Ministry of Natural Resources Publications

The following publications are free to download. MNR produces many other publications which are available at a cost. Please visit the MNR Store website for a complete listing.

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Broken down into sections for faster downloading:

• General Information : Important dates and phone numbers, hunter safety, general regulations, preparing wild game, definitions, MNR offices and ServiceOntario offices (PDF, 447 KB)
• New and Pending Regulations (PDF, 259 KB)
  Showing correction to the DEER - NEW section with respect to seasons in WMU 66A and 69B. Showing update to the DEER - PENDING section with respect to open season dates in many WMUs (see pages 58 and 59 of the DEER section).
• Licence Information (PDF, 142 KB)
• Wildlife Management Unit Maps (PDF, 2.7 MB)
• Wild Turkey (PDF, 302 KB)
• Moose (PDF, 520 KB)
• Deer (PDF, 482 KB)
  Showing updates to open season dates on page 58 and 59.
• Black Bear (PDF, 284 KB)
• Small Game (PDF, 290 KB)

Additional Hunting Information:

For additional hunting information, including Sunday hunting and wild turkey harvest reporting , visit the Fish & Wildlife Menu page.

Note: This document is the applicable guide / manual for this topic area of the Provincial Policy Statement until a revised document is issued.

A Proposed Wetland Restoration Project - Lake St. Clair
Final Report

The Eastern Habitat Joint Venture has identified Lake St. Clair as one of Ontario's top priorities for migratory waterfowl habitat conservation. This comprehensive report examines the socio-economic and environmental effects of a proposed 1000 acre wetland restoration project near Lake St. Clair in southwestern Ontario, and provides a framework for similar studies. It will be of interest to municipal planners, biologists, economists, engineers, conservation groups, the agricultural community and all those who appreciate the diversity of birds and wildlife that healthy wetlands make possible.

NOTE: This electronic report is designed to be very easy to navigate. Please download all four sections to the same directory on your computer so you can benefit from the links and other features we have incorporated.

Download: Part One (Size: 125 KB) | Part Two (Size: 2.3 MB) | Part Three (Size: 2 MB) | Part Four (Size: 1.6 MB)

NEW!
2008-2009 Fishing Regulations Summary

featuring Ontario's new Fisheries Management Zones

UPDATE December 31, 2007: Frequently asked questions about the new fishing regulations for Ontario

UPDATE December 27, 2007: Minor changes to the 2008-2009 Fishing Regulations Summary affecting Zones 4, 5, 6, 8, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20.

Broken down into sections for faster downloading. We recommend Acrobat Reader 7 or higher for best results.

• How to Use This Summary and Table of Contents (PDF, Size: 634 K)
• Licence Information and Fishing Regulations (PDF, Size: 6 MB)
• Zones 1, 2, 3 (PDF, Size: 4.2 MB)
• Zone 4 (PDF, Size: 6.3 MB)
• Zone 5 (PDF, Size: 4.6 MB)
• Zone 6 (PDF, Size: 4.5 MB)
• Zone 7 (PDF, Size: 3.7 MB)
• Zone 8 (PDF, Size: 2.7 MB)
• Zone 9 (PDF, Size: 3.8 MB)
• Zone 10 (PDF, Size: 3.9 MB)
• Zone 11 (PDF, Size: 5 MB)
• Zone 12 (PDF, Size: 1.8 MB)
• Zones 13, 14 (PDF, Size: 6.7 MB)
• Zone 15 (PDF, Size: 6.1 MB)
• Zone 16 (PDF, Size: 4 MB)
• Zone 17 (PDF, Size: 2.3 MB)
• Zone 18 (PDF, Size: 3.7 MB)
• Zone 19 (PDF, Size: 2.1 MB)
• Zone 20 (PDF, Size: 4.4 MB)
• Fish Identification Chart (PDF, Size: 2.1 MB)
• Government Offices (PDF, Size: 29 KB)
  

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has completed a study to determine the status of walleye populations in Southern Region as part of the Southern Region Walleye Management Review . This study is similar to others previously completed in northwestern and northeastern Ontario. MNR initiated this study because walleye are highly sought by anglers and declines in fishing quality have been reported. Walleye is the most valued fish species in Ontario, providing important recreational fisheries. MNR is examining new management options to protect and enhance these fisheries.

This tabloid provides information about what the MNR has learned regarding the status of walleye populations in Southern Region, and information on how you can get involved.

Historical Review of Fish Culture, Stocking and Fish Transfers in Ontario, 1865-2004
(Size: 3.1 MB)

This report provides a history of fish culture activities and summarizes records of stocking and transfers in the province of Ontario. Information has been derived from a wide variety of sources and from contacts with Ministry of Natural Resources from across the province. The report is subdivided into several sections which describe the evolution of fish culture in Ontario and provides information on every fish species which has been stocked in Ontario. Appendices provide detailed records on the numbers of different fish which have been stocked between 1865 and 2004.

NEW!
2007 Ontario Parks Guide
(Size: 3.5 MB)
For a printed copy of the 2007 Ontario Parks Guide, please call 1-800-ONTARIO.

Ecological Land Classification Primer
(Size: 1.8 MB)
This primer explains how the Ecological Land Classification (ELC) system is structured and how it is used to benefit land use planning and resource management in central and southern Ontario. Ontario's ELC system provides a standard way to delineate natural regions based on ecological factors. In this way, ecological information is organized in logical units to support provincial and municipal land use planning, monitoring and analysis. This primer provides information about the characteristics of central and southern Ontario's ecozones, ecoregions, ecodistricts.

Natural Heritage Reference Manual for Policy 2.3 of the Provincial Policy Statement
(Size: 2.2 MB)

Note: This document is the applicable guide / manual for this topic area of the Provincial Policy Statement until a revised document is issued.

This document, the Natural Heritage Reference Manual, is a guide for those who require additional information on technical issues relative to the application of Section 2.3 - Natural Heritage of the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) (Table 1.1). The PPS provides policy direction on matters of provincial interest in municipal land use planning under the Planning Act. Section 3 of the Planning Act requires that planning authorities "shall have regard to" the PPS when exercising any authority that affects a planning matter.

The Natural Heritage Reference Manual is one of a number of documents issued by the Province to assist planning authorities and other participants in the land use planning system. This Reference Manual, developed in consultation with practitioners, represents the most up-to-date information available at the date of publication on specific technical issues relating to the PPS.

The Natural Heritage Reference Manual should not be read in isolation from the PPS and the other support documents. These documents are advisory only and may be updated as technology or techniques improve. They provide information to assist in understanding the policy. They do not add to or derogate from policy. Except as otherwise specified (e.g., where requirements are established by legislation or regulation), they do not represent the only acceptable approaches. There may be many ways to achieve the end results established in the PPS. However, in all cases planning authorities must have regard to the PPS.

This Manual applies to municipalities, planning boards and planning authorities, all of which are referred to as planning authorities from this point forward. Users of this Manual will also include consultants, landowners, land developers, environmental agencies, community-based organizations, non-government organizations (NGOs), interested citizens and the Ontario Municipal Board.

Introduction to the Atlas

Under the joint Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA), the United States and Canada are committed to the restoration and maintenance of the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Great lakes basin ecosystem. In support of this work, bi-national, State of the Lake Ecosystem Conferences (SOLEC) are held. The 1996 State of the Lake Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) examined the health of aquatic and terrestrial communities and the biological habitat of nearshore ecosystems in the Great Lakes. The background paper presented on coastal wetlands concluded that there is no comprehensive inventory or evaluation of Great Lakes coastal wetlands (Maynard and Wilcox, 1997). This lack of information on Great Lakes wetlands has also been recognized in Strategy 2 of the Great Lakes Wetlands Conservation Action Plan (GLWCAP), where the need to develop a wetland database has been identified. Information on wetlands is required by many National, Provincial and local governments, non-government agencies, and individuals interested in wetland conservation and restoration. It can be used to:

• assess and monitor the status, losses of and changes in coastal wetlands;
• develop habitat management strategies;
• target limited resources for conservation and restoration programs;
• set goals for biodiversity and endangered species recovery plans;
• identify natural heritage areas, for land use planning purposes; and
• identify inventory and information gaps.

A number of attempts have been made to use LANDSAT data (25-30 m resolution) to identify and monitor wetlands. This has proved to be ineffective, in terms of providing accurate information on the location, size and type of wetlands. Participants at a 1997 workshop on remote sensing concluded that information collected through site level wetland evaluations and studies are critical for providing a large-scale summary of the location, characteristics and status of Great Lakes wetlands (Riley and Snell 1997).

The following report updates and consolidates information on coastal wetlands from a variety of sources including Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) wetland evaluation files, Environment Canada's Environmental Sensitivity Atlases, OMNR's Natural Areas Database and other site specific studies. It provides information on the wetland type, site type, significance and status of wetlands, a qualitative assessment of stressors affecting coastal wetlands, and data on biodiversity with respect to significant species dependent on coastal wetlands. This report and associated database provides a framework for the development of a comprehensive and current coastal wetlands database.

• Front Cover
• Inside Front Cover
• Coastal Wetlands Atlas main report
• Appendix A : 1996 Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources District/Area Office Survey
• Appendix B : A Guide to Appendices E, G, I, K, M, O: Evaluated Coastal Wetlands
• Appendix C : A Guide to Appendices F, H, J, L, N: Natural Areas, Environmental Sensitivity Atlas Wetlands and Other Wetlands with an Unevaluated Coastal Wetland Component
• Appendix D : A Guide to Appendices P to U: Significant Species Reported in Ontario's Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands
• Appendix E : Lake Superior: Evaluated Coastal Wetlands
• Appendix F : Lake Superior: Natural Areas, Environmental Sensitivity Atlas Wetlands and Other Wetlands with an Unevaluated Coastal Wetland Component
• Appendix G : Lake Huron and St. Marys River: Evaluated Coastal Wetlands
• Appendix H : Lake Huron and St. Marys River: Natural Areas, Environmental Sensitivity Atlas Wetlands and Other Wetlands with an Unevaluated Coastal Wetland Component
• Appendix I : Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River: Evaluated Coastal Wetlands
• Appendix J : Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River: Natural Areas, Environmental Sensitivity Atlas Wetlands and Other Wetlands with an Unevaluated Coastal Wetland Component
• Appendix K : Lake Erie: Evaluated Coastal Wetlands
• Appendix L : Lake Erie: Natural Areas, Environmental Sensitivity Atlas Wetlands and Other Wetlands with an Unevaluated Coastal Wetland Component
• Appendix M : Lake Ontario and Niagara River: Evaluated Coastal Wetlands
• Appendix N : Lake Ontario and Niagara River: Natural Areas, Environmental Sensitivity Atlas Wetlands and Other Wetlands with an Unevaluated Coastal Wetland Component
• Appendix O : St. Lawrence River: Evaluated Coastal Wetlands
• Appendix P-U : Confirmed Records of Significant Vascular Plant Species Reported in Ontario's Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands
• Appendix V : Scientific Names of Common (Non-Significant) Species mentioned in the Atlas

For best quality print out the following maps on 11"x17" Tabloid size paper.

• Figure 1 : Lake Superior Coastal Wetlands
• Figure 2 : Lake Huron and St. Mary's River Coastal Wetlands
• Figure 3 : Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River Coastal Wetlands
• Figure 4 : Lake Erie Coastal Wetlands
• Figure 5 : Lake Ontario and Niagara River Coastal Wetlands
• Figure 6 : St. Lawrence River Coastal Wetlands
• Back Cover

Note: This document is the applicable guide / manual for this topic area of the Provincial Policy Statement until a revised document is issued.

• Part 1
  (Size: 2.7 MB)
• Part 2
  (Size: 3.7 MB)

Our Sustainable Future
Ministry of Natural Resources Strategic Directions
(Size: 4.1 MB)

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