Private Lands Liaison Committee 



This is an inter-departmental committee appointed by order-in-couacil, 

 consisting of three members of the Department of Agriculture and three members 

 of the Department of Lands and Forests, of which the Supervisor of the Land Use 

 Planning Section is the chairman. One of the problems tackled by the Committee, 

 which has a direct bearing upon the work of the Lands Section of this branch, 

 was the sale of public lands for agricultural purposes. The Committee studied this 

 matter and came up with a "Land Disposition Policy for Northern Ontario" 

 which was accepted by the Government and resulted in an amendment to the 

 Public Lands Act, whereby, in each district where an agricultural community 

 exists, it is now possible to sell a parcel of land tailored to suit the requirements 

 of the potential farmer. 



This has already resulted in a much improved system and should prevent 

 a great many of the abuses that have taken place as a result of the sale of 

 Crown lands for agricultural purposes in the past. 



Co-ordination of Recreational Zoning Plans 



During the year, as the result of a co-operative effort between the Lands 

 Section and the Land Use Planning Section, a revision of instructions governing 

 the functioning of the Recreational Land Use Planning Committees, was set up. 

 This will result in reducing the number of zones and in providing a more uniform 

 method of operation by the different districts across the Province. The respon- 

 sibility for head office guidance at the district meetings and preparation of the 

 recreational plans for the Minister's signature was placed in the Land Use Planning 

 Section. 



Wilderness Areas 



A start has been made in establishing a representative number of nature 

 reserves across the Province in each climatic region. The purpose is to preserve 

 in their natural state "forest associations" which, of course, includes the habitat 

 for wildlife. A number of recommendations have been received, and it is hoped 

 that they will all be processed and the areas set aside as a representative group 

 before the end of the next fiscal year. 



One wilderness area was established during this fiscal year under the 

 Wilderness Areas Act of 1959, as follows: 



Item No. 88 Timber Island Wilderness Area 



This consists of 101 acres located in Lake Ontario in the 

 Township of South Marysburg in the County of Prince 

 Edward. This island was a gift to the Crown from Mrs. H. J. 

 Cody of Toronto. The island contains 74 acres of timbered 

 area representing an interesting picture of undisturbed forest 

 development on the shallow limestone sites common in Prince 

 Edward County. 

 This brings the total number of wilderness areas established under the 

 Wilderness Areas Act of 1959 to thirty-six. 



ENGINEERING SECTION 



Water Resources 

 Approval of Dams 



The number of dams approved for construction pursuant to The Lakes 

 and Rivers Improvement Act totalled 35 in the year April 1st, 1961, to March 



174 



