Good points, SeekingSolitude.  I expect we all share the same concern with protecting the environment we are familiar with. 

While nature appears to be finely balanced, it is incredibly robust and pervasive in finding a way to adapt and exist.  Ice ages that scour the landscape and snuff out nearly all of the fish from their lake/river habitats, meteorites that liquify the rocks of the crust and ignite the atmosphere (like in Sudbury), volcanoes that poison the atmosphere with acidic gasses - these are examples of the mega-dynamic changes that nature has adapted to in the past.  

This doesn't give me a pass to conclude 'human damage doesn't matter' but it does demonstrate the incredible adaptive ability that nature has...and has demonstrated on this planet for nearly four billion years.  What I find objectionable are conclusions that don't fit the data - and the media is full of conclusions/opinions designed to influence our beliefs to support their agenda.  It likely will never go away since both love and deception are innate in our species, but be aware that what we read may be related to truth or may represent someone else's 'truth'.

In truth, I'd rather be fishing. ;-)

I found nothing in a couple google searches. 

The data associated with the spiny waterflea indicates a 30-40% reduction in the native zooplankton species.  While this is hardly a 'fishery collapse", I don't see this statement validated with any reference to scientific study through several links including government websites, so this could be a phrase invented by some ecological activist that has found its way into policy-guiding documents.
http://www.invadingspecies.com/spiny-and-fishhook-waterfleas/

Is it legal?  No.  That is considered littering and exact opposite of leave no trace principles that the parks recommend for interior travel. 

There are many ways to 'mark' a trail that fall within leave no trace guidelines and most utilize tools like a compass or a gps device.

A less obtrusive method to the orange tape is the reflective pin - these are often used by hunters who navigate to their stand in the dark.  I remove all of them that I find (tape or reflector) when in the woods and dispose of them properly (and I get a little giggle thinking about the hunter wandering around trying to find his stand in the dark!).  Removing those markers is just like picking up trash on a hiking trail, portage or roadside. 

Flagging tape and reflectors are crutches for people who haven't taken the time to learn how to navigate in nature...and likely haven't taken the time to learn the other important aspects of our environment as well.

Looks a little like the Happy Isle landing from Opeongo.

@Stapes - fair point;

Merely offering a conservation license option is a good thing if it merely stimulates someone to harvest less but even better if it stimulates the thought of 'why conserve?'.

Hi Lenny,

Catching any fish protecting a nest is relatively easy and isn't terribly sporting, regardless of whether that fish occurs naturally in the location or was introduced.  As a result, many fish management agencies have closed fishing during spawning seasons and require immediate release of accidental catches.  I support those laws.

The concept of harvesting a few of them by fishermen to exterminate them from a waterway is ineffective.  As a species they will out-compete most salmonids over the long term.  The harvest would have to be of an industrial scale with nets and other equipment that would likely cause more damage to the native species and environment you are frustrated about.  Unless we can identify some targeted parasite (also likely non-native) we will have to continue living with this issue as we have for the last couple hundred years.

Maybe the best solution is to plan to eat fish that you catch closer to the end of the day, or closer to the time of consumption.  It's a slippery slope though...sometimes you're catching them left and right but it cools off when you are thinking of keeping the next one!

We release nearly all (90%) of what we catch and typically keep two for the pan if we are close to the point of consumption - especially easy if you are camping along the river - and sometimes so fortuitous that you catch one from the site!  That way they are quite lively on the stringer and the flavor is excellent.  

Is that a cabin or a shed?  It looks like modern construction materials (plywood, faux block siding) compared to most of the cabins being log or old frame structures.  And it's not one I've seen on tourdupark.  Or am I getting tied up in semantics?

I wouldn't rely upon the existence of the trail but if you are interested in visiting the old fire tower site, a compass or GPS and the knowledge of how to navigate should get you there.  If you don't have that knowledge, I wouldn't recommend attempting a nearly 2 km gradual uphill through the forest.  The false summit about 2/3's of the way there should be a good sign that you are on track.  The google map topo is better than Jeff's topo and there are others of greater detail available as well.

If you have navigation concerns, the Depot Farm remains are a safe and easy option with limited trekking.