Lower Kananaskis River Facility Redevelopment Plan
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Lower Kananaskis River Facility Redevelopment Plan Version 1.4 Table of Contents ¤£1A ¤£1X Kananaskis Valley Access Executive summary 3 Project context 4 and Development ¤£68 Rationale for Redevelopment Plan 4 ¤£1 ¤£1 Nodes Description of planning area 4 Rationale for Redevelopment 4 Key Objectives of the Plan 4 Barrier Lake Guiding Documents 5 Land-Use Framework 5 Alberta’s Plan for Parks 5 ¤£40 Planning Area Active Alberta 5 Kananaskis Country Recreation Policy 5 Bow Valley Protected Areas Management Plan 5 Canoe Meadows 6 Current Situation 6 Analysis of Current Situation 6 Proposed Redevelopment 8 Kananaskis Barrier Lake Visitor Information Centre 10 ¤£742 Village Current Situation 10 Analysis of Current Situation 10 Proposed Redevelopment 12 Widowmaker 14 Current Situation 14 Analysis of Current Situation 14 Proposed Redevelopment 16 Barrier Dam 18 Current Situation 18 Analysis of Current Situation 18 Proposed Redevelopment 20 Proposed Disc Golf Course 22 Summary 23 Source Documents 23 ¤£742 Upper & Lower ± Kananaskis Lakes 2 01 2 4 6 8 10 Kilometers Alberta Park, Canmore: February 28, 2011. Fire Ref: KananaskisRiverPoster_20110228.mxd Executive summary Lower Kananaskis River Facility Redevelopment Plan Executive summary Redevelopment Proposal As part of the commitment in Alberta’s Plan for Parks to expand recreational opportunities throughout the park system, a series of enhancements to Overview park facilities along the Lower Kananaskis River has been proposed. These enhancements would help meet increased recreational demand, improve public safety and site management efficiency, while minimizing impacts to environmental and archaeological features. Located approximately 80 kilometres west of Calgary in Bow Valley Provincial Park, the Lower Kananaskis River area is a popular day-use destination, and is recognized for its river-based recreational opportunities. There are four facility nodes within this planning area—Canoe Meadows, Barrier Lake Visitor RIVER Information Centre, Widowmaker and Barrier Dam. The kayak slalom course at Canoe Meadows is considered to be the best training facility for the sport of kayaking in the province. Key objectives of the Lower Kananaskis River Facility Redevelopment Plan include: • reducing congestion at day use sites; • improving river access for recreational users; • increasing camping opportunities; and KANANASKIS • enhancing the Canoe Meadows site to accommodate special events, river recreation, and to act as a multi-function camping area. The developments that are shown in this Redevelopment Plan are at the ‘concept stage.’ Specific details within the Plan may not be implemented HWY 40 LOWER exactly as shown in this document based on availability of funding and further studies. The Government of Alberta will explore the possibility of engaging private sector and/or non-governmental partners in the implementation of the development described in this Plan. A draft version of this plan was reviewed by the public and stakeholders in March–April, 2011. Where possible, feedback from this consultation was incorporated into this plan. This plan was approved on July 12, 2011, by the Kananaskis Country Inter- Departmental Consultative Committee. BARRIER LAKE 3 0 100 250 500m Project context Rationale for Redevelopment Many of the recreational facilities in Kananaskis Country were planned and Rationale for Redevelopment Plan built in the 1970s and 1980s when the population of Alberta was much smaller, and Albertans engaged in different recreational activities on the landscape. The purpose of the Facility Redevelopment Plan for the Lower Kananaskis In recent years Alberta has grown to a population of over 3 million people, River is to provide a comprehensive vision for the area that aims to improve with over 1 million of those people living in close proximity to Kananaskis visitor experience through the expansion and modernization of recreational Country. The recreational facilities that were built over thirty years ago are facilities in an environmentally sensitive manner. Implementation of this Plan often at or over capacity, and are out-of-date. Once implemented, the new will also begin to address the need for more campsites in other parts of and redeveloped facilities described within this plan will begin to address the Kananaskis Country and Alberta. needs and expectations of Albertans today. Description of planning area Key Objectives of the Plan The planning area is located within Bow Valley Provincial Park, and is The Redevelopment Plan has key objectives that align with the strategies approximately 80 kilometres from Calgary. It is a popular day-use and outlined in the Plan for Parks. The four strategies in the Plan for Parks are: overnight group-camping destination, and is recognized for its river-based • Involve Albertans recreational opportunities. The popularity of the river for recreation is largely • Offer Modern Facilities, Policies and Programs due to the regulation of the flow of the Lower Kananaskis River. The dam at • Provide Recreation Opportunities Barrier Lake and the natural and man-made river features result in a consistent • Conserve Landscapes flow-rate that river users can count on to plan their trips and activities. There is a growing diversity of river users on the Lower Kananaskis River, which now The key objectives for the Redevelopment Plan are grouped according to the includes kayakers, canoeists and surfers, as well companies offering rafting above strategies from the Plan for Parks are: and a variety of river recreational activities. The paddling opportunities in the planning area have been described as ‘provincially significant’. Involve Albertans • Engage Albertans in determining the future of the Lower Kananaskis River area The Lower Kananaskis River from Barrier Lake downstream to Seebe is a • Partner with the private sector and/or non-governmental organizations in recreational corridor. The area for this redevelopment proposal includes that the implementation of the Proposal part of the recreational corridor that is under the planning authority of Alberta Parks. There are currently four facility nodes within this planning area – Canoe Meadows, Barrier Lake Visitor Information Centre, Widowmaker and Barrier Conserve Landscapes Dam. There are also some trails within the planning area that connect the • Ensure proper balance of facility development, recreational access and facility nodes. conservation The planning area is located within the Montane sub-region, which is Offer Modern Facilities, Policies and Programs characterized by open forests mixed with grasslands. The forests in the • Begin to address demand for enhanced recreational facilities throughout planning area are dominated by aspen stands on the terraces above the river, Kananaskis Country and by spruce forests on the slopes. There are some sites of ecological or • Redesign Canoe Meadows archaeological interest within the planning area, which will be a consideration • To better host special events in the redevelopment of the facilities in the area. • To enhance training and sport facilities • To provide a range of camping opportunities • Reduce traffic congestion at day use sites Provide Recreation Opportunities • Improve river access • Increase camping opportunities throughout the planning area, particularly in 4 association with river recreation • Provide more inclusive facility options that reduce physical and cultural barriers wherever possible Guiding Documents developments proposed in the Lower Kananaskis River area will assist in context Project Lower Kananaskis River Facility Redevelopment Plan meeting the objectives outlined in Active Alberta by increasing opportunities for Albertans to recreate outdoors, as well as redesigning Canoe Meadows to In addition to legislation, there are five policy documents that have guided the become a facility focused on the sport of kayaking. planning of facilities within the planning area. KANANASKIS COUNTRY RECREATION POLICY LAND-USE FRAMEWORK The Kananaskis Country Recreation Policy was approved in May 1999, and The Land-use Framework is a comprehensive approach to planning to better sets out the approach to sustainable recreation management in Kananaskis manage public and private lands and natural resources to achieve Alberta’s Country within the context of integrated resource and environmental long-term economic, environmental and social goals. management. It allows for the development of new small facilities within Kananaskis Country, as well as the upgrading and improvement of existing The framework provides a blueprint for land-use management and decision- facilities, so long as environmental effects are mitigated or acceptable. making that addresses the growth that has occurred in Alberta over the past several years. The Land-use Framework and the subsequent regional plans are BOW VALLEY PROTECTED AREAS MANAGEMENT PLAN law and so all other plans and policies affecting land-use must be in conformity with the Land-use Framework. The Lower Kananaskis River planning area The Bow Valley Protected Areas Management Plan was approved in is within the land-use planning region known as the ‘South Saskatchewan’.’ September 2002. Development of this plan included public and stakeholder Although the regional plan for the South Saskatchewan is not yet complete, the consultation, prior to its approval. redevelopment plan for the Lower Kananaskis River is aligned with the current direction of planning initiatives related to the regional plan. The plan designates