Backroads Bill: knee-deep in the wetlands of Mashkinonje Park

At one time a "swamp," was not a place to go for a holiday or spend some quality time. But according to Backroads Bill Steer, wetlands — including swamps, bogs, ferns and marshes —  are of the highest ecological importance.  

The wonders of Mashkinonje Provincial Park are best known by field naturalists from North Bay and Sudbury— usually university botany students and nature-based tourists.  

Morning North6:30Backroads Bill - Wetlands in Ontario

On the backroads this week, Bill Steer visited a wetland. The CBC's Peter Williams talked to Bill about his swamp adventure.

Mashkinonje Provincial Park was created in 1963 and is a non-operating park, which means there's no camping on-site, but no park fees.  

Bill says Mashkinonje consists of a diverse system of wetlands supporting all the major wetland types, interspersed with undulating granite ridges that cover over 2000 hectares along the West Arm of Lake Nipissing. This makes it an ecological marvel.

The park counts among its many wetlands two provincially significant areas: the Loudon Basin Peatlands and the Muskrat Creek complexes.

Listen to Backroads Bill's interview on Morning North