Situation Analysis for the Maligne Valley DRAFT – October 2013

Photo : Rogier Gruys

“Yet there it lay, for the time being all ours—those miles and miles of lake, the unnamed peaks rising above us, one following the other, each more beautiful than the last.” Mary Schäffer, The 1911 Expedition to Maligne Lake

Stay informed at: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/jasper/plan/maligne.aspx

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Table of Contents

1.0 Rationale for Implementation Strategy ...... 3 1.1 Why do we need an Implementation Strategy? ...... 4 2.0 Current State of Mandate Elements ...... 7 2.1 Visitor Experience ...... 7 2.1.1 Visitors to Maligne Valley ...... 7 2.1.2 Visitor Offer ...... 11 2.1.3 Levels of Visitor Engagement ...... 24 2.2 Resource Protection ...... 26 2.2.1 Caribou...... 26 2.2.2 Grizzly Bears ...... 37 2.2.3 Other Wildlife ...... 45 2.2.4 Movement Corridors ...... 47 2.2.5 Wildlife Viewing ...... 49 2.3 Cultural Resources ...... 50 2.4 Managing Growth and Development ...... 52 2.4.1 Zoning ...... 52 2.4.2 Leases and Licenses ...... 55 2.4.3 Management of Activities ...... 56 2.4.4 Infrastructure Design and Capacity ...... 56 2.4.5 Environmental Stewardship...... 57 3.0 Recent Implementation of Management Plan Direction ...... 59 4.0 Opportunities and Objectives ...... 61

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1.0 Rationale for Implementation Strategy

Since Mary Schäffer first described Maligne Lake in Old Indian Trails of the Canadian Rockies in 1911, the Maligne Valley has been a must-see destination for millions of visitors to Jasper National Park. Defined by the jagged peaks of the front ranges, spectacular Medicine and Maligne lakes, and an underground karst system, the valley is home to several rare or sensitive species, most notably woodland caribou and Harlequin Ducks, and that icon of the Canadian Rockies wilderness, the grizzly bear. Trails and facilities developed over the past century support a wide range of summer and winter activities. The valley is a core part of the product offered by many commercial operators in Jasper National Park.

Direction for the Maligne Valley is set out in the Jasper National Park Management Plan (2010) in the Maligne Valley Area Concept (pp. 66-69) and the Wilderness Area Concept (pp. 75-81). The Maligne Valley Area Concept generally covers all the areas along the Maligne Lake Road that can be accessed by vehicle and Maligne Lake itself. The Wilderness Area Concept covers a much larger area: the 97% of the park that has been designated wilderness by regulation1, which includes a large portion of the Maligne Valley.

Both area concepts establish objectives in each of the three areas of the Parks Canada mandate:

• to enhance the ability of visitors to connect with the area and update infrastructure where needed • to maintain the area’s high conservation values and provide space and security for wildlife–with a focus on caribou conservation, grizzly bear habitat security, and Harlequin Ducks • to strengthen public appreciation and understanding of the valley’s unique attributes

Table 1 summarizes the key actions identified in the area concepts.

For the purposes of this planning exercise, we are focusing on the area roughly identical to the catchment or watershed for the Maligne River (see Figure 1). It was expanded slightly to encompass the entire Skyline Trail, Jacques Lake and Avalanche Campground (near Maligne Pass). Although the area does not include the first 6 km of the Maligne Lake Road, we were mindful of how the area north of the canyon relates to the rest of the valley.

1 Under the National Parks of Canada Wilderness Area Declaration Regulations (2000)

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Table 1 Summary of key actions identified in the Jasper National Park Management Plan for the Maligne Valley. Management Plan Direction Maligne Valley Wilderness Area Concept Area Concept Improving the sense of arrival and orientation in the valley X X Updating infrastructure and prioritizing investment at key X X locations (e.g. Maligne Canyon, Medicine Lake) Providing opportunities for three levels of visitor engagement X Reviewing the wilderness offer to ensure that it meets X changing visitor needs and is financially sustainable Improving communication and interpretation in partnership X X with others Improving wildlife viewing opportunities and management X Implementing caribou conservation measures in support of X caribou recovery Improving grizzly bear habitat security X X Implement the management plan direction for the mid- X Maligne River Maintaining the wilderness character of the valley X Managing activities to improve visitor experiences and reduce X X impacts on the park environment Exploring new environmental stewardship practices and X X green alternatives

1.1 Why do we need an Implementation Strategy?

While the area concepts in the park management plan provide broad direction for the Maligne Valley, more detailed actions are needed to focus implementation efforts over the next five to eight years. Resource protection and visitor experience objectives are inter-related and will benefit from a holistic approach that considers how initiatives to improve either area of mandate can support one another.

Parks Canada’s overarching priorities for the Maligne Valley are to advance caribou conservation objectives and to reinvigorate dated visitor opportunities and facilities for long term sustainability. Resource protection and visitor experience objectives are inter- related and will benefit from a holistic approach that considers how initiatives to improve either area of mandate can support one another. Information gathered through this initiative will also assist in evaluating the potential benefits and impacts of proposals from third-parties, including a proposal by Maligne Tours (see p. 6).

An inter-disciplinary team of Parks Canada employees has assembled information to help us better understand the resource protection and visitor experience issues in the valley. This information—obtained from a variety of sources, including historical records, wildlife monitoring data, habitat models, trail and traffic counters, and visitor surveys—was used to develop this document, a situation analysis for the Maligne Valley.

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Figure 1 Study Area for the Maligne Valley Implementation Strategy.

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This document outlines:

• what we know about the Maligne Valley, its visitors, wildlife and current management by Parks Canada • recent implementation of management plan direction in the valley • opportunities to improve resource protection and visitor experience and detailed objectives for achieving those results

There are many choices to be made as Parks Canada proceeds with management plan implementation in the valley. This document will provide an information-rich platform for the next step of the planning process: discussing options for improving the visitor offer and conditions for wildlife in the valley, a discussion that requires the engagement of stakeholders and the public.

Maligne Tours

Maligne Tours is uniquely positioned with their base of operations to contribute to enhancing visitor experience opportunities and park stewardship at Maligne Lake. They currently operate a day lodge, scenic boat cruises, boat rentals, and interpretive guiding. They are the custodian of the historic Brewster Chalet and Curly Phillips Boathouse, and the solar-powered washrooms at Spirit Island.

Concurrent with Parks Canada’s development of the Maligne Valley Implementation Strategy, Maligne Tours will directly engage the public in discussing their Conceptual Proposal for renewing their visitor experience offer, including a proposal for commercial accommodations, and for updating their stewardship commitments. Parks Canada’s decision-making process will consider Maligne Tours’ Conceptual Proposal on its merits and in the full context of achieving park objectives for visitor experience and wildlife conservation. All comments from the public will be taken into account. For more information please visit: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/jasper/plan/maligne/reamenagement-redevelopment.aspx

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2.0 Current State of Mandate Elements 2.1 Visitor Experience

2.1.1 Visitors to Maligne Valley

An estimated 380,000 visitors make the trip up the Maligne Lake Road every year. The vast majority of these visitors—approximately 360,000—come to the valley during the summer2. Winter is a much quieter time in the valley, with about 20,000 people travelling the road between November and April.

Between 10 and 15% of visitors to the valley are part of an organized tour; the rest are independent travelers. Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days in the valley in both summer and winter.

Our working assumption is that trends in visitation to the Maligne Valley mirror park- wide visitation trends. The volume of traffic on the Maligne Lake Road increased slightly between 2003 and 2010, on the order of 0. 5% annually; park-wide visitation was stable over the same time period. In more recent years, park-wide visitation has been increasing and the 2010 park management plan contains a target to increase overall visitation by 2% per year.

100,000 98,000 96,000

94,000 92,000 90,000 88,000

Number of of vehicles Number 86,000 84,000 82,000 80,000 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Figure 2 Total number of vehicles travelling southbound on Maligne Lake Road (2003-2010). Source: Maligne Lake Road Traffic Counter (2003-2010).

2 This estimate is based on annual traffic counts generated by a traffic counter located on the Maligne Lake Road just south of Maligne Canyon. From 2003 to 2010, an average of 97,000 vehicles per year travelled southbound into the valley. Although the traffic counts were not classified by vehicle type, we assumed that 3% of vehicles travelling up the valley were buses (based on a 2007/08 traffic analysis for the Icefields Parkway) and that these buses would be carrying an average of 40 passengers—close to their full capacity. We assumed that the other 97% of vehicles in the valley were smaller recreational vehicles or passenger vehicles. We estimated that the average group size in those vehicles was 2.8, based on the results of the 2012 Maligne Lake Visitor Survey and similar surveys in other locations in the park (e.g. the average group size for independent visitors was 2.6 in the Patterns of Visitor Use survey).

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A large percentage of visitors (68%) to the Maligne Valley are first-time visitors (compared with 57% of visitors to Jasper National Park who are visiting the park for the first time). Most visitors are inspired to visit the valley by its scenery (40%), the desire to participate in a particular activity (27%) and the valley’s reputation as an iconic destination (26%). Some visitors are motivated by specific activities, such as the boat cruise on Maligne Lake (16%) and the prospect of wildlife viewing (12%). Only 2% of visitors are inspired to visit the valley by the drive.

45% Whereas general park visitors 40% are encouraged to visit the park

35% by accounts of friends and 30% family, past experience, and 25% travel guides or brochures, 20% Maligne Valley visitors rely more 15% 10% heavily on printed materials Percentage of Visitors 5% (guidebooks and brochures), 0% followed by the recommendations of others and then past experience.

Figure 3 Factors that inspired visitors to visit Maligne Lake in summer 2012 (n=514). Source: Maligne Lake Visitor Survey (2012).

Nearly half of all visitors to the Maligne Table 2 Geographic origins of visitors to the Maligne Valley. Valley are Canadians. Almost a third hail Origin Jasper National Park Maligne Lake from Europe and 18 % are from the Visitors Visitors United States. The geographic origins of Canada 46.9 % 43.0 % Maligne Valley visitors are similar to Saskatchewan 2.7 % 1.6 % those of general park visitors, although a Alberta 22.7 % 27.0 % slightly higher percentage of Europeans British Columbia 8.1 % 5.3 % and a slightly lower percentage of United States 18.7 % 17.5 % Canadians visit the valley than would be Europe 23.1 % 32.1 % expected based on data for the entire Asia 1.7 % 2.3 % park. Other Overseas 9.6 % 4.7 % Sources: Visitor Information Profile (2011) and Maligne Lake Visitor Survey (2012).

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Fifty-three percent of visitors to the Maligne Valley are travelling with one other person; 18% are in a group of four. Roughly a third of visitors are over 55 and about another third are between 35 and 54 years of age. Only 14% of visitors are 17 years or younger, which is similar to a park-wide finding that only 11% of visitors are 16 years or younger. Although the Parks Canada Agency has set priorities to attract more New Canadians and urban youth to national parks, we have little information on these and other types of visitors to the valley or on how visitor needs, motivations and expectations differ in relation to characteristics such as age, origin and family status.

Given limited overnight accommodations in the valley, the vast majority of visitors (96%) are day trippers. The average length of a summer visit to Maligne Lake is 3.5 hours, with 85% of visitors spending between one and six hours in and around the lake. Only 4% of visitors spend one or more nights in the valley.

Visitors headed to Maligne Lake stop

50% 45% most frequently at Medicine Lake and 40% 35% Maligne Canyon. Although Maligne 30% Canyon and Maligne Lake both 25% 20% receive upwards of 300,000 visitors 15% in the summer, they are not 10%

Percentage of Visitors of Percentage 5% necessarily the same people. Only a 0% quarter of the people who visit Maligne Lake stop at Maligne Canyon first. Spirit Island is likely the fourth most visited location in the valley, based on tour boat numbers.

Figure 4 Locations where visitors stopped on the way to Maligne Lake. Source: Maligne Lake Visitor Survey (2012).

Table 3 Percentage of Maligne Lake visitors who We have little data on what visitors participated in different activities in the summer of 2012. do once they reach their destination, Percentage of Visitors although a 2012 summer visitor Activity Participating in Activity survey provided some indication of the most popular activities in the Hiking 49% valley (see Table 3). Among the Dining 32% activities that respondents were Boat cruise on Maligne 27% asked about, hiking was the most Lake popular, followed by dining and then Picnicking 16% taking a boat cruise. Additional data Boating (Rental or 16% on specific activities is provided in personal boat) Section 2.1.2: Visitor Offer. Wildlife Viewing 11% Fishing 6% Source: Maligne Lake Visitor Survey (2012).

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Visitors to the Maligne Valley are generally very satisfied with their experience. Almost all visitors would recommend the valley to others and 99% agreed that the visit had met or exceeded their expectations. When visitors were asked to rate their satisfaction with specific activities, they expressed high satisfaction with all activities, with fishing receiving the lowest score.

Table 4 Visitor satisfaction with different activities offered in the Maligne Valley. Visitor Visitor Activity Satisfaction Activity Satisfaction Rating* Rating* Camping at Coronet Creek 4.7 4.3 Hiking or Fisherman’s Bay 4.7 Dining in restaurant 4.2 Boat Tours or chalet Recreational boating 4.6 3.6 Fishing (rental or own boat) 4.5 Picnicking

*Rated using a scale of 1 to 5, where 5 is most satisfied and 1 is least satisfied. Source: Maligne Lake Visitor Survey (2012).

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2.1.2 Visitor Offer

The visitor offer is the sum total of the facilities, programs, services, activities and infrastructure in an area that support the visitor experience. A wide range of visitor facilities, activities and services are provided in the Maligne Valley by Parks Canada, commercial operators and non-profit organizations. Most of these opportunities are clustered around three main nodes: Maligne Canyon, Medicine Lake and the north end of Maligne Lake.

The main components of the visitor offer in the valley include:

• 39 km Maligne Lake Road • 2 gift shops • 8 pull-outs and scenic viewpoints • Commercial boat cruise operation along the Maligne Lake Road on Maligne Lake • 13 picnic areas • 2 public boat launches • 2 restaurants • Curly Phillips boat house and boat • Maligne Lake Chalet rental operation; dock and rental • 99 km of official trails boats at Beaver Lake • 5 climbing areas (rock and ice) • 81 interpretive panels at different • Numerous other routes for locations throughout valley scrambling, mountaineering, etc. • Roving interpreters in peak season • 3 overnight accommodations: • Wildlife Guardian program Maligne Canyon Hostel, Shovel • Guided options offered by Pass Lodge and Shangri-la Cabin commercial operators for virtually • 10 backcountry campgrounds every activity in the valley • 8 road-accessible toilets

Photo : Kevin Gedling

Maligne Lake

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Figure 5 Visitor facilities between the Maligne Canyon Overlook and Medicine Lake.

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Figure 6 Visitor facilities at Medicine Lake.

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Figure 7 Visitor facilities from Medicine Lake to Maligne Lake.

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2.1.2.1 Infrastructure and facilities Most of the infrastructure in the Maligne Valley is about 40 years old. There has been little change in the location or layout of picnic areas, viewpoints and other day use areas since the Maligne Lake Road was paved in 1971. Trees now obscure some viewpoints, vegetation has overtaken several picnic areas, and parking areas and pathways need to be fixed.

There is also little sense of arrival to the valley and visitors who have not received any pre-trip information may not be aware of visitor opportunities further up the valley. Road signs to orient visitors to points-of-interest are lacking in many locations.

There has been some investment in the intervening decades. For example, outhouses and trailhead kiosks have been replaced as required, which has resulted in a mix of modern and older facilities in the valley. Many commercial facilities date from the same era as the road; the day lodge at Maligne Lake, for example, was built in 1977.

Only 29% of Parks Canada’s built assets worth over $10,000 are in good condition. A large number of assets (38%) are in poor condition, and either need to be replaced or renovated. For example, the two washrooms with flush toilets at the Maligne Lake Day Use Area were built in 1968. They received the lowest satisfaction scores of all the washrooms in the valley in a 2012 summer visitor survey. The buildings are rated in poor condition; cubicle walls are rusting and some toilets are broken. The water and sewer lines for one of the washrooms have failed several times in the past few years. Toilet in the public washroom at the Maligne Lake Day Use Area

The Maligne Valley contains a large network of backcountry trails and facilities. Some parts of the network, such as the Skyline trail, were first established by outfitters in the 1930’s, whereas other parts were built by Parks Canada, such as the Maligne Pass trail, which was constructed in the 1960’s.

Parks Canada is challenged to maintain wilderness trails and facilities throughout the park, however popular wilderness opportunities in the Maligne Valley, such as the Skyline trail and Maligne Lake boat-accessible campgrounds, have been identified as priorities for investment in the park management plan.

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Parks Canada has used a framework called the Backcountry Opportunities Spectrum for many years to prioritize wilderness maintenance and re-investment. Trails and facilities within the Maligne Valley fall into one of two categories within the framework: semi- primitive or primitive. Semi-primitive areas receive the highest level of service. Facilities should be well-maintained (e.g. trails cleared regularly, campsites equipped with cable food-storage, picnic tables and pit privies) and receive moderate levels of use. Primitive areas receive a lower level of service and use (e.g. trails cleared annually or less frequently).

Figure 8 Backcountry Opportunity Spectrum applied to the Maligne Valley.

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The Backcountry Opportunity Spectrum is inadequate for a number of reasons: it does little to differentiate between areas that receive high levels of day use and areas that receive moderate levels of overnight use, nor does it reflect changes in the level of service and facilities provided in many locations in the valley. For example, although the standard for semi-primitive trails is to clear them several times per year, most semi- primitive trails are currently only cleared once a season. Conversely, the new toilet and food lockers at Fisherman’s Bay Campground offer a higher level of service than visitors might ordinarily expect in a Wildland area.

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Figure 9 Visitor services and facilities on Maligne Lake.

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Figure 10 Visitor facilities on the Skyline Trail.

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2.1.2.2 Communications and Interpretation There is no special signage welcoming visitors to the Maligne Valley. Many directional and information signs are worn or outdated, and some are missing altogether.

Parks Canada has a web-page dedicated to the valley that covers a variety of topics, including how to get to the valley, visitor safety, learning activities and points-of- interest. Several Parks Canada brochures include information about the valley (e.g. Mountain Guide, Day Hikers Guide, Winter Trail Guide). Most of the commercial operators in the valley have websites that offer information about their services and visiting the valley.

Much of the non-personal interpretation (i.e. interpretive signs) in the valley is out-of-date, either in appearance or content. The gold signs that can be seen in many locations throughout the valley were installed in 1970. More recent interpretation, such as the caribou panels at Medicine Lake, Harlequin Duck panels at the Maligne Lake Outlet and panels at the Maligne Chalet about Fred Brewster’s legacy, contains Interpretive panels at Medicine Lake good information, but is not linked thematically or stylistically.

2.1.2.3 Activities The valley’s wide range of facilities supports many different summer and winter activities. While the largest segment of visitors to the valley are focused on sightseeing activities (e.g. photography, picnicking, taking a boat cruise on Maligne Lake), many visitors come to the valley to participate in recreational activities. Although some activities, such as fishing, have dwindled in popularity over the years, and others like canyon walks have grown in popularity, there has been little overall change in the mix of activities available in the valley (listed in Table 5).

Data on the number of visitors participating in the different activities available in the valley is limited. This has been supplemented by knowledge of general trends in outdoor recreation and staff observations regarding specific activities. For instance, although we do not know how many anglers use the valley, staff observations indicate that Maligne Lake is one of the most popular spots in the park for fishing.

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Table 5 Summer and Winter Activities in the Maligne Valley. Summer Winter

Sightseeing Activities Boat Cruising Driving / Sightseeing Dining Learning (non-personal only) Driving / Sightseeing Wildlife viewing Learning (non-personal and personal) Picnicking Shopping Wildlife viewing Recreational Activities Boating (canoeing, kayaking and row boating) Canyon walking Camping Ice Climbing Caving Mountaineering Cycling (mountain and road biking) Skiing (cross-country, skate and Fishing touring) Hiking Snowshoeing Horse riding Winter camping Mountaineering Rock climbing Scrambling

Summer Activities The best data we have are for trails and wilderness campgrounds. Hiking is the most popular summer-time recreational activity in the valley. Although overnight hiking has declined steadily in popularity in Jasper National Park since the 1980’s, day hiking has likely increased in popularity.

A 2010 trail survey shows that most hikers (62%) in Jasper National Park hike between 1 and 5 km, followed by 33% of hikers who hike 5 to 10 km. Only a small percentage of hikers (4%) hike farther than 10 km.

Data obtained from trail counters and remote cameras in the Maligne Valley support these findings. The most popular hikes in the valley—Maligne Canyon and the lakeshore portion of the Mary Schäffer Loop—are also the shortest hikes in the valley. The next most popular trails are the Mary Schäffer Loop in its entirety and the Moose Lake Loop, followed by the longer, steeper trails: Opal Hills and Bald Hills. The Skyline, mainly an overnight trail that receives some day use (particularly in the section south of Mona and Lorraine lakes), is less popular than Opal Hills and Bald Hills. The limited data that were available for the trail to Summit and Jacques lakes suggest that it is the least used trail in the valley.

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Table 6 Monthly counts of trail use in the Maligne Valley Period of Monthly Averages Summer Trail Data Use Collection May June July Aug Sept Oct Average Bald Hills 2006 to 2010 66 468 1 726 1 876 1 106 212 5 454 Maligne 2008 to 2010 28 114 40 926 66 132 68 874 38 539 20 399 242 585 Canyon Mary Schäffer 2012 ------19 964* ------Lakeside Mary Schäffer 2008 to 2010 466 1 522 2 110 2 641 1 980 1 078 9 797 Loop Moose Lake 2008 to 2010 520 1 023 1 680 2 072 1 164 778 7 237 Loop Opal Hills 2006 to 2007 -- 1 064** 1 505 2 362 1 128 194 6 252 Skyline 2012 -- -- 742 1 047 ------Beaver Lake 2011 ------286 117 -- *Based on 4 days of data. **2007 only. Sources: Jasper National Park Summer Trail Use Study (2008-2010) and remote camera monitoring for various projects.

Despite the trend of declining overnight use of the trail system park-wide, campground bookings along the Skyline trail have remained relatively stable over the last decade, averaging 4 000 user nights per year. The seven campgrounds that are considered to be part of the Skyline network contain 44 sites altogether. Occupancy at the three largest campgrounds (Curator, Snowbowl and Tekarra) is 60 to 70% in July and 80% in August. A number of the smaller campgrounds, particularly Evelyn Creek and Watchtower have very low occupancy (15%). 6000 1600 Skyline Trail 1400 5000 1200

4000 1000 800 Fisherman's 3000 Bay 600 User Nights User

2000 NightsUser 400 Coronet 1000 200 Creek 0 0

Figure 11 Total annual user nights (one person Figure 12 Total annual user nights (one person staying one night) on the Skyline Trail (1998-2010). staying one night) at the Maligne Lake campgrounds Source: Wilderness Permit Database (2008-2010). (1998-2010). Source: Wilderness Permit Database (2008-2010).

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At the boat-accessible campgrounds on Maligne Lake, overnight use has been rising on the order of 1 to 3% annually over the past decade. With 16 sites altogether, the campgrounds receive an average of 2 200 user nights per year. Occupancy during July and August is 70% at Coronet Creek and 80% at Fisherman’s Bay (based on data from 2006 to 2012).

The trend observed at the Maligne Pass campgrounds is more reflective of park-wide patterns of overnight wilderness use. Use fell steadily through the last decade, from over 900 user nights in 1998 to less than 400 user nights in 2010 (spread across 20 sites in five campgrounds). Avalanche Campground continues to be the most popular campground along the trail, although Parks Canada ceased actively maintaining the trail or promoting its campgrounds in 2009.

The trend at Jacques Lake Campground (8 sites) is similar to the trend on the Skyline: bookings have remained relatively stable over the last decade, at around 450 user nights per year. Occupancy is low at 20%, however this is an important campground for novice backpackers and early season campers.

Winter Activities The Maligne Lake Road is plowed regularly in winter, which combined with dependable snowfall and a variety of terrain makes the valley an attractive destination for skiing, snowshoeing and other winter activities. Several canyons close to the road offer ice climbing and Maligne Canyon, with its guided Ice Walks, is one of the most popular winter attractions in the park.

Although Parks Canada no longer actively promotes skiing in the Maligne Lake area, Bald

Hills and Jeffery Creek are used by 600 and 500 people respectively per season (November to April) based on data collected using remote cameras. In the last winter that Summit Lakes was trackset (2011/12) it was used by 1,600 people. Trail erosion that occurred in summer

2012 needs to be addressed if this old fire road is Photo : Rogier Gruys to be track-set again in future.

Ice Walks are a popular activity in the Maligne Canyon

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2.1.3 Levels of Visitor Engagement Three levels of visitor engagement described in the management plan provide a useful framework for planning for visitor experiences. The levels of engagement can overlap– visitors who have a View from the Edge experience as they drive along the Maligne Lake Road, can later have a Step into the Wild experience as they launch their rental canoe from the Curly Phillips Boathouse and paddle down the lake. An area like the north end of Maligne Lake may support all three levels of engagement: while it may offer the main experience for one type of engagement, it may be the staging area for another. Table 7 outlines the characteristics of visitors in each level of engagement and provides examples of infrastructure and activities that support this type of experience.

Table 7 Three levels of engagement for visitor experience and associated facilities and activities. Level of Characteristics Examples of Examples of Activities or Engagement Infrastructure Services Supporting this Level Supporting this Level of of Engagement Engagement

View from the • Largest proportion of • Road access • Photography Edge visitors to Maligne Valley • Picnic areas • Picnicking • Prefer to stay close to • Viewpoints / pull- • Short walks civilization outs • Boat cruises on Maligne • Focused on sightseeing • Maligne Lake Day Lake • May have less time to Use Area • Roving interpreters spend in the valley (restaurant and • Wildlife Guardians boat docks) Step into the • Smaller proportion of • Road access • Fishing Wild visitors to Maligne Valley • Trailheads & shorter • Boating • Main focus is participation day use trails • Most day hikes (e.g. Mary in a recreational activity • Boat Schaeffer, Moose Lake • Stay longer – several hours docks/launches Loops) or a few days depending on • Ice Walks at Maligne activity Canyon • Trail rides Rocky • Smallest proportion of • Road access • Overnight hiking or boating Mountain visitors to Maligne Valley • Trailheads or trips (e.g. Skyline, Jacques Wilderness • Main focus is participation in parking areas Lake, Coronet Creek) a recreational activity • Longer trails and • Mountaineering, climbing • Higher degree of self- wilderness • Multi-day wilderness trips reliance campgrounds (e.g. Maligne Pass) • Stay longer – a full day to • Ski touring many days depending on activity

Seen through this lens, the majority of visitors to the valley fall into the View from the Edge level of visitor engagement. Road-accessible facilities and activities are the key to the View from the Edge experience–these visitors do not stray far from the edge of the pavement. Picnic areas, viewpoints, the boat cruise at Maligne Lake, and short walks, such as the trails in Home Bay, will provide for this level of engagement. Well-hardened, easily-accessible areas where natural hazards are to a large degree

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mitigated (e.g. through fencing, paving, stairs with handrails) and containing interpretive panels and safety signage will inform and connect.

There are many opportunities for a View from the Edge experience in summertime, however in winter and during parts of the shoulder seasons (spring and fall) the valley has less to offer. Most commercial facilities are closed and Parks Canada’s services are limited (e.g. no interpretive programs are offered). As Table 5 demonstrates, the main activities for this group in winter are the drive up the valley and possibly some wildlife viewing.

Visitors who seek out the latter two levels of engagement—Step into the Wild and Rocky Mountain Wilderness—are typically more focused on recreational activities. They spend less time on the pavement and more time in wilderness areas. They use many of the same facilities as other visitors at the start of an excursion, however they also use different infrastructure, such as longer trails, corrals, docks and wilderness campgrounds.

Photo : Rogier Gruys The main difference between the two groups is reflected in the distance they travel from the road or trailhead, the length of time they spend in wilderness areas and the characteristics of the activities they participate in. Greater self-reliance, technical skills and experience characterize the Rocky Mountain Wilderness level of engagement.

A wide range of infrastructure and services cater to these two groups, especially in summer. In winter, some Step into the Wild activities are available, particularly at Maligne Canyon, with its guided Ice Walks and winter walking, and some options for snowshoeing and skiing nearby. Further up the valley, visitors must be prepared to set their own ski tracks and find their own snowshoe routes.

Quieter places, more technical routes and opportunities for adventure abound for those seeking fuller wilderness immersion in summer and in winter. Spectacular scenery has made the Skyline trail and Maligne Lake campgrounds the most popular overnight wilderness destinations in the park. From ski mountaineering to multi-day backpacking, the valley offers a multitude of options for Rocky Mountain Wilderness level of engagement.

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2.2 Resource Protection

2.2.1 Caribou There are five populations of woodland caribou in Canada. Jasper National Park protects part of the Southern Mountain population, which has been listed as threatened under the Species at Risk Act. The Maligne Valley is home to six of these caribou.

2.2.1.1 Abundance Historical observations of caribou in the Maligne region indicate the presence of significantly more caribou than today. Although historical data were not collected using the same methods used today, single-observations provide adequate evidence of a much larger herd. For example, analysis of warden wildlife cards from 1956 returned observations of 48 caribou (in groups of 16 or 17) and in the 1960’s Superintendent Atkinson estimated 60 caribou were ranging in the Maligne district. In the 1980s, estimates of 50 to 75 caribou were given for the Maligne region and in 1998 a minimum count of 68 caribou was recorded via aerial survey.

Jasper National Park’s current caribou monitoring program was initiated in fall 2001. Since then, 12 caribou have been collared in the Maligne area, providing approximately 40 caribou-years of monitoring; this enables a comprehensive understanding of both Maligne population dynamics and habitat use.

Photo : Mark Br adley Collaring caribou allowed biologists to more precisely calculate population numbers and make more meaningful comparisons between years. In 2011, collaring of woodland caribou ceased after a non-invasive technique, DNA extraction from fecal samples, was shown to produce reliable population estimates.

Population monitoring since 2001 has demonstrated a downward trend in caribou numbers in the Maligne Valley. The Maligne herd declined from a minimum of 68 animals in 1998 to 30 by fall 2003; there are now only 6 animals remaining. It is impossible to attribute this decline to a single factor, however Parks Canada has identified five key threats that are currently impacting caribou throughout Jasper National Park, all of which are present in the Maligne region. Those five threats are described beginning on p. 32.

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Figure 13 Caribou counts in the Maligne Valley (1988 – 2012).

One noteworthy influence in the Maligne Valley during this time period was the change in wolf populations. Historically, the Maligne Valley was not an area where wolves established permanent territories; they were thought instead to make forays up the valley from the Athabasca Valley, often travelling on the Maligne Lake Road. There are few recorded wolf observations in the Maligne region prior to fall 2002, and very few from 1990 to 2002 (although anecdotal evidence going back to the 1970’s suggests that the number of wolf tracks observed in winter has increased over time). However, in the winter of 2002-2003, two wolves established territory in the Maligne Valley and reared five pups in the summers of 2003 and 2004.

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Figure 14 Caribou and wolf counts in the Maligne Valley (1994 – 2012).

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In 2004 another pack of four was located and collared near the north end of Maligne Lake. It is believed that these wolves ranged from between Medicine and Maligne lakes down to the Brazeau River. By the end of 2005 the Medicine pack shifted its territory eastward into the Rocky River, possibly due to low prey densities in the Maligne Valley, and the Maligne pack shifted more permanently to the Brazeau region. Today the Maligne Valley is no longer home to a local wolf pack, but forays into the valley by both the Signal (town) pack and the Brazeau (south boundary) pack occur.

Biologists speculate that the change in wolf numbers in the Maligne Valley from 2002 to 2005 may have been influenced by higher-than-average wolf densities in the Athabasca Valley. The impact of at least one resident wolf packs on the Maligne caribou population, in addition to existing predation pressures, may have been substantial enough to cause a serious decline in Maligne caribou. Unfortunately, the decline occurred at a time when caribou monitoring was only beginning in earnest, and therefore biologists were unable to verify the cause of caribou mortalities in the Maligne Valley.

Wolves are currently widely distributed throughout the Maligne Valley in summer and fall, occurring in all ecoregions, including the alpine. In winter, their distribution is more limited—telemetry data show that they tend to be more concentrated in the valley bottom and at the north end of the valley.

2.2.1.2 Distribution In the Maligne Valley, caribou summer habitat occurs from the alpine meadows of Signal Mountain to south of Maligne Pass, with most use concentrated between Curator Mountain and Maligne Pass. In winter, caribou are distributed in approximately the same regions, but tend to use habitats into the subalpine. In particular, caribou heavily use the slopes above Medicine Lake from Excelsior to Jeffery Creek, and use the subalpine areas in Trapper Creek to Curator Mountain on both sides of the Maligne Range. They use the Maligne Pass area less in the winter, but have been seen along the shores of Maligne Lake. Within the last 20 years it was not uncommon to observe caribou in the late winter/spring along the Maligne Lake Road from Watchtower to the Medicine Lake delta.

Caribou have also been observed on the east side of the Maligne Valley, including Surprise Lake, Rocky River, Summit Lakes, Opal Hills, Maligne Lake Narrows, around Maligne Mountain, Coronet Creek, and Warren Creek. In recent years the small remaining caribou herd has used areas between Jeffery, Hardisty, and Trapper creeks and Opal Hills.

Figure 15 shows that while caribou range once covered almost the entire park, it has become increasingly fragmented to the point where there are now four distinct ranges in the park.

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Figure 15 Caribou range retractions in Jasper National Park.

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2.2.1.3 Reproduction Caribou have evolved a specialized survival strategy–they are adapted to live in a difficult environment characterized by deep snow in winter and a low-energy food source. Caribou rely on lichens that grow in old forests in the subalpine for winter forage; they are the only mammal that depends on this slow-growing plant. The benefit of living in such a low-productivity habitat is reduced predation pressure–caribou exploit a niche without other ungulates (elk, deer and moose) or their predators (wolves, cougars, bears). However, the trade-off is reflected in low reproductive output; female caribou do not usually have their first calf until they are 2 or 3 years old and they only have one calf per year (and likely not every year).

This low calf production is, under natural settings, offset by high adult survival and a long reproductive phase. However, caribou in the Maligne Valley and throughout Jasper have declined simply because adult female mortality has increased, resulting in a shorter reproductive phase and consequent reduction in the number of female calves that survive to reproductive age.

2.2.1.4 Habitat Use Telemetry location data, observation data, and resource selection function (RSF) models have contributed to our understanding of caribou habitat selection patterns in the Maligne Valley. Two models have been developed that predict caribou use of the landscape based on telemetry data, one for the subalpine ecoregion and another for the alpine. Figures 16 and 17 show where caribou are predicted to occur in summer and in winter in the Maligne Valley, based on these models.

Woodland caribou throughout Jasper tend to use alpine areas in the summer and fall. As the snow begins to deepen in winter, caribou distribution shifts to lower subalpine areas, although some groups will remain on windswept ridges. In late winter or spring caribou are at their lowest elevation before moving back to the subalpine or alpine for calving in early June.

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Figure 16 Resource Selection Function model for caribou in summer in the Maligne Valley.

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Figure 17 Resource Selection Function model for caribou in winter in the Maligne Valley.

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Parks Canada has defined important habitat for caribou in Jasper National Park in the Conservation Strategy for Southern Mountain Caribou. Important habitat includes both current and historic habitat. Current habitat is habitat that caribou have used since 1988 and was identified through telemetry location data, observation data, and resource selection function (RSF) models. Historic sightings, reports and research (prior to 1988) were used to identify historic habitat patches.

Most of the Maligne Valley has been identified as important caribou habitat. Important habitat may assist in identifying critical habitat, once an Environment-Canada-led recovery planning process is underway. (Under the Species at Risk Act, critical habitat is habitat necessary for the survival or recovery of a species.)

Figure 18 Important habitat for caribou in the Maligne Valley.

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2.2.1.5 Effects of Human Activity Five threats to caribou persistence in Jasper National Park have been identified through research and monitoring efforts. Parks Canada biologists continue to monitor caribou, wolf, elk and deer populations to understand how predator-prey dynamics are changing and evaluate the effectiveness of management actions.

Altered Predator/Prey Dynamics: Past park management practices have resulted in an unnatural predator-prey dynamic in Jasper National Park. Elk were reintroduced into the park in the 1920s, at a time when Parks Canada controlled predator populations. The elk population grew rapidly and when predator control ended in the late 1950s, wolf populations increased, supported by the high elk numbers.

Although caribou are not the primary prey of wolves, wolves will travel into caribou habitat and prey on caribou given the opportunity. Wolf predation accounts for a large proportion of adult caribou mortalities (45% of mortalities since 1988 for which we know the cause) in Jasper National Park. High numbers of elk historically, primarily in the Three Valley Confluence area, are believed to have resulted in increased wolf- caribou encounters and predation.

Although the elk population began to slowly decline starting in the 1970’s, and the wolf population displayed a similar, albeit delayed trend, another management practice— leaving road-killed ungulates in open areas for wolves and other scavengers—likely contributed to higher wolf densities than might otherwise have been expected. This practice was discontinued in 2006.

The elk population is now approaching numbers that should improve the outlook for caribou, although elk that inhabit the Three Valley Confluence continue to have higher recruitment than their counterparts in less influenced habitat (e.g. Rocky River).

Populations of mule and white-tailed deer may also be influencing predator populations, although it is unclear how. Initiation of a deer study in 2012 has revealed that many deer that winter near the townsite migrate to Maligne Lake in the summer.

Although the Maligne Valley has infrequently housed resident wolf packs, the valley has relatively high prey biomass from time to time (i.e. moose) and has the potential to support, at least in the short-term, a wolf pack. In the meantime, it is an area to which wolf packs with home ranges in the Three Valley Confluence and other areas occasionally venture.

Facilitated Predator Access: When the snowpack begins to accumulate, it is more difficult for wolves to travel into caribou habitat. Wolves are not designed to travel in deep snow and expend a lot of energy doing so. However, people can influence where wolves choose to go and how quickly they travel by creating packed trails and roads. Several pieces of information indicate that wolves select trails including local wolf radio collar data, camera images and peer-reviewed, published research from other areas.

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Although track-setting was discontinued in the Maligne Lake area in winter 2005/2006, continued recreational use of a number of areas, such as Bald Hills and Jeffery Creek, provides wolves with an unnatural advantage in accessing caribou habitat and has the potential to artificially increase caribou encounters with wolves. It takes very little snow compaction to increase a wolf’s ability to travel in an area.

There are many factors that influence the risk of caribou being killed by wolves as a result of wolves’ use of ski trails. For example, this type of encounter is more likely to occur in areas where wolves are resident and regularly use an area, where ski trails go from valley-bottom to alpine caribou habitat, and where ski-trails intersect important caribou habitat and caribou tracks.

Road plowing also provides wolves with improved access to caribou habitat. Telemetry data show that wolves tend to travel on or parallel to the road and river between Maligne Canyon and Medicine Lake, however less data are available for the area south of Medicine Lake. Parks Canada staff have observed that in winter wolves use both the river and road to travel in the valley bottom between Maligne Canyon and Medicine Lake, but that beyond Medicine Lake, they tend to travel on the road, since Photo: Mark Bradley the river is open all winter.

The use of fladry (strips of fabric suspended along a rope so that they can move in the breeze) along roads and ski trails to discourage wolves from entering caribou habitat was investigated in the mid-2000’s, but was ineffective.

Direct Disturbance of Caribou: Several different activities have the potential to disturb caribou, however the main concern in this threat category, given its potential to directly reduce caribou populations, is road mortality. In the last 20 years, caribou have been observed on the Maligne Lake Road in all months except for July and August. One caribou was killed on the road in February 1995.

Signs installed in 2005 remind motorists to watch for caribou on the road and observe the 60 km/h speed limit. Losing even one caribou out of the Maligne herd could be critical to their long-term persistence.

Hiking and other human disturbances, such as aircraft overflights, have also been shown to disturb caribou. In Jasper National Park, caribou spent significantly more time active and less time foraging or bedding in response to hiker encounters. Forty-four percent of hiker encounters displaced caribou to distances ranging from 200 to 2 400 m and caribou reacted to hikers at an average distance of just over 200 m. Furthermore, caribou have been shown to avoid alpine trails during summer and fall. Although recreational activities have been demonstrated to affect individual caribou habitat

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selection and energy expenditure, it seems unlikely that human disturbance has had a population-level effect.

Although hiking in caribou habitat is not likely to cause population declines, there are some sensitive times for caribou when recreational activities could have more important effects. At high temperatures caribou are often under more physiological and environmental stress (e.g. from biting insects) and Jasper National Park caribou have been shown to react more strongly to human disturbance when temperatures are high. In addition, caribou with calves are more likely to flee greater distances when encountered by a hiker. Great care should be taken not to displace caribou from snow patches and not to approach caribou with calves.

Several initiatives were implemented in the mid-2000’s to minimize stress to caribou, with mixed results in terms of compliance and increased caribou numbers. Flight guidelines were developed for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, dogs were prohibited in caribou habitat and recreational users were also asked to voluntarily avoid hiking in caribou range during the calving and rutting seasons.

Direct Elimination of Caribou Habitat: This refers to any activity that will convert the old growth forest upon which caribou depend to younger forest that is the preferred habitat of deer, elk and moose. The main threat to caribou habitat would be a large wildfire. Wildfires in the subalpine are rare events (once in several hundred years), however they can radically alter vegetation communities, creating habitat that is more favourable for the species wolves tend to prey on and removing the main food source for caribou; lichen.

Fire management policies were adjusted in the mid-2000’s to account for caribou habitat objectives. All caribou range is zoned for an intermediate fire management response, which means that in the event of a wildfire, the goal of the fire crews would be limit the extent of the fire using a combination of suppression tactics and natural fuel breaks. No specific locations have been identified for fire guards or capping units that would provide containment options if a wildfire started somewhere in the valley, although Medicine Lake offers the best potential in this regard.

Small Population Effects Species with small population sizes are more vulnerable to inbreeding, disease and catastrophic events. The extirpation of the last five caribou in Banff National Park, which were caught in an avalanche, is a graphic example of this threat in action. With six remaining individuals, the Maligne herd is at serious risk of extirpation. The consequences of the loss of just one or two individuals out of this herd would be very great. Without our intervention to increase caribou numbers, it is unlikely that this herd will continue to persist.

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2.2.2 Grizzly Bears The grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) is widely distributed throughout the Canadian Rockies, however it has been extirpated from much of its historic range in western North America. A goal to ensure the long-term viability of this COSEWIC-listed species of Special Concern drives many management decisions in the mountain national parks. Because the grizzly bear is a wide-ranging species that is relatively sensitive to human development and disturbances, it is often considered an umbrella species—if its habitat requirements are met, we can be assured that the habitat requirements of a large number of other species are met.

2.2.2.1 Abundance and Distribution Grizzly bears are seen in spring, summer and fall in the Maligne Valley and there are several known denning sites at higher elevations. Although we do not know how many grizzly bears include the Maligne Valley in their home ranges, Parks Canada staff have generally observed 5 to 10 different bears using the valley every year, many of them sub- adults or members of a family group. Parks Canada biologists have estimated that there are approximately 110 grizzly bears in Jasper National Park.3 Female grizzly bears with cubs have been observed repeatedly at Opal Hills and adjacent to the Maligne Lake Day Use Area by Parks Canada employees.

Female grizzly bears are slow to mature reproductively. Females in the East Slopes Grizzly Bear Study produced their first surviving litter when they were between 6 to 12 years old. The average interval between litters was about 4 years and the average litter size was just under 2 cubs. Cubs stay Photo : Mark Bradley with their mothers for one to three years. Population growth is slow and human- caused mortalities can tip the balance towards population decline.

Grizzly bears typically have large home ranges: 1,661 km2 for male grizzly bears and 535 km2 for female grizzly bears in west-central Alberta. Home range size can vary considerably, depending on a bear’s sex, the presence and age of offspring, and the time of year. The home ranges of different bears can overlap.

Sub-adult and adult bears tend to be distributed differently across the landscape. Subdominant animals (female adults, and male and female sub-adults) are thought to actively avoid more aggressive male adults, which influences their habitat choices.

3 Previous estimates of the park’s grizzly bear population were 60 to 80 animals. The most recent estimate is based on 2008 DNA surveys conducted by the Foothills Research Institute and extrapolation and does not signify an increase in the park population.

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2.2.2.2 Habitat Use Grizzly bears are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals, and generalists, meaning that they eat a wide variety of foods. Bear movements and habitat use are driven by the seasonal availability of specific foods. Plants (e.g. grasses, roots, forbs, berries) are the main food source for bears in west-central Alberta, however animal protein, such as insects, rodents and ungulates, is an important part of their diet at key times of the year.

Other factors have been shown to influence habitat selection, including a bear’s sex, the presence of other bears and humans, and maternal teaching. Adult female grizzly bears tend to select for high elevation alpine and open conifer habitats, intermediate terrain ruggedness and edges. Adult male habitat use varies more from season to season. Adult males tended to select for intermediate-aged regenerating forests and dry alpine/herbaceous areas early in the season, whereas they selected for cooler, wetter alpine sites and edge habitats later in the season.

When applied to the Maligne Valley, a Resource Selection Function model developed for female grizzly bears by the Foothills Research Institute (Figure 19) shows that grizzly bears have a medium to high probability of occurring within a large number of habitats in the Maligne Valley. (The dark areas represent areas of higher probability of bear occurrence, whereas the lighter areas represent areas where it is less likely that bears will occur.) The areas where grizzly bears are most likely to occur are generally habitats with edges (i.e. close to rivers, lakes and roads) and at higher elevation, alpine habitats.

2.2.2.3 Movement Grizzly bears are a highly mobile species that move large distances to exploit seasonal foods and find mates. Female grizzly bears tend to select for terrain of intermediate ruggedness in habitat selection models. Despite their ability to negotiate daunting terrain, like all wildlife, grizzly bears are constrained by topography, and are likely to choose routes that are less expensive energetically and that provide adequate cover to avoid detection.

Although we do not have any specific data or models for grizzly bear movement in the Maligne Valley, high probability movement areas for grizzly bears in the valley were identified by Parks Canada biologists and field staff. These movement areas or routes (depicted in Figure 20) generally follow the valley bottoms and watercourses in the main and secondary valleys.

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Figure 19 Resource Selection Function model for female grizzly bears in the Maligne Valley.

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Figure 20 High probability movement areas for grizzly bears in the Maligne Valley.

Pinch points—areas where wildlife movement is constrained by topography, human facilities (such as roads and buildings) or human activity—have also been identified in Figure 20. There are two major pinch points at Medicine Lake: at the north and south ends of the lake, a pinch point in Surprise Valley and at Samson Narrows.

A wider pinch point exists around the Maligne Lake Day Use Area. Although the topography lends itself more readily to wildlife movement, high levels of human activity within the pinch point (on trails and at the day use area), likely influence the ability of wildlife to move through the area. Remote camera monitoring on the east side of the valley in summer 2012 captured two bears (one grizzly and one black bear) moving through the area; ungulate use was higher, with close to 100 moose, white-tailed and mule deer photographed over the five week monitoring period.

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2.2.2.4 Effects of Human Activity Two main threats to grizzly bears in the Maligne Valley are displacement and habituation. Although human-caused mortality is often identified as a key threat in the mountain parks and is closely monitored by Parks Canada, there have been no human- caused grizzly bear mortalities in the Maligne Valley since 1995.

Displacement refers to the tendency to completely avoid or spend less time in habitats that are used by people. Although the relationship between bears and human activity is complex, many studies have demonstrated that bears respond negatively to human activity, either avoiding human activity entirely or altering their daily habits. For example, a study of bears in Lake Louise and Canmore found that levels of human activity approaching one event per hour (or one group of people per hour) caused grizzly bears to avoid trails.

When grizzly bears are displaced from high quality habitats, they may be less successful at foraging and mating, and in turn reproducing. However, areas of human activity, such as roads, trails and other facilities (e.g. picnic areas, campgrounds) can also attract bears. Roadsides, for example, have been shown to provide more food (e.g. forbs, grasses) for bears. In the Lake Louise and Canmore study despite the pronounced displacement of bears during daylight hours, grizzly bears used habitat adjacent to trails in Canmore more than expected at other times of the day.

Habituation is a term used to describe bears that have lost their natural wariness of people. Bears are thought to become habituated through repeated interactions with people that have no consequences, or conversely, positive consequences. Some bears may be predisposed to habituation through genetics or upbringing.

Although some degree of habituation may benefit bears that occupy landscapes with high levels of human activity by allowing them to use high quality habitats, habituated bears are more likely to be killed on roads and rail lines or for management reasons. Habituated bears also come into contact more frequently with people, with the attendant risks to visitor safety and the animals themselves. Bears can also be attracted to an area by natural (e.g. berries) or artificial food sources (e.g. garbage, non-native plants). Once they have obtained a food reward, they will typically return to the same area repeatedly to obtain more of that resource, which can bring them into conflict with people.

Documented grizzly bear observations (Figure 21) demonstrate the potential for human- grizzly interactions at many locations in the valley. Likewise, there are opportunities for bears to become habituated to people throughout the valley. In locations where there are a large number of observations, humans and grizzly bears are intersecting more frequently. More intensive management of human-bear interactions in these locations is typically required. Parks Canada staff have observed an increase in habituated behavior (e.g. bears feeding in close proximity to vehicles and people, bears appearing indifferent to hikers) among bears in the Maligne Valley in recent years.

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Figure 21 Grizzly bear observations in the Maligne Valley (2002-2011).

One area that deserves special mention is Opal Hills, an area with a history of bear warnings and closures dating back to 2000. Over the past 13 years, the trail has been closed 7 times with warnings posted during four hiking seasons because the area is frequently used by a sow with cubs.

Parks Canada has developed a series of protocols over the years to manage bear-human interactions, with the aim of reducing habituation and surprise encounters. Responses to unsafe viewing situations, bears approaching visitors or obtaining human food, are outlined in the Jasper National Park Bear Management Plan. Options range from monitoring to actively hazing bears, bear capture and aversive conditioning, posting bear warnings or closing areas, and bear destruction.

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Habitat Security Habitat security is a key tool in the mountain parks for ensuring that human activity does not compromise the long-term viability of grizzly bear populations through displacement or habituation. In secure habitat, bears can forage while remaining relatively free from encounters with people. Habitat security is considered at two scales for the purposes of this planning exercise: the landscape scale and the local scale.

Landscape-Scale Habitat Security Jasper National Park is divided into Landscape Management Units (roughly contiguous to watersheds) and habitat security values are calculated for each Landscape Management Unit using a habitat security model. In the mountain parks, a Landscape Management Unit is considered to be secure overall, if at least 68% of the unit contains secure habitat. For the purposes of modeling, secure habitat is defined as: vegetated areas below 2300 m, areas that are at least 500 m from trails, roads and other facilities that receive more than 100 human visits per month and contiguous areas that are greater than 9 km2.

Figure 22 depicts the results of habitat security modeling for the Maligne Valley, which is made up of the Upper Maligne and Lower Maligne Landscape Management Units. Eighty-one percent of the habitat in the Upper Maligne Landscape Management Unit is considered secure, an increase of 8% from the value was reported in the 2010 management plan. This increase is due to low use (<100 user-nights/month) of the Maligne Pass Trail. There has been no change in habitat security in the Lower Maligne Landscape Management Unit; 80% of the habitat in that Unit is secure.

Local Habitat Security Although habitat security modeling is a valuable tool at the landscape level, it does not take into account seasonal and daily variations in human activity that occur at a finer scale. Grizzly bears are believed to be primarily active during the day, however their daily activity patterns have been found to vary widely. It is thought that they may alter their daily habits in response to human disturbances, given that some studies have shown bears to be more nocturnal in areas where human activity is high.

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Figure 22 Habitat security values for the Upper Maligne and Lower Maligne Landscape Management Units.

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Although the Maligne Valley is a busy place in peak season, there are quieter times and places in the valley. Hourly data for the Mary Schäffer trail demonstrate a pattern typical of shorter trails in the valley. Trail use picks up between 10 and 11 a.m. and is largely finished by 7 p.m. The Bald Hills trail, a longer day hike, exhibits a slightly different pattern, with hikers starting out earlier in the morning (around 8 a.m.), but finishing their hikes a bit earlier (by 6 p.m).

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Figure 23 Hourly use of the Mary Schäffer Loop and Bald Hills trail by hikers. Based on a three year total for the Mary Schäffer Loop (2008-2010) and a five year total for the Bald Hills trail (2006-2010). Source: trail counter (Mary Schäffer) and remote camera (Bald Hills).

2.2.3 Other Wildlife

2.2.3.1 Black Bears The black bear is commonly found in montane and subalpine habitats in Jasper National Park. With a park population estimated to be 70 to 90 individuals, black bears may be slightly less abundant than grizzlies. Observations by Parks Canada staff indicate that between 12 and 16 black bears use the habitat along the Maligne Lake Road in an average year. They tend to be more tolerant of human activity and are much more frequently observed than grizzly bears in the Maligne Valley; with 637 documented observations between 2002 and 2011, compared with 112 grizzly bear observations over the same time period. Although black bears are not a species-at-risk, they are of interest to park managers because they are the main species involved in wildlife jams in the Maligne Valley. Like grizzly bears, black bears can become habituated to people and although they tend to be less aggressive than grizzly bears, they still pose a visitor safety risk.

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2.2.3.3 Black Swift The black swift is a species of bird that is currently being assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). It prefers to nest in cool gorges. Maligne Canyon is the only currently occupied and confirmed nesting location in Jasper National Park, although a black swift was observed in another canyon in the Maligne Valley. Black swifts nest in the canyon from late June to early September and can be seen returning to the nest at dusk following a full day of flying.

2.2.3.4 Harlequin Ducks Harlequin Ducks are small, colourful sea ducks that winter in coastal areas and migrate inland during the summer to nest along mountain streams. The Harlequin Duck is listed as a sensitive species in Alberta and yellow-listed British Columbia, reflecting the growing concern over declining populations and human impacts on this species.

Parks Canada's concern with respect to the Harlequin Duck is based on the reaction of individuals of this species to watercraft. Research conducted on the Maligne River in the late 1990’s showed that Harlequin Ducks are sensitive to in-stream disturbance and that pre-nesting foraging by females is critical to reproductive success. Interrupted feeding may affect reproductive success and ultimately result in population declines. In 1998 Parks Canada decided to close the mid-Maligne River to all commercial and public watercraft use, and re-allocated approximately 1,500 commercial boating trips to the Sunwapta River.

Parks Canada delivered on commitments to review river use management in 2004 and 2009. In preparation for a management plan review in 2009, Parks Canada re-examined all the available Harlequin Duck literature (1998-2009), to ensure that any new and relevant information was considered. Some of the key findings of that literature review were that:

• surveys and research have improved knowledge of the distribution and population status of Harlequin Ducks in Alberta • breeding harlequins are sensitive and require special attention or protection to prevent them from becoming at risk • nutrients in Harlequin Duck eggs come from food in the breeding range, not from the wintering range, highlighting the importance of undisturbed feeding before and during the breeding season

More recently, researchers at Simon Fraser University have been looking at how fish presence may affect food availability for Harlequin Ducks, potentially reducing the quality of breeding habitat and productivity in some harlequin populations. Non-native fish have been present in the Maligne River for 80 years as a result of a government fish stocking program, however changes in the Maligne duck population (and duck populations elsewhere) were not observed until about 18 years ago. It is unclear why

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Harlequin Duck populations have appeared to decline on the Maligne system and in Alberta quite broadly since 1994.

In summary, no new scientific research has been published that contradicts the basis for the decision restricting use of the mid-Maligne River. New proposals for use of the mid- Maligne River must be scientifically defensible based on the well documented aspects of Harlequin Duck ecology that led to the original precautionary closure, and enjoy broad- based public support. In the interim, Parks Canada will continue to implement the existing closure to protect Harlequin Ducks before and during the breeding season.

2.2.3.5 Moose Moose are found throughout the park, but some of the best moose habitat and viewing opportunities are located in the Maligne Valley. Their preferred habitat in summer is along stream banks and lakeshores where aquatic plants add to their regular diet of leaves and twigs. The mating season lasts from mid-September to November, and males are particularly aggressive at this time. The following moose rutting areas have been identified: • Medicine Lake • Maligne Lake Road near Evelyn Creek • around the Big Bend pull-out • in the meadow complex and day use area parking lots at the north end of Maligne Lake • the inlet of the upper Maligne River • the south end of Maligne Lake

2.2.4 Movement Corridors The ability to move freely between areas of high quality habitat is critical for the long- term survival of many species; from carnivores, such as wolverine and wolves, to ungulates and smaller wildlife species. Moderate or high visitor use in some areas of the valley may affect the ability of wary species to move through or forage in the valley (particularly when that use does not follow predictable patterns).

Based on limited telemetry data and the expert opinion of Parks Canada biologists, high probability movement areas for multiple species in the valley have been identified in Figure 24.

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Figure 24 High probability movement areas for multiple species in the Maligne Valley.

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2.2.5 Wildlife Viewing The Maligne Valley is a popular destination for wildlife viewing and wildlife jams are common in the summer months. The Wildlife Guardians responded to 113 wildlife jams in the Maligne Valley during the summer of 2012. Black bears were the most common species observed at jams, followed by sheep and elk. Black bear jams were observed along the whole road, whereas bighorn sheep jams tended to occur around Medicine Lake. The wildlife jams were evenly distributed across the summer months of June, July and August.

Figure 25 Wildlife jams that the Wildlife Guardians responded to in 2012.

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2.3 Cultural Resources

The Maligne Valley has a colourful human history, which is closely associated with early tourism development in Jasper. There are many fascinating stories waiting to be told.

Although the story of Mary Schäffer’s map is well-known (Sampson Beaver, a member of the Stoney Nation, drew the map that she used to find the valley in 1908) and suggests that the Stoney were familiar with the area, evidence of pre-contact people in the Maligne Valley is relatively scarce except for three isolated finds (a stone axe, a lithic tool and a willow leaf-shaped bi-face). Other lithic material has been found in the Bald Hills and Watchtower Creek. Many areas have never been assessed for archaeological resources. Several Aboriginal communities have identified cultural areas within the valley, mainly at its north end, and it is likely that Aboriginal people trapped in the area from time to time.

Fred Brewster was a key figure in the valley, establishing tent camps at the north and south ends of Maligne Lake in 1914. The first boat to take tourists to Spirit Island was built in the mid-20’s. By 1923, a rudimentary road went as far as Medicine Lake, where a ferry took tourists across the lake. After an overnight stay they carried on to Maligne Lake by horse.

In 1927, Fred Brewster added what is now the most significant heritage building in the valley to his tent camp at the north end of the lake. The Maligne Lake Chalet contained a dining room, kitchen and communal living space. Overnight guests were accommodated in adjacent tent cabins. The Chalet is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its association with the early history of Jasper and the development of tourism within the park, as well as for its architectural and environmental values. The Chalet is a good example of a rustic structure that reflects the aesthetics favoured by national parks in the west during the early to mid-20th century. It was recently restored by Maligne Tours and has been nominated as a National Historic Site. A decision about its status by the Minister responsible for Parks Canada has yet to be made.

In 1929, Curly Phillips, another guide and outfitter, built a boathouse at the north end of Maligne Lake, which is still in use today. The boathouse was part of Phillips’ Maligne Lake Camp (also called Rainbow Camp), which included several simple tent cabins. The boathouse is the last remaining structure of that camp and has received a provincial heritage designation. Apart from the ‘Rocky Mountain Rustic’ touches, the boathouse would not look out of place in the Ontario Lake Country where Curly Phillips grew up. Maligne Tours is responsible for both the Boathouse and the Maligne Lake Chalet under licenses of occupation.

In 1933, Fred Brewster and an associate found the route for the Skyline Trail, which took four years to build. Shovel Pass (Curator) Lodge, located half-way along the trail, is the oldest backcountry lodge in Jasper. Burgeoning interest in backcountry skiing and winter tourism prompted Curly Phillips and the Jeffery family to build Shangri-la Cabin at the headwaters of Jeffery Creek in 1936.

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Photo : Hugh Lecky

The Maligne Lake Chalet: a Federal Heritage Building

By the 1940’s, a rough road made it possible to reach Maligne Lake in a day, although it was a 12 hour round trip. The hostel at Maligne Canyon was constructed in that decade, as was Rainbow Lodge, on the site of the present-day day lodge. In the late 1960’s, Parks Canada shelved a plan to establish campgrounds, a marina, two motels at Maligne Lake, and a road through Maligne Pass, following an environmental impact review and negative public reaction.

Two Parks Canada operational buildings with heritage value in the valley are the Jacques Lake Warden Cabin and Tack Shed, built in 1951. They are part of a series of outposts that were built by Parks Canada to support boundary patrols by the Warden Service to monitor poaching and visitor activities. Examples of structures that are utilitarian in design, and rustic in character, they complement the natural surroundings.

The first Maligne Lake warden cabin no longer exists. It was built on the east side of the lake in 1919 and was replaced in 1954 by the present-day Station that is located on the west side of the lake.

Parks Canada’s main operational centre for the Warden Service was once located just outside of the Maligne Valley Study Area, in an area known as Sixth Bridge. When lakes in the park were actively stocked (from the 1920’s to the 1970’s), the facility was a fish hatchery. The operational centre was moved to its present location in the townsite in the mid-nineties. The area has recently been designated as an Aboriginal Cultural Area.

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2.4 Managing Growth and Development

Jasper National Park’s beautiful setting and natural attributes are the basis for its historic and continuing popularity as a tourism destination. Protecting those attributes requires care and attention. To ensure that ecological functions, such as grizzly bear habitat security, and the character of this special place are maintained, Parks Canada has established limits to growth and development, defining the physical footprint of facilities and managing the types and intensity of uses.

A variety of legal and policy instruments are used to manage commercial and non- commercial facilities and activities, including the park management plan, leases and licenses, regulations, directives and guidelines. The following section provides an overview of how commercial operations and activities are currently managed in the Maligne Valley.

2.4.1 Zoning Zoning is a key tool used to manage development and activities in national parks. Parks Canada’s zoning system contains five zones, which are applied to the entire park in the Jasper National Park Management Plan. Table 9 provides a general description of each zone and Figure 26 shows where they occur in the Maligne valley.

The Maligne Valley also contains one Environmentally Sensitive Site (ESS), a designation which applies to areas with significant, sensitive features that require special protection, but do not fit the zoning described above. The Maligne Lake outlet is an ESS because of its importance to Harlequin Ducks, particularly during the pre- nesting period.

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Table 8 Zoning descriptions and their location in the Maligne Valley. Zone Description General Location

Zone I - Special Areas that contain unique, threatened or endangered Surprise Valley Preservation natural or cultural features. Preservation is the key consideration.

Zone II - Areas that are good representations of a natural region and Most of the Maligne, Wilderness will be conserved in a wilderness state. Perpetuation of Colin and Queen ecosystems with minimal management intervention is Elizabeth ranges encouraged. No motorized access (e.g. helicopter flights, snowmobile use) is permitted unless required for park administration.

Zone III - Natural Areas managed as natural environments that provide Maligne Lake and Environment opportunities for visitors to experience a park’s natural and Medicine Lake to cultural heritage values through outdoor recreation activities the high water mark requiring minimal services and facilities of a rustic nature. Motorized access, where allowed, is controlled. In the Maligne Valley, controlled motorized access includes:

• Helicopters, which may service commercial backcountry facilities like Shovel Pass Lodge

• Electric motors for recreational boaters on Maligne Lake

• Diesel motors for tour boats, subject to conditions established in Maligne Tours’ lease

Zone IV - Limited areas capable of accommodating a broad range of Maligne Lake Road Outdoor opportunities for understanding, appreciating and enjoying and associated Recreation the park’s heritage values and related essential services and picnic areas and facilities, in ways that impact the ecological integrity of the pull-outs, along park to the smallest extent possible. Direct access by with the Day Use motorized vehicles is allowed. Areas at Maligne Lake and Maligne Canyon, and the Maligne Canyon Hostel Bald Hills Fire Road

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Figure 26 Zoning for the Maligne Valley.

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2.4.2 Leases and Licenses Perhaps the most important way that Parks Canada manages growth and development is by setting the overall capacity and operating season of most commercial facilities in the valley (see Table 9). Additionally, the management plan stipulates that no new alpine huts will be considered in wilderness areas. Specific direction for the Maligne Canyon Hostel, established through a process to develop guidelines for overnight commercial accommodations, confirms that no additional guest capacity will be permitted. If the Canadian Hostelling Association decides to close the hostel, it will be permitted to add up to the same number of guest accommodation units to the capacity of a new facility in the community of Jasper.

Table 9 Guest capacity and season of operation for commercial facilities in the Maligne Valley Facility Description Location Capacity Season of Operation Maligne Canyon Hostel (3 Across from Maligne 24 guests Year-round Hostel dormitory-style Canyon buildings, one common area/kitchen building) Maligne Canyon Restaurant and gift Maligne Canyon (1st n/a Year-round (but Restaurant and Gift shop parking lot) typically only open in Shop summer) Shangri-la Cabin Cabin managed by Headwaters of Jeffery 6 guests Winter only* Maligne Lake Ski Creek Club; supports overnight ski touring Shovel Pass Lodge Backcountry lodge Skyline Trail 19 guests Summer only Maligne Lake Day Restaurant and gift Maligne Lake Day Use n/a Summer only** Lodge shop Area *Some maintenance is permitted outside of the season of operation. ** The maintenance season is slightly longer than the season of operation.

In addition to the limits detailed in Table 9, many leases and licenses of operation contain conditions regarding permitted commercial uses, the size or capacity of ancillary facilities and services and lessee areas of responsibility. For example, the realty agreements for Maligne Tours’ business at the lake set out many additional operating parameters, including:

• the uses permitted in various buildings (e.g. boat rentals at Curly Phillips Boathouse) • the hours of operation for food services, the gift shop and the boat operation • the footprint and height of some buildings and structures, such as the maintenance building, horse corral, and boat docks at Home Bay and Spirit Island • the number of staff accommodation units in the maintenance compound and at the main lodge

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• detailed direction regarding Maligne Tours’ primary business, the tour boat operation (e.g. boat design parameters, passenger capacity, number of sailings, where boats can dock) • operator responsibilities (e.g. maintenance of the washroom facility, walkways, and decking at Sprit Island, maintenance of sewage lagoon) • guided activities that may be offered at the day use area (guided walks, horse tours and guided fishing are permitted, although presently only fishing is offered)

2.4.3 Management of Activities Parks Canada also manages activities in the valley, to maximize their benefits in support of visitor experience and resource protection, and to minimize their impacts on natural and cultural resources, and other visitors. Some activities in the valley are managed more intensively than others. For example, horse use is limited to only a few trails, due to the potential for soil erosion on steep slopes and in wet areas and conflicts on high use trails. Mountain biking is permitted on only two trails: Signal Mountain Fire Road and the Jacques Lake Trail. Activities on the Maligne River are managed through the Jasper National Park Guidelines for River Use Management and angling in the outlet is prohibited.

Other activities like climbing, mountaineering, skiing and snowshoeing are less intensively managed.

Commercial activities are typically much more closely managed than non-commercial activities. For example, business licenses include conditions on where guided trips can occur, at what times of the year and maximum group sizes. Applications for new business licenses for land-based activities are reviewed annually. No new licenses have been issued for guided fishing (including overnight trips) or guided horse use since the management plan was approved, pending a park-wide review of the licensing process for these activities. Guided overnight trips are permitted on the Skyline Trail and fishing guides may offer overnight trips to the Maligne Lake campgrounds.

Two activities are no longer offered in the valley in light of conservation objectives. Track-setting of ski trails at Maligne Lake was discontinued in winter 2005/06 to reduce wolf access to caribou and white-water rafting was reallocated to other rivers in the park in the late 1990’s to limit disturbance to Harlequin Ducks.

2.4.4 Infrastructure Design and Capacity Another way that Parks Canada manages growth and development is through infrastructure design and capacity. At the time of the management plan review in 2010, the Maligne Valley was thought to have the physical capacity to receive more visitors. The number of visitors to the valley has likely doubled since the early 1970’s, when the majority of the valley’s parking lots and pull-outs were first built. Many day use areas still appear to have sufficient capacity for the current number of visitors to the valley, however staff have observed that some parking lots reach capacity or overflow on some days (e.g. long weekends) during peak season, notably the main (First Bridge) parking

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lot at Maligne Canyon, the Signal Trailhead parking lot and the parking lots at the Maligne Lake Day Use Area. Some facilities, such as the public boat launch, can also be congested at times.

2.4.5 Environmental Stewardship Environmental stewardship refers broadly to the responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices, but can be more narrowly defined in the context of the Maligne Valley, to initiatives aimed at reducing the operational footprint of Parks Canada and third parties in the valley, mitigating any forms of pollution, contamination or ecological impacts, and sharing success stories with visitors and the broader Canadian public.

Contaminated Sites There are four federally registered contaminated sites in the Maligne Valley and two potential sites within Maligne Tours’ leasehold, for which little information is available. Four additional sites in the Maligne Valley have been investigated and closed either following remediation or because no evidence of contamination was found.

Lighting In 2011, Jasper National Park became the world’s largest designated Dark Sky Preserve. Commercial and Parks Canada facilities are now expected to meet new standards for dark sky lighting.

The main area in the valley where outdoor lighting is used is the Maligne Lake Day Use area. Lights are located on the main docks and on several buildings. A number of lighting requirements are included in Maligne Tours’ lease. No outdoor lighting is permitted at Spirit Island.

Noise Motorized vehicles, such as boats and buses, evening events at the Maligne Lake Day Use Area, and generators are the main sources of noise pollution in the valley. Maligne Tours’ lease contains several conditions related to noise levels.

Non-Native Plants There are a number of high priority infestations of non-native plants in the valley, most of which are associated with the road or the facilities at the Maligne Lake Day Use Area.

Power Generation Only a few facilities in the valley require power. Maligne Tours operates a diesel generator to power the buildings at the Maligne Lake Day Use Area. No large scale power generators are allowed on Spirit Island.

The warden station at Maligne Lake uses solar power as does the washroom facility at Spirit Island.

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The Maligne Canyon Restaurant and Gift Shop is connected to the power grid for the community of Jasper.

Solid Waste Management Parks Canada collects garbage from receptacles at pull-outs, trailheads and picnic areas along the Maligne Lake Road and from most of the commercial operators in the valley, although backcountry operators (Shovel Pass Lodge and clients of Shangri-la) are responsible for collecting and disposing of their own waste.

There are several recycling bins at the Maligne Lake Day Use Area.

Waste Water Management The majority of Parks Canada’s outhouses in the valley are pumped out as needed and the waste trucked to Jasper’s Municipal Waste Water Treatment Facility. Maligne Canyon Hostel and the Teahouse are also on a pump-out system.

At Maligne Lake, a three-pond sewage lagoon was built in the late 1960’s. The lagoon treats wastewater from Maligne Tours’ buildings, the Parks Canada warden station and Parks Canada’s washrooms. The system was evaluated by HCL Groundwater Consulting in 2008, before responsibility for its operation was transferred to Maligne Tours. The data collected showed no significant groundwater contamination and no evidence of contamination of the Maligne River. Maligne Tours is responsible for ensuring the sewage treatment facility meets or exceeds wastewater effluent standards set out in their lease.

Waste water at Spirit Island is treated on site using a small, solar-powered, fiberglass basin filled with anaerobic bacteria, which break down the sewage.

Some popular stops along the Maligne Lake Road (e.g. Medicine North Viewpoint) do not have washrooms.

Waste water at the backcountry campgrounds on the lake is removed by boat or ski-doo. Waste water from all of the Solar-powered washrooms on Spirit Island campgrounds on the Skyline Trail is flown out by helicopter, with the exception of Evelyn Creek, which has a pit privy. Shangri-la Cabin also has a fly-out system for waste. Shovel Pass Lodge has two pit privy toilets.

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3.0 Recent Implementation of Management Plan Direction Since the Jasper National Park Management Plan was approved in 2010, Parks Canada has been working to address visitor experience and resource protection challenges on a number of fronts. This section summarizes our progress to date.

Management Plan Direction Status of Implementation Improving the sense of • Information about things to do in the valley has been installed at arrival and orientation in the Maligne Canyon, along with a refurbished three-dimensional model valley of the valley. • Trailhead kiosks and media for all major trailheads have been upgraded. • Pedestrian signs have been installed at Maligne Lake parking lots and lakeside trail system, although more work is needed. • New road signs were installed at lake in 2011, but a couple of changes are needed.

Updating infrastructure and • Maligne Canyon was recapitalized starting in 2009: trails were prioritizing investment at key improved, fencing, bridges and signage were upgraded and new locations interpretation was developed

Improving communication • Parks Canada increased its roving presence in the valley in 2012 and interpretation in • New interpretive panorama and Aboriginal panel have been partnership with others designed for Maligne Overlook; panorama has been installed • Maligne Tours installed a number of panels and an exhibit related to the Maligne Lake Chalet in 2012; more exhibits are planned • Panorama at Spirit Island also being updated • A number of publications have been updated (e.g. Backcountry Brochure, Mountain Biking Brochure) • Parks Canada has worked with other map makers (e.g. National Geographic) to ensure maps are accurate

Improving wildlife viewing for • A Wildlife Guardian program was initiated in 2010. The guardians both visitors and animals provide information on wildlife and manage roadside wildlife jams; they spend the majority of their time in the valley • Resource Conservation personnel also respond to wildlife jams and manage human-wildlife interactions throughout the valley Improving grizzly bear • Maligne Pass trail was removed from the official trail network in habitat security 2010; declining numbers of users on that trail have resulted in a gain to habitat security in the Upper Maligne Landscape Management Unit of 8%

Implementing caribou • Draft Caribou Conservation Strategy released last December; public conservation measures in and Aboriginal consultation complete support of caribou recovery • Further monitoring of caribou, wolves, elk and deer • Working on feasibility of a captive breeding program in collaboration with the Calgary Zoo and the Province of British Columbia

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Management Plan Direction Status of Implementation

Implementing the mid- • Existing closure to protect Harlequin Ducks before and during the Maligne River closure to breeding season continues to be implemented (i.e. mid-Maligne protect Harlequin Ducks River closed year-round to all in-stream use; Maligne Lake outlet closed to all use during May and June)

Reviewing the wilderness • Process underway to develop more guidance for Zone II/Wilderness offer to ensure that it meets areas changing visitor needs and is • Working on new welcome/orientation signs for Maligne Lake financially sustainable campgrounds • New family campground planned for Maligne Lake, waiting for resources to implement

Maintaining the wilderness • Process underway to develop more guidance for Zone II/Wilderness character of the valley areas—to characterize experiences Parks Canada is seeking to facilitate in these areas and provide direction on appropriate activities /commercial opportunities

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4.0 Opportunities and Objectives

Visitor Experience

Visitor Satisfaction and Attendance

1. Although the level of satisfaction among visitors is high, there are opportunities to further improve the visitor offer. Parks Canada can maintain the high level of satisfaction of visitors to the Maligne Valley by: • Better understanding the visitors that use the area or could be attracted to the area. • Improving the sense of arrival and orientation. • Offering high-quality facilities and services that are in keeping with the valley’s character and exceed visitor expectations given the relatively remote location of the valley and its wilderness setting. • Continuing to offer a wide range of facilities and activities in summer. • Making targeted improvements to the visitor offer.

2. Parks Canada has a target to increase visitation to Jasper National Park by 2% annually. The Maligne Valley, which currently receives one fifth of the park’s visitors, can contribute to this target. There is physical capacity for additional visitation, however given ecological considerations in the valley and visitor expectations for scenic values and an iconic destination, care must be taken to direct visitors to the right places at the right times of the year. We can increase visitation to the Maligne Valley in ways that respect ecological and visitor objectives, by: • Continuing to attract a wide range of visitors (e.g. Canadian and international visitors, independent travelers and organized groups, all ages), and more actively directing them to main nodes that will respond to their needs. • Attracting more New Canadians, urban families and youth, and less experienced park visitors, and more actively directing them to main nodes that will respond to their needs. • Attracting more visitors to the valley in spring (May/June), fall (September/ October) and winter (November to April).

Visitor Offer: Infrastructure and Facilities

3. Given current resources, Parks Canada is challenged to maintain high quality visitor facilities throughout the Maligne Valley. It is easier for wildlife to use high quality habitats and move through the valley when human use is concentrated in key areas and is predictable. Parks Canada can ensure that facilities and infrastructure are financially sustainable and contribute to ecological goals by: • Concentrating visitor use at main nodes and focusing re-investment (e.g. new facilities) in these areas. • Maintaining other nodes or access points, but not providing any additional facilities in these areas.

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• Closing little used facilities that are redundant or have low potential to contribute to a positive visitor experience and redirecting investment to more popular facilities.

4. Parks Canada can further strengthen the visitor offer by encouraging or collaborating with commercial operators and non-profit organizations to develop new products and services that complement Parks Canada’s offer and reach new target or niche markets (e.g. New Canadians, families).

Levels of Visitor Engagement

5. There are a number of gaps in the visitor offer that can be addressed through targeted improvements to facilities, programs and services designed to provide more opportunities for three levels of visitor engagement: a View from the Edge, a Step into the Wild and Rocky Mountain Wilderness.

View from the Edge 5a. Although scenery is the primary motivator among visitors to the valley, few say that they were inspired by the drive. The majority of visitors to Maligne Lake drive directly to the lake without stopping. There is an opportunity to turn the drive into a more important part of the Maligne experience and to encourage more stopping and exploring along the way at main nodes. This would, in turn, facilitate a better View from the Edge experience.

5b. Many components of the visitor offer in the Maligne Valley are at least 40 years old. Some facilities at main nodes were designed for activities that are not as popular as they once were (e.g. the boat launch at Medicine Lake). With a little work Parks Canada may be able to update these facilities, so that they respond better to the needs and interests of current visitors to the valley. o For example, some picnic areas could be redesigned (i.e. tables clustered for groups) to better meet the needs of today’s picnickers. o Likewise there is a good network of both long and short day hiking trails at the north end of Maligne Lake. Today’s visitor favours shorter hikes or strolls. A few short walks at main nodes in the valley would add value for many visitors.

5c. There are few opportunities in winter for a View from the Edge aside from the drive itself and the potential for wildlife viewing. The situation is not much different in the shoulder season, when many facilities are closed and weather (especially in spring) can limit the range of potential activities. Updating facilities and interpretation would help to fill this gap, however other improvements to the visitor offer may be required (e.g. increased programming, improved services). The location and nature of programming and services needs to be carefully considered in light of caribou conservation objectives.

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Step into the Wild 5d. While there are more winter-time opportunities for visitors seeking a Step into the Wild, activities that cater to novice recreational users, such as well-defined snowshoeing routes, winter walks, or track-set skiing could increase the appeal of the valley for this level of engagement. The location of these activities needs to be carefully considered in light of caribou conservation objectives.

Rocky Mountain Wilderness 5e. There are many opportunities in the valley for a Rocky Mountain Wilderness experience, both in summer and winter, however the wilderness offer could be updated to make it more appealing to target groups, such as families and New Canadians. The location of new facilities and/or services needs to be carefully considered in light of caribou conservation objectives.

5f. Caribou conservation objectives will likely result in changes to the winter offer, especially for the Rocky Mountain Wilderness level of engagement. Parks Canada can moderate the effects of these changes by working to improve other aspects of the winter offer in the valley and exploring alternative areas or facilities within or outside the valley to support this level of engagement.

Communication and Interpretation

6. There is great potential to improve communication and interpretation of the valley’s unique attributes. Although there is some good interpretation in the valley currently, there are many gaps that could be filled in. There are also a number of partners who have participated or may be willing to participate in developing new interpretive products or programs.

New interpretive media or programs should meet the following learning or experiential outcomes: • Visitors feel that they connected with the natural wonder of the Maligne Valley, whether that means that they enjoyed a special place, discovered something new, or got away from their everyday lives. • Visitors learned something about some of the unique characteristics (i.e. human history, sensitive species, karst topography) of the Maligne Valley. • Visitors were able to identify the animals they saw and adopted appropriate behaviours around wildlife.

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Resource Protection Caribou

7. The most pressing resource conservation issue in the valley is the future of woodland caribou. In the short-term, Parks Canada can meet its responsibilities under the Species at Risk Act and the Conservation Strategy for Southern Mountain Caribou in Canada’s National Parks, by maintaining a resident caribou population in the Maligne Valley. Over the long-term, Parks Canada can achieve an ecologically functioning local population of Southern Mountain Caribou by maintaining a herd of at least 75 animals within their historic range in the Maligne Valley and ecologically connected to adjacent populations.

Achieving both of these objectives will require Parks Canada to reduce or eliminate the five threats to caribou in the valley:

• Altered predator-prey dynamics Ensuring that the valley does not support unnaturally high numbers of moose, elk or deer. • Facilitated predator access Eliminating or reducing human-facilitated access by wolves into important caribou habitat. • Human disturbance Minimizing the effects of human activity on caribou while facilitating a high quality visitor experience. • Habitat destruction Managing vegetation to maintain caribou habitat quality and availability. • Small population effects Increasing the size of the Maligne herd, so that it is more resilient to the other four threats.

Grizzly Bears

Displacement and Habitat Security

8. Grizzly bears need space where they can forage relatively uninterrupted by people. Although habitat in the valley is secure at the landscape level, we can maintain or improve local (finer-scale) habitat security by, for example, adjusting our management of popular areas like Opal Hills where bears frequently occur, and maintaining or increasing the predictability of temporal and spatial human use patterns in bear habitat.

Habituation and Bear-Human Conflict

9. There are many locations in the valley where bears and people frequently cross paths. Parks Canada and valley operators can reduce the potential for bear habituation and bear-human conflict, and improve visitor safety by:

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• Reducing or eliminating bear attractants around visitor facilities. • Reducing the risk of human-bear encounters (e.g. through visitor education, sightlines work, relocating facilities out of high risk areas).

Other Wildlife

10. Although our understanding of wildlife movement in the valley is not perfect, we can maintain or improve the ability of wildlife to move between key habitats by: ensuring that new facilities are not located in pinch points, removing non-essential facilities from pinch points and carefully managing human activity in pinch points.

11. Wildlife viewing is an important activity in the Maligne Valley, but management of this activity is not as effective as it should be. Visitors would benefit from more information about the wildlife they are seeing and more guidance on appropriate wildlife viewing behaviour.

Photo : Valérie Domaine Wildlife jam on Maligne Lake Road

12. No new scientific evidence has emerged since the management plan review that would prompt Parks Canada to revisit its approach to protecting Harlequin Duck habitat. New proposals for use of the mid-Maligne River must be scientifically defensible based on the well documented aspects of Harlequin Duck ecology that led to the original precautionary closure, and enjoy broad-based public support.

Cultural Resources

13. The valley contains a number of important heritage buildings that contribute to its rustic sense of place. Although the early development of the valley is well-documented, less is known about Aboriginal ties to the area. There is room to improve the interpretation of the valley’s human history, although a good start has been made with the interpretation at the Maligne Chalet.

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Managing Growth and Development

14. Despite the popularity of the Maligne Valley, human use is relatively predictable and occurs along narrow corridors (roads and trails) and around developed nodes. Outside of these areas, the valley provides space for sensitive and wide-ranging species like caribou, bears and wolverine. It also offers opportunities for more self-reliant visitors seeking solitude and a remote wilderness experience. Parks Canada can meet these needs by continuing to manage large areas of the valley as wilderness, with minimal facilities and low levels of human use.

15. Visitors can choose from a wide range of activities in the valley. Outside of adjustments to winter activities that will likely be required for caribou conservation, the overall approach to managing activities (i.e. through education, infrastructure design and regulation) seems to be working well. Parks Canada has placed some limits on commercial activities (i.e. guided overnight trips on Maligne Lake) that may be useful to revisit.

16. Criteria for considering new events and activities are outlined in the park management plan. In addition to those criteria, new events and activities in the Maligne Valley should complement the valley’s wilderness setting and contribute to learning and experiential outcomes.

17. Given the relatively remote location of the Maligne Valley and its high profile outside the park, initiatives to conserve energy and water, reduce waste and other forms of pollution, and use alternative energy sources, have good potential to reduce environmental impacts and costs, and serve as public showcases of environmental stewardship.

18. Third party operators play an important role in providing visitor services and contributing to park stewardship. In response to requests by Maligne Tours for opportunities to redevelop their properties and update their visitor offer at Maligne Lake, Parks Canada provided guidance to Maligne Tours to prepare and submit a detailed conceptual redevelopment proposal for consideration, and for public review and comment, concurrent with the development of the Maligne Valley Implementation Strategy.

Parks Canada will ensure that the Maligne Tours Conceptual Proposal is considered in context of achieving park objectives for visitor experience and wildlife conservation. Parks Canada will consider all public and stakeholder comments received in reaching a decision on the Conceptual Proposal, expected in early 2014.

Subject to the outcome of decisions by Parks Canada on the Conceptual Proposal, Maligne Tours Ltd may be invited to prepare and submit a detailed design plan for all or specific project elements of their re-development proposal to Parks Canada together with a Detailed Environmental Analysis, for further consideration in the development review process. This development review process would also include opportunities for public review and comment.

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