Steps in the Management Planning Process Developing a management plan for Kalamalka Lake Park will follow a multi-stage process. The planning process for this park is currently in the Draft Management Plan Stage. Initial Planning: An initial planning phase was conducted for the management planning process in the fall of 2017, with a follow up public information session held in January 2018. Approximately 300 submissions (both online and print form) were received by BC Parks. First Nations consultation was also initiated as was engagement with local and regional governments. Draft Management Plan: During this stage, the planning team has identified the values, vision (the desired future condition) and principles that will guide future management of the park. Previously identified interests and issues were discussed, and appropriate management direction developed in the form of a vision, management objectives and strategies, and a zoning plan. The draft management plan was prepared using the established BC Parks management plan template. As per the BC Parks policy, there must be an opportunity for public review and comment on the draft plan. It is anticipated that a Final Management Plan will be completed and approved by the spring of 2019.
Kalamalka Lake Park The Management Planning Process A management plan is a document prepared to guide a park s management for the future. It sets objectives and strategies for conservation, development, interpretation, and operation of the park. It is prepared by BC Parks (Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy). The new Kalamalka Lake Park Management Plan will replace the 2003 Purpose Statement and Zoning Plan (PSZP) for the park area which existed prior to 2001 (978 hectares) and the PSZP which was approved in 2006 for the former Kalamalka Lake Protected Area, which was established in 2001 and provided Class A park status in 2008. Public information sessions will be held during the management planning process to seek public comment and feedback and help shape the overall vision and strategies to manage park values. The management plan will also undergo consultative engagement with First Nations. Local and regional governments will also be provided an opportunity to comment on the draft management plan at key stages in the planning process. As part of the management planning process, the general public, public interest groups, and tenure holders have opportunities to provide input through a variety of means, including information sessions, mail-outs, and internet-based comment forms/information sharing.
Landscape Context The park s landscape is largely open forest and grasslands, with distinct valleys such as Cosens Valley and Bear Valley. The southern end of the park shares its upland boundary with the Cougar Canyon Ecological Reserve. Cliffs dominate many portions of the foreshore areas of the park to the north, whereas expansive beaches are prevalent along the southwest foreshore boundary of the park. One of the primary roles of Kalamalka Lake Park in the protected areas system of British Columbia is the protection of an open forest and grassland ecosystem that has become increasingly rare in the province. In the lower valley bottoms of the north Okanagan, the steady rise in residential and industrial development and conversion of lands for agriculture activities have significantly changed the landscape over the last century. Today, the park retains relatively intact plant communities and supports a diversity of fauna, many of which are considered at risk in British Columbia. The park resides within the traditional territories of the Okanagan Nation (Syilx) and Secwepemc Nation.
Establishment Background The land that formed the original core area of Kalamalka Lake Park (978 hectares) was previously owned by Coldstream Ranch. The risk of development (residential housing and a marina) prompted the local community to lobby the provincial government to acquire the lands. The 978 hectare park was formally established in 1975. In 2001, the Okanagan Shuswap Land and Resource Management Plan recommended an additional 2,223 hectares of land be added to Kalamalka Lake Park. The addition was in protected area status for several years. In 2008, the protected area was cancelled and the lands added to Kalamalka Lake Park, a Class A park. The landscape of what is now the park and surrounding area has seen dramatic changes since European settlement. The area was grazed during ranch operations, as well as used as a training ground for military forces (specifically during the World War II) and vestiges of that training in the form of unexploded ordnance (UXO) remain buried in the park. Facility development (trails, access roads, parking lots) and steadily rising park visitation over the last several decades have also greatly influenced the overall landscape characteristics and appearance. 1938 Air Photo 2016 Satellite Photo Today, park management relies heavily on the stewardship of the local community and park users to help protect and maintain the park s unique values. Volunteer groups such as the Friends of Kalamalka Lake Park and the North Okanagan Cycling Society help support park management and operations.
Recreational Activities The park receives over 300,000 visitors a year and offers a diversity of upland and foreshore recreational activities. Easily accessible (by foot or boat) beaches are frequently visited during the summer season. The park is popular with local residents for dog walking and short hiking excursions. Mountain bike use has grown considerably since the establishment of the park. Currently, there are over 50 kilometres of trails suitable for cycling within the park and an equivalent number of trails on adjacent Crown land (primarily to the south of the park). A small portion of the park near the boundary interface with Cougar Canyon Ecological Reserve is a favoured location for rock climbing and bouldering. Although not heavily used by horse riders, the park offers this activity on select trails. Hunting is a sanctioned activity within select portions of the park (specifically the former protected area portion added to the park in 2008) and is subject to regulations under the Wildlife Act. Hunting use is very low within the park, and most hunters are typically using the park for access to Crown lands beyond.