Chapter 19: Kootenay ChapterPlains Ecological Reserve Features 19 Analysis Features Analysis Sample Pages for Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve 19.i Visitor Services Development Plan for the David Thompson Corridor Prepared by EcoLeaders Interpretation and Environmental Education Box D82, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0 email: [email protected] phone: (604) 947-0483 www.ecoleaders.ca Sample Pages 19.ii Chapter 19: Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve Features Analysis Contents Introduction … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.1 Overview … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.3 The Role of Ecological Reserves … … … … … … … … … … … 19.3 Role of Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve … … … … … … … … … 19.3 Climate … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.5 Geology … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.6 Bedrock … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.6 Fossils … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.6 Geomorphology … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.9 Glacial Features … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.9 Other Important Geomorphological Features … … … … … … … … 19.11 Vegetation and Plant Communities … … … … … … … … … … … 19.13 Grasslands … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.13 Forested Lands … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.13 Ponds and Wetlands … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.13 Environmentally Significant Features … … … … … … … … … … 19.17 Wildlife … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.19 Wildlife Abundance … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.19 Mammals … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.19 Large Mammals … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.19 Small Mammals … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.20 Rare Species … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.20 Extirpated SpeciesSample … … … … … … Pages… … … … … … 19.21 Birds … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.22 Amphibians … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.23 Fish … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.24 Insects … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.25 The Watershed Concept … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.27 The North Saskatchewan River Watershed … … … … … … … … … 19.27 The North Saskatchewan River Watershed … … … … … … … 19.27 Human History Significant Archaeological Features … … … … … … … … … … 19.29 Recent History … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.29 Current First Nations Use … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.31 19.iii Visitor Services Development Plan for the David Thompson Corridor Activities … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.33 Recreation … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.33 Infrastructure Related to Visitor Services Programming … … … … … … … 19.35 Introduction … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.35 Access Points … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.36 Suspension Bridge … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.38 Viewpoints … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.38 Trails … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.39 Signs … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.41 Safety Signs … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.41 Interpretive Signs … … … … … … … … … … … … … 19.42 Wayfinding Signs and Brochure … … … … … … … … … … 19.43 Monuments and Commemorative Signs … … … … … … … … … 19.44 Sample Pages 19.iv Chapter 19: Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve Features Analysis Finally, for each feature there are recommendations with Introduction regard to: This chapter analyses the major features of the Kootenay • additional research and inventory work needed Plains Ecological Reserve that are described in detail in to understand the location and significance of Background Papers 2 and 4. Here, each feature is briefly the feature(s) described, and the location of detailed coverage in the • interpretation education and information/ back ground papers are cited. orientation activities that should take place Then the feature is assessed in terms of: Visitor Services staff can use the information in this • significance to the ecological reserve chapter to: • visibility to park visitors • review of current knowledge of key features • accessibility to users of the ecological reserve - assisting staff in choosing what site features • seasonality–what seasons of the year can this be to highlight in interpretation and education observed offerings • what dangers this feature poses to users of the - an initial source of information (along with ecological reserve Background Papers 2 and 4) to be used when • what dangers use, visitation and/or observation developing interpretation, education and of this feature pose to the sustainability of the information/orientation offerings ecological reserve’s habitats, plants, animals, • guide the identification of areas where further historic sites and natural functions research on key features is needed Sample Pages 19.1 Visitor Services Development Plan for the David Thompson Corridor [ Kootenay Plains Kootenay Ecological Ecological Reserve Sample Pages Figure 19.1 The The location of Plains 19.1 Figure Kootenay Ecological Reserve in the NorthValley. Saskatchewan River 19.2 Chapter 19: Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve Features Analysis Overview The Role of Ecological Reserves Significance High Ecological reserves are unique entities in the Alberta Parks Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve established in 1983, is System. Unlike other property classifications within the Alberta’s first ecological reserve. It is significant in at least Alberta Parks system, the main reason for their existence four ways: is the protection of the land’s ecosystems, habitats and natural and cultural features, and associated biodiversity. 1. This site features a rare opportunity for visitors to discover To reduce impact of human use, the site focuses on low and enjoy the province’s rare Montane Natural Subregion impact recreation activities. and the exceptional natural features of the Kootenay Plains. Role of Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve 2. Through featuring the unique natural systems that it This ecological reserve was set up to protect a section of protects and showing best practice in land management, the Kootenay Plains. This is Alberta Park’s largest section Alberta Parks could use Kootenay Plains Ecological of protected Montane Natural Subregion which contains Reserve has a “poster child” displaying what an ecological a significant number of rare plant species. Its abundant reserve is, why they are important to Albertans. but provincially rare, montane grasslands and montane 3. According to the, ecological reserves are intended to be woodlands have historically supported huge populations used as natural laboratories for formal research. The site’s of ungulates including bison (now extirpated), elk, rare species and habitats, near pristine natural conditions bighorn sheep, deer (mule and whitetail), moose and and ease of access give it great potential as a research site woodland caribou (now probably extirpated). The for biologists and ecologists. According to the Kootenay ecological reserve continues to provide winter forage for Plains Ecological Reserve Management Plan (1995) large numbers of elk as well as healthy populations of citing two unnamed research papers prepared in before deer, bighorn sheep and moose. the building of the Bighorn Dam in 1972, the Kootenay Unlike most of the province’s ecological reserves, Plains may have been part of an ice-free corridor through Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve has a significant which the ancestors of present day First Nations People number of visitors. This is probably because of a immigrated to North America from Asia. Preliminary combination of the following factors: archeology research has found some very old signs of • it nearness to a well-travelledSample highway (Hwy. 11) Pageshuman habitation and suggest that many more may be • its easy access (the Siffleur Falls Staging Area and found in the reserve. Also, the long-time abundance of its trail system) wildlife in the Kootenay Plains implies that there will be • the fame of its easily accessed Siffleur Falls rich findings for archeologists looking for information • the importance of the Kootenay Plains as a sacred about Aboriginal people throughout the past ten thousand place to the Stoney First Nation and other Alberta years. First Nations 4. Another key purpose for the Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve is education. Detailed Coverage Montane Natural Subregion–>Background Paper 2: 1.64–1.65 Visibility High Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve–>Background Paper 4: 3.2–3.4 The Kootenay Plains are one of the province’s most accessible examples of the Montane Natural Subregion. Access Relatively Easy Located adjacent to a high quality road, Highway 11, this is the province’s most accessible ecological reserve. Seasonality Year-Round The reserve is open year-round. Although visitation takes place mostly in the summer, trail counts and vehicle counts at the Siffleur Falls Staging Area show that the site is used year-round. For details see Chapter 20: Visitor Analysis. 19.3 Chapter 19: Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve Features Analysis ➥ Recommendations Education Although the site is a significant distance from any major population centre in Research/Inventory Recommendations Alberta, Alberta Parks there is already significant use of the site by school groups (see Alberta Parks staff should consider putting significant effort into making the sidebar on the facing page). Alberta Parks is developing initiatives for school-based Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve an important site for academic research. education programming. The Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve has many positive Although one of its mains purposes is to provide opportunities for biological and aspects including: historical research, to date only limited research and inventory work has taken place. • easy access by road The following pages will include a number of specific recommendations