GOLDEN BACKCOUNTRY RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (GBRAC) MINUTES from November 1, 2006 Meeting Attending: Sector / Stakeholder GBRAC Commercial Aerial Motorized Sector GBRAC Habitat Protection; Sport Fishing and Hunting Sector GBRAC Environmental Protection Sector Kicking Horse Mountain Resort GBRAC Parks Canada Sector GBRAC Commercial Non-Motorized Sector GBRAC Public Non Motorized Sector Guide Outfitter GBRAC Local and Regional Government Sector Alpine Meadows Lodge Provincial Government Provincial Government Absent: Sector/Company GBRAC Forest Industry Sector GBRAC Public Ground Motorized Sector GBRAC Commercial Ground Motorized Sector Golden Nordic Ski Club Society Rudi Gertsch/Greg Porter Grant Arlt Ellen Zimmerman Rusty Noble Ken Schroeder Bernie Schiesser/Paul Leeson Bruce Fairly/Marvin Lloyd Wilf Boardman Jon Wilsgard Irv Graham Darcy Monchak (MoAL) Harry Mitchell (MoTSA) Tahl Lunoch Hal Porter/Gary Habart Randy Baun Jeff Dolinsky Guests: Organization Outstanding Business from Previous Meeting(s): 1. Review of Minutes from June 28, 2006. o Adopted, with minor changes added for clarity.
2) Review of changes to the plan zonations that GBRAC has (to date) agreed to recommend to ILMB The table below is a summary of the current GBRAC recommendations regarding changes to GBRAP zoning on the West Bench. Quartz Lake area from the ridge down to the lake GBRAC RECOMMENDATIONS AREA CHANGE / CONFIRMATION SECTOR COMMENTS On aerial map, change low level of landings to no landings (from RA2 to RA1) Upper Quartz Main area Upper Lang Creek Upper Cirque and Lang Creek areas (starting where road is at 1600 meter contour) Dogtooth FSR (Gorman Lake Road) Change from RM2 to RM 1 non-motorized to motorized (RA1 to RA3) non-motorized to motorized (RA1 to RA3) On winter map, change from RM2 to RM 1 On Winter map, confirm that Dogtooth FSR is the key motorized route to access winter motorized opportunities, with parking areas at 7 and 14 km to be improved. Sectors concerned about over-fishing in this lake. Only Commercial Motorized and Public Summer Motorized Sectors do not agree with RA1 / RM1 zonation as would limit opportunity for commercial fishing. Consensus, although Environment Protection Sector concerned with loss of plan balance, as this area was closed to address concerns with access affecting grizzly bears. Along with the opening of Lang Creek and Mulligan Slough areas, this will increase summer motorized areas in the West Bench. Consensus, although Environment Protection Sector concerned with loss of plan balance, as this area was closed to address concerns with access affecting grizzly bears. Along with the opening of upper Quartz main and Mulligan Slough areas, this will increase summer motorized areas in the West Bench. Commercial Motorized, Commercial Non-motorized and Public Winter Motorized Sectors do not agree as want to keep opportunity for small lodges. All other sectors support RM1 status to keep infrastructure development minimal in these key grizzly bear areas. Near consensus*. Will be necessary for line agencies (eg. Ministries of Tourism, Forests) and their tenure holders to work together to assist with infrastructure requirements (eg. Snowmobile parking lots) and seasonal snowmobiling requirements. Holt Creek Cedar Creek to Holt Creek On winter and summer maps, confirm all-season closure. Legal closure, if required (plan currently states legal closure is required). Change portion that is RM 2 in winter to RM 1. On winter map, change RM 3 areas to RM1. On summer map, change RM 2 area to RM1. Except for Elk road area, which is RM2 Near consensus*. MoE habitat biologist recommends that closure be from intersection of Holt and Gorman roads at the first bridge. GBRAP currently states that the closure will be legal. Gate may have to moved up the drainage past the summer motorized corridor from the KHMR area. Guide outfitter has recently indicated that they do not support this closure. They indicate that there should be no impacts to wildlife of keeping the road open to the rock mine location in summer, and they would like to use the road for motorized access for their business. Consensus. RM1 designation relates to infrastructure development and not use levels. Purpose of this designation to maintain integrity of wildlife movement and public recreation by keeping hard infrastructure development to a minimum.
AREA CHANGE / CONFIRMATION SECTOR COMMENTS West Main road On winter and summer maps, establish motorized corridor (open July 1 st to spring snowfree period [mid-april]). Adjacent area with legal closures, if required to enforce. Near consensus*. Goal is to create an integrated use "circle tour" for family snowmobiling on the mid bench. A road linking the West Main to the old rail grade does not yet exist. Closing the circle still remains an issue and will require trail development. The area adjacent to this motorized corridor will be closed in winter, and the entire area closed to motorized use mid-april to July 1 to manage for ungulates (including elk calving) and breeding bird populations. Dawn Mountain Nordic Ski Zone Old rail grade below KHMR West Bench Holt to Wiseman Lakes Cedar Lake and Moonraker areas / Canyon Creek ridge Mulligan Slough to Canyon Creek On winter map and text, confirm non-motorized status between Kicking Horse Drive and Holt Creek, with the exception of the existing commercial snowmobile tenured use. Preferred that this tenured use not use the lower Holt Creek bridge, but use a trail connecting to the Gorman Road. RM 2 status remains, but with proviso that any recreational or land ownership development must be primarily oriented to nordic skiing and be conducive to maintenance of the quality of Nordic skiing. Remove the reference regarding the snowmobile staging area for the area south of Holt Creek. On summer map, confirm as summer motorized, but maintain as low use levels. Wet areas of Nordic trails closed to motorized (may have legal closures, if required). All RM3 areas converted to RM2 (relates to infrastructure development and not use levels). Areas zoned non-motorized winter below old rail grade between Holt and Wiseman Lakes = RM 1 Change from RM2 or RM3 to RM1 RA1 to RA2 (open July 15 th to snow period (winter). Closures may be legal, if required to protect resources. Near consensus*. This change minimizes winter motorized use to the west (upslope) of the rail grade into KHMR or the Nordic trail area. The winter motorized use of tenure holder is allowed for, but to make this easier for compliance, commercial operator is to avoid the junction of the Holt creek road with the Dogtooth Main (thereby ensuring no tracks may be seen) by detouring through a yet to be built trail approximately 300m in length to join up with the anticipated parking area at the 14 km on the Dogtooth FSR. Legal closures may be put in place where required to ensure that snowmobiles are kept off of Nordic trails and other sensitive areas. Near consensus*. Supports the continuation of a summer motorized trail on the old rail grade, accessed from the east (downslope) by the power line or other existing road networks. Low use levels are required to maintain adjacent nonmotorized area values. Nordic trail area above the old rail grade will continue to be closed to motorized use, to provide non-motorized activity and minimize damage to this area of wet trails. Closures may be legal, if required to protect resources. Consensus. This change in zonation is to enable the GBRAC to evaluate infrastructure development on the West Bench, as lodge development in RM2 areas may only occur in specific areas, based upon adequate planning. Near consensus*. This change in zonation is to minimize any future lodge development in these areas thought to be key ungulate winter range adjacent to wetlands. Consensus. RM1 zoning relates to infrastructure development and not use levels. This change in zonation is to minimize any future lodge development in these areas key to wildlife (Canyon Creek ridge) or public recreation. Not intended to preclude infrastructure development for mountain biking activities. Consensus. Exact opening date needs to be confirmed but will be sometime between July 1 and Aug 1. *Consensus between all sectors, except for the Commercial Motorized Sector who did not agree with the overall recommendations for the southern West Bench because it does not allow for a winter motorized snowmobile link to Cedar Lake and Parsons area to the south. Note that the Forest Industry Sector and Alpine Meadows Lodge have not indicated a preference.
3) Outstanding zonation issues for West Bench Mulligan Slough to Canyon Creek The area from Mulligan Slough to Canyon Creek was originally designated as RA1 in summer to manage for goshawk nesting and ungulate habitat. Goshawks are no longer an Identified wildlife species, and are no longer yellow listed. Sectors discussed this current RA1 summer map zonation at the request of the Habitat Protection, Sport Fishing and Hunting Sector. Sectors now have consensus that the zonation be changed to be the same as the RA 2 lower elevation area between Wiseman Lakes and Lang Creek. Rationale for this new RA2 zonation is to manage for spring/early summer wildlife habitat. Twelve Mile Road The road to higher elevations of Twelve Mile Creek is currently closed to motorized use (RA1) at about the 1600 meter contour. This closure was approved as part of the original GBRAP to manage for increased security for one of the higher-use grizzly habitats in the area, and to manage for a wildlife corridor between Canyon Creek and 12 Mile creek. The objective was to reduce displacement or bears in this habitat by minimizing the active road network. Sectors discussed this current RA1 summer map zonations at the request of the Habitat Protection, Sport Fishing and Hunting Sector. Sectors did not come to agreement on a new zonation for this area. The Habitat Sector indicated that they would like the area opened for motorized use, especially during the spring bear hunting season. The Environmental Protection Sector indicated that they would like to discuss this request later, and would like to have more information on this area before making a recommendation. ILMB indicated that they would solicit input from MoE on this area. Other issues? Flight lines, golf course, etc. The GBRAC indicated that at this time they would not like to consider flight line management at this time. The GBRAC has not discussed any issues that may exist regarding a proposed golf course expansion for the area. ILMB too look into this further and bring any information to the next GBRAC meeting. 4) Plan Implementation - Discussion regarding the last 3 years of plan implementation, and future plan implementation Past Use of the Plan Regarding Commercial Recreation GBRAP has been a key resource used by the Ministry of Tourism (MoTSA) and the Integrated Land Management Bureau to review applications for recreational tenuring. GBRAP used by government to streamline appropriate applications, and highlight where issues exist. GBRAC Terms of Reference deals with how to handle controversial applications. Future Use of the Plan Regarding Commercial Recreation Continue with present usage. Ensure government Tourism and tenuring staff are aware of the plan. Past Use of the Plan Regarding Public Recreation Noted that the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and the Arts is responsible for implementation of public recreation, while the Minister of Agriculture and Lands is responsible for strategic land use planning. Chair indicated that government has not provided required support for plan implementation, and this has resulted in a lack of community awareness regarding the existence and purpose of the plan. Indicated that adequate public implementation of the plan, such as signage, cannot proceed without public awareness. Untested whether MoE will support all motorized openings. Untested whether MOE and MoTSA will legally support recommendations for motorized closures. Future Use of the Plan Regarding Public Recreation GBRAC indicated they would like to progress with public awareness / implementation by: i. Sending letter to Minister of Agriculture and Lands and Minister of Tourism requesting support. Discussed that in order for public implementation to proceed, that a grass-roots program would have to be initiated by government (and supported by the GBRAC), involving public information, signage, new brochure, etc. ii. Supporting an open house format regarding recommendations for the West Bench. This should not necessarily be large scale, but be set-up to allow the public to hear presentations from speakers and sectors regarding what they are proposing for the West Bench, and: Adds in paper Interview with chair and some sectors (Ellen, Bruce, Bernie) with the Golden Star
5) Government Signage Initiative for Snowmobiling On web site Meeting with Town Comment form and summary of public comment GBRAC prefers a mid-january open house, rather than a spring open house. There may be resource issues with ILMB preparing an open house by mid-january, but chair will discuss with ILMB management. iii. Chair and other interested GBRAC sectors should discuss GBRAP with Ministries of Environment and Tourism to ensure that they support existing motorized openings. There should be no closures in areas where the GBRAP zones as motorized iv. Chair and other interested GBRAC sectors should discuss the GBRAP with Ministries of Environment and Tourism to ensure that they support existing motorized opening, and to discuss possible mechanisms for closures to ensure that plan implementation occurs. Also, ensure that the below noted snowmobile and caribou initiatives address GBRAP zonations. Discussed that government is producing maps of B.C. interior areas showing areas open and closed to snowmobiling. The objective is to reduce conflicts between heliskiing and snowmobiling. For the GBRAP area, we are working to ensure that only the zonations from the GBRAP are used for the mapping. An e-mail has been sent to all sector reps regarding this. 6) Government Caribou Initiative Discussed that government, through the Species at Risk Office, has been working to recommend options regarding mountain caribou management. This may affect local recreationalists in the West Columbia area between Ventego Creek Wood R. However at this point we do not know if there will be any impacts. When the GBRAP zonations were approved for the area between Ventego Creek and the Wood River, caribou management was a consideration. Next GBRAC meeting is scheduled for December 6th