Cranbrook West Recreation Advisory Committee Final Minutes February 27, pm Prestige Inn, Cranbrook. Tom McDougall, Mushroom & Berry Pickers

Transcription

1 Cranbrook West Recreation Advisory Committee Final Minutes February 27, pm Prestige Inn, Cranbrook Present: Pam Cowtan, ILMB Chair Sangita Sudan, ILMB Bill Adair, ILMB Alan Gordon, City of Cranbrook Bob Faiers, Cranbrook Archery Club Daryl Calder, Backcountry Skiers Dave Miller, BC Snowmobile Federation Dave Quinn, EKBC Donna Morrison, KLA Andy Balcom, Kimberley Wildlife & Wilderness Club NOTES: Sue Cairns, ILMB Rex Holley, FOLKS Tom Blom, EKWF/EKWA Tom McDougall, Mushroom & Berry Pickers Rick Olsen, Mushroom & Berry Pickers FJ Hurtak, Kootenay Wildlife Heritage Fund Jeanette Sissons, Cbk Chamber of Commerce Jim Campbell, Purcell Hut Association John Bergenske, Wildsight Larry Hall, EK Hunters Association Peter Davidson, Rocky Mountain Naturalists Presenters: Doug Martin, Ministry of Environment Trevor Kinley, SARCO Mountain Caribou Science Team 1. Welcome and Introductions Chair thanked everyone for coming to the meeting. Bill Adair will Chair the second half of the meeting tonight and future meetings. Trevor Kinley was introduced. He will be presenting on behalf of the Mountain Caribou Science Team (MCST). Chair introduced and thanked Sue Cairns Land Officer from ILMB for volunteering to come and take minutes tonight and help later with the focus group discussions. Doug Martin from MOE will be arriving at 8 pm for agenda item 4(d) AMA/VAHC. It was noted that a Quorum (16) was present. 2. Approval of Agenda AGREED (by all members present): The agenda be approved with no additions or deletions. 3. Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting Changes requested as follows: Item 6(b) Review of Current Road practices in the Plan area MEMPR pg. 5 Alan Gordon indicated that the question directed at Bruce Reid did not fully capture the City of Cranbrook position on the mine development located within the Cranbrook watershed. The second part of the question will be amended to read, The City is very strongly opposed to the mine and the Province was informed of their position in three letters. The letters were provided to the Chair for clarification and distribution to CWRAC (Attachment 1). Item 6(a) Caribou Recovery Strategy p. 3 Dave Miller, on behalf of Ken Philpot, requested that the statement Ken noted that the plan Caribou Closures are recreational closures, ie. For cross-country skiing and snowmobiles, and are not just motorized, be amended to read, Ken noted the Caribou Closures in the Plan are recreational closures that the Table

2 recommended for total closure. However the current outcome is that the motorized sector is the only sector affected. List of Attendees: Daryl Calder noted that Norm Walter s name was referenced twice in the list of attendees on the first page. This will be corrected. AGREED (by all members present): The Minutes of January 15, 2007, distributed as draft to the CWRAC by on February 7, 2007, be approved with the above noted changes. 4. Business arising from Minutes a) Review of Action Items The Chair reviewed the list of Action Items and noted that all items have been completed with the exception of ing out the SARCO website link, which will be sent out with a copy of the letter of thanks to Norm Walter. Respecting the cement blocks at Cooper Lake, the blocks are at the current location because it was possible to put them there without machinery. Tembec will have machinery in the area in the near future so it may be possible to move them to a more effective location. ACTION: Peter Davidson, Bob Faiers, Dave Miller to meet informally on site with Lisa Cox (MTSA), and MOFR and Tembec representatives to identify a new location for the blocks and discuss moving them. ILMB will set up the meeting. b) Approval of Commercial Recreation Tenures Working Group Terms of Reference (TOR) AGREED (by all members present): The Commercial Recreation Tenures Working Group Terms of Reference are approved with no changes. John Bergenske pointed out that the recent MTSA decision to disallow the Campbell Icefield Chalet commercial recreation (adventure tourism) application points out the importance of the work of this group and establishing non-motorized zones to protect critical wildlife habitat. Especially important as MTSA is issuing 30 year tenures. This application is in the Golden area and within the Golden Backcountry Recreation Access Plan (GBRAP). c) Caribou Working Group Meeting Results and Caribou Science Team Presentation (Trevor Kinley) Caribou Working Group Meeting Results: The Caribou Working Group met on January 22, 2007 to review the Species at Risk Coordination Office (SARCO) map to ensure it was consistent with the CWRMS plan direction and to recommend responses to SARCO s 3 questions. Meeting notes were sent out to CWRAC by February 7, The Working Group confirmed that the SARCO map is consistent. Dave Quinn and Ken Philpot have not had the opportunity yet to clarify the plan agreement respecting the Angus back basins with their groups. ACTION: Dave Miller and Dave Quinn to clarify if there was agreement on whether the road into A1, A2 and A3 is closed (CWRMS Appendix 2 - Caribou/Snowmobile Use Agreements area).

3 AGREED (by all members present): That the Caribou Recovery map provided by SARCO is consistent with plan direction and the responses provided to the 3 SARCO questions meet with their approval. Chair advised that SARCO is developing a snowmobile brochure which includes a map showing snowmobile open and closed areas for areas of the Province where there is caribou habitat. This government initiative involves the placement of signs at the Alberta border informing the public that in British Columbia they may encounter signage indicating closures in some areas and referring to the brochure. The brochures will be made available to the public through local stores and organizations. The brochure map does not have the detail of either the CWRAC map or the SARCO map the Working Group reviewed. People will be referred to a website for detailed information. It may not be possible for the Committee to review the brochure before its release. John Bergenske expressed his concern at the group not having an opportunity to review the brochure especially after all the effort that has gone into getting the zoning right. He supports its intention but is concerned about the product. Donna Morrison pointed out that if the map details are only on the internet that some people are unlikely to access it once they are already on the road. She likes the idea of the brochure being available for pick up at local stores. Rex Holley asked if these areas are going to be legislated? He wanted it noted that it is not only snowmobiling that impacts the caribou. The brochure should reflect that non-motorized activity also impacts caribou. Chair informed that this initiative came from the Premier s office and she will make concerns of the group known to SARCO. Mountain Caribou Science Team Presentation (Trevor Kinley) The Chair handed out a map (Attachment 2) provided by Trevor showing the location of roads he would like the group to consider recommending as nonmotorized. They are currently open for motorized in the plan. SARCO set up a Science Team as an arms length body of scientists knowledgeable on caribou throughout the province to advise on what level of recovery might be needed for each caribou herd. Trevor is a consulting wildlife biologist representing the Science Team not SARCO. For each herd, the Science Team has set out a recovery proposal and action required. For the south Purcell herd, the Science Team is comprised of Greg Utzig (independent consultant) and Leo DeGroot (MOE biologist). They would like the CWRAC to consider minor revisions to access in CWRMS for caribou recovery. About half of the Purcell herd activity is within the RMS area. Remaining issues for the Science Team include: Kootenay Lake and Invermere Forest Districts where planning is underway but not completed; enforcement; no definition of road in winter in CWRMS; new roads, the plan s winter end date; certain roads and cut blocks that are in core habitat or provide direct access to core habitat with no agreements. Trevor explained that the Science Team is proposing that the winter closures currently in the plan for early November to April 1 do not match Caribou behaviors. The Team proposes that the dates be extended to end of April.

4 The start date is not as critical since caribou are more dispersed early on in the season. The map was discussed and several noted that the map was not very clear. Trevor informed that there are 2 proposed areas in Matthew Creek; 1 in Redding Creek; and 10 in Hellroaring/Moyie as follows: Matthew Creek movement corridor in late winter used in low snow years, which are more limiting to caribou since lichen is harder to access. This ridge is the type of unique area the Science Team wants to ensure is available for caribou. Impression is that this area is not used for snowmobiling. Dave Quinn informed that the skiing is mostly on the ridge to east. Redding Creek Bob Faiers noted that the map is not very clear and hard to read. The Chair asked if the Caribou WG should re-convene with a better map. Would it be beneficial for everyone to look closely at the maps? Bob Faiers suggested that the whole table needs to discuss any further closures and not all snowmobile clubs have had a chance to provide their input. The Chair said that the Kimberley Snowmobile Club and perhaps other groups could attend the meeting. Chair explained that SARCO is planning to recommend what is in CWRMS. Trevor is here pointing out the concerns of the Science Team and requesting consideration of changes to address those concerns. Dave Miller suggested that Trevor should finish his presentation and then the working group can discuss details. Hellroaring / Moyie - In Noke Creek/ Negro Creek / Wahu Creek there may already be formal agreements in place. Roads provide direct access into London Ridge where there is key caribou habitat at the ends of roads and cut blocks. On VOR Ridge/ Grassy Mountain / Angus Creek you can always find caribou in winter here. The Science Team s proposal allows access to ridge but restricts access into Angus Creek. Dave Quinn informed there is signage in place. Dave Miller informed that sledders are not using the area but skiers are using snowmobiles to access ski terrain. He suggested talking to ski associations about appropriate location for non-motorized designation on road. Doug Martin informed there is a windpower proposal in place on Baldy Mountain. Work to date is exploratory and includes many other sites. MOE does not support any development in this area and has informed Lands of their concerns. In Mt Evans there is quite a bit of summer activity by caribou. Goldrun / Shorty is in core habitat. The roads in the bottom of drainage are not a concern. There is a mines road that accesses the ridge but it is unlikely there is access to the next drainage. Alan Gordon informed there is a commercial snowmobile tenure issued to Sheldon Reed in the Noke Creek area. How will this work when other snowmobilers are not allowed to use the area? How will it be dealt with in terms of Science Team proposal? ACTION: ILMB will request further information from MTSA on this tenure. Dave Miller stated that we are not interested in closing roads. We have already closed areas and surrounding roads. John Bergenske informed they are taking the perspective of what is best for caribou. The Science Team is talking about relatively short lengths of road (about 20km) in areas that are critical habitat.

5 Dave Miller responded that we have spent a lot of time working through these areas and do not want to open this up again. Once it starts, where does it stop? Trevor clarified all these areas are on roads or fireguards except for 3 that are on cutblocks on the east side of Perry Creek. Dave Miller asked why there is a windpower proposal in the midst of key caribou habitat. CWRAC is not interested in giving up anything when everything else is continuing. Dave Quinn recalled that the table said that it would look at new roads. John Bergenske stated we do not want recreation to negatively impact wildlife and wilderness values. Consider what is the merit in having these roads open? He doesn t think the impacts of the proposed closures on recreation is a big thing since there is more access than there has ever been and roads are continuously being built. Bob Faiers asked why Lamb/Rabbitfoot area is not proposed as critical habitat. Trevor responded this is critical habitat but the Science Team is trying to balance areas off. Lamb/Rabbitfoot is heavily roaded but most of the roads are either re-vegetated or deactivated. Jeanette asked what are the actual recreation values of the roads proposed for closure? Jim Campbell said he uses a snowmobile to access skiing terrain however agrees with the spirit of protecting caribou. If the proposal is not effective in protecting caribou then the CWRAC can re-visit in 5 years as stated in the plan. Trevor explained the effect of approaching caribou on foot is similar to effect of approaching on snowmobile but snowmobilers have larger impacts on caribou simply because the distance/area covered by a snowmobile is so much larger. Donna Morrison commented that she has the impression that SARCO will adopt recommendations of the Science Team regardless of CWRAC. Chair informed that this is not the case. That SARCO has agreed to follow CWRMS. AGREED (by all members present): ILMB will arrange a Caribou Working Group meeting with Trevor Kinley to discuss his proposed changes. Other groups such as the Kimberley Snowmobile Club will be invited. CWRAC will discuss recommendations from the Working Group at the next meeting. Noted by Dave Miller that the motorized sector is opposed to more closures. d) Review of AMA/VAHC Summary - Doug Martin Doug Martin informed there are upcoming potential changes to AMA/VAHC s: Changes to regulations - two additional AMA s have been submitted. One is in the East side of Flathead (supported by Southern Rockies Plan). The second is in the Upper Flathead which will not affect any existing motorized use. It will only affect a new road that Tembec will be constructing to access a pine beetle block. o There are possible conversions of VAHCs to AMA s in Baribeau Creek, Swanson, Haynes and Tower. In the Tower drainage there was an agreement with Galloway to close roads after they finished logging, but

6 ended up being kept open for cavers. There is a side road closure being considered and the main roads would remain open. In Sand Creek offroad use is being looked at. Currently there is a mapping project underway with ILMB to digitally map VAHCs. Once this is done MOE will assess if objectives are being met. For example, VAHC may continue but individual roads may remain open. In recent years there has been a tremendous increase in motorized recreation access and it is not only for hunting. These are having serious ecosystem and habitat impacts warranting conversion of some of these areas from VAHC to AMAs. Rex Holley asked about the gate at Tunnel Creek road. There is a gate put there by Hydro. Is this for wildlife values? Doug answered that the Tunnel Creek gate is not a Wildlife Act closure. It is a private road and MOE has no role in controlling access on private roads. He noted that if there is ever a public liability lawsuit the public may see more gates and a big change in access. Peter Davidson asked about Caven Creek VAHC. Doug answered that only Bloom Creek VAHC was pulled and that Caven Creek VAHC and Gold Creek VAHC were still there. If Caven Creek is an issue then MOE will look into this. Rex Holley asked why the Larch Creek drainage is a VAHC when the road has greened up. There is also an old VAHC sign there. Doug said he will look into this and respond back through the Chair. John Bergenske asked the table to inform him of known porcupine sightings. Larry Hall told him of sightings in Thunder Creek Tom McDougall asked what dates are being considered for the Sand Creek AMA? Doug answered that they have not looked at dates as yet. The key is to protect berry patches for grizzly bears. Larry Hall asked if the Allocation Policy requires harvest quotas and penalty for not achieving set quota. What is restricting resident hunters of achieving goal? How will this impact what MoE is working on? Doug said there are 68,000 km of roads in the plan area and some closures should not impact harvest quotas. Rex Holley asked about the Wigwam AMA. Doug responded that the Wigwam was a FRPA closure but, in 2006, it was converted to a Wildlife Act closure, i.e. an AMA. There are 3 gates located in the area and signs in place. Tom McDougall informed there is an old VAHC sign on the gate and Doug said he will look into this since he and Irene Teske (MOE) put up the sign in August. Doug Martin advised that MOE used to review all the new road permits but do not anymore under the FRPA regulations. With regard to the windpower tenure, MOE will have a strong position on this if any permanent structures are proposed as most are in upper elevation grasslands. 5. New Business a) Working Group Discussion Bill Adair The table was asked to brainstorm what the issues are that CWRAC needs to focus on for the short term and mid term in order to develop a work plan.

7 The table broke up into 2 groups to identify issues that Working Groups should focus on, and at the end of the discussion each participant was asked to indicate what they felt were the priority issues. The results of this will be sent out by at which time Committee members can indicate which Working Group they would like to be part of. The Chair noted that members are welcome to be on more than one group; however the intent is to have smaller working groups that can meet more easily, discuss key issues and provide recommendations to the larger table. Rex Holley suggested that working Groups should ensure that they refer to the plan to make sure future work builds on past work. ACTION: Results of the Working Group issues discussion will be sent out and a m eeting date for each group will be suggested. CWRAC members to indicate which Working Group they wish to participate in. 6. Feedback from Committee Members (Round Table) Removed from agenda due to shortness of time 7. Next Meeting Chair suggested that have working group meetings be scheduled for April and a general meeting for some time in June. 8. Adjournment Meeting was adjourned at 10:00 PM