Changes for 1999
- Endymion Island: Garbage cans have all been removed
from the west (it's actually south) dock, because the island has been designated
a special preservation area. A park employee said that only the west
end of the island has been designed Zone 1, the highest protection
rating. This might explain the new sign that says: No
Generators Allowed. There are many plants on this island that are rare
in Canada -- I hope the park officials note that people are becoming an endanged
species as more facilities are removed from the park islands (docks, shelters,
tent spots, picnic tables, stoves, barbeques).
- Moorings on the north-west side of Endymion will be moved to the bay on
the south side (7 total). The dinghy ramp on the north side is gone (and made
completely inaccessible with rocks and trees). A new ramp and very STEEP ramp
is now on the rock near the outhouse on the east side of the mooring "farm"
which now takes up most of the anchoring spots in the main bay.
- New signs will be installed stating that there will be only
one vessel per buoy and no rafting together of boats.
- There will be 22 mooring buoys in the park: Adelaide (4), Camelot (6), Endymion
(7) and Thwartway/Leek (5). All are in the Admiralty Group south of Gananoque.
The "heritage" of the island over the last century involved boaters
and people fishing in the area in the infamous "St. Lawrence skiff", and cooking
their catch on shore on one of the many uninhabited islands which became this
park in the last century. The changes to the park policy is made by Parks Canada,
part of the federal Heritage Canada (Minister: Sheila Copps). Decisions
about removing facilties are likely made by the local park administration in
Mallorytown Landing (I've been told by at least 4 people it was closed when
they stop by to buy a park pass in May).
See the St. Lawrence Islands National Park contact
list to voice your opinion on park policy or rules.
