person may stock a lake or watercourse for aquaculture, commercial fishing or any other commercial purpose. Except with the authorization of the Minister, no person may introduce non-native species of flora into the biodiversity reserve. 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 3. 4. No person may use fertilizers in the biodiversity reserve. Compost for domestic purposes is however permitted if it is used at least 20 m from a lake or watercourse, measured from the high-water mark. 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 4. 5. No person may remove from the biodiversity reserve species of flora, small fruits or any other non timber forest product by mechanical means. 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 5. 6. No person may in the biodiversity reserve, unless the person has been authorized by the Minister, (1) intervene in a wetland area, including a marsh, swamp or peat bog; (2) modify the natural drainage or water regime, including by creating or developing lakes or watercourses; (3) dig, fill, obstruct or divert a lake or watercourse; RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 2 of 33 (4) install or erect any construction, infrastructure or new works in the littoral zone, on the banks or shores or the floodplains of a lake or watercourse; no authorization is however required for minor works — quay or platform, boat shelter — installed for private purposes and may be free of charge under section 2 of the Regulation respecting the water property in the domain of the State (chapter R-13, r. 1); (5) carry on an activity other than those referred to in paragraphs 1 to 4 likely to directly and substantially affect the biochemical characteristics or quality of wetlands and bodies of water in the biodiversity reserve, including by discharging or dumping residual materials or contaminants into the wetlands or bodies of water; (6) carry out soil development work or an activity likely to degrade the soil or a geological formation, or to damage the vegetation cover, in particular by stripping, the digging of trenches or excavation work, including any burial, earthwork, removal or displacement of surface materials or vegetation cover, for any purpose; (7) install or construct a structure, infrastructure or new works; (8) reconstruct or demolish a structure, infrastructure or works; (9) use a pesticide, although no authorization is required for the use of personal insect repellent; (10) carry on educational or research-related activities if the activities are likely to directly or significantly damage or disturb the natural environment, in particular because of the nature or size of the samples taken or the invasive character of the method or process used; or (11) hold a sports event, tournament, rally or any other similar event where (a) fauna or flora species are taken or are likely to be taken; or (b) motor vehicles or craft are used. 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 6. 7. Despite paragraphs 6, 7 and 8 of section 6, if the requirements provided for in the second paragraph are met, no authorization is required to carry out the following work: (1) the maintenance, repair or improvement of any construction, infrastructure or works, including a camp, a cabin, a road or a trail, including an ancillary facility such as a lookout or stairs; (2) the construction or installation (a) of a dependency or a facility ancillary to a trapping camp, a rough shelter, a shelter or a cabin, including a shed, a water withdrawal facility or a discharge and disposal of waste water, grey water and toilet effluents; or (b) of a trapping camp, a rough shelter, a shelter or a cabin if, on the date of coming into force of this Regulation (2019-03-14), such a building was allowed under the right of use or occupancy granted, but was not yet carried out; or (3) the demolition or reconstruction of a trapping camp, a rough shelter, a shelter or a cabin, including a dependency or a facility ancillary to such a construction, including a shed, a water withdrawal facility or a discharge and disposal of waste water, grey water and toilet effluents. The carrying out of the work referred to in the first paragraph must comply with the following: (1) the work involves a construction, infrastructure or works whose presence is allowed in the biodiversity reserve; RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 3 of 33 (2) the work is carried out within the area of the land or right of way covered by the right of use or occupancy in the biodiversity reserve, whether the right results from a lease, a servitude or another form of title, permit or authorization; (3) the nature of the work or elements erected by the work will not operate to increase the area of land that may remain deforested beyond the limits allowed by the provisions applicable to the sale, lease and granting of immovable rights under the Act respecting the lands in the domain of the State (chapter T-8.1) and, if applicable, the limits set under an authorization issued in connection with that construction, works or infrastructure; (4) the work is carried out in accordance with the prescriptions of any permit or authorization issued for the work or in connection with the construction, infrastructure or works to which they are related, as well as in compliance with the applicable legislative and regulatory measures; (5) in the case of forest roads, the work must not result in altering or exceeding the existing right of way, enlarging the driving roadway or converting the road into a higher class road. For the purposes of this section, repair and improvement work includes work to replace or install structures or facilities with a view to complying with the requirements of environmental regulations. 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 7. 8. No person may bury, incinerate, abandon or dispose of residual materials or snow, except if they are disposed of in waste disposal containers, facilities or sites determined by the Minister or, in other cases, with the authorization of the Minister. Despite the first paragraph, an outfitter holding a lease for accommodation purposes in the reserve does not need an authorization to use a disposal facility or site, in compliance with the Environment Quality Act (chapter Q-2) and its regulations, if the outfitter was already using the facility or site on the date of coming into force of this Regulation (2019-03-14). 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 8. DIVISION II RULES OF CONDUCT FOR USERS 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 , D i v . I I O.C. 116-2019, Div. II. 9. No person may enter, carry on an activity or operate a vehicle in a given sector of the biodiversity reserve if the signage erected by the Minister restricts access, traffic or certain activities in that sector in order to protect the public from a danger or to avoid placing the fauna, flora or other components of the natural environment at risk, unless the person has been authorized by the Minister. 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 9. 10. No person may destroy, remove, move or damage any poster, sign, notice or other type of signage posted by the Minister within the biodiversity reserve. 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 10. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 4 of 33 DIVISION III ACTIVITIES REQUIRING AN AUTHORIZATION 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 , D i v . I I I O.C. 116-2019, Div. III. 11. No person may, for a period of more than 90 days in the same year, occupy or use the same site of the biodiversity reserve, unless the person has been authorized by the Minister. For the purposes of the first paragraph, (1) the occupation or use of a site includes (a) staying or settling in the biodiversity reserve, for instance for vacation purposes; (b) setting up a camp or a shelter; and (c) installing, burying or abandoning any property in the reserve, including equipment, a device or a vehicle; and (2) the expression “same site” includes any other site within a radius of 1 km from the site. Despite the first paragraph, an authorization is not required if a person, (1) on the date of coming into force of this Regulation (2019-03-14), was a party to a lease or had already obtained another form of right or another authorization allowing the person to legally occupy the land under the Act respecting the lands in the domain of the State (chapter T-8.1) or, if applicable, the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife (chapter C-61.1), and whose right to occupy the land is renewed or extended on the same conditions, subject to possible changes in fees; or (2) in accordance with the law, has entitlement under a sublease, an assignment of a lease or a transfer of a right or authorization referred to in subparagraph 1, and whose right to occupy the land is renewed or extended on the same conditions, subject to possible changes in fees. 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 11. 12. No person may carry on forest management activities to meet domestic needs or for the purpose of maintaining biodiversity, unless the person has been authorized by the Minister. Despite the first paragraph, persons staying or residing in the biodiversity reserve and who collect wood required to make a campfire are not required to obtain the Minister’s authorization. No such authorization is required if a person collects firewood to meet domestic needs to supply a trapping camp or a rough shelter permitted within the reserve in the following cases and on the following conditions: (1) the wood is collected by a person in compliance with the conditions set out in the permit for the harvest of firewood for domestic purposes issued under the Sustainable Forest Development Act (chapter A-18.1); (2) the quantity of wood collected does not exceed 7 apparent cubic metres per year. In addition, no authorization to carry on a forest management activity is required if a person authorized by lease to occupy land within the biodiversity reserve in accordance with this Regulation carries on the forest management activity for the purpose of RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 5 of 33 (1) clearing, maintaining or creating visual openings, and any other similar removal work permitted under the provisions governing the sale, lease and granting of immovable rights under the Act respecting the lands in the domain of the State (chapter T-8.1), including for access roads, stairs or other trails permitted under those provisions; or (2) clearing the necessary area for the installation, connection, maintenance, repair, reconstruction or improvement of power, water, sewer or telecommunication lines, facilities and mains. If the work referred to in subparagraph 2 of the fourth paragraph is carried on for or under the responsibility of an enterprise providing any of those services, the work requires the prior authorization of the Minister, other than in the case of the exemptions provided for in sections 14 and 16. 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 12. 13. No person may carry on commercial activities in the biodiversity reserve, except with the authorization of the Minister. Despite the first paragraph, no authorization is required (1) if the activity does not involve the taking of fauna or flora resources, or the use of a motor vehicle; or (2) to carry on commercial activities if, on the date on which protection status as a biodiversity reserve takes effect, the activities were the subject of a right of use of the land for such purpose, whether or not the right results from a lease or another form of title, permit or authorization, within the limits of what the right allows. 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 13. DIVISION IV AUTHORIZATION EXEMPTIONS 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 , D i v . I V O.C. 116-2019, Div. IV. 14. Despite the preceding provisions, an authorization is not required for an activity or other form of intervention within the biodiversity reserve if urgent action is necessary to prevent harm to the health or safety of persons, or to repair or prevent damage caused by a real or apprehended catastrophe. The person concerned must, however, immediately inform the Minister of the activity or intervention that has taken place. 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 14. 15. The members of a Native community who, for food, ritual or social purposes, carry on an intervention or an activity within the biodiversity reserve are exempted from obtaining an authorization. 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 15. 16. Despite the preceding provisions, the following activities and interventions carried out by Hydro Québec (hereinafter the “Société”) or by any other person for Hydro-Québec do not require the prior authorization of the Minister under this Regulation: (1) any activity or intervention required within the biodiversity reserve to complete a project for which express authorization had previously been given by the Government and the Minister, or only by the latter, in accordance with the requirements of the Environment Quality Act (chapter Q-2), if the activity or intervention is carried out in compliance with the authorizations issued; (2) any activity or intervention necessary for the preparation and presentation of a pre-project report for a project requiring an authorization under the Environment Quality Act; RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 6 of 33 (3) any activity or intervention relating to a project requiring the prior authorization of the Minister under the Environment Quality Act if the activity or intervention is in response to a request for a clarification or for additional information made by the Minister to the Société and it is carried out in accordance with the request. The Société informs the Minister of the various activities or interventions referred to in this section it proposes to carry out before the work is begun in the reserve. For the purposes of this section, the activities and interventions of the Société include but are not restricted to pre-project studies, analysis work or field research, work required to study and monitor the impact of power transmission and distribution line corridors and rights of way, geological or geophysical surveys and survey lines, and the opening and maintenance of roads required for the purpose of access, construction or traffic incidental to the work. 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 16. DIVISION V FINAL 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 , D i v . V O.C. 116-2019, Div. V. 17. (Omitted). 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, s. 17. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 7 of 33 SCHEDULE I (s. 1) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ DES MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, Sch. I. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 8 of 33 [Translation of the technical description filed in French only in the office of the Surveyor-General of Québec of the Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles.] A territory of irregular shape in the of Municipalité de la Rivière-Nipissis, in Municipalité régionale de comté de Sept-Rivières, in the administrative region of Côte Nord included in part of bassin de la Rivière-Moisie. The peri meter of the territory may be described as follows, namely: PARCEL 1 From a point situated on the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, whose bed is excluded from the biodiver sity reserve, that is, point 1 (5 761 101 m north, 408 336 m east); Thence, easterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 92° 02’ 39” over a distance of about 944 metres to the western shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 2 (5 761 068 m north, 409 279 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction fol lowing the northeastern shore of unnamed lakes and streams to the intersection of the northeastern bank of rivière Taitaipenistouc, that is, point 3 (5 760 655 m north, 409 723 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction following the northeastern bank of rivière Taitaipenistouc, to point 4 (5 760 616 m north, 409 844 m east); Thence, southeasterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 117° 45’ 58” over a distance of about 32 metres to the intersection with the northeastern shore of an unnamed island, that is, point 5 (5 760 601 m north, 409 872 m east); Thence, in an average easterly direction, following the northern shore of the island, to point 6 (5 760 592 m north, 409 896 m east); Thence, southeasterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 120° 55’ 56” over a distance of about 28 metres to the intersection of the eastern bank of rivière Taitaipenistouc, that is, point 7 (5 760 577 m north, 409 920 m east); Thence, southerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 182° 22’ 01” over a distance of about 311 metres to the intersection with the northern shore of the unnamed lake that is, point 8 (5 760 267 m north, 409 907 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction, following the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 9 (5 760 236 m north, 409 906 m east); Thence, southerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 174° 15’ 12” over a distance of about 26 metres to the intersection with the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 10 (5 760 210 m north, 409 909 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction, following the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, to the intersection with the northern bank of an unnamed stream, that is, point 11 (5 757 795 m north, 410 226 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction following the northeastern bank of an unnamed stream and shore of an unnamed lake, to point 12 (5 757 306 m north, 411 550 m east); Thence, southeasterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 129° 28’ 51” over a distance of about 144 metres to the intersection with the southeastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 13 (5 757 215 m north, 411 661 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction following the eastern bank and shore of unnamed streams and lakes, to point 14 (5 754 427 m north, 411 781 m east); Thence, southwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 209° 52’ 39” over a distance of about 14 metres to the intersection with the northern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 15 (5 754 415 m north, 411 774 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction, following the eastern shore of the unnamed lake to the intersection with the northern limit of block P of Bassin-de-la-Rivière Moisie, that is, point 16 (5 754 393 m north, 411 774 m east); Thence, westerly, along the northern limit of block P of Bassin-de-la-Rivière-Moisie, referring to availabi lity 120-T in favour of Hydro-Québec for widening the 315-kV power transmission line between the Normand and Montagnais stations of a total width of 66.71 metres, to point 17 (5 754 515 m north, 410 427 m east); Thence, westerly, along the northern limit of block P of Bassin-de-la-Rivière-Moisie, referring to availabi lity 120-T in favour of Hydro-Québec for widening RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 9 of 33 the 315-kV power transmission line between the Normand and Montagnais stations of a total width of 66.71 metres, to the intersection of the southwestern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 18 (5 755 009 m north, 407 389 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, fol lowing the southwestern bank of the unnamed stream, to point 19 (5 755 559 m north, 407 142 m east); Thence, northeasterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 46° 10’ 54” over a distance of about 378 metres to the intersection with the southwestern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 20 (5 755 821 m north, 407 415 m east); Thence, in an average northeasterly direction, following the northwestern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 21 (5 756 406 m north, 407 706 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, following the southwestern of the unnamed stream to point 22 (5 757 145 m north, 407 385 m east); Thence, easterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 69° 02’ 27” over a distance of about 157 metres to the western shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 23 (5 757 201 m north, 407 531 m east); Thence, in an average northeasterly direction, following the northwestern shore of the unnamed lake to point 24 (5 757 214 m north, 407 550 m east); Thence, northerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 17° 57’ 52” over a distance of about 66 metres to the southern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 25 (5 757 277 m north, 407 571 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction, following the western shore of the unnamed lake to point 26 (5 757 292 m north, 407 575 m east); Thence, northeasterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 50° 32’ 34” over a distance of about 318 metres to the intersection with the southwestern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 27 (5 757 495 m north, 407 821 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction, following the western bank of the unnamed stream and the south easter shore of the unnamed lake, so as to exclude it, to starting point 1 . Having an area of 21.06 square kilometres. PARCEL 2 A territory of irregular shape in Municipalité de la Rivière-Nipissis, in Municipalité régionale de comté de Sept-Rivières, in the administrative region of Côte-Nord included in part of bassin de la Rivière-Moisie. The peri meter of the territory may be described as follows, namely: From a point situated in an undivided part of Bassin de-la-Rivière-Moisie, corresponding to the southern right of way of the 315-kV power transmission line between the Normand and Montagnais stations of a total width of 66.71 metres, that is, point 28 (5 755 378 m north, 404 703 m east); Thence, easterly, along an undivided part of Bassin de-la-Rivière-Moisie, corresponding to the southern right of way of the 315-kV power transmission line between the Normand and Montagnais stations of a total width of 66.71 metres, to point 29 (5 754 449 m north, 410 418 m east); Thence, easterly, along an undivided part of Bassin de-la-Rivière-Moisie, corresponding to the southern right of way of the 315-kV power transmission line between the Normand and Montagnais stations of a total width of 66.71 metres, to the intersection of the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 30 (5 754 321 m north, 411 834 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction following the eastern shore and bank of unnamed lakes and streams to the intersection of the southeastern shore of the unnamed lake and the northeastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 31 (5 750 705 m north, 412 546 m east); Thence, southwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 218° 28’ 02” over a distance of about 406 metres to the intersection with the northeastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 32 (5 750 386 m north, 412 293 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly direction, following the southeastern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 33 (5 750 353 m north, 412 272 m east); Thence, southwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 223° 40’ 04” over a distance of about 324 metres to the intersection of the southwestern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 34 (5 750 118 m north, 412 048 m east); Thence, in an average westerly direction following the southern bank and shore of an unnamed bank and lake to the intersection of the eastern bank of another unnamed stream, that is, point 35 (5 749 971 m north, 410 581 m east); RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 10 of 33 Thence, in an average southerly direction, following the eastern bank and shore of unnamed streams and lake, to point 36 (5 747 119 m north, 410 707 m east); Thence, southerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 199° 48’ 02” over a distance of about 159 metres to the intersection of the northern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 37 (5 746 970 m north, 410 653 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction, following the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 38 (5 746 607 m north, 410 671 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 260° 20’ 46” over a distance of about 113 metres to the intersection of the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 39 (5 746 588 m north, 410 559 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly, following the southeastern shore of the unnamed lake, to the intersec tion with the eastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 40 (5 746 564 m north, 410 524 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction, following the eastern bank of the unnamed stream, to the intersection of the northern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 41 (5 746 521 m north, 410 529 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction, following the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, to the intersection with the eastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 42 (5 746 236 m north, 410 511 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction, following the eastern bank of the unnamed stream, to the intersection of the northern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 43 (5 746 201 m north, 410 516 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly and northwest erly direction, following the eastern shore and bank of unnamed lakes and streams and the northwestern bank of another unnamed stream to point 44 (5 745 021 m north, 412 668 m east); Thence, easterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 82° 52’ 27” over a distance of about 434 metres to the intersection of the western shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 45 (5 745 075 m north, 413 099 m east); Thence, in an average easterly direction, following the northern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 46 (5 745 069 m north, 413 156 m east); Thence, easterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 97° 52’ 38” over a distance of about 148 metres to the intersection of the western shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 47 (5 745 049 m north, 413 303 m east); Thence, in an average easterly direction following the northern shore and bank of an unnamed lake and streams to the intersection of the northern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 48 (5 744 990 m north, 413 811 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction, following the northeastern shore of the unnamed lake to the intersec tion of the eastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 49 (5 742 296 m north, 415 390 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction following the eastern bank and shore of unnamed streams and lakes to the intersection of the northwestern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 50 (5 734 379 m north, 416 465 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction following the northeastern shore of the unnamed lake to the intersec tion with the northeastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 51 (5 733 760 m north, 416 951 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly direction, following the southeastern bank and shore of unnamed streams and lake, to point 52 (5 731 366 m north, 415 631 m east); Thence, southerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 198° 06’ 19” over a distance of about 891 metres to the intersection with the northern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 53 (5 730 519 m north, 415 354 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly direction, fol lowing the southeastern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 54 (5 730 456 m north, 415 297 m east); Thence, southerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 201° 31’ 11” over a distance of about 715 metres to the intersection of the northern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 55 (5 729 790 m north, 415 035 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction following the eastern shore and bank of unnamed streams and lakes, to point 56 (5 727 196 m north, 413 946 m east); Thence, southwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 213° 41’ 43” over a distance of about 452 metres to the intersection of the northern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 57 (5 726 819 m north, 413 695 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction following the eastern shore and bank of unnamed lakes and streams, to point 58 (5 724 600 m north, 413 090 m east); RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 11 of 33 Thence, southerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 189° 36’ 49” over a distance of about 414 metres to the intersection of the southern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 59 (5 724 192 m north, 413 021 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly direction following the eastern bank of unnamed streams and lakes to the intersection of the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 60 (5 723 206 m north, 411 486 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, following the northeastern of the unnamed lake, whose bed is excluded from the biodiversity reserve, to the inter section of the southern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 61 (5 724 101 m north, 410 543 m east); Thence, in an average westerly direction following the southern bank and shore of an unnamed stream and lake, to point 62 (5 724 256 m north, 410 083 m east); Thence, southwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 235° 20’ 18” over a distance of about 68 metres to the intersection of the northeastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 63 (5 724 217 m north, 410 026 m east); Thence, in an average southerly direction following the eastern bank and shore of unnamed streams and lakes to the intersection of the southwestern bank of another unnamed stream, that is, point 64 (5 723 215 m north, 409 827 m east); Thence, in an average westerly direction, following the southern bank of the unnamed stream, to the intersection of the southeastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 65 (5 723 174 m north, 408 444 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction following the southwestern bank and shore of unnamed streams and lakes, to point 66 (5 724 410 m north, 407 170 m east); Thence, northerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 356° 22’ 26” over a distance of about 119 metres to the intersection of the southern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 67 (5 724 529 m north, 407 163 m east); Thence, in an average northeasterly direction, following the northwestern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 68 (5 724 546 m north, 407 192 m east); Thence, southeasterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 115° 36’ 57” over a distance of about 33 metres to the intersection of the western shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 69 (5 724 532 m north, 407 221 m east); Thence, in an average easterly direction, following the northern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 70 (5 724 536 m north, 407 244 m east); Thence, easterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 68° 08’ 27” over a distance of about 117 metres to the intersection of the southern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 71 (5 724 580 m north, 407 352 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, following the southwestern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 72 (5 724 752 m north, 407 281 m east); Thence, northwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 323° 05’ 18” over a distance of about 94 metres to the intersection of the southeastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 73 (5 724 827 m north, 407 225 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, following the southwestern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 74 (5 724 862 m north, 407 179 m east); Thence, northwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 308° 11’ 44” over a distance of about 55 metres, to the intersection of the western bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 75 (5 724 896 m north, 407 136 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction following the western shore and bank of unnamed lakes and streams and rivière Taitaipenistouc, to point 76 (5 734 624 m north, 405 466 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 271° 00’ 58” over a distance of about 29 metres, to the intersection of the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 77 (5 734 624 m north, 405 437 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly direction fol lowing the southeastern shore of the unnamed lake, to the intersection of the southeastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 78 (5 734 476 m north, 405 350 m east); Thence, in an average westerly direction following the southern bank of the unnamed stream, to the intersection of the southeastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 79 (5 734 690 m north, 403 965 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction following the southwestern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 80 (5 734 709 m north, 403 930 m east); RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 12 of 33 Thence, southwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 242° 15’ 49” over a distance of about 409 metres to the intersection of the northeastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 81 (5 734 519 m north, 403 568 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly direction, following the southeastern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 82 (5 734 315 m north, 403 464 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 280° 24’ 21” over a distance of about 281 metres to the intersection with the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 83 (5 734 366 m north, 403 188 m east); Thence, in an average southwesterly direction, following the southeastern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 84 (5 734 353 m north, 403 166 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 258° 34’ 41” over a distance of about 87 metres to the intersection of the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 85 (5 734 336 m north, 403 081 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, fol lowing the southwestern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 86 (5 734 352 m north, 403 055 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 269° 40’ 17” over a distance of about 38 metres to the intersection of the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 87 (5 734 351 m north, 403 017 m east); Thence, in an average westerly direction, following the southern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 88 (5 734 344 m north, 402 985 m east); Thence, westerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 270° 59’ 52” over a distance of about 32 metres to the intersection of the eastern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 89 (5 734 345 m north, 402 953 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, following the south shore of the unnamed lake, to point 90 (5 734 356 m north, 402 937 m east); Thence, northwesterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 292° 48’ 38” over a distance of about 62 metres to the intersection of the southwestern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 91 (5 734 380 m north, 402 880 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction following the southwestern bank and shore of unnamed streams and lakes to the intersection of the southwestern bank of rivière Taitaipenistouc, that is, point 92 (5 738 196 m north, 401 254 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, following the southwestern bank of rivière Taitaipenistouc, to point 93 (5 738 428 m north, 401 004 m east); Thence, northerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 11° 42’ 00” over a distance of about 71 metres to the intersection of the northern bank of rivière Taitaipenistouc and the western bank of an unnamed stream, that is, point 94 (5 738 498 m north, 401 018 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction following the western shore and bank of unnamed lakes and streams to the intersection of the southern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 95 (5 739 598 m north, 400 807 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction, following the western shore of the unnamed lake to the intersection the western bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 96 (5 741 838 m north, 400 294 m east); Thence, in an average northeasterly direction following the northwestern bank and shore of unnamed streams and lakes to point 97 (5 745 168 m north, 401 463 m east); Thence, easterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 103° 44’ 19” over a distance of about 207 metres to the intersection of the northwestern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 98 (5 745 119 m north, 401 664 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction, following the northeastern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 99 (5 745 083 m north, 401 724 m east); Thence, easterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 84° 31’ 21” over a distance of about 974 metres to the intersection of the western shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 100 (5 745 175 m north, 402 693 m east); Thence, in an average easterly direction, following the northern shore of the unnamed lake, to point 101 (5 745 173 m north, 402 752 m east); Thence, northeasterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 40° 18’ 13” over a distance of about 102 metres to the intersection of the southwestern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 102 (5 745 251 m north, 402 818 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction following the western bank and shore of unnamed streams and lakes, to the intersection of the southwestern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 103 (5 745 617 m north, 402 937 m east); RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 13 of 33 Thence, in an average easterly direction, following the northern shore of the unnamed lake, to the intersec tion of the northern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 104 (5 745 661 m north, 403 188 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction following the western bank and shore of the unnamed stream and lake, to point 105 (5 746 714 m north, 403 361 m east); Thence, northeasterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 67° 13’ 11” over a distance of about 263 metres to the western shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 106 (5 746 816 m north, 403 604 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction, following the northeastern shore of the unnamed lake, to the inter section of the eastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 107 (5 746 789 m north, 403 626 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction, following the northeastern bank of the unnamed stream, to the inter section of the western shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 108 (5 744 773 m north, 404 994 m east); Thence, in an average northeasterly direction following the northwestern bank and shore of unnamed streams and lakes to the intersection of the southwestern bank of another unnamed stream, that is, point 109 (5 746 332 m north, 406 388 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, following the southwestern bank of the unnamed stream, to point 110 (5 748 495 m north, 405 136 m east); Thence, northerly, following a straight line having a bearing of 348° 02’ 56” over a distance of about 2 073 metres to the intersection of the southeastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 111 (5 750 522 m north, 404 707 m east); Thence, in an average northwesterly direction, following the southwestern of the unnamed stream, to point 112 (5 752 172 m north, 403 293 m east); Thence, northeasterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 47° 15’ 13” over a distance of about 872 metres to the intersection of the northeastern bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 113 (5 752 764 m north, 403 934 m east); Thence, in an average southeasterly direction, following the northeastern bank of an unnamed stream, to the intersection of the southwestern bank of another unnamed stream, that is, point 114 (5 752 620 m north, 404 170 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction, following the western bank of the unnamed stream, to the intersection of the southern shore of the unnamed lake, that is, point 115 (5 752 985 m north, 404 052 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction, following the western shore of the unnamed lake, to the intersection of the western bank of the unnamed stream, that is, point 116 (5 753 993 m north, 404 404 m east); Thence, in an average northerly direction, following the western bank of the unnamed stream, to point 117 (5 755 053 m north, 404 517 m east); Thence, northeasterly, following a straight line having a bearing of 29° 49’ 23” over a distance of about 374 metres to starting point 28. Having an area of 305.48 square kilometres. Having a total area of 326.54 square kilometres for all of the biodiversity reserve . NOTES: — The limit of the biodiversity reserve shown on the plan accompanying the technical description was determined from the digital files in Canada’s National Topographic Data Base (NTDB) at a scale of 1:50,000 pre pared by Natural Resources Canada and the digital com pilation of surveys produced by the Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles du Québec. — Generally, all the beds of watercourses, rivers and lakes are included in the biodiversity reserve. Only those excluded are mentioned in this technical description . — The limits defined by the shore of a lake or the bank of a river or stream correspond to the high-water mark. — The coordinates and areas used in this technical description are approximate. They were graphically determined from the said data used to determine the limit of the biodiversity reserve . They are given in metres in reference to the Québec plane coordinate system (SCOPQ), Modified Transverse Mercator projection (MTM), Time Zone 6 (central meridian 67°30’), North American Datum 1983 (NAD83). — The measures comply with the International System of Units. — The limit of the biodiversity reserve is based on the actual layout of the elements described in this docu ment and must be legally interpreted in such a way. It RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 14 of 33 was prepared by the Direction des aires protégées of the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environne ment et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques of Québec. — The territory of the biodiversity reserve, as described in this technical description includes only the lands in the domain of the State . Any land that that is not part of the domain of the State is excluded from the biodiversity reserve . — The territory is represented on a plan at a scale of 1:40,000. — In accordance with the instructions of the Direction des aires protégées of the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, the information contained in the fundamental documents provided by the mandator, from which this technical description was prepared, is accepted as fact . The whole as shown on the plan prepared by the under signed on 14 November 2017 and filed with the office of the Surveyor-General of Québec of the Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles under document number 536738 . Prepared in Trois-Rivières, on 14 November 2017 under number 17-525 of my records and under number 16 591 of my minutes . Digitally signed by: PIerre Brodeur, Land Surveyor Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques du Québec Direction des aires protégées MDDELCC record: 5148-06-09 (06) RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 15 of 33 RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 16 of 33 SCHEDULE II CONSERVATION PLAN OF THE RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ DES MÉANDRES-DE-LA TAITAIPENISTOUC 1 1 6 2 0 1 9 O.C. 116-2019, Sch. II. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 17 of 33 RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 18 of 33 Cover photos: Dominic Boisjoly Reference to cite: Gouvernement du Québec. 2018. Conservation Plan, Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la Taitaipenistouc. Québec, Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, Direction des aires protégées. 20 pages. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 19 of 33 Contents INTRODUCTION 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE BIODIVERSITY RESERVE 1.1 Official toponym 1.2 Geographical location, boundaries and area 1.3 Ecological portrait 1.4 Land occupation and uses 2. Conservation objectives 2.1 Protection of biodiversity Maintain the ecological integrity of the biodiversity reserve 2.2 Knowledge acquisition and environmental monitoring Promote knowledge acquisition and conduct monitoring 3. Zoning 4. Activity framework applicable to the biodiversity reserve 4.1 Activity framework established by the Natural Heritage Conservation Act 4.2 Activity framework established by the Regulation respecting the Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc 5. Activities governed by other laws 6. Management 6.1 Responsibilities of the Minister of Environment and the Fight against Climate Change 6.2 Adaptive management 6.3 Stakeholder participation and integrated management Bibliographical references Appendix 1 Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc : Location and regional context Appendix 2 Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc : Boundaries, vegetation and occupation – portrait after the 2013 forest fire RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 20 of 33 Introduction In 2002, the Gouvernement du Québec moved to protect a portion of the Rivière Taitaipenistouc watershed by prohibiting the principal industrial activities that could threaten conservation of the area (forest, hydroelectric and mining development). The territory was officially accorded the legal provisional status of proposed biodiversity reserve on June 19, 2003 under section 90 of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act (chapter C-61.01). The proposed biodiversity reserve was given the temporary name of Réserve de biodiversité projetée du lac Bright Sand. By giving permanent protected status to Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la Taitaipenistouc, the Gouvernement du Québec ensures the definitive protection of representative samples of the biological diversity of the central Labrador natural province, and more specifically of the Lacs Brûlé-Fournier plateau natural region. The purpose of the reserve is to protect ecosystems that are representative of the natural region and undisturbed by human activity. By excluding industrial activities from the reserve, its landscapes and ecosystems will be safeguarded for future generations. It must be noted that in 2013 a major forest fire raged through the territory. Since the essential plant surveys date from before the fire, this conservation plan presents what was known by the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques about the state of things prior to the forest fire. The new biodiversity reserve joins a vast network of protected areas aimed at protecting the various types of representative and exceptional ecosystems across Québec. On March 17, 2005 the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (MDDEP) mandated the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) to hold a public consultation on Réserve aquatique projetée de la rivière Moisie and three proposed biodiversity reserves: du lac Pasteur, du lac Gensart and du lac Bright Sand (des Méandres-de-la Taitaipenistouc). This mandate was given to the BAPE pursuant to section 39 of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act, which provides for a public consultation process before a proposal is made to the Government on permanent protection status for land set aside as a proposed protected area. The BAPE’s mandate began on March 30, 2005 and concluded on September 30 of the same year. The consultation was held in May and June 2005 in Port-Cartier, Sept-Îles and Fermont. The BAPE’s inquiry and public hearing report (No. 213) was submitted to the Minister of the MDDEP on September 30, 2005 and made public on November 10, 2006 (BAPE, 2005). In its report, the commission recommended giving permanent protection status to Réserve de biodiversité projetée du lac Bright Sand, which is now Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de la-Taitaipenistouc. The present conservation plan was drawn up by the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC) after the BAPE’s consultation. It sets out the ministerial vision for the conservation of the territory of Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc. Incorporating a RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 21 of 33 large part of the document prepared by the MDDEP in March 2005 for the public consultation, it takes into account the conclusions of BAPE report #213 (BAPE, 2005). Thus, the conservation plan reflects the concerns of all government and non-government partners involved in implementing the strategic action plan on protected areas. The purpose of this conservation plan is to inform the public as to the legislative framework applying within the biodiversity reserve (see sections 4 and 5). The plan is also intended to guide management by detailing conservation objectives specific to Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc. These objectives, discussed in sections 2.1 and 2.2, may be summarized as follows:  Maintain the ecological integrity of the biodiversity reserve.  Promote knowledge acquisition and conduct monitoring. 1. Description of the biodiversity reserve 1.1 Official toponym Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la Taitaipenistouc: the name reflects the Innu name for the meandering river that drains a large part of the reserve. 1.2 Geographical location, boundaries and area The location and regional context of Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc are shown in Appendix 1. The boundaries, vegetation and occupation are illustrated in Appendix 2. Location: Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc is located in the backcountry of the administrative region of Côte Nord, and is part of the unorganized territory of Rivière-Nipissis in the regional county municipality (MRC) of Sept-Rivières. More precisely, the protected area lies between 51°38’ and 51°58’ north latitude and between 65°52’ and 66°7’ west longitude. It is 117 km southeast of Fermont and 161 km northeast of Sept-Îles. The reserve is also 15 km east of Réserve aquatique projetée de la rivière Moisie. Area and boundaries: The initial area of the proposed reserve, when it was set aside in 2003, was 278 km2. The final boundaries were defined partly to optimize protection of the Rivière Taitaipenistouc watershed, and partly on the basis of natural elements that are easily identified on the ground, to facilitate management. In some places the boundaries follow a river or lakeshore. After these adjustments, Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc now covers an area of 326.53 km2. The right of way of the 315 kV Montagnais-Normand electrical transmission line was excluded from the boundaries of the reserve. The legal boundaries of Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc are defined in the technical description and the survey map prepared by land surveyor Pierre Brodeur with the following minutes 16591 (November 14, 2017) and filed in the surveying archives of the Surveyor General of Québec (Greffe de l’arpenteur général du Québec), Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles, under document number 536738. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 22 of 33 Accessibility: No roads provide access to the biodiversity reserve. The railroad belonging to Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway Company Inc., which connects Sept-Îles and Labrador City, passes about 13 kilometres to the east of the reserve. However, several of the reserve’s lakes are long enough for seaplanes to land, and the area can be accessed by snowmobile. 1.3 Ecological portrait Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la Taitaipenistouc is in the central Labrador natural province. It protects natural environments that are representative of the Lacs Brûlé–Fournier plateau natural region, a vast plateau whose undulating plains are covered with drumlins, stagnation moraines, till and bogs, and are scattered with mounds and lakes (Li, 2013). 1.3.1 Representative elements Half of the territory of the reserve was ravaged by a major forest fire in 2013. As mentioned earlier, the information presented here about vegetation and wildlife reflects what was known before the forest fire. Geology and geomorphology: The territory lies entirely within Grenville geological province. The geological foundation is primarily composed of metamorphic rocks, specifically gneiss with tonalite commonly present. In the northern part the bedrock also includes paragneiss, marble and quartzite. 1 The Strahler number is a way of ranking a watercourse by its position in the watershed. Streams with no tributaries have a Strahler number of 1. The confluence of two streams of the same rank increases that of the water downstream. The longest rivers in Québec have a Strahler number of 8. From a geomorphological point of view, the reserve is chiefly notable for its relief of glacial origin, in the form of hills parallel to the flow of the glacier: undulating terrain with drumlins. A few areas in the west and centre have rough or hilly terrain topped with a thin or thick deposit of till. The central part of the territory has hummocky terrain, partly due to the stagnation moraine. The bottom of the Rivière Taitaipenistouc valley is partially covered with well-drained sand/gravel deposits of fluvioglacial origin. The minimum, maximum and average elevation are respectively 584 m, 766 m and 636 m. Hydrography: Most of the territory of the reserve is in the Rivière Taitaipenistouc watershed, which in turn is in the Rivière Caopacho watershed. The eastern and southern extremities of the reserve are in the Rivière Nipissis watershed. All drain into the Rivière Moisie watershed. The hydrographic network of Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc consists essentially of headwater rivers. Rivière Taitaipenistouc, the main watercourse, is an exception, and has a Strahler number of 41. Rivière Taitaipenistouc arises from a small lake north of the reserve, emptying into Rivière Caopacho after winding through the protected area from north to south. The reserve also has around twenty unnamed lakes. They cover less than 11% of the territory and stand at an elevation of around 600 m. The largest lakes are in the south of the protected area and have an average area of 3.6 km2. The general orientation of the lakes and watercourses is north-northeast/ south-southwest. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 23 of 33 Climate: The territory of the reserve is subject to a cold continental subarctic climate, subhumid with a short growing season, and is typical of the bioclimatic domain of black spruce/moss forests. The climate of the Lacs Brûlé-Fournier plateau natural region is favourable to the development of open stands of black spruce, frequently disturbed by forest fires, on fluvioglacial deposits and ablation moraines. Flora: The plant cover subsequent to the forest fire of 2013 is illustrated in Appendix 2. As mentioned earlier, the description below reflects what was known by the MELCC about the state of things before the fire. Nearly half the territory is occupied by open conifer stands, with a ground cover of lichen (18% of the territory) or moss (3%), and by medium conifer stands with a ground cover of moss (17% of the territory) or lichen (10%). Coniferous heaths with a ground cover of lichen cover 12% of the territory, while those with moss take up 4%. Heaths occupy a sixth of the territory of the biodiversity reserve. Almost devoid of trees, these plant communities are composed of shrubby species, flowering plants, grasses and lichens. In the biodiversity reserve, heaths cover the steepest slopes and upland areas where the bedrock surfaces. Scattered here and there, especially on relief elements, dense stands of old conifers cover 6% of the protected area. In the Rivière Taitaipenistouc valley and some of the hollows, there are bogs, accounting for 3% of the territory. The dominant species is black spruce (Picea mariana). Beyond that, the information presented here is far from complete. Many species could be present on the territory of the reserve. In 1998 the Ministère des Ressources naturelles performed surveys at observation points in the ecoforestry information system, not within what is now the reserve, but in the ecological district in which it is located. It could well be that the species inventoried are also present in the protected area. The main species of lichen found were reindeer lichen (Cladonia mitis and Cladonia rangiferina) and star-tipped reindeer lichen (Cladonia stellaris). Also observed were a few species of bryophyte, including Schreber’s big red stem moss (Pleurozium schreberi), knight’s plume moss (Ptilium crista-castrensis) and rusty peat moss (Sphagnum fuscum). The surveys showed that black spruce (Picea mariana), Labrador tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum) and lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) were the dominant species. The principal natural disturbance in this region is fire. The oldest burned areas (2% of the territory) are dominated by jack pine (Pinus banksiana). Wildlife: Very little information is available since no wildlife survey has been done. Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), northern pike (Esox lucius), landlocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar ouananiche), whitefish (Coregonus albula) and landlocked Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus oquassa), a species likely to be designated threatened, are present in the natural region. Moose (Alces alces), black bear (Ursus americanus), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), partridge and Canada goose (Branta canadensis) also frequent the natural region. Since the reserve is in the range of the woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), it could well frequent the area, but this has not been confirmed by any survey. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 24 of 33 1.3.2 Outstanding elements According to the Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec, no plant species that is threatened or vulnerable or likely to be so designated has been observed in the reserve (CDPNQ, 2014). However, golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), a vulnerable species, and woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), designated vulnerable in Québec, could use the territory of the reserve. Arctic char oquassa (Salvenilus alpinus oquassa), a species likely to be designated threatened or vulnerable, has been caught some fifteen kilometres northeast of the reserve, so it could also be present within the reserve. Since there have been no industrial activities in the area, its natural environments are totally intact. 1.4 Land occupation and uses The boundaries of Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc, along with the occupations exercised on its territory, are illustrated in Appendix 2. A single land right covering an area of 4000 m2 has been granted on the shores of the headwater lake in the northern part of the reserve. It is a lease for personal resort purposes. A canoe-kayak course through Lac Matinipi and across part of Lac du Brochet skirts the southern boundary of the reserve, following a string of small lakes interconnected by watercourses. Though no archeological sites have been identified in the reserve, Lac Matinipi (directly to the south) is considered sacred by the Innu. Thousands of poles that had served for poling upstream by canoe-kayak are stuck into the lakebed, being no longer needed further up. A 315 kV electrical transmission line crosses the northern section of the reserve over a distance of 4.5 km. Its right of way, excluded from the boundaries of the reserve, is 66.71 metres in width. The protected area is in the Saguenay beaver reserve and is part of fur-bearing animal management unit 60. The Innu of Uashat mak Mani-Utenam hold specific rights in respect of hunting and the trapping of fur-bearing animals. The reserve’s protected status will not affect their rights or traditional practices. The reserve is also located within the hunting zone 19 south, where sport hunting for caribou has been prohibited east of the railway connecting Sept-Îles to Fermont since 1979 and throughout the entire zone since 2001. Thanks to its location north of the boundary for commercial logging, and in an area where no mining claims have been granted, the territory of Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la Taitaipenistouc is free of human disturbances of an industrial nature. 2. Conservation objectives This section presents guidelines and conservation objectives specific to Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc. 2.1 Protection of biodiversity To maintain the viability of ecological processes, management of the reserve should give priority to protecting the ecosystems present and the species that depend on them. The biodiversity reserve is also intended to protect landscapes and modes of occupation and use that are compatible with biodiversity RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 25 of 33 protection objectives. Existing occupations and uses should be managed to ensure that they have as little impact as possible on biodiversity. Each biodiversity reserve in the Québec network has unique conservation challenges. In the case of Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la Taitaipenistouc, the ecosystems and their associated biodiversity are ecologically intact, thanks to the lack of human disturbance. Management of the reserve should therefore be focused on maintaining this ecological integrity. Specific objective: Maintain the ecological integrity of the biodiversity reserve Industrial activities are prohibited in the reserve. This status does however allow the development and pursuit of non-industrial activities of a recreational, traditional or cultural nature. At present the reserve is relatively unfrequented. Nonetheless, should existing activities increase in intensity or new activities be authorized, it will be important to ensure the continued integrity of protected ecosystems. Projects should be evaluated with a view toward biodiversity, the support capacity of ecosystems2 and the harmonization of uses. Projects must also be compatible with the reserve’s conservation objectives. Attention must also be paid to conserving the habitats of sensitive species, and should the need arise, to protecting the species themselves. 2 Support capacity is defined as follows: in a sustainable development perspective, the support capacity of an ecosystem is the maximum pressure that can be exerted on it by human activities without jeopardizing its integrity, to ensure its continued viability. 2.2 Knowledge acquisition and environmental monitoring Ecological knowledge needs be developed, and in particular brought up to date since the forest fire of 2013, particularly with regard to vegetation. This information will be used in developing management tools for conservation purposes. Specific objective: Promote knowledge acquisition and conduct monitoring Since Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de la-Taitaipenistouc is relatively inaccessible, knowledge about its plants and wildlife is incomplete, particularly with regard to developments since the forest fire. Besides contributing to specific objectives stemming from the principle of natural heritage protection, knowledge acquisition will lead to a more detailed portrait of the area’s biodiversity. Within available budgets, surveys should be carried out under a knowledge acquisition and monitoring program. Ecological, historical, social and traditional information should be compiled, and if new activities are permitted in future, their impacts should be documented. The knowledge acquired will help to ensure that authorized activities do not compromise biodiversity maintenance. It will give managers a better understanding of how the ecosystems present function and evolve, and will facilitate a common understanding of the issues. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 26 of 33 3. Zoning The MELCC does not propose any zoning to guide the management of Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc, since ecological knowledge is still too fragmentary and the territory is little used. 4. Activity framework applicable to the biodiversity reserve The purpose of the reserve is to protect natural environments and their components. For this reason, activities that could have a significant impact on ecosystems and biodiversity, especially of an industrial nature, are prohibited. Less harmful activities and occupations, such as those involving recreation, wildlife, ecotourism or education, are however permitted in this type of protected area. In sum, the biodiversity reserve should be considered as a territory dedicated to protecting the natural environment, to nature discovery and to recreation. 4.1 Activity framework established by the Natural Heritage Conservation Act Activities carried out within the biodiversity reserve are primarily governed by the provisions of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act (chapter C-61.01). Under the Act, the activities prohibited in an area with the status of biodiversity reserve are primarily the following:  mining and gas or oil extraction;  forest management within the meaning of section 4 of the Sustainable Forest Development Act (chapter A-18.1);  the exploitation of hydraulic resources and any production of energy on a commercial or industrial basis. Though fundamental to protecting the territory and its ecosystems, the above prohibitions do not cover all of the standards considered desirable to ensure the proper management of the reserve and the conservation of its natural environment. The Natural Heritage Conservation Act allows the Regulation to detail the legal framework applicable on the territory of a biodiversity reserve. 4.2 Activity framework established by the Regulation respecting the Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la Taitaipenistouc The provisions contained in Regulation respecting the Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc set out additional prohibitions beyond those already stipulated in the Natural Heritage Conservation Act (chapter C-61.01). They also provide a framework for certain permitted activities, to ensure the protection of the natural environment in accordance with the principles of conservation and other management objectives of the reserve. Certain activities are therefore subject to prior authorization by the Minister. The measures presented in Regulation concern new interventions in particular, and generally do not affect activities that are already being practised or facilities that are already present. Many existing uses are thus preserved. In listing the activities requiring authorization Regulation does not identify which ones would be considered incompatible with the vocation of the reserve and could therefore be refused RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 27 of 33 authorization. Basic information about the compatibility or incompatibility of each type of activity is provided in the document Activity Framework for Biodiversity Reserves and Aquatic Reserves, which is available on the website of the MELCC, at: http://www.mddelcc.gouv.qc.ca/biodiversite/aires protegees/regime-activites/regime-activite reserve-bio-aqua-en.pdf. Note that certain activities are exempted from the requirement to obtain authorization. These exemptions are also presented in Regulation. 5. Activities governed by other laws Certain activities that could potentially be practised in the biodiversity reserve are also governed by other applicable legislative and regulatory provisions, and some require a permit or authorization or the payment of certain fees. Certain activities could be prohibited or limited under other laws or regulations applicable on the territory of the reserve. In the territory of Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc, a particular legal framework may govern permitted activities under the following categories: Protection of the environment: measures stipulated by the Environment Quality Act (chapter Q-2) and its regulations; Archeological research and discoveries: measures stipulated by the Cultural Heritage Act (chapter P-9.002); Exploitation and conservation of wildlife resources: measures stipulated by the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife (chapter C-61.1) and its regulations, including provisions related to threatened or vulnerable wildlife species, outfitters and beaver reserves, and measures in the applicable federal laws and regulations, including the legislation and regulations on fisheries; Plant species designated as threatened or vulnerable: measures prohibiting the harvesting of such species under the Act respecting threatened or vulnerable species (chapter E-12.01); Access and property rights related to the domain of the State: measures stipulated by the Act respecting the lands in the domain of the State (chapter T-8.1) and by the Watercourses Act (chapter R-13); Issuance and oversight of forest development permits (harvesting of firewood for domestic purposes, wildlife development, recreational development); and delivery of authorizations (forest roads): measures stipulated by the Sustainable Forest Development Act (chapter A-18.1); Travel: measures stipulated by the Act respecting the lands in the domain of the State and by the regulations on motor vehicle travel in fragile environments, under the Environment Quality Act; Construction and development standards: regulatory measures adopted by local and regional municipal authorities in accordance with the applicable laws. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 28 of 33 6. Management 6.1 Responsibilities of the Minister of Environment and the Fight against Climate Change The Minister of Environment and the Fight against Climate Change is responsible for the management of Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc. Among other things, the Minister sees to the control and supervision of activities that take place there, and to the application of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act (chapter C-61.01) and Regulation respecting the Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc. Operational management of the reserve is assigned to the Direction régionale of the MELCC. In his management, the Minister enjoys the collaboration and participation of other government representatives that have specific responsibilities in or adjacent to the territory. The MELCC will establish a mechanism for the participation of local stakeholders interested in the future of Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc. The MELCC considers that the management needs of Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres de-la-Taitaipenistouc come down to overseeing the territory, knowledge acquisition, and monitoring biodiversity and land use. 6.2 Adaptive management As mentioned in section 2, “Conservation objectives”, knowledge acquisition and environmental monitoring will be undertaken in collaboration with the local and regional partners concerned. The knowledge acquired will serve to guide management activities. A mechanism should be put in place to monitor the conservation objectives, and if necessary, to rectify the minimal management planned for this territory. 6.3 Stakeholder participation and integrated management While the MELCC considers that Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc has minimal management needs, it could work with local stakeholders to draw up an action plan if management needs become greater. It could also review whether zoning is needed to provide a framework for the possible development and practice of activities in the protected area. Management of the biodiversity reserve should respect the following conservation principles:  maintain natural ecosystem dynamics;  allow activities to be practised, and the territory to be developed, within the limits of the support capacity of ecosystems;  authorize non-industrial harvesting activities, but without supporting them;  promote the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge about the natural and cultural heritage. In addition, to ensure responsible management of the reserve, the precautionary principle must be applied. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 29 of 33 Bibliographical references Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement, 2005. Rapport d’enquête et d’audience publique 213 – Projets de réserve aquatique de la rivière Moisie et de réserves de biodiversité des lacs Pasteur, Gensart et Bright Sand, 90 p. Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec, juillet, 2014. Extractions du système de données pour le territoire de la réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc. Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, Québec, 8 pages. Direction du patrimoine écologique et du développement durable, 2003. La réserve de biodiversité projetée du lac Bright Sand. Plan de conservation sommaire préparé pour la consultation du public. Gouvernement du Québec, ministère de l’Environnement, Direction du patrimoine écologique et du développement durable, 15 p. Direction du patrimoine écologique et des parcs, 2005 et 2008. La réserve de biodiversité projetée du lac Bright Sand. Plans de conservation sommaires corrigés. Gouvernement du Québec, ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs, Direction du patrimoine écologique et des parcs, 15 p. Drapeau, L. 1994. Dictionnaire montagnais – français. Presses de l’Université Laval, 762 p. Lavoie, G. 1984. Flore Moyenne-et-Basse-Côte Nord, Québec/Labrador. Provancheria, vol 17, 149. Lepage, M. 2001. La faune vertébrée menacée ou vulnérable en forêt boréale. Le Naturaliste Canadien, vol 125(3) : p. 131-137. Li, T., 2013. Cadre écologique de référence du Québec (CERQ) - Les régions naturelles : niveau II du cadre écologique de référence du Québec. Extrait de 6 pages du document de travail. Direction de l’écologie et de la conservation, ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement de la faune et des Parcs. RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 30 of 33 Appendix 1: Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc: Location and regional context Appendix 1: Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc: Location and regional context RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 31 of 33 Appendix 2: Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc: Boundaries, vegetation and occupation – portrait after the 2013 forest fire Appendix 2: Réserve de biodiversité des Méandres-de-la-Taitaipenistouc: Boundaries, vegetation and occupation – portrait after the 2013 forest fire RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 32 of 33 UPDATES O.C. 116-2019, 2019 G.O. 2, 340 RÉSERVE DE BIODIVERSITÉ — MÉANDRES-DE-LA-TAITAIPENISTOUC Updated to 0 9 September 0 1 1 2019 © Éditeur officiel du Québec C-61.01, r. 74 / 33 of 33