Upper Portage at Brandy Lake added to North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority July, 2012
Friends of La Vase Portages were pleased to announce that as of July 9, 2012, the land that had been privately owned over which the Upper Portage at Brandy Lake was located, has now been transferred to the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority in exchange for property owned by NBMCA adjacent to Brandy Lake. With thanks to everyone for their efforts in protecting the last of the undeveloped historical portages, including the Ministry of Natural Resources, the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority and especially the property owners involved, the historic portage trail is now back within public ownership for the first time in almost one hundred years.
Friends of La Vase Portages have also committed to raising $10,000 needed to cover the survey and legal costs in the transaction. For anyone interested in supporting this project a charitable receipt will be issued and a sign recognizing all donations of $100 or more will be constructed at Brandy Lake.
The Kiwanis Club of Nipissing was pleased to make the first donation of $1,000 towards the campaign. Left to right Troy Storms - North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority, Tim Hutchison, Barbara-Dawn Gibbings, Don Beauchamp, Laurie Marcella, Bob Gibson, Peter Moseley-Williams, Nancy Birtch, John Wipprecht & Chris Mayne with the Kiwanis Club of Nipissing.
Upper Portage Brandy Lake 09 July, 2012
As traced with a yellow line, the historic Upper Portage from Brandy Lake, just beside Dugas Bay, Trout Lake at lower right, is now back in public ownership after almost one hundred years as private property.The land was donated back to the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority and while new hiking trails will also be added to the east side of the portage route, the west shoreline beyond the green Conservation area borders in green, remain private property and should be avoided.
At time of writing Friends of La vase Portages are working on a more detailed map of the route but all of the trails are reasonably well marked and brushed.