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DOG RUNNERS -- Michael Peake and Nancy Ackerman run one of the many rapids of the Dog River which drops 800 feet into the east side of Lake Superior in less than 40 miles. Famed for its magnificent Denison Falls, the Dog may be on its way to provincial park status as a Waterway Park just as a bridge may be heading across its virgin shores. How can that happen?
-- photo Geoffrey Peake
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Will the Dog have its day?
The Dog River, made famous by filmmaker Bill Mason, is a candidate to be named an Ontario Waterway Provincial Park. The process, if successful, involves several hearings and procedures which begin this fall and would protect the scenic and rugged river which flows into the east coast of Lake Superior just south of Pukaskwa National Park.
But the joy could be short-lived as a road to a mine west of the Dog could mean construction of a bridge crossing the river would begin soon. There are a lot of irons in this jurisdictional fire with native, government industry and environmentalists all involved.
The spectre of hydro dams darkened the Dog's future recently but a Ministry of Natural Resources spokesman said those issues appear to be dealt with.
"We are not anticipating any problems with the hydro companies," said Joel Cooper an MNR resource technician in Wawa. He said he would be mailing out information regarding the Waterway Park designation in August.
The process to designate the Dog is part of the next wave of the ministry's Living Legacy program of designating and protecting natural areas.
There are other Waterway Provincial Parks on parts or all of 29 rivers, the two largest being the Winisk and Missinaibi rivers. The protected areas vary widely but the majority are merely river corridors and do not include the entire watershed which is the key to real protection.
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We have hope that the late Bill Mason's beloved Dog River along with its scenic Denison Falls will be protected. Here is a photo of a Dog River kettle (a circular hole caused by erosion of water and rocks, often found at falls)
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There is also confusion on the question of who owns some of the surrounding land. One report says a large American company is the principal owner of much of the Dog River headwaters. The Dog has a relatively small watershed but the Eagle River, to its west, is already the site of a gold mine and the operators want a new road in and have asked for another open pit mine in the same area.
What's in a name when it comes to a river? The Dog was for many years called the University River - a name given by an American professor who paddled it at the turn of the century.
Rumour has it that he also named the falls near the mouth of the river after his school - Denison University in Ohio. Local use and many maps have it called the Dog River and so reported Eric Morse who wrote a short piece for Che-Mun in 1986 .
Morse said the Dog was also called the Pipe River on some early maps. His conjecture was that it was the landing spot for the voyageur's jump across the mouth of huge Michipicoten Bay. They would aim for this spot with it's narrow entrance to a natural harbour and have a well-earned pipe of tobacco.
There is also a move afoot to re-name the spectacular waterfall near the end of the river after Bill Mason who featured it prominently in many films, particularly Waterwalker. However MNR spokesman Joel Cooper said that Bill Mason is not all that well known locally and it would be a good idea to speak to local people and do some research before applying for a name change. Changing a name is a bit different that giving a name where none existed before. You need to have good reason and support of the people who live in the area.
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Bill Mason on The Dog
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In Outfitt 44 of Che-Mun in 1986, Bill Mason wrote his report of the University River as the Dog was then called (though Bill called it the latter). Instead of writing up a trip report Bill sent us a charcoal drawing of Denison Falls on the Dog (above). He also sent us his unique self -portrait and handwrote the following note:
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So, in lieu of my thousand words on the Dog (University) River, here is my charcoal drawing of Denison Falls.
The place says it all. Anyway, I was never much for words. A two page double fold out spread would do just fine. Anything less would be selling the place short. It is the most spectacular place in Ontario. Maybe the world.
Did you know logging is beginning in the area? We need lots of people writing in to the dept of Lands and Forests requesting no cutting along the river corridor and no bridges or roads along the side of the river. PLEASE. The management plan avoided this issue. It would be criminal to disturb the shores of this river.
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This article first appeared in
Che-Mun Outfit 100
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