PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
ORDER OF THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY
Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act
Ministerial Order No. M244
I, George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, order that the attached Redfern – Keily Park, Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Northern Rocky Mountains Protected Area Management Plans are enacted, pursuant to section 5 (1.1) of the Muskwa- Kechika Management Area Act.
June 14, 2021 Date Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
(This part is for administrative purposes only and is not part of the Order.) Authority under which Order is made:
Act and section: Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act, S.B.C. 1998, c. 38, s. 5 (1.1) Other:
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Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Northern Rocky Mountains Protected Area Management Plan
February 2021 BC Parks Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Northern Rocky Mountains Protected Area Management Plan
Approved by:
______June 14, 2021______Honourable George Heyman Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
Foreword by BC Treaty 8 First Nations
WELCOME to our homeland. The Beaver (Dunne-za, Dane-zaa), Cree, Saulteau, Slavey (Dene), and TseK’ hene indigenous groups have occupied these lands since time immemorial. Treaty 8 was signed in the spirit of Peace and Friendship on June 21, 1899. British Columbia Treaty 8 Territory is hundreds of thousands of square kilometres in size and includes 8 groups: Blueberry River First Nations, Doig River First Nation, Fort Nelson First Nation, Halfway River First Nation, McLeod Lake Indian Band, Prophet River First Nation, Saulteau First Nations and West Moberly First Nations. Our relationship to the land has and continues to be the spiritual basis for our mode of life. The land has always, and will continue to, provide shelter, food, clothing, and the economic resources for our livelihood. As a First Nation, we have an obligation to implement our inherent rights that are affirmed by the Constitution Act, 1982. This includes sustainability of our resources in order for us to hunt, trap, fish, and continue our mode of life. Prior to the arrival of the Europeans we were actively involved in the management of our territories: the lands understood us and we understood the land. Today, we continue to manage our Territory.
BC Treaty 8 First Nations were not involved in the initial development plans of this park in regards to its location and why the area was chosen. We would like neighbouring First Nations, outdoor enthusiasts and other visitors to our land who are enjoying the bounties of this Park to acknowledge and respect that you are on Treaty 8 Territory. Please act as a steward of Treaty 8 Territory so that together we will maintain its natural beauty, and cultural resources. This maintenance will be respectful to our current use and for future generations. Please conduct yourself in a manner that respects cultural heritage resources and values. Treaty 8 Territory will always be the home of First Nations for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the water flows.
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Foreword by BC Kaska Dena First Nations
The Kaska traditional territory is 24 million hectares and includes portions of three provinces and territories (British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territories). The majestic northern boreal forest regions of interior British Columbia and the Yukon have some of the continent’s most expansive and impressive wilderness areas, with a great diversity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Extensive mountain ranges and wild rivers frame pristine boreal forest watersheds. Large free ranging populations of Woodland Caribou, Moose, Dall’s Sheep, Stone Sheep, a full suite of large carnivores, and hundreds of thousands of migrating neo-tropical songbirds and waterfowl make their home in these diverse boreal landscapes.
Since human beings have inhabited this landscape, we have been here. As long as human beings inhabit this landscape, we will remain here. Our occupancy of this land establishes both our right and our responsibility to ensure this land remains intact and able to support our people and culture. We emphasize it is now time to secure its permanent protection in order to protect a broad diversity of resources and values that are critical to our culture and our economic opportunities within our homeland.
The health of Kaska culture requires large intact landscapes which support healthy populations of traditional plants and animals. Furthermore, a central facet of our identity requires large unfragmented landscapes for our families to be on. This is where our traditional knowledge is passed on from parent to child, from generation to generation. As well, our physical health requires continued access to healthy wildlife populations as a key component of the diet to which we are accustomed and adapted.
Permanently protected areas and parks can play an important role in ensuring the long term health of First Nations cultures, and thus the Kaska are generally supportive of the concept of “parks” as a mechanism to protect our cultural interests. As well, the Kaska are supportive of parks within their traditional territories, with some caveats, as a contribution to the overall richness and core spiritual values of Canadian culture.
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Vision Statement
Northern Rocky Mountains Park is renowned as a world-class area for wildlife, the preservation of wilderness, and a destination for recreation adventure. The park is seen as maintaining the majestic mountain ecosystems, as well as the habitat upon which the diversity and abundance of wildlife depends. As the third largest park in the BC Parks protected area system, and the largest protected area in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area, it plays an important role in providing backcountry recreation opportunities for local, national, and international visitors. Development has been kept to a minimum and the few facilities that exist have been maintained with the goal of providing a wilderness experience. Levels of use, both public and commercial, are low, but are monitored to ensure that key park values and wilderness experiences are not negatively impacted. Recognizing the traditional use of Northern Rocky Mountains Park is important to the area’s First Nation communities; Northern Rocky Mountains Park remains a location where First Nations members practice their traditional social, ceremonial and cultural activities.
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Table of Contents Foreword by BC Treaty 8 First Nations ...... i Foreword by BC Kaska Dena First Nations ...... ii Vision Statement ...... iii 1.0 Introduction ...... 1 1.1 Management Plan Purpose...... 1 1.2 Planning Area ...... 1 1.3 Legislative Framework ...... 5 1.4 Relationship with First Nations ...... 6 1.5 Relationship with Other Resource Agencies ...... 7 1.6 Adjacent Land Use ...... 7 1.7 Authorizations within the Park ...... 9 1.8 Park Access ...... 10 1.9 Management Planning Process ...... 11 2.0 Values and Roles of the Park and Protected Area ...... 12 2.1 Significance in the Protected Areas System ...... 12 2.2 Biodiversity and Natural Heritage Values ...... 12 2.3 Prescribed Fire ...... 22 2.4 Climate Change ...... 24 2.5 Cultural Heritage Values ...... 24 2.6 Recreation Values ...... 26 3.0 Management Direction ...... 28 3.1 Management Objectives and Strategies ...... 28 3.2 Zoning Plan ...... 43 4.0 Plan Implementation ...... 48 4.1 Implementation Plan ...... 48 4.2 High Priority Strategies ...... 48 4.3 Plan Assessment ...... 49 Appendix 1: Appropriate Use Table ...... 50 Appendix 2: History of Early Explorers ...... 53 Glossary ...... 54
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References ...... 55
Figures
Figure 1: Context Map for Northern Rocky Mountains Park ...... 3 Figure 2: Map of Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Northern Rocky Mountains Protected Area Boundaries and adjacent Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan zones...... 4 Figure 3: Blizzard Lakes ...... 13 Figure 4: Hoodoos in Wokkpash Canyon ...... 14 Figure 5: Overview Map for Northern Rocky Mountains Park Biogeoclimatic Zones ...... 15 Figure 6: Transition of Spruce-Willow-Birch to Boreal Altai Fescue Alpine BEC Subzones ...... 17 Figure 7: View of Wokkpash Lake ...... 19 Figure 8: View of Henry Creek Valley ...... 23 Figure 9: Horse Pack Trip Crossing Tetsa River ...... 27 Figure 10: Northern Rocky Mountains Park Zoning Map ...... 44 Figure 11: Forlorn Gorge ...... 46 Figure 12: Map of Wokkpash Special Feature Zone ...... 47
Tables
Table 1: LMRP Zoning in areas adjacent to the park ...... 8 Table 2: Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) representation ...... 17 Table 3: Lake surface area and maximum depth ...... 19 Table 4: Fish species of the lakes in Northern Rocky Mountains Park ...... 21 Table 5: Fish species of the main waterways of Northern Rocky Mountains Park ...... 22
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1.0 Introduction
1.1 Management Plan Purpose The purpose of this management plan is to guide the management of Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Northern Rocky Mountains Protected Area. Throughout this management plan, the terms “park” or “Northern Rocky Mountains Park” are used to refer to both the park and the protected area, except for when Northern Rocky Mountains Protected Area is specifically named. This management plan: • articulates the key features and values of Northern Rocky Mountains Park; • identifies appropriate types and levels of management activities; • determines appropriate levels of use and development; • establishes a long-term vision and management objectives for the park; and • responds to current and predicted threats and opportunities by defining a set of management strategies to achieve the management vision and objectives.
1.2 Planning Area Northern Rocky Mountains Park (665,709 hectares) and Northern Rocky Mountains Protected Area (763 hectares) are located in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area (M-KMA) (Figure 1)1. The M-KMA, established in 1998 (Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act), is an area of unique wilderness endowed with a globally significant abundance and diversity of wildlife. The long-term maintenance of the wilderness characteristics, wildlife and its habitat within the M-KMA is critical to the social and cultural well-being of First Nations and local communities. The long-term resource management objective for the M-KMA is to return the lands to their natural state as development activities are completed. The M-KMA is zoned into a number of different resource management zones, including protected areas, which are intended to maintain in perpetuity the wilderness quality and the diversity and abundance of wildlife and the ecosystems on which it depends, while allowing for resource development and use in parts designated for those purposes. Resource management within the M-KMA must be consistent with the Muskwa-Kechika Management Plan Regulation. Within the M-KMA there are approximately 1.17 million hectares of protected land within twenty-three provincially protected areas of various designations. Northern Rocky Mountains Park is the largest of these protected areas.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 1
The closest large community to Northern Rocky Mountains Park is Fort Nelson (approximate population 4,000), which is 80 kilometres northeast of the park. Fort St. John (approximate population 21,000) is 225 kilometres southeast of the park. The Northern Rocky Mountains Park (Figure 2) protects diverse and abundant wildlife populations, undeveloped watersheds, wilderness qualities, and striking mountainous features. Spectacularly exposed geological features readily visible to park visitors are an important aspect of the park. Features include hoodoos, huge folds, thrust faults, rugged castellated peaks, glacially sculpted U-shaped valleys, cirques and hanging valleys. The park provides outstanding opportunities for backcountry recreation in a wilderness setting where human impact is temporary, minor and in the long-run substantially unnoticeable. Most of the ground-based access to the park is from the Alaska Highway corridor (entry points are located in the Wokkpash Creek and Tetsa River drainages and through Stone Mountain Park), while water-based access is via the Muskwa River. Two provincial parks are immediately adjacent to Northern Rocky Mountains Park: Stone Mountain Park to the northwest; and Kwadacha Wilderness Park to the southwest. Stone Mountain Park (25,690 hectares) provides travellers of the Alaska Highway with easy access to camping and recreation opportunities in a wilderness setting while Kwadacha Wilderness Park (130,279 hectares) provides spectacular scenery in a pristine wilderness setting. The combined areas of Northern Rocky Mountains Park, Northern Rocky Mountains Protected Area, Kwadacha Wilderness Park and Stone Mountain Park provide over 800,000 hectares of largely unroaded contiguous wilderness. 1.2.1. Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan In the early 1990s, the BC government established a land use planning process that led to the development of land and resource management plans throughout the province, including the Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan, which recommended establishment of this park. However, in most cases, this process did not involve First Nations on a government-to-government basis, but as stakeholders. Although these plans were developed without prejudice to aboriginal rights and title, most First Nations chose not to participate in these stakeholder processes, preferring government-to- government negotiations on land issues2. The 1997 Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan provides specific recommendations for activities, uses and facilities within Northern Rocky Mountains Park. These recommendations are found on pages 129 to 131 and pages 162 to 166 of the 1997 Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan document. In general, the land use plan recommended that current uses at the time the plan was written should be allowed to continue.
2 http://www.bctreaty.ca/land-and-resources
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 2
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Figure 1: Context Map for Northern Rocky Mountains Park
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Figure 2: Map of Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Northern Rocky Mountains Protected Area Boundaries and adjacent Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan zones
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 4
1.3 Legislative Framework The 1997 Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan3 identified seven sites that were recommended for protected area designation; two of the sites were the Northern Rocky Mountains and the upper Wokkpash River. These sites were specifically selected to protect viable representative examples of natural diversity and also to protect special natural, recreational and cultural heritage features in accordance with the provincial Protected Areas Strategy. The upper Wokkpash River was first proposed as an ecological reserve in 1974, with a larger area later being established as a Recreation Area under the Park Act (1987) to provide recreation opportunities and to protect significant geological features including the Valley of the Hoodoos, Forlorn Gorge and Wokkpash Lake. The Recreation Area was cancelled in 1999 and the area included in the new Northern Rocky Mountains Park on June 29, 1999. Northern Rocky Mountains Park is a Class A park that is named and described in Schedule D of the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act. Class A parks are Crown lands dedicated to the preservation of their natural environments for the inspiration, use and enjoyment of the public. Development in Class A parks is limited to that which is necessary to maintain the recreational values of the park. Some activities that existed at the time a park was established (e.g., range tenures) may be allowed to continue in certain Class A parks4, but, logging, mining or hydroelectric development is not permitted. To provide the flexibility needed along the Alaska Highway in the event that future realignment was required, an approximately 500-metre wide corridor south of the Alaska Highway was designated under the Environment and Land Use Act as the Northern Rocky Mountains Protected Area on January 25, 2001 1.3.1. Muskwa-Kechika Management Area As a result of the dedicated work of land and resource planning table members during the 1990’s in Fort Nelson and Fort St. John, and later in Mackenzie, the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act and the Muskwa-Kechika Management Plan Regulation, were adopted through Order-in-Council, and enacted in 1998. The purpose of this legislation was to provide guidance to managers in government agencies and non-government organisations, communities, and industry groups while conducting their activities in the M-KMA. As well, a public advisory board was appointed by the Premier to provide advice to government on planning and land use management, and a trust fund was established to fund projects.
3 To access the Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan visit: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/tasb/slrp/plan32.html. 4 Applies only to Class A parks listed in Schedule D of the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 5
The Act identifies the M-KMA as being a unique wilderness area of global significance and outlines the following management intent for the area: “… the management intent for the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area I to maintain in perpetuity the wilderness quality, and the diversity and abundance of wildlife and the ecosystems on which it depends while allowing resource development and use in parts of the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area designated for those purposes including recreation, hunting, trapping, timber harvesting, mineral exploration and mining, oil and gas exploration and development …” To support land management, the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act specified the creation of the Muskwa-Kechika Management Plan and five types of local strategic plans: a recreation management plan (completed), a wildlife management plan (completed), oil and gas pre-tenure plans (completed), park management plans (such as this plan) and local strategic forestry plans, referred to as landscape unit objectives (which are completed when there is forestry activity). As one of the local strategic plans, the Northern Rocky Mountains Park management plan is consistent with the direction provided by the Muskwa-Kechika Management Plan; it also considers direction within the other strategic level plans. BC Parks worked with the advisory board to ensure that the management objectives and strategies in this management plan are consistent with the objectives of the Muskwa- Kechika Management Plan. Part of the responsibilities of the advisory board are to support the initiation of park management plans and ensure adequate public consultation in the preparation of these plans.
1.4 Relationship with First Nations Northern Rocky Mountains Park is within the territory of multiple First Nations. The Treaty 8 First Nations that have territory overlapping with the park are Doig River, Fort Nelson, Halfway River, Prophet River, and West Moberly. Additionally, the park is within the traditional territory of the Kaska Dena Council Nations. This park management plan and subsequent management actions within Northern Rocky Mountains Park will respect the government–to–government agreements that have been signed with different First Nations (see section 1.4.1) as well as First Nations traditional harvesting, cultural activities, and other aboriginal rights and interests. The management of protected areas can be improved by incorporating First Nations’ traditional ecological knowledge and cultural knowledge. BC Parks’ goal is to gather, collate and integrate local traditional knowledge with other scientific data to manage the park. British Columbia is working collaboratively with Indigenous peoples to establish a clear, cross government vision for reconciliation to guide the adoption and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, and the Tsilhqot’in Supreme Court decision. All BC Government ministries have been tasked with finding ways to
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implement the UN Declaration through a review of the province’s policies, programs, and legislation.5 Part of this review is guided by the recognition of indigenous knowledge, cultures and traditional practises and their contributions to sustainable and equitable development and proper management of the environment. 1.4.1. First Nation Government-to-Government Agreements The Province of British Columbia has entered into, or is negotiating, government-to- government agreements with a number of First Nations whose proven rights or asserted traditional interest areas overlap with Northern Rocky Mountains Park. The Strategic Engagement Agreement between the Province of British Columbia and the Kaska Dena Council includes the Conservancies, Parks and Protected Areas Collaborative Management Framework. The purpose of this Framework is for the Parties to engage on a government-to-government basis with respect to the development of this management plan, and to work collaboratively to implement the management objectives and joint operational activities within the park and protected area. The Government-to-Government Agreement between the Province of British Columbia and Halfway River First Nation is aimed at reducing land and resource sector conflicts, providing greater certainty, fulfilling specific legal obligations, and improving relationships.
1.5 Relationship with Other Resource Agencies BC Parks works directly with other land and resource management agencies to address specific management issues in and around Northern Rocky Mountains Park. These agencies include those responsible for Crown land, fish and wildlife, range, and wildfire management. They manage the fish and wildlife values, wildfires, prescribed fire, range tenures, and pest and disease problems and authorizing commercial and industrial activities, to ensure that resource development applications on lands around the park consider park values.
1.6 Adjacent Land Use Patterns of adjacent land use can have an influence on park values particularly related to access, wildlife movement and viewscapes. Northern Rocky Mountains Park is bordered by other parks and protected areas or Crown land that is managed as either special wildland or resource management zones.
5 Principles Accord on Transforming Treaty Negotiations in British Columbia. Government of British Columbia, The First Nations Summit, and the Government of Canada. December 1st, 2018. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/natural-resource-stewardship/consulting-with-first- nations/agreements/principals_accord_signed_dec_1_2018.pdf
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1.6.1. Land and Resource Management Plan Zones Land and resource management plans delineate resource management zones within their respective planning areas. Activities permitted within the different resource management zones that surround Northern Rocky Mountains Park have the ability to affect park values, particularly when those activities occur in close proximity to the park or are consumptive in nature. The Northern Rocky Mountains Park is bordered by five zones under the Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan, and two zons under the Mackenzie Land and Resource Management Plan (Figure 2, Table 1).
Table 1: Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) Zoning in areas adjacent to the park LRMP Zoning Designation Zone Name Fort Nelson Special Management Churchill Muskwa River Corridor Muskwa West Prophet Enhanced Resource Development Alaska Highway Corridor MacKenzie Special “Wildland Category” Upper U Kai (Upper Akie) Management Upper Gataga
The Special Management zones provide special management direction for the Muskwa- Kechika Management Area and are intended to ensure wilderness characteristics and wildlife habitat are maintained over time with resource development being permitted to proceed while minimizing impacts to other resource values. The Enhanced Resource Development zone is intended to manage the highway corridor and enhance recreation and tourism opportunities. In the Special Wildland Zones, emphasis is placed upon ecological conservation and remote backcountry characteristics. Oil and gas development is permitted, but timber harvesting is not and road development is intended to be temporary. 1.6.2. Other Adjacent Uses • The park is within the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and is zoned Parks and Protected Areas (P-1) in their Rural Zoning Bylaw No.137 (2017). The park is
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 8
surrounded by the Rural Resource (R) zone which supports uses associated with the management and extraction of natural resources.
• Wildlife Habitat Areas for Caribou have been established south of the park under the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Oil and Gas Activities Act.
• Ungulate Winter Ranges for Northern Mountain Caribou, Stone’s Sheep and Mountain Goat have been established south and west of the park under the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Oil and Gas Activities Act.
• Four authorizations under the Land Act for transportation purposes exist adjacent to the park along the Alaska Highway transportation corridor. These authorizations provide a 500-metre buffer for the Alaska Highway allowing for future expansion and in some locations correspond with the Northern Rocky Mountains Protected Area. • Seven active mineral tenures exist within five kilometres of the park, all to the south. Multiple oil and gas well sites exist within areas adjacent to the park; these sites have been identified as abandoned. • There is one private holding of 55 hectares within the park that is used as a base for a guide outfitter (Figure 2).
1.7 Authorizations within the Park • Northern Rocky Mountains Park overlaps with five guide outfitting territories with four holding park use permits for commercial recreation in the park6. Guide-outfitter wildlife harvest levels are set by the ministry responsible for wildlife management, in collaboration with BC Parks. Guide-outfitter commercial recreation activities and facilities in the park are managed by BC Parks.
• There are nine other commercial recreation operations authorized by park use permits in the park offering a variety of services, including guided angling, hiking, horseback riding, transporting, camping, wildlife viewing, boat tours and canoeing. Four of these park use permits are held by guide outfitters that also offer non- hunting recreational services. Six of the park use permits authorize privately owned structures, such as lodges or cabins.
• Nine range tenures for horse grazing held by guide outfitters and licensed transporters exist within Northern Rocky Mountains Park. These range tenures predate the establishment of the park and are authorized under the Range Act. These range tenures are managed under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between BC Parks and the Range Program of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural
6 One guide-outfitter territory has a minor overlap with the park; the territory holder does not have a Park Use Permit for commercial recreation as they do not use that portion of their territory.
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Resource Operations and Rural Development. The MOU between BC Parks and the Range Program allows for prescribed fires by permit holders if they are part of a Range Use Plan and are consistent with park values and/or a park management plan. The number of Animal Unit Months (AUMs) allocated to each range tenure in the park is capped at that which was authorized for the range tenure at the time of park establishment.
• Eight trapline areas overlap with Northern Rocky Mountains Park. Trapping is managed by the ministry responsible for wildlife management. That ministry also manages hunting regulations and harvest allocations at the management unit level, and in collaboration with BC Parks. Currently, five of the trapline holders trap within the park (authorized by a valid park use permit), and the other three traplines are inactive in the park. • There are four park use permits allowing air transport into the park.
• Three range reference area research installations are located in the park: Gathto Creek, Halfway Meadow and Tuchodi River. These permanent installations have animal exclosure fences to monitor grazing impacts over time and are managed by the Range Program. The sample plots are both inside and outside the exclosures.
1.8 Park Access Several access routes have traditionally been used for travelling in the backcountry and are crucial to the wilderness experience in the park. Generally, routes in the park are not formally developed, and maintenance has been ad hoc by various user groups such as the guide outfitters, licenced transporters and resident hunters. Most access occurs in the summer and fall by horse and river boat, but also on foot, and in the winter by snowmobile. Tuchodi River is commonly used by riverboats to access the park, with trips starting at the Kledo Creek boat launch along the Alaska Highway, first travelling up the Muskwa River before entering the park along the Muskwa River, Tuchodi River, Gathto Creek or Kluachesi Creek. Several ground-based access routes into the park start along the Alaska Highway between Tetsa River and Summit Lake, and also along the Wokkpash Corridor. The Wokkpash Corridor is a popular access route into Northern Rocky Mountains Park that leads to the Wokkpash Valley trail. Wokkpash Corridor (Churchill Mine Road) is a designated Muskwa-Kechika Access Management Area (AMA) route that allows off road vehicle use and provides important access to the park. This access route is outside the park, and is a designated recreation trail under the Forest and Range Practices Act under the jurisdiction of the ministry that manages Crown land recreation. This trail is also part of the Fort Nelson Snowmobile Club trail system. The Wokkpash Valley trail can also be accessed from the MacDonald Creek Valley trail as part of a loop trail through Stone Mountain Park.
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Fixed-wing aircraft, both wheeled and floatplanes, and helicopters access a variety of locations within the park. Fixed-wing aircraft have a long history of being used to access the park, with use concentrated at guide outfitter camps and lakes. There are also a few landing locations in the park along suitable river bars and at minimally-maintained air strips that either predate the park or are associated with permitted guide outfitter camps. Helicopters offer opportunities to access a broad range of sites within the park. In comparison to fixed-wing aircraft, helicopter use makes up a small proportion of total air traffic.
1.9 Management Planning Process Direction for this plan has been provided by the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act, the Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan, the Muskwa-Kechika Wildlife Management Plan and the Muskwa-Kechika Recreation Management Plan. A management planning process for the park was originally initiated in 2000, with the formation of a Public Advisory Group that enabled direct engagement of interested and affected groups and individuals in the preparation of a management plan. BC Parks and the Public Advisory Group members followed the intent of the Fort Nelson Land Resource Management Plan and incorporated into the plan recommended objectives including: • General statements on protected areas; • Specific recommendations pertaining to the park; and, • General management objectives of the Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan. Due to staff re-organization in BC Parks and the need to enable greater participation in the process by Indigenous nations, the management planning process was suspended for a number of years. The process resumed in 2019, when a Local Stakeholder and Public Advisory Group (LSPAG) was convened to review and provide input on the most recent draft management plan. In addition, the Muskwa-Kechika Advisory Board, First Nations and natural resource agency staff informed the drafting of the management plan. During development of the draft management plan, public, stakeholder and First Nations engagement has occurred at various stages. This included opportunities for public input through a public mail-out process, website comment form, consultative meetings and open houses. The draft management plan was made available for public review and comment on the BC Parks webpage. Information and feedback received during the development of the management plan was used to inform the content of the final management plan.
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2.0 Values and Roles of the Park and Protected Area
2.1 Significance in the Protected Areas System The Northern Rocky Mountains Park is the third largest park in British Columbia and is the largest component of the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area protected area complex. This protected area complex, combined with the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area, is thought to be extensive enough to maintain functioning ecosystem processes including the large mammal predator-prey systems of the northern Canadian Rocky Mountains (Gurd et al. 2001). The park has a nationally and internationally significant abundance of wildlife species such as Caribou (Rangifer tarandus)7, Stone’s Sheep (Ovis dalli stonei), Elk (Cervus elaphus), Moose (Alces americanus), Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus), and Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos). Within this vast wilderness area are special landform features, outstanding scenery and rich cultural heritage values that all contribute to the high backcountry recreation value of the park. Northern Rocky Mountains Park protects important features such as Sleeping Chief Mountain (a ridge-like formation with a profile resembling a sleeping man as seen from the Alaska Highway), the Wokkpash hoodoos and several impressive glaciers at the headwaters of Tuchodi River system. The park provides representation of high elevation plateau landscapes, large south aspect slopes with high wildlife usage, and remote northern lakes and wetlands. Northern Rocky Mountains Park plays a key role in conserving the wilderness recreation values of the Muskwa–Kechika Management Area. The park provides relatively accessible backcountry day and overnight use in, or adjacent to, the Alaska Highway Corridor with semi-established routes and few facilities. It also provides remote and challenging wilderness recreation opportunities in the middle to southern portion of the park, with emphasis on low, dispersed levels of use.
2.2 Biodiversity and Natural Heritage Values Northern Rocky Mountains Park has spectacular geological structures, valuable freshwater values, and a diversity of vegetation, fish, and wildlife. Its vast size and proximity to other protected areas make it an important component of the provincial protected areas system. 2.2.1. Geology, Landforms and Soils The mountains in the area were formed by rocks being bent, folded, faulted and uplifted by northeast compression from western British Columbia. Escarpments and chevron folds exist in the layers of Sleeping Chief Mountain (1,942 metres), Mount Sylvia (2,942 metres) and Mount Mary Henry (2,614 metres). The bedrock contains much
7 Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in the park area are part of the Northern Mountain Caribou population or Designatable Unit, and the Muskwa and Pink Mountain subpopulations. The term Caribou will be used throughout the document to refer to the Muskwa and Pink Mountain subpopulations.
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limestone, as well as siltstones and sandstones. Much of the terrain in the park is mountainous and characterized by rocky steep-sided slopes separated by high and wide valleys. In comparison to the southern Rocky Mountains, the Muskwa Ranges show evidence of more dramatic and complex geological features. The park was glaciated approximately 25,000-10,000 years ago, though the mountains show little evidence of late-stage glacial erosion. As ice sheets receded, glacial lakes covered the lowland between the Muskwa and Prophet rivers. The valleys in the park received large deposits of gravel and boulders from these glaciers that were subsequently eroded by fluvial action that formed outwash Figure 3: Blizzard Lakes plains with the eroded materials. Glaciers and perennial snow patches exist within the park boundaries and usually occur at elevations exceeding 2,400 metres. Fluvial and lacustrine terraces and colluvial/alluvial fans are located along the Tuchodi River and Gathto Creek, as well as along the shorelines of Tuchodi and Kluachesi lakes. Lateral moraine tills, as well as glaciolacustrine deposits, tend to be at higher elevations and likely related to more recent, small glacier movements dating to the latter portion of the Holocene. The geology and landforms in the Wokkpash drainage area are unusual. The hoodoos at Wokkpash Gorge are approximately 30 to 90 metres high and line both sides of the gorge for a distance of 5 kilometres. They are impressive in terms of number, size and gravity-defying suspended boulders. This may be the best example of hoodoos in the province. In Stepped Creek, downstream of Blizzard Lakes, there is a polje8 that fills with meltwater each year and drains later in the year. Forlorn Gorge is a deep, narrow gorge 150 metres deep and 25 metres wide, along Forlorn Creek. There are also several rock glaciers in the area. Soil development in Northern Rocky Mountains Park is poor to non-existent in the more elevated alpine areas, while valley bottoms frequently have well-developed and well- drained soils. Exceptional abandoned fluvial features (e.g., meanders and terraces) are found along the Tuchodi River, Dead Dog Creek, and Gathto Creek.
8 A polje is defined as “an extensive depression having a flat floor and steep walls but no outflowing surface stream and found in a region having karst topography ”.
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Figure 4: Hoodoos in Wokkpash Canyon 2.2.2 Ecosections and Biogeoclimatic Zones By virtue of its significant size, adjacency to other protected areas and location in the province, the Northern Rocky Mountains Park is a major contributor to the protection of ecosystems and biological diversity of the northern Canadian Rocky Mountains. It is located in four ecosections of the northern Canadian Rocky Mountains: Eastern Muskwa Ranges (368,811 ha), Muskwa Foothills (275,847 ha), Muskwa Upland (15,196 ha) and Sikanni Chief Upland (6,531 ha). There are four biogeoclimatic (BEC) subzones9 represented in the park (Table 2).
9 A biogeoclimatic zone is a geographic area in British Columbia classified as having similar patterns of vegetation and soils that reflect a broadly homogenous macroclimate.
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Figure 5: Overview Map for Northern Rocky Mountains Park Biogeoclimatic Zones
The Boreal Altai Fescue Alpine (BAFA) subzone is found at elevations greater than 1,800 metres. Vegetation consists mainly of shrubs, heathers, grasses, herbs, mosses, and lichens. White spruce (Picea glauca), Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) and sub- alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), where they occur, usually exhibit a stunted growth form due to the harsh environmental conditions. The moist, cool Spruce-Willow-Birch (SWBmk) and moist, cool scrub Spruce-Willow- Birch (SWBmks) subzones are found along the valley bottoms (below 1,600 metres elevation for SWBmk and between 1,600 metres and 1,800 metres elevation for SWBmks). These subzones are predominantly forested with white spruce (Picea glauca) and sub-alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), with lesser amounts of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia), black spruce (Picea mariana) and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides). Scrub birch (Betula nana) and willow (Salix species) are also common. Areas with poor drainage contain white spruce and tall willow swamps, sedge (Carex spp.) fens, or marshes. Areas of old growth spruce forest can be found in areas with a
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less frequent disturbance regime, such as along river valley bottoms, and the Tuchodi River’s north and west facing slopes. The Boreal White and Black Spruce moist, cool (BWBSmk) subzone is found at the lowest elevations in the park below elevations of 1,000 - 1,200 metres. Upland forests are dominated by white spruce and trembling aspen forests, with black spruce found in forested wetlands and nutrient poor sites, occasionally with tamarack (Larix laricina). Lodgepole pine is common on drier sites. Non-forested wetlands are dominated by scrub birch and sedges. The Northern Rocky Mountains Protected Area is located in one ecosection, Muskwa Foothills, and is in two biogeoclimatic zones (Boreal White and Black Spruce and Spruce- Willow-Birch). Northern Rocky Mountains Park contributes a significant portion of the area protected in the province for the four biogeoclimatic subzones that occur in the park. This is especially the case for the BWBSwk, which is underrepresented in the province’s protected areas system.
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Table 2. Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) representation BEC Zone BEC Subzone Area of Area of BEC Percent of Percent of BEC Subzone BEC Subzone BEC Subzone Protected protected in Subzone in the in B.C B.C. Protected Park (hectares) Contributed in B.C. (hectares) by the Park Boreal Altai BAFAun 254,270 1,702,313 14.9 27.8 Fescue Alpine (undifferenti ated) Boreal White BWBSmk 42,900 396,273 10.8 4.2 and Black (moist cool) Spruce Spruce-Willow SWBmk 292,059 1,085,706 26.9 26.1 Birch (moist cool) SWBmks 75,448 382,167 19.7 23.5 (moist cool scrub)
Figure 6: Transition of Spruce-Willow-Birch to Boreal Altai Fescue Alpine BEC Subzones
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2.2.2. Vegetation Information on plant species at-risk in the park is very limited, with information mostly available for the Wokkpash area, Summit Lake and Wahthinli Mountain. Three red- listed10 species are known to occur in the park: northern swamp willow herb (Epilobium davuricum), Pallas' wallflower (Erysimum pallasii) and smooth draba (Draba glabella). Eleven blue-listed11 species are known to occur in the park: Arctic bladderpod (Physaria arctica), abbreviated bluegrass (Poa abbreviata ssp. Pattersonii), curved sedge (Carex maritima), entire-leafed daisy (Hulteniella integrifolia), high arctic cinquefoil (Potentilla subvahliana), low sandwort (Arenaria longipedunculata), rock-dwelling sedge (Carex petricosa var. petricosa), Siberian kobresia (Kobresia sibirica), slender gentian (Comastoma tenellum), two-flowered cinquefoil (Potentilla biflora) and whitish rush (Juncus triglumios subsp. albescens). There are significant wetlands and areas of old growth forests along the Tuchodi River. Ecosystem mapping has not been completed for the park, so there is no information available on at-risk ecological communities, though they are likely present in the park. 2.2.3. Ecological Integrity Ecological integrity occurs when an area or network of areas supports natural ecosystem composition, structure and function, and a capacity for self-renewal. The Northern Rocky Mountains Park is part of a network of protected areas that is large enough to include all components and processes of the representative ecosystems (Gurd et al. 2001). The size of the park allows stochastic (i.e. randomly occurring) natural processes to predominate. In a large protected area, species and ecosystems have more space to be able to respond to climate change, thus maintaining the ecological integrity of the area. 2.2.4. Water Northern Rocky Mountains Park plays a significant role in maintaining freshwater values for the northeast portion of the province. At the headwaters of the Tuchodi River in the Battle of Britain Range is the Lloyd George Icefield, the largest icefield in the northern Rocky Mountains. Many smaller unnamed glaciers feed the lakes, rivers, and creeks. Meltwater from these glaciers can sometimes be very turbid. Northern Rocky Mountains Park protects parts of six undeveloped watersheds: • Wokkpash Creek, from 5 kilometres upstream from its the confluence with the Racing River; • Tetsa River, upstream from its confluence with the North Tetsa River; • Muskwa River, upstream of Crehan Creek to the Kwadacha Wilderness Park boundary.
10 The Red List is a list of ecological communities, and indigenous species and subspecies that are extirpated, endangered or threatened in British Columbia. 11 The Blue List is a list of ecological communities, and indigenous species and subspecies of special concern (formerly vulnerable) in British Columbia.
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• Three-quarters of the Chischa River, from 13 kilometres upstream of the Muskwa River; • Tuchodi River; and • Gathto Creek, from approximately 19 kilometres upstream of the Muskwa River. Though large lakes are not abundant in the park (Table 3), there are several significant lakes, especially the Tuchodi Lakes and Wokkpash Lake, which are important recreational destinations. An interesting feature of Tuchodi and Wokkpash lakes is how they have been split by large fluvial fans (Figure 7).
Figure 7: View of Wokkpash Lake
Table 3: Lake surface area and maximum depth Lake Surface Area (ha) Maximum Depth (m) Blizzard Lakes 78 - Grizzly Lake 20 - Kluachesi 221 7 Lower Tuchodi 438 19 St. Sepulchre 16 - Tetsa Lake 57 - Upper Tuchodi 728 43 Wokkpash Lake 319 36
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2.2.5. Wildlife Northern Rocky Mountains Park is a part of a complex wide-ranging predator-prey system with a high density and diversity of large mammal species. Based on broad-scale habitat mapping for the park, the majority of the park lies within moderate to high quality habitat for Mountain Goat, Moose, Grizzly Bear (blue-listed; COSEWIC Special Concern)12, Grey Wolf, Caribou (Muskwa and Pink Mountain subpopulations of the blue- listed northern mountain population; COSEWIC Special Concern), Elk and Stone’s Sheep (blue-listed). Approximately one half of the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area’s Stone’s Sheep population is located within the park. Protecting habitat for ungulates is one of the key roles of the park. The ongoing health of those wildlife populations is important from conservation, cultural and recreation perspectives. There is a long history of predator management (specifically for Grey Wolf) having been used as a management tool in the park. This has involved trapping, resident and non- resident hunters and government initiatives. BC Parks works with the ministry responsible for wildlife management to maintain consistency, where appropriate, with wildlife management initiatives and policy. Currently, provincial policy13 supports the use of predator management to protect livestock and species at risk (i.e. Caribou). Mineral licks are important features in the park. Ungulates congregate in these areas to ingest a variety of chemical components that are concentrated on the surface. Wet mineral licks are formed due to water movement (gravitational or upwelling) that concentrates materials leached from the surrounding rocks and soils. Dry licks are often formed through colluvial or aeolian exposure. Although they differ in their respective concentrations, wet and dry licks are natural sources of sodium, carbonates, magnesium, and sulfate. Information on wildlife species in the park other than the prominent large mammal species is very limited. Other known wildlife within the park includes American Black Bear (Ursus americanus), Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and smaller mammals including American Marten (Martes americana), Fisher (Pekania pennanti) (blue-listed), Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) and Wolverine (Gulo luscus) (blue-listed; COSEWIC special concern). Rare sightings of Cougar (Puma concolor) have occurred. Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), a blue-listed bat species (COSEWIC endangered), has been also documented in the park. Numerous bird species use the park for both breeding and migration; however inventories are not available. The Rocky Mountains are known to be an important migration corridor for raptors such as Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). Other bird species known to or likely to use the park include Black-throated Green Warbler
12 The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assesses the conservation status of species under the federal Species at Risk Act. Categories are extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened, or special concern. 13 Management Plan for the Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) in British Columbia, 2014: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/management-issues/docs/grey_wolf_management_plan.pdf
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(Setophaga virens) (Blue-listed), Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus), Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens), Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) (blue-listed) and Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinators).
2.2.6. Fish The lakes and rivers of Northern Rocky Mountains Park are populated by a diverse fish community (Table ). No two lakes in the park have the same suite of fish species present in them. The list of known fish species in the park includes Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus), Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) (blue-listed; COSEWIC special concern), Burbot (Lota lota), Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush), Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), Longnose Sucker (Catostomus catostomus), Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni), Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus), Spoonhead Sculpin (Cottus ricei), Lake Chub (Cousius plumbeus) and White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii).
Table 4: Fish species of the lakes in Northern Rocky Mountains Park Lake Name Fish Species Mountain WhitefishMountain Longnose Sucker Longnose LakeWhitefish RainbowTrout Arctic GraylingArctic White Sucker White Bull Trout Bull LakeTrout LakeChub Sculpin Burbot 14
Grizzly X ? Kluachesi X X X X X Tetsa X Tuchodi X X X X X X X X Wokkpash X X X
The streams of Northern Rocky Mountains Park are home to a number of fish species with Bull Trout and Slimy Sculpin being the most widespread. Arctic Grayling and Mountain Whitefish are also widely distributed (Table 5). Bull Trout are known to spawn in Dead Dog Creek, Crehan Creek, Gathto Creek and Joplin Creek. Rainbow Trout are not native to the river systems of the park, with stocking having occurred several
14 Records show Dolly Varden in Kluachesi, Tuchodi and Wokkpash lakes, and North Tetsa River; these fish would most likely now be identified as Bull Trout
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times; the last known stocking being Rainbow Trout into Grizzly Lake in 1972, but the Rainbow Trout may not have survived (Woods 2001a, Woods 2001b). Fish distribution is often limited by barriers such as waterfalls on smaller tributary streams.
Table 5: Fish species of the main waterways of Northern Rocky Mountains Park Watershed Fish Species SlimySculpin Bull Trout Bull Name Spoonhead Mountain Whitefish Longnose Rainbow Grayling Sculpin Sucker Arctic Arctic Trout
10
Gathto X X X X Kluachesi X X X X Muskwa X X X X X North Tetsa X X X X X X X Tuchodi X X X X X Wokkpash X X
2.3 Prescribed Fire Ecosystem dynamics in Northern Rocky Mountains Park are greatly influenced by disturbances from fire that drive ecosystem renewal and change. Fire can have a variety of effects on ecosystems. In forested areas fires are often considered to be either stand replacing or stand maintaining. In grassland ecosystems, fire generally helps to maintain the grasslands through the removal of woody vegetation that cannot withstand repeated burning. The fire return interval for the area that includes Northern Rocky Mountains Park is between 50 and 400 years, with wildfire burning an average of 0.2% of the area per year between 1922 and 2012 (Ecora 2014, Leverkus 2015). Prescribed fire is a management tool that can be applied to ecosystems for specific purposes that includes ecosystem maintenance or restoration, wildlife habitat enhancement, forage production for domestic animals, and wildfire prevention. Throughout the northeast, prescribed burning has been historically used by First Nations, guide outfitters, and government to enhance wildlife habitat and enhance forage for range purposes (Louiser et al. 2009). Range tenures held by guide outfitters allow for prescribed burning to maintain forage for horses15 that are used in their operations. The Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan directs that prescribed fire be “allowed subject to the (protected area) management plan” with the comment “only for
15 The number of Animal Unit Months (AUMs) for each range tenure in the park is capped at that authorized for the range tenure at time of park establishment.
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expressed management purposes as defined by a protected area management plan”. It also states for ecosystem and habitat enhancement that the use of fire be “allowed subject to the (protected area) management plan”. The Muskwa-Kechika wildlife management plan directs that habitat “should be managed within the natural range of variability”,16 while also providing that prescribed fire be used in key habitats to maintain early seral grass or shrub areas for Stone’s Sheep, Moose and Elk. It is difficult to determine the natural range of variability of wildfire and the ecological conditions produced by wildfire, and then manage within this natural range. The use of prescribed fire may push ecosystems outside the natural range of variability for fire. In the Park, prescribed burns have been proposed at frequencies greater than the natural fire return interval (Woods 2017). This results in the maintenance of early seral17 grassland habitat favoured by ungulates and horses. Prescribed burning in the park was identified through the management planning public and stakeholder engagement process as a desired management tool for the purposes of maintaining and enhancing wildlife habitat in the park.
Figure 8: View of Henry Creek Valley
16 The Muskwa-Kechika Wildlife Management Plan defines Natural Range of Variability as “the range of variability in ecological conditions that occurred before European settlement”. 17 Vegetation succession can result in less palatable woody vegetation dominating some areas.
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2.4 Climate Change The effects of climate change on specific ecosystems and wildlife populations within British Columbia are not clearly understood at this time. However, research indicates that ecological communities will change along elevation and geographic gradients, causing shifts in plant and wildlife composition for given areas. Large, contiguous protected areas are known to be important to allow for species and population movement and refugia during these times of change. Due to its size and wilderness character, Northern Rocky Mountains Park, and the adjacent and proximal provincial protected areas, has the potential to allow for wildlife species and plant communities to respond and adapt to climate change. Based on the projection tools that are publicly available, the projected climate within the area of the park will likely be warmer and wetter in the future18. The ecological change in the park may include: • Alpine or boreal forest permafrost melting if mean annual temperatures are consistently above 0oC; • Tree-line moving to higher elevations and reducing the Boreal Altai Fescue Alpine BEC subzone, thus increasing the shrub zone; • A larger degree of ecosystem type shift in the boreal white and black spruce / eastern portions of the park, where most of the recreation and prescribed fire occurs; • Where the Boreal Altai Fescue Alpine BEC subzone remains, this area may become a refuge for some species, especially at-risk ecological communities, plant and animal species.
2.5 Cultural Heritage Values The cultural heritage role for this park is to enable visitors, local and international, to understand the importance of First Nation history and traditional knowledge within the park and surrounding area. Historically and presently, the summer and fall activities of First Nations include the hunting of large and small game, fishing, plant collecting, and the preparation of food for long-term storage for the upcoming winter months. It is also important that the history and knowledge of early Europeans be appreciated and acknowledged as their history closely relates to current land practices. 2.5.1. First Nations The Northern Rocky Mountains Park area has a very strong First Nations presence. It is well known that the First Nations people historically traveled throughout the park area, usually from plateaus to mountains and back, due to a lifestyle based on availability of game and other resources and seasonal movements. They were nomadic hunting
18 Climatedata.bc
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people who lived in small family groups. A diversity of plants and animals were used for various purposes, ranging from foods to tools to medicine. The ability of the First Nations to cope in the northern Rocky Mountains before European contact required not only an intricate knowledge of resources and geography, but also efficient technology. People were dependent on the resources that the mountains and foothills provided them, and their way of life was entirely based on the land. The timing and availability of plant and animal resources were critical to the success of the First Nations lifestyle and ultimately their survival. Certain plants, for instance, could only be collected in specific locations, either because of their medicinal strengths or their rarity in the landscape. Some fungi, for example, were collected in the winter to burn for their smell, and as a mosquito repellent later in the year. Good short-term camp locations were chosen based on the animals and plants in the area, and tended to be placed near creeks and on dry ground. As a consequence of the hunter-gatherer lifestyle that the First Nations enjoyed, their shelters consisted of quickly assembled yet versatile structures. Long-distance travel made up a significant component of First Nations life. Overland trails were important transportation routes with game trails being extensively used, especially to intercept animals. Where land trails occasionally proved impractical, water travel was also carried out by canoe in the late spring to early fall months. Contact with European explorers and fur traders precipitated a dramatic change in lifestyle of these original inhabitants of the Northern Rocky Mountains Park area. People tended to take on a less nomadic lifestyle as they congregated and settled around forts and trading posts. Today the First Nations people of the area continue to pursue many of the land use activities that their ancestors pursued. As in the past, their present-day way of life is intimately tied to the land and its resources, particularly its wildlife resources. The same transportation routes that were travelled by First Nations people years ago are navigated today by horse, snowmobile and river boat. Recognition of the area’s rich history coupled with on-going First Nations’ continued use is vital to the effective management and maintenance of this park. One of the examples of an influential First Nations person who contributed to the dynamic history of the region is a Kaska Dena individual named Charlie McDonald. Charlie McDonald was born in 1894 and originated from the Moose Lake and Toad River area. He was well-known throughout his life for his knowledge of the landscape and region that his family called home. In the 1900’s Charlie guided a variety of individuals including many government surveyors, the famed botanist Mary Henry, various priests and missionaries, RCMP, army corps and government officials who needed assistance finding their way through the region. Charlie passed away in 1975 and is still well- documented as being an instrumental person in the building of the Alaska Highway as he helped lay the route for the highway from Mile 351 to Mile 620.
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The Northern Rocky Mountain Park is an area traditionally and currently used by Kaska Dena. Many sites associated with hunting, fishing, gathering and occupancy are documented, as are important trails and trading locations. From this information, it appears that the Kaska accessed the northern part of the Northern Rocky Mountains Park area from a trail along the present-day route of the Alaska Highway, travelling into the heart of the park, primarily along the Tetsa River and its tributaries. The northwestern border of the park was accessed by trails along the Racing River, MacDonald Creek, and Wokkpash Creek. The southern part of the park was accessed by Kaska from the Kwadacha (Fort Ware) area, along the Kwadacha River and across Bedaux Pass to the headwaters of the Muskwa River. 2.5.2. Early Explorers Early European use in the park primarily consisted of trapping, fur-trading, guiding, packing and hunting; all of these activities continue today. Horse-supported geologic survey expeditions were common in the pre-helicopter era and were important in establishing early routes and increasing the general knowledge of the area. Appendix 2 expands on the history of early explorers including botanist Mary Henry, surveyor Knox McCusker and Charles Bedeaux, who were prominent early explorers of the area of the park. Since the 1930s, packers19 and guide outfitters have conducted commercial big game hunting in the park. These operators played an important role in shaping human use patterns of the northern Rocky Mountains. Mount Peck and Mount Gary Powell reflect this history and pay tribute to two of the pioneer guides in this park, Don Peck and Gary Powell. Trapping has a very important history in the Northern Rocky Mountains Park area, as reflected in the naming of Mount Sheffield for the prominent early trapper, Bert Sheffield described in Appendix 2. On March 9, 1942, construction of the famed Alaska Highway commenced. Long considered one of the construction achievements of the world, the Alaska Highway had a large impact on access to the area in and around the park by providing road access to the northern boundary of the park and the ability to support other forms of access such as riverboat, aircraft and horseback.
2.6 Recreation Values Northern Rocky Mountains Park provides many opportunities for wilderness recreation and is popular for local recreationalists, as well as people from other parts of British Columbia and Canada. The park also attracts international visitors. The most popular activities include hunting, fishing, horseback trips, hiking, camping, boating, climbing, canoeing, photography, snowmobiling, and wildlife and scenic viewing. Historically, the main purpose for visiting the park has been hunting for recreation and sustenance.
19 Packers are now referred to as transporters and are required to be licenced.
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Though hunting is expected to remain very important to the local economy, other recreational activities other than hunting such as horse trips and hiking are increasing.
Figure 9: Horse Pack Trip Crossing Tetsa River Lodges and Cabins Lodges, cabins and sheds of commercial operators are the main type of facilities that exist in the park. Smaller structures such as pit toilets and food caches also exist; however, such facilities are infrequent. Commercial operators have established camps they use regularly as part of their operations. In areas that have facilities, these generally function as the main base camp (base of operations) or satellite camps (annual or seasonal use secondary camps). In areas that have minimal facilities, but no buildings, spike camps are often established (short-term, low impact camps). Hunters and other visitors may also establish camps to use as a base for their recreational activity but these are temporary structures such as wall tents. Camping Wilderness style (no facilities) camping occurs in a number of undesignated sites throughout the park. Public use is generally confined to consistent areas; while not considered designated sites, these areas show disturbance from overnight use and exhibit noticeable impacts such as vegetation loss, loss of the organic litter layer and exposure of mineral soil. Camping also occurs sporadically in a number of other locations, however in these areas, impacts and signs of use are minimal. There are approximately 110 undesignated camping spots throughout the park that are used by the public; however, a full inventory has not been completed. Hiking/Horse Use The numerous routes or trails in the park that were developed before the park was established are not maintained by BC Parks. Multiple-day and week-long hiking and
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horse excursions are possible using the network of primitive routes, cross-country travel and dispersed undesignated campsites. The Wokkpash to MacDonald Creek 70- kilometre circle route is a spectacular five to seven-day wilderness trip for backcountry adventurers that traverse the Wokkpash area of this park and the neighbouring Stone Mountain Park. Snowmobiling The park has traditionally not been widely used by snowmobiles except around the lower Gathto/Kluachesi area and along the Wokkpash Valley Trail. The majority of snowmobile access is gained from the Alaska Highway corridor, but there is also limited use along the eastern boundary and in the southeast corner via Bat Creek. Low snow depth generally limits snowmobile use in the park, depending on the year. The park is currently not considered or promoted as a snowmobile destination. However, with advancing technology in snow machines and a changing climate, this recreational use may change into the future. Boat Access Much of the private recreational boating activity in the park is done with jet-boat. Jet- boats are a popular way to access the park for both hunters and non-hunters alike. It is a long and challenging trip into the park by jet-boat, travelling up the Muskwa River, beginning at the Kledo Creek boat launch. Canoeing Two canoe or rafting trips are possible, down the Tuchodi and Muskwa rivers from Tuchodi Lakes, and Muskwa River from below the upper canyon. Both trips require air access and end at the Kledo Creek boat launch along the Alaska Highway.
3.0 Management Direction
3.1 Management Objectives and Strategies This management plan addresses a number of issues identified through previous provincial land use planning processes and through consultation with other government agencies, First Nations, user groups, and the public. There are significant gaps in the understanding of ecosystems and values in the park. Over the last decade, much of the management effort has been directed to managing human use. An increased focus on ecosystem-based management and associated strategies is needed and existing knowledge gaps need to be filled. Due to the need for an increased focus on ecosystem-based management, in the spirit of recognition and reconciliation, BC Parks seeks to work collaboratively to implement the Northern Rocky Mountains Park management objectives with First Nations who have aboriginal and treaty rights in the park.
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3.1.1. Ecosystem Management and Climate Change Ecosystem management needs within the Northern Rocky Mountains Park include: identifying species and ecosystem management priorities and conservation actions; cooperative management initiatives with surrounding land management agencies, First Nations and local government; and biological assessment and long-term monitoring that track the effects of human activity and climate change. Without this information, park managers will be unaware of such effects and may well forgo options to avoid irreversible impacts such as the loss of species. Ecosystem management approaches typically aim at sustaining representative ecosystems and species, but such measures may be thwarted by the effects of climate change (e.g., changes in precipitation levels, air temperature, etc.) which can alter the ecology of an area. Such effects may be subtle, but more dramatic natural disturbances such as wildfire, insects and disease are likely to increase in frequency or severity. With the ongoing effects of human activities outside the park already applying pressure on both rare and representative species and ecosystems, park managers may have to decide to what extent climate change effects can or should be addressed within the park in order to help natural systems adjust or to support species that might otherwise be extirpated. The most consistently recommended approach for adapting to climate change is to maintain natural connectivity across the landscape. Northern Rocky Mountains Park is large but still relies on the movement of species across its borders. Working with adjacent land managers to maintain connectivity across the landscape is one of the most important actions that can be taken, particularly in light of the potentially rapid changes that may be brought about by climate change.
Management Objective Management Strategies
To protect and conserve the • Develop and apply an ecosystem management strategy that landscapes, representative includes the major ecosystem components of vegetation, ecosystems and values that makes fish and wildlife and natural processes such as fire, insects, this park unique. diseases, pollination and evolution. To increase public awareness of • Prepare educational information that can be viewed on the the ecosystem and features of internet or distributed through brochures or information special concern in the park. shelters. To increase knowledge of • Encourage research/monitoring of climate change to ecological components and determine the effects on park and protected area values processes and an understanding and ecosystem functioning and appropriate actions for of their response to climate response. change. Mitigate or lessen the effects of • Work with land managers of adjacent areas to maintain climate change on the park and its connectivity across the landscape to allow for species values. movement.
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3.1.2. Water Recreational activity on water bodies is the main use that could affect water quality inside the park. Fuel storage is allowed approximately 2 metres above the high water mark of watercourses, but is a common concern due to the potential for pollution. Management strategies are needed to avoid any wide spread impacts such as water pollution, and human-caused erosion and sedimentation.
Management Objective Management Strategies
To protect and maintain water • Fuel storage over 500 litres is only permitted at guide- quality. outfitter camps and other designated locations, as identified in a park use permit; • Fuel containers must be marked with personal contact information and removed at the end of each fall season. • All boaters and operators of aircraft are responsible for following fuel storage best management practices and implementing new technologies over time. • Provide the public with information on minimizing impacts to water quality in the backcountry through the Leave No Trace section on the BC Parks website and through signage at access points. • Encourage research and monitoring focused on water quality to aid in determining impacts from either point source or non-point source contaminants, particularly in higher use recreation areas. • Allow, under a park use permit, temporary small scale water diversion (such as a small pump) to enable commercial operators to provide a water supply to base camps within their operating season.
3.1.3. Vegetation Detailed ecosystem mapping has not been completed for Northern Rocky Mountains Park. This detailed ecosystem mapping would increase knowledge of at-risk ecosystems, plant species and wildlife habitat. Areas of Northern Rocky Mountains Park that are more readily accessible to the public are considered to be at greater risk when it comes to potential damage to vegetation. • During peak visitation seasons (e.g., hunting season), impacts to vegetation from camping occur in new areas because existing sites are being used to full capacity.
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• In the vicinity of camping areas, damage to surrounding vegetation occurs as timber is illegally harvested for firewood20. • The establishment of invasive plant populations is an increasing risk in northeastern British Columbia, including along travel corridors in the park. Additionally, impacts to vegetation from recreation activities in areas that are not easily accessed are unknown. Possible impacts to sensitive areas (i.e., alpine or sub-alpine areas and blue or red-listed species) are of particular concern.
Management Objective Management Strategies
Maintain vegetation and • Conduct inspections of camping areas to ensure firewood is ecosystem for ecological integrity being obtained in accordance with park regulations (e.g., and visual aesthetics. only dead wood laying on the ground can be used for fires). Consider information and educational signage if needed. The prohibition on ringing/girdling or cutting of living trees will be strictly enforced. • Consider the authorization of cutting dead standing wood for firewood through a Park Use Permit and following the BC Parks Impact Assessment process, including site assessments where appropriate. • Avoid locations containing at-risk species and ecological communities when doing any future developments. • Prevent damage to riparian vegetation by encouraging horse users to adhere to the horse riders’ backcountry ethics that have been developed for the park, which advocates resting horses away from the water’s edge21. Increase knowledge of ecosystems • Work with First Nations communities, other ministries, and protect at-risk plant community groups and/or educational institutions to communities and species. support inventories and studies aimed at better understanding the distribution of plant species and ecosystems and their ecology; including how they will respond to environmental changes such as climate change (e.g. BC Parks Long-term Ecological Monitoring Program, First Nations Land Guardian programs). • Conduct Backcountry Recreation Impact Monitoring (BRIM) within high use areas in the Nature Recreation Zone and
20 The Park, Conservancy and Recreation Area Regulation states that backcountry park visitors may only use vegetation that is lying dead on the ground to start fires. 21 For guidance on Horse Riders Backcountry Ethics, visit http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/redfern/trails.html#ethics
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Management Objective Management Strategies adjust management actions to ensure natural and cultural values are not being compromised by recreation use levels, particularly during peak season. The BRIM process will be used to determine the need and location of new backcountry camping areas. • Develop partnerships to monitor activities occurring in areas containing known at-risk plant species to assess their potential negative impacts, including alpine areas. When impacts occur, communicate concerns to relevant parties through outreach and consider special permit provisions as necessary. • Where required, implement Species at Risk recovery plan strategies within park boundaries for red- and blue-listed species and ecosystems. To prevent the establishment or • Require commercial operators, through park use permits, spread of invasive species. and encourage park visitors, to adhere to BC Parks Invasive Plant Best Management Practices22 and guidance in the regional hunting regulations, including using local weed free hay, pelletized and processed feed for pack animals. • Encourage commercial operators and park visitors to report occurrences of invasive species. • Monitor invasive species establishment, review management actions and explore treatment options23.
3.1.4. Wildlife The park plays a critical role in maintaining wildlife habitat and movement corridors, and sustaining wildlife populations in the northern Rocky Mountains. The remoteness of Northern Rocky Mountains Park presents challenges in determining wildlife abundance, key wildlife habitat locations, engaging in regular regulation enforcement and monitoring effectiveness of wildlife management techniques. There are a number of red- and blue-listed mammal and bird species found in the park, but developing effective management may be limited by the lack of information on these species in the park.
22Best management practices for invasive plants in Parks and Protected Areas in BC http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/conserve/docs/iscbc-bc-parks-bmp-20180412.pdf 23 The use of herbicides in parks is only considered if there is no alternative treatment that has proven to be successful and if there is a significant threat to the ecological integrity of the park, as well as the surrounding area.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 32
The Northern Mountain population of Caribou is provincially blue-listed and federally COSEWIC Special Concern, and the Muskwa and Pink Mountain subpopulations are declining. Caribou are susceptible to threats such as habitat loss and alteration, altered predator/prey dynamics and disturbance throughout their range. Habitat management activities that reduce old and mature forests, and change predator/prey dynamics24, can enhance habitat for other ungulate species and may negatively impact Caribou. Trapping has been an important traditional use in the park especially amongst First Nations communities, where traplines are often held by families. The Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan recommended that trapping continue in its present form. Many activities that park visitors pursue are integrally tied to the area’s abundance and variety of wildlife, such as hunting, trapping and nature appreciation.
Management Objective Management Strategies Increase knowledge of wildlife • Work with First Nations communities, other ministries, populations, distributions and stakeholder groups and/or educational institutions to habitats, and ensure that all conduct wildlife inventories and studies aimed at better activities are managed to maintain understanding species’ needs; including how wildlife healthy wildlife populations and composition will evolve in response to environmental minimize disturbance to the changes such as climate change. ecosystem. • Work with the Ministry responsible for wildlife management to assess Caribou, Elk, Moose, Mountain Goat and Stone’s Sheep population sizes and distribution. • Where possible and feasible, work with partners and other government agencies to inventory Species at Risk and implement recovery plan strategies within park boundaries for red- and blue-listed species. • Work with the ministry responsible for wildlife management to maintain consistency with provincial and regional wildlife management initiatives and policy (e.g. predator management). • Work with partners and other government agencies to identify and map locations of listed or significant species. Focus initially on areas that could be potentially negatively impacted by recreational activities. Should negative impacts occur, develop and implement a plan, in coordination with the relevant partners.
24 The report “Role of Protected Areas in Caribou Management in British Columbia” gives details of the issues surrounding Caribou management, with recommendations for Caribou management in the protected area system.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 33
Management Objective Management Strategies • Recommend the use of the BC Conservation Data Centre’s Data Submission process to collect informal wildlife information from First Nations, commercial operators and other park visitors25. • Coordinate with the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area wildlife management plan (two documents)26 to guide wildlife management decisions within the park, as appropriate. • Work with First Nations, resource managers and other groups to ensure adjacent land use decisions include consideration of park values. Prevent impacts of non-native • To protect native species from competition or disease species to native wildlife introductions, llamas and other exotic animals are not populations and their habitats. permitted within the park; only horses, mules and dogs (including off leash dogs) are permitted. Maintain current trapping • Monitor trapping harvest to ensure conservation objectives opportunities subject to are met. conservation objectives.
3.1.5. Fish The lakes and streams in the park are generally sensitive to over-harvesting and changes in habitat and it will be very important to manage fish populations and habitat carefully, especially the blue-listed Bull Trout. Stocking of lakes has taken place historically in several areas in the park with a varying degree of angling enhancement success.
Management Objective Management Strategies
To increase knowledge and • Work with First Nations communities, other ministries, understanding of fish populations, community groups and/or educational institutions to especially those that are support fish inventories and studies aimed at better potentially vulnerable to over- understanding species’ needs; including how fish will fishing. respond to environmental changes such as climate change. • Conduct assessments of Bull Trout to gather more information on spawning locations and population status.
25 http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/cdc/contribute.html 26 http://www.muskwa-kechika.com/management-area/legislation-planning
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 34
Management Objective Management Strategies Protect and maintain the natural • Monitor and assess angling use levels for water bodies and diversity and productivity of consider angling restrictions if use levels are determined to aquatic ecosystems while be impacting the fish populations. maintaining a low intensity, high • Fish stocking is prohibited. quality fishery • If jetboat use is impacting Bull Trout spawning habitat, apply best management practices or guidelines to minimize impacts. • Provide information to the public and other parties interested in managing fish and their habitat in the park to build understanding of fisheries issues.
3.1.6. Cultural Values There are significant First Nation’s interests and cultural values in Northern Rocky Mountains Park. Some information relating to traditional land use sites within the Northern Rocky Mountains Park area has been provided by First Nations, such as the Kaska Dena First Nation. However, this is an obvious information gap that has been identified. Information from First Nations land use studies conducted in the park will be considered when making management decisions. BC Parks will work with First Nations to ensure appropriate use and confidentiality of shared information.
Management Objective Management Strategies
To protect and gain a better • Support efforts to conduct historical and ethnographic understanding of cultural features, research and cultural heritage field inventories as archaeological sites and appropriate (e.g. funding opportunities or permits). traditional use locations. • Work with First Nations to implement protective measures where threats to known cultural values are identified. To promote stewardship of social, • Integrate First Nations language in park information, as ceremonial and cultural appropriate. This may include: values/uses and interests of the o Identification by First Nations where First Nations place Kaska and Treaty 8 First Nations in names can be applied; the park. o First Nations language on maps, other publications and interpretive material as appropriate.
• Support, when possible, opportunities to develop cultural interpretive material for the park. • Support, when possible, opportunities for First Nations traditional, sustenance and harvesting activities.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 35
Management Objective Management Strategies • Incorporate traditional knowledge into park management. To encourage cultural and First • Encourage commercial recreation operators to establish Nations tourism activities in the working relationships with the First Nations and seek park. opportunities for mutual benefits. • Encourage discussions with First Nations regarding the development of appropriate cultural tourism activities.
3.1.7. Access Management Managing access is the single most effective means of retaining the isolation and wilderness quality of the park. Access management outside of the park should consider the park zoning, experiences and levels of use envisioned for the park. The Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan recommended that recreational use should be managed in a way that recognizes unique historical use patterns, traditional access and that the status quo remains.
River and Lake Transportation The Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan recommended no motorized boat access above Tuchodi Lakes, but discussions with the LSPAG in 2019 determined that this proposed restriction requires further investigation by BC Parks to determine its appropriateness. BC Parks will monitor riverboat use (e.g. jet boating, rafting) to address impacts to conservation values. Boating is allowed in the Wilderness Recreation Zone and Nature Recreation Zone.
Trail Promotion There is concern over the appropriate level of route development in the park. To reflect the vision for the park, there will not be any targeted promotion by BC Parks of the routes in the park. The exception is the Wokkpash-MacDonald Creek 70-kilometre circle route which will continue to be promoted.
Trail Maintenance BC Parks will not upgrade any existing route or formalized trails, except where safety and environmental issues (i.e. avoidance of sensitive areas for wildlife, vegetation, and soils) prompt development to protect these values. For the Wokkpash Valley Trail, maintenance will be prioritized based on use levels, safety, and trail condition. For any secondary trails, BC Parks will not conduct trail maintenance. BC Parks will endeavour to partner with groups to complete trail maintenance on primary formalized trails (e.g. Wokkpash Loop) and will be selective when approving volunteer groups to maintain secondary trails (e.g. horse trails).
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 36
Aircraft Use The Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan recommends that use of aircraft within the boundaries of the park needs to consider and maintain historical patterns of recreational access.
Management Objective Management Strategies
To ensure means of access is • Continue low-impact traditional access methods (e.g. hiking consistent with traditional uses trails). and conserves wilderness • Continue to only promote the Wokkpash-MacDonald Creek characteristics. 70-kilometre circle route. • Prohibit road development, and additional route development in the park. • Road development for a potential expansion of the Alaska highway may be considered in Northern Rocky Mountains Protected Area directly adjacent to the existing Alaska highway. • Prohibit ORV use (other than snowmobiles) in the park unless specifically authorized through a Park Use Permit. To minimize the impacts of • Work with First Nations and local boating groups to riverboats and other motorized monitor annual boating pressure on the park during the water transportation activities on high use period (hunting season). wilderness recreation and • Investigate potential impacts to conservation values from ecological integrity. boating above Tuchodi Lakes and determine whether the Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan recommendation to restrict boating above Tuchodi Lakes is appropriate. To provide opportunities for • Prohibit new or expanded airstrips except where required aircraft access to the park while for environmental or safety reasons. preserving a quality backcountry • Prohibit cutting of live trees for helipad construction. experience and minimizing wildlife conflicts. • The landing of aircraft is strongly discouraged on high altitude plateaus due to potential conflicts with wildlife values. If conflicts are identified, a high elevation aircraft landing prohibition may be considered under Schedule A of the Park Act regulation. • If aircraft/wildlife conflicts are identified, develop flight guidelines (fixed wing/helicopter) to address specific wildlife concerns (i.e., Mountain Goat or Caribou issues). These conditions can be incorporated into park use permit considerations and shared for voluntary implementation by private operators.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 37
Management Objective Management Strategies • New methods of air access (i.e. Unmanned Air Vehicles / drones) will not be allowed unless authorized under permit for commercial filming or research.
3.1.8. Recreation Management The management intent is to continue to provide similar recreational opportunities and experiences to those that existed at the time the park was established and that have low impact on the pristine mountain environment. Camping, horse use, and snowmobiling are key activities in the park requiring management consideration.
Camping Most camping in the park is widely dispersed during most of the year, however at certain times it can be concentrated. For example, during the peak of hunting season, the numerous backcountry campsites along the Tuchodi River are used to full capacity. Currently, camping does not have significant impacts on the park’s environment. If use increases, BC Parks will need to consider establishing specific camping sites.. While structures like toilets and fire pits may not seem appropriate to some in a wilderness area, they may be needed in certain areas to confine impacts and minimize excessive site degradation. In areas of higher use, visitors will be encouraged to use frequently used campsites. Campsites that conflict with known sensitive sites for wildlife may require relocation or need to be eliminated or closed during certain times of the year. Wall tents are widely used by park visitors but are not considered permanent structures by BC Parks. However, the methods used by some visitors using wall tents are a concern for BC Parks. In these cases, wall tents have been erected in mid- to late summer in order to secure a camping spot for the upcoming hunting season. Similarly, food caches, intended for the storing and protection of meat and other foods or goods are not being removed within the 14 day stay limit27. Recreational camps and food caches need to be temporary (maximum stay of 14 days); an exception may apply where they are associated with a cabin or facility authorized by park use permit.
Horse Use Horses and mules have been a traditional method of transportation in the park. Horse and mule use will be managed to maximize recreation enjoyment and avoid wildlife conflicts, while not degrading park values.
27 Section 39 of the Park Act states: A person may not camp in a park, conservancy or recreation area for more than 14 days except (a)as authorized by a park officer, or (b)in a designated long-stay campsite.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 38
Trails and camps for horse users need to remain rustic in nature. There may need to be site specific restrictions and conditions developed for high-use areas in order to minimize social and environmental impacts.
Snowmobiling Snowmobiling is a traditional recreational use in the park and is becoming an increasingly popular winter activity, moving into areas previously not used by snowmobilers. Packed trails on snow can facilitate access by wolves by easing travel conditions. This can lead to increased predation if the trails are close to Caribou and Mountain Goat winter ranges. Snowmobiling can also displace wildlife from their preferred habitat areas, causing them to use more energy and have less optimal food and cover available. To achieve the pristine wilderness objectives of the Wilderness Recreation Zone and Special Feature Zone, snowmobiling is not allowed within the Wilderness Recreation Zone or Special Feature Zone. Snowmobiling is allowed within the Nature Recreation Zone which makes up 56% of the park.
Management Objective Management Strategies To provide a high quality • Conduct Backcountry Recreation Impact Monitoring (BRIM) experience for visitors to the park and adjust management actions to ensure natural and while maintaining the sense of cultural values are not being compromised by recreation remoteness and naturalness, use levels, particularly during peak season. The BRIM freedom to choose where to process will be used to determine the need for, and travel, and self-reliance location of, new backcountry camping areas. dependent on personal abilities. • Management decisions will reflect the low, dispersed levels of visitor use, and facilities will only be installed where use levels require them. • Promote the “leave no trace” wilderness ethic for public lands to reduce site impacts including the proper use of wall tents and design of food caches. An adapted version specifically geared towards horse users is available28. • Allow horses on existing trails throughout the park unless specific restrictions are established in the future to protect certain important values (e.g., sensitive habitats). • Educate visitors about minimum impact camping and backcountry wilderness ethics at all sites in the park to
28 To view Horse Riders’ Backcountry Ethics visit http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/redfern/trails.html#ethics.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 39
Management Objective Management Strategies avoid site degradation and minimize human-wildlife conflicts. To increase public awareness of • Share information on special features and values through park features and areas of special trail information shelters and through the BC Parks website. concern in order to avoid unintended impacts to park values. To provide snowmobiling • If areas of ongoing wildlife conflict are identified, BC Parks opportunities while preserving a will consider site specific or elevation closures (e.g., quality backcountry experience disturbance to key winter habitats). and minimizing wildlife conflicts. • Allow snowmobiling only in the Nature Recreation Zone (see Figure 10). • Snowmobiling that is used to access permitted traplines will be allowed in all zones. • Provide educational signage on snowmobiling practices at key locations (e.g., trailheads).
3.1.9. Prescribed Fire The continuation of prescribed fire to enhance wildlife habitat presents a challenge for BC Parks as generally BC Parks’ conservation policies preclude the use of prescribed fire to enhance wildlife habitat29. However, the Fort Nelson LRMP directs that prescribed fire be “allowed subject to the (protected area) management plan”. The management strategies below provide this management direction. BC Parks will continue to consider prescribed fire as management tool to maintain forage and wildlife habitat in the park and apply specific management strategies when a prescribed fire project is proposed. The agreement between BC Parks and the Range Program, administered by the ministry responsible for range, allows prescribed burning by permittees if it is identified in a Range Use Plan and is consistent with park values and/or a park management plan. It is recognized by BC Parks that both wildlife and horses may use burned areas but plans to manage prescribed fire need to be clear on the purpose of the burn because it will inform the BC Parks Impact Assessment and decision-making process. In addition, with climate change predictions into 2050 forecasting warmer drier summers for the park area and potentially novel ecosystems, wildfire frequency may increase (in scale, frequency, and intensity) and post-fire vegetation dynamics may also change. This highlights the need to be adaptive when considering prescribed fire in the park in the future.
29 BC Parks conservation policies support the use of prescribed fire to mimic historic natural return intervals within specific ecosystems.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 40
Management Objective Management Strategies Use fire as appropriate to manage • Work with other agencies, First Nations, academia, relevant wildlife habitat and forage stakeholders and local community groups to continue to production, considering the research the history and future objectives of prescribed impacts and benefits to all wildlife burning in the park. species and ecosystems. • Work with stakeholders, First Nations, and the relevant Ministries responsible for managing wildlife, range, and wildfire to identify clear objectives and strategies for prescribed fire in the park, by: o considering prescribed fire for maintenance of early seral habitat and forage production where previously used, subject to the BC Parks Impact Assessment process and associated policy; o conducting research about fire history and natural range of variability in the park; o Adapting as necessary in the future, based on research findings, climate change, and government policy. This may include an amendment to the management plan. • Do not use prescribed fire to create early seral habitat for ungulates where there has not been previous prescribed burning for this reason. • BC Parks will work collaboratively with the ministries responsible for range, wildlife, and wildfire management to evaluate prescribed burn proposals and coordinate prescribed burning objectives across the larger landscape. • Ensure proposed prescribed burns for wildlife habitat enhancement are assessed using the BC Parks Impact Assessment process. Work collaboratively with the • Ensure the Policy and Guidance set out in the Range Program to manage Range Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Administering Act tenures. and Managing Range Act Agreements in Parks and Protected Areas are followed. • Work with range tenure holders and ministry staff responsible for range management to ensure range use is in alignment with maintaining healthy ecosystems that have a disturbance regime that closely mimics natural disturbance regimes in terms of frequency and severity of disturbance. • Ensure range management activities are consistent with the forage requirements of the livestock in the tenure.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 41
Management Objective Management Strategies Information on the results of fire • Ensure monitoring is done to determine if burn plan management activities is objectives are met and to record any impacts (intended or collected. unintended) on ecosystems and wildlife.
3.1.10. Commercial Recreation Management Continuation of commercial recreation opportunities is very important as it allows for a different park experience and type of park visitors. Primarily, these park visitors value a remote wilderness hunting and/or fishing experience. Maintaining the existing commercial recreation opportunities was supported by the Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan. The Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan provided direction that BC Parks should allow commercial operators to expand their holdings and operations within the existing provincial parks, including expansion of lodges within provincial parks if such an expansion is feasible.
Management Objective Management Strategies
To maintain commercial • Work with provincial tourism agencies and recreation recreation opportunities within operators to ensure marketing and promotion is consistent the park. with the vision for the park and this management plan. • Work with commercial operators to ensure sensitive animal and plant species, sites and features are not placed at undue risk due from use (i.e., sensitive wildlife areas, ecologically sensitive areas, and/or cultural sites). To ensure commercial • Consider additional permits or changes to existing permits backcountry recreation is for commercial recreation in the park provided that: consistent with the objectives and o equitable opportunity for public recreation is strategies of the Fort Nelson Land maintained (particularly regarding horse forage and and Resource Management Plan30, campsite availability) ; while maintaining a balance with o activities demonstrate benefits to the local public recreation and community and region; conservation. o changes to facilities will occur on the existing site and be generally of similar size and style to other facilities in the park; and
30 See the Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 42
Management Objective Management Strategies o wilderness and wildlife values of the park and the greater Muskwa-Kechika Management Area are maintained.
3.2 Zoning Plan In general terms, a zoning plan divides a park into logical management units within which certain activities/uses are permitted and a particular set of management objectives apply. Zoning is often used to physically separate incompatible activities or uses within the park and provides visitors and managers with a quick visual representation and appreciation of how a particular park is managed. Zones are designed to reflect the physical environment, existing patterns of use and the desired level of management and development in a given management unit. Appendix A contains an allowable use matrix that covers activities, use and facilities in each zone. The Northern Rocky Mountains Park is divided into three zones: Wilderness Recreation Zone, Nature Recreation Zone and Special Feature Zone (Figure 10). Northern Rocky Mountains Protected Area is zoned as Nature Recreation Zone.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 43
, • N ' J ):t • \ ' ~~/ •,/ .. !)(' ,,,_. ,I , w . " · • , · / 1 _,) )\{• ,.,< . ·:::)· egend ( ■ Nature Recreation Zone
■ High Use Area ::::'.
~ ■ Wilderness Recreation Zone ~
Special Feature Zone
., ... .' RI' ' I ~ .. :l!Apµnt Mary Henry 0
\ I ) \,,,.. ·.( " x ·.! : 1 =. (,,, u • ✓ -- . ' .... \ -··
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Figure 10: Northern Rocky Mountains Park Zoning Map
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 44
3.2.1. Wilderness Recreation Zone
Zone Description The Wilderness Recreation Zone covers most of the western side of the park, from its southern boundary to the lower reaches of Wokkpash River. This zone includes the headwaters of the Muskwa, Tuchodi, Chischa and Tetsa rivers, as well as Kluachesi Creek and Wokkpash Lake. This zone is very pristine and remote, and mainly consists of high alpine and precipitous cliff habitats, as well as several small glaciers. It provides park visitors with a superb wilderness experience, generally free from artificial noise and light pollution. Traversing the land and waters within this zone will take the visitor to an experience similar to what existed centuries ago. The Wilderness Recreation Zone covers 277,653 hectares which represents 41.6% of the park area.
Objectives and Management Intent The objective of this zone is to protect a remote, largely undisturbed natural landscape and to provide backcountry recreation opportunities dependent on a wilderness environment where low frequency air access will be restricted to existing airstrips and traditional float-plane landing locations. The management intent is to allow a range of recreational opportunities in this zone including: backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, river rafting, nature and historic appreciation, hunting, fishing, cross-country skiing, camping, snowshoeing, horseback riding and specialised activities (e.g., caving, climbing). The only motorized uses permitted in this zone are: fixed wing aircraft, rotary aircraft, and snowmobiling for trapping (under permit) purposes. 3.2.2. Nature Recreation Zone
Zone Description The Nature Recreation Zone covers over half of the park stretching from the southern boundary north to the Alaska Highway. It covers the eastern parts of the park and abuts the Wilderness Recreation Zone and Stone Mountain Park to the west. The Nature Recreation Zone is the most accessible zone in the park, with the Muskwa and Tuchodi rivers running through it, Kluachesi Lake in its southern portion, and the Tetsa River on the northern boundary. Most of the primary guide outfitter facilities lie within this zone. It is associated with high alpine plateaus, larger, broader valleys than the Wilderness Recreation Zone, wetland complexes, and large, grassy slopes. Within the Nature Recreation Zone are some areas that experience higher levels of use than the rest of the zone and where higher compliance and enforcement presence may be warranted. These higher use areas are highlighted to depict where either riverboat, fixed wing and/or snowmobile traffic is the highest. In general, the highest use along these corridors coincides with the summer/fall recreation and/or hunting seasons. The high use areas are linear and coincide with several waterways: Muskwa River, Tuchodi River, Tuchodi Lakes and Kluachesi Lake.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 45
The Nature Recreation Zone covers 376,431 hectares which represents 56.4% of the park area.
Objectives and Management Intent The objective of the Nature Recreation Zone is to protect scenic values and to provide for backcountry recreation opportunities in a largely undisturbed natural environment. The management intent of this portion of the park is to recognize the existence of existing traditional routes and more recent access routes such as along watercourses; and to provide accessible backcountry recreation. There will also be provision for higher levels of visitor use where people will be able to see interesting features in a natural environment; however, visitors must expect to see other people in the park participating in similar activities. The only motorized uses permitted in this zone are: fixed wing aircraft, rotary aircraft, and snowmobiling. 3.2.3. Special Feature Zone
Zone Description There are two Special Feature Zones in the park: Sleeping Chief Mountain and Wokkpash. The Sleeping Chief Mountain area is characterized by rocky steep-sided slopes and separated by a contiguous high and wide valley. The main feature is Sleeping Chief Mountain; an impressive geological formation. Supporting various wildlife species due to its varied habitats, Sleeping Chief Mountain forms a large bowl-like region that sits apart from the mountains surrounding it. This special feature was chosen for its cultural, wildlife and scenic values; with its impressive, well-defined chevron folds, it is an outstanding physiographic feature. This area covers 8,196 hectares which represents 1.2% of the park area. The Wokkpash area covers an area with several impressive and unusual geological features including hoodoos, the deep and narrow Forlorn Gorge, rock glaciers and a polje (Figure 11). The Wokkpash Creek hoodoos are the largest and most Figure 11: Forlorn Gorge impressive example of hoodoos in the province. Rock glaciers are unusual and distinctive landforms formed of rock and ice. Poljes are formed in karst landscapes and often have a fluctuating water table related to restricted drainage and seasonal water inputs. The rock glaciers are above Wokkpash Creek and in Stepped Creek and the polje is in Stepped Creek. This area covers 4,109 hectares which represents 0.6% of the park area.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 46
Objectives and Management Intent The objective of the Special Feature Zone is to protect significant natural or cultural values, features and processes because of their special character, fragility and/or heritage values. The management intent of this zone is to recognize and protect the special landforms in the park.
Legend
■ N ature Recreation Zone
■ Wilderness Recreation Zone
Special Feature Zone \
Wokkpash ' Hoodoos
(! ~I 1111•' '.,_ )
,, I If I I I I,,_'
Polje
Blizzard Lakes
o■■□o:;01 -■2c:::::□31-•41<110metres
Figure 12: Map of Wokkpash Special Feature Zone
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 47
4.0 Plan Implementation
4.1 Implementation Plan BC Parks will seek project-specific funding and partners to implement high priority strategies. Specific projects will be evaluated for their priority in relation to the overall protected areas system. Many of the initiatives contemplated are not funded as part of core BC Parks activities so jointly seeking funds with outside partners will be a key aspect of the management plan implementation. BC Parks uses annual management plans to address operational and management issues in provincial parks on a priority basis. Issues and strategies presented in this management plan will form the basis of the annual management planning process for Northern Rocky Mountains Park. Items to be included in the annual management plan include a description of the resources available during a given time period, including staff and any additional operating or project funds that may support identified strategies. Alternate implementation strategies for priorities not funded as part of core ministry activities may be pursued by BC Parks or its partners. BC Parks strives to ensure First Nations values and input are reflected in the development of annual management planning priorities. As such, an open invitation exists for the area’s First Nations to discuss annual management plan items and to provide input into the development of annual management plan priorities. The public advisory groups formed in the early 2000s and again in 2019 for the final drafting of this plan indicated the desire to continue dialogue with BC Parks on an annual basis regarding the implementation of the management plan. BC Parks is supportive of ongoing dialogue with stakeholders, First Nations and the public regarding operational and management issues for this park and others in the M-K Management Area. While there are no plans for an ongoing formal advisory group organized by BC Parks, BC Parks is willing to meet with stakeholders, First Nations and the public, as resources are available, to inform the annual management planning process. In addition to any legislation or policies highlighted in the management plan, there are numerous other provincial policies and guidelines which will be considered during management plan implementation. This includes items such as: BC Parks’ policies on permitting, conservation, commercial recreation guidelines and policies, BC Parks bear- people conflict prevention plan and the impact assessment processes.
4.2 High Priority Strategies • Work with First Nations communities, other ministries, community groups and/or educational institutions to support inventories and studies aimed at better understanding the distribution of plant species and ecosystems and their ecology; including how they will respond to environmental changes such as climate change (e.g. BC Parks Long-term Ecological Monitoring Program, First Nations Land Guardian programs).
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 48
• Monitor invasive species establishment, review management actions and explore treatment options. • Work with the Ministry responsible for wildlife management to assess Caribou, Elk, Moose, Mountain Goat and Stone’s Sheep population sizes and distribution. • Work with First Nations and local boating groups to monitor annual boating pressure on the park during the high use period (hunting season) • Work with other agencies, First Nations, academia, relevant stakeholders and local community groups to continue to research the history and future objectives of prescribed burning in the park. • Work with stakeholders, First Nations, and the relevant ministries responsible for managing wildlife, range, and wildfire to identify clear objectives and strategies for prescribed fire in the park, by: - considering prescribed fire for maintenance of early seral habitat and forage production where previously used, subject to the BC Parks Impact Assessment process and associated policy; - conducting research into fire history and natural range of variability in the park; - adapting as necessary in the future, based on research findings, climate change, and government policy. This may require an amendment to the management plan.
4.3 Plan Assessment In order to ensure that the management direction for the Northern Rocky Mountains Park remains relevant and effective, BC Parks staff will ensure that the management plan is assessed by BC Parks staff on a regular basis (i.e., at least every 5 years). Minor administrative updates may be identified and completed at any time (e.g., correct spelling errors, update protected area details where needed), and will be documented according to BC Parks guidelines. If an internal assessment reveals that the management plan requires more significant updating or substantial new management direction is needed, a formal review by BC Parks, First Nations or other partner(s) may be initiated to determine whether the management plan requires an amendment or if a new management plan is required. The management plan amendment process or development of a new management plan includes an opportunity for public input.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 49
Appendix 1: Appropriate Use Table
The following table summarizes existing and potential future uses in Northern Rocky Mountains Park that are and are not appropriate in each zone. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all uses that may be considered in this protected area in the future. Please note that appropriate uses may be geographically restricted (i.e., only allowed in certain areas of Northern Rocky Mountains Park). Please ensure that you are well informed of any use restrictions as shown in the table. It is important to review relevant sections of the management plan when interpreting the table. Appropriate Use Table Legend N Not an The use is not appropriate in the indicated zone. If the use currently exists but appropriate use the management planning process has determined that the use is no longer appropriate in all or part of the park, the management plan will include strategies for ending the activity (e.g., phasing out, closing). Y May be an Some level or extent of this use may be appropriate in the zone indicated. The appropriate use management plan may provide guidance on the appropriate level of use and may address specific restrictions or planned enhancements (e.g. capacity, designated areas for a particular activity, party size, time of year, etc.). For new or expanded uses, this symbol indicates that the use may be considered for further evaluation. The appropriateness of some activities may not be confirmed until a further assessment (e.g., BC Parks Impact Assessment Process) or evaluation process (e.g., park use permit adjudication) is completed. N/A Not an applicable It is not feasible for the use to take place in this zone (e.g., mooring buoys in a use in this zone terrestrial zone).
Activity/Facility Wilderness Nature Special Comments Recreation Recreation Feature Zone Zone Zone Recreational Activities/Uses Aircraft (fixed wing) –access Y Y Y BC Parks may request and landing/takeoff submission of a flight plan as part of a park use permit. Operators are encouraged to keep to historical flight paths. Aircraft (rotary) – access and Y Y Y BC Parks may request landing/takeoff submission of a flight plan as part of a park use permit. Operators are encouraged to keep to historical flight paths. Unmanned Air Vehicles N N N May be authorized under (UAV) – with or without permit for commercial passengers filming (if not detrimental to recreational values) or research only Boating (human powered) Y Y Y
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 50
Activity/Facility Wilderness Nature Special Comments Recreation Recreation Feature Zone Zone Zone Boating (combustion engine) Y Y N Camping (designated sites) Y* Y* Y** *Only if required in the future to mitigate damage. ** In Sleeping Chief Special Feature Zone, designated sites will not be established. Camping (wilderness style- Y Y Y undesignated sites) Fish Stocking N N N Fishing Y Y Y Hiking Y Y Y Horses and Mules Y Y Y Dogs off-leash Y Y Y Dogs are allowed off leash in parks larger than 2,000 Ha Hunting Y Y Y Land-based Mechanized N N N Activity (e.g., mountain biking, e-biking) Land-based Motorized N Y* N *Only if specified in a Park Activity (e.g., 4x4, Use Permit motorcycles, ORV-not including snowmobiles, or aircraft landings) Skiing (downhill and cross- N N N country track based) Skiing (backcountry) Y Y Y Recreational Snowmobiling N Y N Snowmobiling for Trapping Y Y Y Requires a park use permit Purposes Recreation Facilities/Infrastructure Boat Launches N N N Boat Wharves and Docks N N N Cabins, Huts and Shelters (as Y* Y* Y* *Existing permitted facilities defined in the Fixed Roof will be allowed to remain Accommodation Policy) and certain changes are allowed as per Section 3.1.10 Lodges (as defined in the Y* Y* Y* *Existing permitted facilities Fixed Roof Accommodation will be allowed to remain Policy) and certain changes are allowed as per Section 3.1.10 Campgrounds (vehicle N N N accessed) Picnic Areas (vehicle N N N accessed) Roads N Y* N *Only in the Protected Area Ski Facilities (vehicle N N N accessed and serviced) Trails Y Y Y Existing trails only
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Activity/Facility Wilderness Nature Special Comments Recreation Recreation Feature Zone Zone Zone Visitor Information Buildings N N N Other Activities/Infrastructure Commercial Filming Y* Y* Y* *If authorized by a park use permit Communication Sites and N N N Towers Cutting Dead Standing Trees Y* Y* Y* *If authorized by a park use permit Grazing (horse) Y Y Y Backcountry recreation purposes only. New PUPs can be issued as necessary to support commercial backcountry recreation opportunities subject to management plan. Hydro Electric Projects (local N N N run of river) Prescribed Fire Y* Y* N *Will be considered in accordance with Section 3.1.9 Trapping Y Y Y Requires a park use permit Utility Corridors N N N
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Appendix 2: History of Early Explorers
American botanist Mary Henry first traveled through and explored the area of the park in 1931. She was the first person to catalogue plants in northeastern British Columbia and her party contributed greatly to the mapping of this uncharted area. A mountain in the park bearing her name (Mount Mary Henry, located south of Mile 390 of the Alaska Highway) recognizes the important contribution she made to the early exploration of northeastern British Columbia. Knox McCusker, who surveyed the Peace River Block for the Dominion of Canada, was Mary Henry's guide outfitter and topographer. "Mac" McCusker was an important person in the history of this park. Like all early travelers, McCusker followed First Nations’ traditional routes and trails that had been in use for hundreds of years throughout the area. The first traders, trappers and guide outfitters also used these trails. Before McCusker surveyed the topography on the 1931 Henry expedition, the region north of the Prophet River was uncharted and Mary Henry referred to it as the "blind spot" of Canada, in the National Horticultural Magazine (October 1934). In 1934, Charles Bedeaux led an expedition through the park along the Muskwa River in an attempt to establish an east-west route through the northern Rocky Mountains; the historical “High Trail.” Bert Sheffield trapped along the Muskwa River and up to the Tuchodi Lakes. He and his partner, Henry Courvosier, were convicted of the Great Fur Robbery at Old Fort Nelson in 1936 (i.e., the robbing of the Hudson’s Bay Post). This colourful history, while not necessarily indicative of the area’s inhabitants, helps illustrate the prominence of trapping in northern British Columbia’s history.31
31 BC Geographical Names Information System, http://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/20250.html.
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Glossary
Cirque – a half-open steep-sided hollow at the head of a valley or on a mountainside, formed by glacial erosion. Electric bike (e-bike) – An electric bike, or motor-assisted cycle, is a two- or three- wheeled cycle with a seat, pedals and an electric motor (up to 500 watts). A motor assisted cycle (MAC) cannot be gas-powered. Facility – refers to a building such as a lodge, cabin, campsite or trail but does not include toilets, fire rings or food caches. Fluvial – of or found in a river. Glaciolacustrine deposits – sediments deposited into lakes that have come from glaciers. Hanging valley – a valley that is cut across by a deeper valley or a cliff. Holocene – the system of deposits laid down during this time. Hoodoo – a column or pinnacle of weathered rock. Lacustrine – relating to or associated with lakes. Morainal – a ridge, mound, or irregular mass of unstratified glacial drift, chiefly boulders, gravel, sand, and clay. Thrust fault – a break in the Earth’s crust, across with older rocks are pushed above younger rocks.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 54
References
Ecora Resource Group. 2014. Ecosystem restoration plan for the Fort Nelson Forest District: A Guiding Document Final Report. for Fort Nelson District, Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Fort Nelson, BC. Gurd, D.B., T.D. Nudds and D.H. Rivard. 2001. Conservation of mammals in eastern North American wildlife reserves: how small is too small? Conservation Biology 15:1355-1363. Leverkus, S.E.R. 2015. Conservation of biodiversity in northern Canada through ecological processes and cultural landscapes. PhD dissertation, Oklahoma State University. Lousier, J.D. J. Voller, R.S. McNay, R. Sulyma and V. Brumovsky. 2009. Response of wildlife to prescribed fire in the Peace Region of British Columbia: A problem analysis. Wildlife Infometrics Inc. Report No. 316a. Wildlife Infometrics Inc., Mackenzie, British Columbia, Canada. Woods, A.D. 2001a. Additional historical fisheries information from the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area. for Fisheries Branch, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Fort St. John, BC. Woods, A.D. 2001b. Historical fisheries information from the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area. for Fisheries Branch, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Fort St. John, BC. Woods, A.D. 2016. Tuchodi-Kwadacha Prescribed Burns for Wildlife Habitat – Proposal to BC Parks. Wildlife Infometrics Inc. Report No. 541b. Wildlife Infometrics Inc., Mackenzie, British Columbia, Canada. Ayotte, J. B. 2004. Ecological importance of licks to four ungulate species in north- central British Columbia. M.S. thesis, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Ayotte, J. B., K.L. Parker, J.M. Arocena and M.P. Gillingham. 2006. Chemical composition of lick soils: functions of soil ingestion by four ungulate species. Journal of Mammalogy 87: 878- 888. Ayotte, J. B., K.L. Parker and M.P. Gillingham. 2008. Use of Natural Licks by Four Species of Ungulates in Northern British Columbia. Journal of Mammalogy 89:1041–1050.
Northern Rocky Mountains Park and Protected Area Management Plan 55
Redfern-Keily Park
Management Plan
March 2021 BC Parks
Foreword by BC Treaty 8 First Nations
WELCOME to our homeland. The Beaver (Dunne-za, Dane-zaa), Cree, Saulteau, Slavey (Dene), and TseK’ hene indigenous groups have occupied these lands since time immemorial. Treaty 8 was signed in the spirit of Peace and Friendship on June 21, 1899. British Columbia Treaty 8 Territory is hundreds of thousands of square kilometres in size and includes 8 groups: Blueberry River First Nations, Doig River First Nation, Fort Nelson First Nation, Halfway River First Nation, McLeod Lake Indian Band, Prophet River First Nation, Saulteau First Nations and West Moberly First Nations. Our relationship to the land has and continues to be the spiritual basis for our mode of life. The land has always, and will continue to, provide shelter, food, clothing, and the economic resources for our livelihood. As a First Nation, we have an obligation to implement our inherent rights that are affirmed by the Constitution Act, 1982. This includes sustainability of our resources in order for us to hunt, trap, fish, and continue our mode of life. Prior to the arrival of the Europeans we were actively involved in the management of our territories: the lands understood us and we understood the land. Today, we continue to manage our Territory.
BC Treaty 8 First Nations would like neighbouring First Nations, outdoor enthusiasts and other visitors to our land who are enjoying the bounties of this Park to acknowledge and respect that you are on Treaty 8 Territory. Please act as a steward of Treaty 8 Territory so that together we will maintain its natural beauty, and cultural resources. This maintenance will be respectful to our current use and for future generations. Please conduct yourself in a manner that respects cultural heritage resources and values. Treaty 8 Territory will always be the home of First Nations for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the water flows.
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Foreword by BC Kaska Dena First Nations
The Kaska traditional territory is 24 million hectares and includes portions of three provinces and territories (British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territories). The majestic northern boreal forest regions of interior British Columbia and the Yukon have some of the continent’s most expansive and impressive wilderness areas, with a great diversity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Extensive mountain ranges and wild rivers frame pristine boreal forest watersheds. Large free ranging populations of Caribou, Moose, Dall’s Sheep, Stone Sheep, a full suite of large carnivores and hundreds of thousands of migrating neo-tropical songbirds and waterfowl make their home in these diverse boreal landscapes.
Since human beings have inhabited this landscape, we have been here. As long as human beings inhabit this landscape, we will remain here. Our occupancy of this land establishes both our right and our responsibility to ensure this land remains intact and able to support our people and culture. We emphasize it is now time to secure its permanent protection in order to protect a broad diversity of resources and values that are critical to our culture and our economic opportunities within our homeland.
The health of Kaska culture requires large intact landscapes which support healthy populations of traditional plants and animals. Furthermore, a central facet of our identity requires large unfragmented landscapes for our families to be on. This is where our traditional knowledge is passed on from parent to child, from generation to generation. As well, our physical health requires continued access to healthy wildlife populations as a key component of the diet to which we are accustomed and adapted.
Permanently protected areas and parks can play an important role in ensuring the long term health of First Nations cultures, and thus the Kaska are generally supportive of the concept of “parks” as a mechanism to protect our cultural interests. As well, the Kaska are supportive of parks within their traditional territories, with some caveats, as a contribution to the overall richness and core spiritual values of Canadian culture.
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Foreword by Tsay Keh Dene Nation
The Tsay Keh Dene people are culturally “Sekani”, often translated as “people of the rocks” or “people of the mountains”. The Sekani are the original inhabitants of the Rocky Mountain Trench and surrounding areas in British Columbia.
Like their ancestors, Tsay Keh Dene people make regular and extensive use of their lands and waters in their territory for hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering and other traditional activities.
Tsay Keh Dene asserts unextinguished rights and title to the lands, waters and resources within their traditional territory. Tsay Keh Dene oral history reveals that their ancestors were intimately familiar with their traditional territory, the resources it contained and how to use them – knowledge that could only be gained through regular and extensive use and occupation of their territory over countless generations. This traditional knowledge is a central feature of Tsay Keh Dene Nation identity and culture.
The Redfern Lake area features very prominently in Tsay Keh Dene oral history. This area was used and occupied, and continues to be used and occupied, by Tsay Keh Dene people for a wide range of traditional activities. Hunting of ungulates including Caribou, Moose, Stone Sheep, Mountain Goat and other species was and continues to be conducted on a regular and sustainable basis. Fishing is also an important source of food along with seasonal gathering of edible plants and roots. Tsay Keh Dene Elders vividly recall how they and their ancestors made extensive use of the abundant resources that Redfern Lake and surrounding areas provided to them.
Redfern Lake and surrounding areas remain very important to the Tsay Keh Dene people in sustaining their way of life and culture. Like their ancestors, Tsay Keh Dene people are determined to protect Redfern Lake and surrounding areas for present and future generations. Tsay Keh Dene Nation lands and waters are increasingly under threat from unsustainable, large
scale industrial development. Yet despite the pressures of development within Tsay Keh Dene territory, Redfern-Keily Park has largely remained pristine. As stewards of the lands and waters at Redfern Lake and surrounding areas, Tsay Keh Dene Nation supports efforts to preserve the biodiversity and fragile ecosystems that are found in Redfern-Keily Park for the benefit of Tsay Keh Dene Nation members and visitors to the territory.
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Vision Statement
The alpine meadows, forested valley bottoms, serrated peaks, glaciers, waterfalls and large valley lakes that dominate the mountainous Redfern-Keily Park landscape contribute to its appeal; Redfern-Keily Park remains a largely untouched, though relatively accessible, wilderness area situated in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area.
Its proximity to other provincial protected areas provides habitat connectivity and ensures preservation of intact predator-prey systems and ecosystem functionality.
Redfern-Keily Park plays an important role in providing backcountry recreation opportunities for local, national and international visitors. Development has been kept at a minimum and the few facilities that exist have been maintained with the goal of providing a wilderness experience. Levels of use, both public and commercial, are low, but are monitored to ensure that key park values and wilderness experiences are not negatively impacted.
Recognizing the traditional use of Redfern-Keily Park is important to the area’s First Nation communities; Redfern-Keily Park remains a location where First Nations members practice their traditional social, ceremonial and cultural activities.
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Table of Contents
Foreword by BC Treaty 8 First Nations ...... ii Foreword by BC Kaska Dena First Nations ...... iii Foreword by Tsay Keh Dene Nation ...... iv Vision Statement ...... v Table of Contents ...... vi 1.0 Introduction ...... 1 1.1 Management Plan Purpose...... 1 1.2 Planning Area ...... 1 1.3 Legislative Framework ...... 4 1.4 Relationship with First Nations ...... 5 1.5 Relationship with Other Resource Agencies ...... 6 1.6 Adjacent Land Use ...... 7 1.7 Park Access ...... 11 1.8 Management Planning Process ...... 12 2.0 Values and Roles of the Park ...... 12 2.1 Significance in the Protected Areas System ...... 12 2.2 Biodiversity and Natural Heritage Values ...... 13 2.3 Prescribed Fire ...... 18 2.4 Climate Change ...... 19 2.5 Cultural Values ...... 20 2.6 Recreation Values ...... 20 3.0 Management Direction ...... 22 3.1 Management Objectives and Strategies ...... 22 3.2 Zoning Plan ...... 33 4.0 Plan Implementation ...... 36 4.1 Implementation Plan ...... 36 4.2 High Priority Strategies ...... 36 4.3 Plan Assessment ...... 37 Appendix 1: Appropriate Use Table ...... 38
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Glossary ...... 41
Figures Figure 1: Context Map for Redfern-Keily Park ...... 3 Figure 2: Map of Redfern-Keily Park ...... 8 Figure 3: Adjacent Wildlife Habitat Areas and Ungulate Winter Ranges ...... 10 Figure 4: Access map for Redfern-Keily Park ...... 11 Figure 5: Redfern-Keily Park Zoning ...... 34
Tables Table 1: Surface Area and Average Depth for Lakes in Redfern-Keily Park ...... 14 Table 2: Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) representation ...... 16 Table 3: Fish species distribution in Redfern-Keily Park ...... 18
Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan vii
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Management Plan Purpose The purpose of this management plan is to guide the management of Redfern-Keily Park. This management plan: • articulates the key features and values of Redfern-Keily Park; • identifies appropriate types and levels of management activities; • determines appropriate levels of use and development; • establishes a long-term vision and management objectives for the park; and • responds to current and predicted threats and opportunities by defining a set of management strategies to achieve the management vision and objectives.
1.2 Planning Area Redfern-Keily Park, established as a Class A park in 1999 and encompassing 80,712 hectares, is located in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area1(M-KMA)(Figure 1). The M-KMA, established in 1999 (Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act), is an area of unique wilderness endowed with a globally significant abundance and diversity of wildlife. The long-term maintenance of the wilderness characteristics, wildlife and its habitat within the M-KMA is critical to the social and cultural well-being of First Nations and local communities. The long-term resource management objective for the M-KMA is to return the lands to their natural state as development activities are completed. The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area is zoned into a number of different resource management zones, including protected areas, which are intended to maintain in perpetuity the wilderness quality and the diversity and abundance of wildlife and the ecosystems on which it depends while allowing for resource development and use in parts designated for those purposes. The integration of management activities especially related to road access is central to achieving the intent of the M-KMA. As a result, resource management within the M-KMA must be consistent with the Muskwa- Kechika Management Plan Regulation. Within the M-KMA there are approximately 1.17 million hectares of protected land within twenty-three provincially protected areas of various designations. The three closest provincial protected areas, also located within the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area, are Northern Rocky Mountains Park, Prophet River Hot Springs Park and Sikanni Chief Ecological Reserve. Prophet River Hot Springs Park is located 13 kilometres to the north between Northern Rocky Mountains and Redfern-Keily parks;
1 For more information on the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area, visit http://www.muskwa-kechika.com/.
Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 1
Sikanni Chief Ecological Reserve is located approximately three kilometres to the southwest. The two large communities that are closest to the park are Fort Nelson (approximate population 4,000) and Fort St. John (approximate population 21,000). Fort Nelson is about 150 kilometres northeast of the park and Fort St. John is located about 200 kilometres southeast of the park. Key features of Redfern-Keily Park include: Redfern Lake (often referred to as the “Lake Louise of the North”), a portion of the Redfern Lake Trail (an important access route into the park from Highway 97), significant ungulate populations and habitats, and important old-growth habitats for mustelids2 (more commonly known as furbearers). 1.2.1 Fort St. John Land and Resource Management Plan In the mid-1990s, the Fort St. John LRMP Table was directed to recommend 4% of the Fort St. John Forest District as protected areas towards the regional goal of 9% for the Prince George Forest Region. Redfern-Keily Park was one of 11 sites that were recommended; and one of three that were identified for protection by local First Nations. For all the protected areas that were recommended, the Fort St. John LRMP recognized that trapping, hunting, fishing and guide outfitting would be acceptable uses. Additionally, the Fort St. John LRMP provided a number of specific objectives and strategies to guide the management of values and activities within Redfern-Keily Park for recreation, access, wildlife, biodiversity, fish, water, protected area and visual quality. Planning for an update to the Fort St. John LRMP began in 2019.
2 A mustelid is a small, carnivorous mammal with a long body and short legs and generally has musky scent glands under the tail (e.g., marten, wolverine, and fisher).
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t Dall River Old Growth Par1< a Oenetiah Park & Denetiah Corridor Protected Area a Oune-Za Keyih Park & Protected Area .. Fnlay-Russel Park & Protected Area I Graham-Laurier Park Hornline Creek Park •7 Kwadacha Wilderness Par1< liard River Corrdor Park & Protected Area • Uard River Hot Sprn gs Park • Uard River West Corridor Park •tt Muncho Lake Park ta Ne'ah' Conservancy Parks and Protected Areas ta Northern Rocky Mountains Park & Protected Area 1111 14 Ospika Cones Ecological Reserve Muskwa-Kechika Management Area ti Prophet River Hot Springs Park D Redfern-Keily Park Prepared by: D . Money • Sikanni Chief River Ecological Reserve ff 0 20 40 80 120 Planning Section, Peace Stone Mountain Park ■-•=11-•====i•••• Kilometers May 2018 .. NAO 83 BC Albers ti Toad River Hot Springs Par1<
Figure 1: Context Map for Redfern-Keily Park
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1.3 Legislative Framework The Redfern-Keily area was first recognized for its recreation potential in 1969 when the province placed a recreation reserve around Redfern Lake; the size of this reserve was increased in 1973 and again in 1981. In 1986, conversion of the recreation reserve to a recreation area around Redfern and Fairy lakes was recommended by the provincial Wilderness Advisory Committee (the purpose of the committee was to review land use and make recommendations for the protection of British Columbia’s wilderness).
Redfern Lake was identified as an Area of Interest in the province’s Protected Areas Strategy in July 1993. The Redfern-Keily area was recommended for designation as a protected area through the Fort St. John Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP)3 process in 1999. Redfern-Keily Park was established as a Class A park by the Park Amendment Act, 1999 on June 29, 1999. The park is presently named and described in Schedule D of the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act.
Class A parks are Crown lands dedicated to the preservation of their natural environments for the inspiration, use and enjoyment of the public. Development in Class A parks is limited to that which is necessary to maintain the recreational values of the park. Some activities that existed at the time a park was established (e.g., grazing, hay cutting) may be allowed to continue in certain Class A parks4 but commercial resource extraction or development activities are not permitted (e.g., logging, mining or hydroelectric development). 1.3.1 Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act As a result of the dedicated work of land and resource planning table members during the 1990’s in Fort Nelson and Fort St. John, and later in Mackenzie, the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act and the Muskwa-Kechika Management Plan Regulation, were adopted through Order-in-Council, and enacted in 1998. The purpose of this legislation was to provide guidance to managers in government agencies and non-government organisations, communities, and industry groups while conducting their activities in the M-KMA. As well, a public advisory board was appointed by the Premier, which has undergone an annual process of review and appointment/reappointment of members, to provide advice to government on planning and land use management. A trust fund was established to fund projects and is held by the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). The Act identifies the M-KMA as being a unique wilderness area of global significance and outlines the following management intent for the area:
3 To access the Fort St. John Land and Resource Management Plan, visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/crown-land-water/land-use-planning/regions/northeast/fortstjohn- lrmp 4 Applies only to Class A parks listed in Schedule D of the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act.
Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 4
“… the management intent for the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area is to maintain in perpetuity the wilderness quality, and the diversity and abundance of wildlife and the ecosystems on which it depends while allowing resource development and use in parts of the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area designated for those purposes including recreation, hunting, trapping, timber harvesting, mineral exploration and mining, oil and gas exploration and development …” To support land management, the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act specified the creation of the Muskwa-Kechika Management Plan and five types of local strategic plans: a recreation management plan (completed), a wildlife management plan (completed), oil and gas pre-tenure plans (completed), park management plans (such as this plan) and local strategic forestry plans, referred to as landscape unit objectives (which are completed when there is forestry activity). As one of the local strategic plans, the Redfern-Keily Park management plan is consistent with the direction provided by the Muskwa-Kechika Management Plan; it also considers direction within the other strategic level plans. BC Parks worked with the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area advisory board to ensure that the management objectives and strategies in this management plan are consistent with the objectives of the Muskwa-Kechika Management Plan. Part of the responsibilities of the advisory board are to support the initiation of park management plans and to ensure adequate public consultation in the preparation of these park management plans.
1.4 Relationship with First Nations Redfern-Keily Park falls within the treaty area of the following Treaty 8 First Nations: • Blueberry River First Nation • Doig River First Nation • Halfway River First Nation • Prophet River First Nation • West Moberly First Nations Redfern-Keily Park falls within the asserted traditional territory of the following First Nations: • Tsay Keh Dene Nation • Kaska Dena Council First Nations This park management plan and subsequent management actions within Redfern-Keily Park will respect the government–to–government agreements that have been signed with different First Nations as well as First Nations traditional harvesting, cultural activities, and other aboriginal rights and interests. The management of protected areas can be improved by incorporating First Nations’ traditional ecological knowledge and
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cultural knowledge. BC Parks’ goal is to gather, collate and integrate local traditional knowledge with other scientific data to manage the park. British Columbia is working collaboratively with Indigenous peoples to establish a clear, cross government vision for reconciliation to guide the adoption and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, and the Tsilhqot’in Supreme Court decision. All BC Government ministries have been tasked with finding ways to implement the UNDRIP through a review of the province’s policies, programs, and legislation.5 Part of this review is guided by the recognition of Indigenous knowledge, cultures and traditional practises and their contributions to sustainable and equitable development and proper management of the environment. 1.4.1 First Nation Government to Government Agreements The Province of British Columbia has entered into, or is negotiating, government-to- government agreements with a number of First Nations whose proven rights or asserted traditional interest areas overlap with Redfern-Keily Park. The Strategic Engagement Agreement6 between the Province of British Columbia and the Kaska Dena Council and the Government-to-Government Agreement7 between the Province of British Columbia and Halfway River First Nation are examples of those agreements. The Government-to-Government Agreements are aimed at reducing land and resource sector conflicts, providing greater certainty, fulfilling specific legal obligations, and improving relationships. The Tripartite Land Agreement between BC Hydro, the BC government and Prophet River First Nation commits to working together and with others to develop, recommend, and implement land management measures with the objective of improving protection for cultural values and the practice of Treaty 8 Rights in Redfern-Keily Provincial Park.
1.5 Relationship with Other Resource Agencies BC Parks works directly with other land and resource management agencies to address specific management issues in Redfern-Keily Park. These agencies include the ministries responsible for Crown land, fish and wildlife, range, and wildfire management. They manage the fish and wildlife values, wildfires, prescribed fire, range tenure, pest and disease problems, non park recreation, and access. BC Parks also works with the
5 Principles Accord on Transforming Treaty Negotiations in British Columbia. Government of British Columbia, The First Nations Summit, and the Government of Canada. December 1st, 2018. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/natural-resource-stewardship/consulting-with-first- nations/agreements/principals_accord_signed_dec_1_2018.pdf
6 Kaska Dena Council Strategic Engagement Agreement (Daylu Dena Council, Dease River FN, Kwadacha FN) - 2018 7 Halfway River Government to Government Agreement - 2017
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ministries responsible for authorizing industrial activities outside of the park to ensure that resource development applications include consideration of park values.
1.6 Adjacent Land Use 1.6.1 Land and Resource Management Plan Zones Redfern-Keily Park is bordered on all sides by Crown land. The Fort St. John, McKenzie and Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plans (LRMP) delineated resource management zones within their respective planning areas. Activities permitted within the different resource management zones that surround Redfern-Keily Park have the ability to affect park values, particularly when those activities occur in close proximity to the park or are consumptive in nature (adjacent zones areas depicted in Figure 2).
The Besa–Halfway–Chowade Resource Management Zone (415,477 hectares) within the Fort St. John LRMP borders the Park to the south and to the east. This Resource Management Zone was identified in the plan as Special Management–Fish and Wildlife Habitat, Wilderness Values and Backcountry Recreation and will be managed with a high biodiversity emphasis. The visual quality strategy specifies that areas adjacent to protected areas will be managed to maintain the identified values. To the north of Redfern-Keily Park is the Prophet Resource Management Zone (157,500 hectares). The management objectives and strategies for this zone are stated in the Fort Nelson LRMP. This zone has several special features, including the Eastern Rockies High Trail and the Bedaux Trail, and valuable large mammal habitats that require consideration during industrial development and timber management activities. Adjacent to the western boundary of Redfern-Keily Park is the Upper U kai (Upper Akie) Special Wildland Resource Management Zone within the Mackenzie LRMP. This zone is identified as having high Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) wildlife values. The intent of this zone is to manage for ecological conservation as a priority, while also managing for heritage and cultural values, wilderness characteristics, the provision of recreation opportunities, and oil and gas and mineral exploration opportunities. Timber harvesting is excluded in this zone. The plan also states that as this zone is adjacent to a park, resource development should be sensitive to the intended objectives of the park.
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Figure 2: Map of Redfern-Keily Park
1.6.2 Authorizations Within and Adjacent to the Park • Redfern Lake Trail and Sikanni River Trail are designated Muskwa-Kechika Access Management Area routes and provide important access to the park. Outside the park those trails are designated recreation trails under the Forest and Range Practices Act and are under the jurisdiction of the ministry that manages Crown land recreation. Redfern Lake Trail, outside of the park, is maintained to minimum standards by the Moose ATV and Northland Trail Blazers Snowmobile clubs.
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• Redfern-Keily Park overlaps with three guide outfitting territories and there are five active park use permits for commercial recreation operators that offer a variety of services, including: angling, hiking, horseback riding, camping, snowshoeing, cross- country skiing, kayaking, boat tours, wildlife viewing, and canoeing. For hunting recreational services, guide-outfitter wildlife harvest levels are set by the ministry responsible for wildlife management, in collaboration with BC Parks. Guide-outfitter commercial recreation activities and facilities in the park are managed by BC Parks and authorized under a park use permit. All of the park use permits with commercial recreation operators include privately owned structures.
• Three range tenures8 for horse grazing exist within Redfern-Keily Park; they are tenured under the Range Act. Range tenures for grazing can occur in parks listed in Schedule D of the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act and are managed by the Range Program under the Range Act. These tenures are associated with businesses that use horses for their operations, and include guide outfitters.
• Four trapline areas overlap with Redfern-Keily Park. Trapping is managed by the ministry responsible for wildlife management. That ministry also manages hunting regulations and harvest allocations at the management unit level and in collaboration with BC Parks. Currently, only one of the trapline holders actively traps within the park (authorized by a valid park use permit). This trapper’s permit also includes trapline cabins for overnight use. • There are four active park use permits allowing air transport into the park.
• Wildlife Habitat Areas for Caribou9 (Rangifer tarandus) have been established adjacent to the park under the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Oil and Gas Activities Act (see Figure 3).
• Ungulate Winter Ranges for Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus), Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) and Stone’s Sheep (Ovis dalli stonei) have been established adjacent to the park under the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Oil and Gas Activities Act (see Figure 3).
• There are no forestry or mining authorizations in the immediate vicinity of the park.
• There is one active petroleum and natural gas tenure 1 kilometre south of Redfern- Keily Park.
8 One of the tenures is on the periphery of the park. 9 Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in the park area are part of the Northern Mountain Caribou population or Designatable Unit, and the Pink Mountain subpopulation. The term Caribou will be used throughout the document to refer to the Pink Mountain subpopulation.
Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 9
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Figure 3: Adjacent Wildlife Habitat Areas and Ungulate Winter Ranges
Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 10
1.7 Park Access The park is in a remote area and mainly accessesed by ORV (off-road vehicle), snowmobile or horse (Figure 4). The park can also be accessed by fixed wing aircraft, both floatplane and wheeled, and helicopters. The closest major road is Highway 97, approximately 50 kilometres, on a straight line, east of the park.
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Figure 4: Access map for Redfern-Keily Park 1.7.1 Redfern Lake Trail The main access into Redfern-Keily Park is along the 80-kilometre long Redfern Lake Trail. Redfern Lake Trail starts at Highway 97, runs along Neves Creek then up the Besa River to Redfern Lake. It is open to both motorized and non-motorized access and is popular for hiking, ORV use, horseback riding and snowmobiling. The first 65 kilometres of the trail are outside of the park with the last 15 kilometres being within the park. There is a bridge over the Besa River along the portion of the trail in the park. The Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 11 portion of the trail that falls outside of the park is managed by the ministry responsible for recreation and trails on Crown land and it is designated as a user-maintained trail. This trail is a Muskwa-Kechika Access Management Area route which has restrictions under the Wildlife Act, Public Access Prohibition Regulation on motorized vehicle weight and travel proximity from the trail (excluding snowmobiles). Users must familiarize themselves with the Muskwa-Kechika Access Management Area restrictions prior to using the trail. Currently, both inside and outside of the park, Redfern Lake Trail users must use a vehicle that weighs less than 750 kilograms. Within the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area users of the Redfern Lake Trail are restricted to travel within 10 metres of the trail. 1.7.2 Sikanni River Trail A second access route into the park is along the Sikanni River Trail. This 32 kilometre long trail starts at Highway 97 and runs along Sikanni Chief River to Trimble Lake. The first section of this trail up to Trimble Creek (27 kilometres), is also a Muskwa-Kechika Access Management Area route that is motorized; currently this section has a 750 kilogram legal vehicle weight restriction, and motorized users must travel within 10 metres of the route. From Trimble Creek to Trimble Lake (5 kilometres) the trail is for hiking or horse use only, with the exception of snowmobiles. Only the final two kilometres of the trail is in the park. 1.8 Management Planning Process Direction for the plan has been provided by the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act, the Fort St. John LRMP, the Muskwa-Kechika Wildlife Management Plan and the Muskwa-Kechika Recreation Management Plan. This plan is the completed product of a process that was initiated prior to 2000. During development of the draft management plan, public, stakeholder and First Nations engagement occurred at various stages. This included opportunities for public input through a public mail-out process, website comment form, consultative meetings and open houses. The draft document was made available for public review and comment on the BC Parks webpage in 2018. Consultative discussions with interested First Nations occurred throughout the process and draft documents were provided for review and comment in 2018 and 2020. Information and feedback received during the development of the plan was used to inform and revise the content of the final management plan. 2.0 Values and Roles of the Park 2.1 Significance in the Protected Areas System Redfern-Keily Park provides extensive and diversified wildlife habitat for large mammals such as Caribou, Elk (Cervus elaphus), Grey Wolf (Canis lupus), Grizzly Bear, Moose Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 12 (Alces amerianus), Mountain Goat and Stone’s Sheep. Its proximity to Northern Rocky Mountains Park to the north functions to enable habitat connectivity for wide-ranging species. There are only a small number of backcountry areas in the northern Rocky Mountains that are relatively easy for the general public to access. This park protects several of these areas, which are accessed by two very popular Muskwa-Kechika Access Management Area routes: Redfern Lake Trail and Sikanni River Trail. Its wilderness character, coupled with its accessibility, make Redfern-Keily Park an important backcountry tourism destination to local, provincial, national and international users. The highly scenic landscape is popular with a wide variety of recreationists, from visitors interested in low-impact nature appreciation to hunters and ORV users. Nature appreciation includes experiencing alpine wildflowers in bloom in July and August and visiting old-growth forests on Keily Creek. Redfern Lake, one of the most notable features in the park, has been called the “Lake Louise of the North” by visitors because of its turquoise water. 2.2 Biodiversity and Natural Heritage Values Spectacular geological structures, pristine freshwater values, and a diverse assemblage of vegetation, fish, and wildlife make this area significant in the provincial protected areas system. The brilliant blue colours of Redfern, Fairy and Trimble lakes are among the most outstanding features within the park. 2.2.1 Geology and Landforms An important part of Redfern-Keily Park is the spectacularly exposed geological structures of the Rocky Mountains area. Thrust faults, rugged castellated peaks, and glacially sculpted U-shaped valleys are a primary component of the area’s surface features. Hanging valleys, natural arches, cirques and horns (or pyramidal peaks) are also common. Stratified and sedimentary rock are predominant in the area with limestone, dolomite and shale being most common. Mountainous regions are composed of Palaeozoic rock, and the foothills are made of slightly younger Triassic rock. There are seven main mountains in the park, and Mount Ulysses (2,990 metres) is recognized as the highest peak in the Muskwa- Kechika Management Area. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 13 The area has been significantly shaped by tectonic activity; folding and faulting can be seen in exposed rock. This is especially evident south of Trimble Lake to the west of Trimble Mountain where a thrust fault emerges. Erosion is a significant force that shapes surface features of the area. This can be seen in structures such as the hoodoos on Besa River below Mount Dopp. Glaciers have also played an important role in shaping the current landscape (see section 2.2.2). The area was covered with ice during the last glaciation which lasted from 25,000 to 10,000 years ago. As the ice sheets receded, the area was inundated by a glacial lake that covered the lowlands between the Muskwa and Prophet rivers and the lower Sikanni Chief River. Valley bottoms are covered with a thin layer of glacial till. 2.2.2 Water The main hydrological features of Redfern-Keily Park are Redfern, Fairy, and Trimble lakes. In addition, several waterfalls with heights from 5 to 50 metres are found on both main and side channels of all the creeks and rivers in the area and tarns are commonly found in the cirques. Much of the freshwater is relatively pristine. The west side of the park contains several large ice fields and includes both the Ithaca and Achaean glaciers. Meltwater from these glaciers feed Besa River and Keily Creek. The entire watershed of Petrie Creek is also within the park. The Besa River passes through Redfern Lake, the largest lake in the park (Table 1). There are two other relatively large lakes within the park: Fairy Lake (its tributaries feed into the Besa River drainage system) and Trimble Lake in the southeast corner of the park (its tributaries feed into the Upper Sikanni Chief drainage system). All of the waters in the park eventually drain into the Arctic Ocean. Both of the drainage systems represented in the park, the Besa and the Upper Sikanni Chief, are undeveloped. Table 1: Surface Area and Average Depth for Lakes in Redfern-Keily Park Lake Surface Area (ha) Average Depth (m) Redfern 539 43.5 Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 14 Trimble 314 13.9 Fairy 151 29.9 2.2.3 Biogeoclimatic Zones and Vegetation Redfern-Keily Park contains mixed spruce and pine forests representative of the high mountain valleys of the eastern flank of the Rocky Mountains, as well as extensive alpine areas. There are three biogeoclimatic (BEC) subzones in the park (Table 2). The moist, cool Spruce-Willow-Birch (SWBmk) and moist, cool scrub Spruce-Willow-Birch (SWBmks) subzones are found along the valley bottoms (below 1,600 metres elevation for SWBmk and between 1,600 metres and 1,800 metres elevation for SWBmks). These subzones are predominantly forested with white spruce (Picea glauca) and sub-alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), with lesser amounts of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia), black spruce (Picea mariana) and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides). Scrub birch (Betula nana) and willow (Salix species) are also common. Areas with poor drainage contain white spruce and tall willow swamps, sedge fens, or marshes. Sections of old growth spruce forest can be found along river valley bottoms. There is an especially significant band of this along Keily Creek. The third zone, the Boreal Altai Fescue Alpine (BAFA), is found at elevations greater than 1,800 metres. Vegetation consists mainly of shrubs, heathers, herbs, mosses, and lichens. White and Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) and sub-alpine fir where they occur usually exhibit a stunted growth form due to the harsh environmental conditions. All three of the BEC subzones are well-represented in the protected areas system (>20% protection), with Redfern-Keily Park protecting only small percentages of each - 2.8%, 4.0% and 2.0%, respectively (Table 2). From a climate change and species migration perspective, however, Redfern-Keily Park’s true value is that there is strong connectivity for these three subzones within multiple parks and protected lands that are all in close proximity to each other. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 15 Table 2: Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) representation BEC Zone BEC Area of BEC Area of BEC Percent of Percent BEC Subzone Subzone in Subzone BEC Subzone Subzone the Park Protected in Protected in Protected (hectares) the the Province in the Province that is Province (hectares) Contributed by the Park Spruce- SWBmk 30,256 1,085,687 2.8% 26.1% Willow-Birch SWBmks 15,440 382,153 4.0% 23.5% Boreal Altai BAFAun 34,023 1,698,463 2.0% 27.8% Fescue Alpine Nine species of at-risk vascular plants (2 red-listed and 7 blue-listed10) have been documented within the park. In the vicinity of Fairy Lake they include the blue-listed Davis' locoweed (Oxytropis campestris var. davisii), Hornemann's willowherb (Epilobium hornemannii ssp. behringianum), Porsild's draba (Draba porsildii), and marsh felwort (Lomatogonium rotatum). East of Redfern Mountain they include the red-listed pink campion (Silene repens), and the blue-listed abbreviated bluegrass (Poa abbreviata ssp. Pattersonii), low sandwort (Arenaria longipedunculata) and rock-dwelling sedge (Carex petricosa). The red-listed smooth draba (Draba glabella) was found in both locations. Ecosystem mapping has not been completed for the park, so there is no information available on at-risk ecological communities. 2.2.4 Wildlife Redfern-Keily Park, in association with other proximal protected areas and land management measures, protects large mammal predator/prey systems. Ungulates, such as Caribou (Northern Mountain population, specifically the Pink Mountain subpopulation - blue-listed), Elk, Moose, Mountain Goat, Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus), Stone’s Sheep and White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), use the area as year-round habitat. Protecting habitat for ungulates is one of the key roles of the park. The ongoing health of those wildlife populations is important from conservation, cultural and recreation perspectives. Large carnivores, such as American Black Bears 10 At-risk species and ecological communities include those that are extirpated, endangered or threatened species (Red List) or of special concern (formerly called vulnerable) (Blue List). Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 16 (Ursus americanus), Grey Wolves and Grizzly Bears (blue-listed), can also be found in the park. There is a long history of predator management (specifically for Grey Wolf) having been used as a management tool in the park. BC Parks works with the ministry responsible for wildlife management to maintain consistency, where appropriate, with wildlife management initiatives and policy. Currently, provincial policy11 supports the use of predator management to protect livestock and species at risk (i.e. Caribou). A wild, free-ranging population of introduced Plains Bison (Bos bison bison) occasionally moves into the southeast corner of the park in the Trimble Lake area. Plains Bison are considered to be outside their normal range in Redfern-Keily Park; however they are within the historical range of Wood Bison. Bison find abundant food in the many natural meadows and areas that are in a state of post-fire regeneration. Plains Bison was assessed as Threatened by COSEWIC12 in 2013, but has not yet been added to Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act. Mineral licks are important features in the park. Ungulates congregate in these areas to ingest a variety of chemical components that are concentrated on the surface. Wet mineral licks are formed due to water movement (gravitational or upwelling) that concentrates materials leached from the surrounding rocks and soils. Dry licks are often formed through colluvial or aeolian exposure. Although they differ in their respective concentrations, wet and dry licks are natural sources of sodium, carbonates, magnesium, and sulfate. Smaller furbearing mammals known as mustelids (e.g., blue-listed Fisher (Pekania pennant) and American Marten (Martes americana)) live in the old-growth forests associated with valley bottoms. The blue-listed Wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus) can be found throughout the park ranging from lower valley bottoms to alpine meadows. Redfern-Keily Park also provides important habitat for many species of birds; the avian community changes seasonally as migratory species either nest or pass through the area. A regionally significant resting site for the Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) is known to exist within the park. In addition to the above-mentioned wildlife, several species of rodents, reptiles, and amphibians, as well as many species of invertebrates, can also be found in the park. 2.2.5 Fish Redfern-Keily Park has indigenous fish populations typical of many cold water systems. Redfern Lake contains Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush), Lake Whitefish (Coregonus 11 Management Plan for the Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) in British Columbia, 2014: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/management-issues/docs/grey_wolf_management_plan.pdf 12 The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assesses the conservation status of species under the federal Species at Risk Act. Categories are extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened, or special concern. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 17 clupeaformis) and Pygmy Whitefish (Prosopium coulterii) (Table 3). The creeks and rivers have indigenous populations of Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus), blue-listed Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni). Table 3: Fish species distribution in Redfern-Keily Park Lake or Fish Species waterway name Arctic Bull Lake Lake Mountain Pygmy Rainbow Slimy Grayling Trout Trout Whitefish Whitefish Whitefish Trout Sculpin Besa River X X X X Fairy Lake X X Keily Creek X X X Nordling Creek X Petrie Creek X X X Redfern Lake X X X X Trimble Lake X X X Trimble Lake contains Arctic Grayling and Mountain Whitefish that were illegally stocked into Trimble Lake in 1959. Redfern, Fairy, and Trimble lakes were stocked with Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in 1984 and are well-known for Rainbow Trout fishing. These fish have spread to the Besa River and at least two of its tributaries: Neves Creek and Nordling Creek. There are several waterfalls in the park that act as barriers to fish migration. Two sets of falls downstream of Fairy Lake isolate Fairy Lake from the rest of the Besa River system, and Sikanni Falls restricts fish passage to Trimble Lake and parts of the Sikanni Chief River. Bull Trout require specific spawning habitat, which is found within Redfern-Keily Park. Adult Bull Trout winter in the lower Prophet River mainstem and move to spawning tributaries by late summer. Petrie Creek has been identified as a potentially important spawning area for Bull Trout, as has Keily Creek to a lesser extent. Mature Arctic Grayling use several waterways in the park for post-summer refuge and they are especially sensitive to over-harvest at this time. Mountain Whitefish have been known to spawn in the Besa River main stem. 2.3 Prescribed Fire Ecosystem dynamics in the northern Rocky Mountains are greatly influenced by disturbances from fire that drive ecosystem renewal and change. Fire can have a variety of effects on ecosystems. In forested areas fires are often considered to be either stand replacing or stand maintaining. In grassland ecosystems fire generally helps to maintain the grasslands through the removal of woody vegetation that cannot withstand repeated burning. Prescribed fire is a management tool that can be applied to ecosystems for specific purposes that includes ecosystem maintenance or restoration, wildlife habitat Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 18 enhancement, forage production for domestic animals, and wildfire prevention. Throughout northeastern British Columbia, prescribed fire has been used by First Nations, guide outfitters, and government to enhance wildlife habitat and enhance forage for range purposes. The Fort St. John LRMP gives the following direction regarding livestock grazing in the park “identify and manage appropriate grazing management activities (e.g., burns)”. Range tenures in Class A parks listed in Schedule D of the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act are managed by the Range Program under the Range Act. Range tenures held by guide outfitters can allow for prescribed burning to maintain forage for horses that are used in their operations. Because the range tenures were in place prior to the park establishment, Redfern-Keily Park is listed in Schedule D the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act13, allowing range tenures to continue in the park. These range tenures are administered under the Range Act by the Range Program and managed under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BC Parks, which also has a policy and guidance document. The agreement between BC Parks and the Range Program allows for prescribed fires if they are part of a Range Use Plan and are consistent with park values and/or a park management plan. The Muskwa-Kechika wildlife management plan gives management direction that habitat “should be managed within the natural range of variability”,14 while also giving direction that prescribed fire be used in key habitats to maintain early seral grass or shrub areas for Stone’s Sheep, Moose and Elk. In Redfern-Keily Park, prescribed fire has been used by staff in the ministry responsible for wildlife management to enhance ungulate winter range habitat through the maintenance of high-elevation early seral15 grassland habitat. The north side of Trimble Lake and the north side of Keily Creek, just before the confluence with the Besa River, are two areas that historically have been burned with prescribed fire. 2.4 Climate Change The effects of climate change on specific ecosystems and wildlife populations within British Columbia are not clearly understood at this time. However, research indicates that ecological communities will change along elevation and geographic gradients, causing shifts in plant and wildlife composition for given areas. Large, contiguous protected areas are known to be important to allow for species and population movement and refugia during these times of change. 13 The number of Animal Unit Months (AUMs) for each range tenure in the park is capped at that authorized for the range tenure at time of park establishment. 14 The Muskwa-Kechika Wildlife Management Plan defines Natural Range of Variability as “the range of variability in ecological conditions that occurred before European settlement”. 15 Vegetation succession can result in less palatable woody vegetation dominating some areas. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 19 Research indicates that retreating glaciers are one of the most immediately evident effects of climate change in northern regions. Though the specific impact to glaciers within the park have not been measured, higher elevation glaciers may be more resistant to change than lower elevation glaciers because of lower temperatures at higher elevations. Precipitation and hydrology effects of climate change and smaller glaciers could include reduced summer moisture, reductions in water inputs to wetland areas, reduced late summer stream flows and changed vegetation patterns. 2.5 Cultural Values Redfern-Keily Park has a diverse cultural heritage background. Of the Treaty 8 signatories the park falls within the traditional territory of the Prophet River, Blueberry River, Doig River, Halfway River, and West Moberly First Nations; as well as the Tsay Keh Dene First Nation and the Kaska Dena Council First Nation community of Kwadacha. Historically and presently, summer and fall activities include hunting, fishing, plant collecting, and the preparation of food for long-term storage for the upcoming winter months. Some First Nations people traditionally broke up into smaller bush communities during the winter and spring seasons. There are many areas of cultural significance in the park. The areas around Redfern and Trimble lakes contain many cultural features including a cabin site, a cache, a camp, trails, refuse and lithics. The Besa River-Keily Creek confluence was a high-use camping area for several different groups. The Keily Creek area is of special concern to First Nations because it is considered sacred and a burial site is located there. Post-contact cultural values are also significant. The area was historically used for hunting and trapping to supply furs to the Hudson’s Bay Company trading posts in Fort St. John and Hudson’s Hope. In addition, several historic surveying expeditions took place in northeast British Columbia, including the park and surrounding areas. Knox McCusker, a Dominion land surveyor, measured glaciers and snowfields in the Mount Ulysses area in 1932. Another well-known expedition, led by Bedaux, camped at Redfern Lake in 1934 and parts of their trail leading north can still be found within the park. 2.6 Recreation Values 2.6.1 Recreation Opportunities Due to the existence of established trails within the park, Redfern-Keily is one of the more accessible and frequently used areas in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area. The park also has some of the most scenic landscapes in the Northern Rocky Mountains. The most popular activities include hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, boating, photography, ORV use, snowmobiling, and wildlife and nature viewing. All of these uses are long-standing and predate park establishment. The two trail systems into the park (Redfern Lake Trail and Sikanni River Trail) are very important recreational features. Both trails can be accessed on foot or with Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 20 snowmobiles, horses, mountain bikes or dogsleds. Motorized vehicles (except snowmobiles) can only enter the park using the Redfern Lake Trail; motorized access along the Sikanni River Trail is not allowed past where the trail meets Trimble Creek. For more info on Access, please see Sections 1.7 and 2.6.2. Several unmarked trails exist within the park, especially near Redfern Lake, that can be used by hikers, snowshoers and horseback riders. In winter, snowmobiling into Redfern Lake is by far the most common recreational activity in the area, while in summer the activities are more varied. Cross-country skiing occurs in many locations. One of the better cross-country skiing areas is along the shores of Redfern and Fairy lakes; however, no tracks are set and the trail up to Fairy Lake is steep. Guide outfitting is a long-standing activity within the Redfern-Keily Park area. The Fort St. John LRPM recognizes this as an acceptable use within Redfern-Keily Park. There are currently three commercial recreation operations that provide guided recreation opportunities in the park. The guided opportunities include angling, canoeing, cycling, horseback riding, hunting, hiking, boating and snowmobiling tours, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and nature appreciation. Three grazing tenures exist in and around Redfern-Keily Park to accommodate commercial backcountry recreation horse use. Guide outfitter companies have private client cabins at three different sites within the park. Overnight stays for their clients are accommodated within the terms of the operator’s park use permit. Visitors must keep in mind when planning for their trips that the park is a remote wilderness area. Seven public campsites are located within the park along Redfern Lake Trail (an additional 19 campsites are located along the trail outside of the park boundary). These are very basic and can provide camping opportunities for 5-7 small groups. The park also has two cabins that are operated as first-come- first-served public-use facilities. The cabins can accommodate up to 12 people. The Northland Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club is under a volunteer agreement to help BC Parks maintain the cabins. As the public facilities are limited, it is advisable to come prepared to be self-sufficient; bringing proper camping, cooking, food and water supplies. There are no communication facilities within the park so rescue services are not easily contacted. Though visitor use statistics are not available, it is known that there are specific areas and times of year when use levels are higher. The main access trails, as well as the areas Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 21 surrounding the three lakes, have the highest levels of use in the park. The hunting season brings in the greatest number of people, especially during the September long weekend. During that time the public campsites and private guide outfitter cabins see the most use, and based upon public feedback that BC Parks staff receives, it is thought that most of the designated camping areas are being used to their full capacity. June is another popular time of the year for fishing enthusiasts when the ice melts from the lakes. Winter use by snowmobilers can also be high. During non-peak times, this park can provide a completely solitary wilderness experience. 2.6.2 Aircraft Access The park can also be accessed by fixed wing aircraft, both floatplane and wheeled, and helicopters. The commercial operators often use floatplanes to fly in their guests. Recreational aircraft users are encouraged to provide flight plans to BC Parks. 3.0 Management Direction 3.1 Management Objectives and Strategies 3.1.1 Geology and Landforms Despite existing protections provided by the Park Act, some of the landform features in Redfern-Keily Park (e.g., hoodoos) could be damaged by park users. Impacts to those features would detract from the spectacular scenic beauty of the area and could result in decreased visitation to the park. Management Objective Management Strategies Protect the landform features that • If/when feature damage is noted, an action plan will be contribute to the scenic beauty developed and implemented which aims at repairing within the park. and/or preventing further damage (this action plan may include access restrictions). 3.1.2 Water The water values in the park are relatively pristine. Potential threats to water quality include erosion and the introduction of contaminants. If levels of erosion increase in areas where trails cross streams, there may be erosion and sedimentation concerns. Management Objective Management Strategies Maintain the natural quality of the • Provide the public with information on minimizing impacts freshwater values. to water quality in the backcountry through the Leave No Trace section on the BC Parks website. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 22 Management Objective Management Strategies • Encourage research and assessment focused on water quality monitoring to aid in determining impacts from either point source or non-point source contaminants, particularly in higher use recreation areas. 3.1.3 Vegetation Detailed ecosystem mapping has not been completed for Redfern-Keily Park. This detailed ecosystem mapping would be the basis of increasing the knowledge of at-risk ecosystems and wildlife habitat inventories. Areas of Redfern-Keily Park that are more readily accessible to the public are considered to be at greater risk when it comes to potential damage to vegetation. • During peak visitation seasons (e.g., hunting season) impacts to vegetation from camping occurs in new areas because developed sites are at full capacity. • In the vicinity of camping areas, damage to surrounding vegetation occurs as timber is illegally harvested for firewood16. • The establishment of invasive plant populations along travel corridors outside the park, and in the park itself, is an increasing risk in northeastern British Columbia. Additionally, impacts to vegetation from recreation activities in areas that are not easily accessed are unknown. Possible impacts to sensitive areas (i.e., alpine or sub-alpine areas and blue-listed species) are of particular concern. Management Objective Management Strategies Maintain vegetation and plant • Conduct inspections of camping areas to ensure firewood is communities for ecological being obtained in accordance with park regulations for fires integrity and visual aesthetics. in the backcountry (e.g., only dead wood laying on the ground can be used for fires). Consider educational signage at boundary if needed. The prohibition on ringing/girdling or cutting of living trees will be strictly enforced. • Consider the authorization of cutting dead standing wood for firewood through a Park Use Permit and following the BC Parks Impact Assessment process, including site assessments where appropriate. 16 The Park, Conservancy and Recreation Area Regulation regulates that backcountry park users may only use vegetation that is lying dead on the ground to start fires. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 23 Management Objective Management Strategies • Conduct Backcountry Recreation Impact Monitoring (BRIM) at Redfern Lake (and in other areas on an as needed basis) and adjust management actions to ensure natural and cultural values are not being compromised by recreation use levels, particularly during peak season. The BRIM process will be used to determine the need for, and location of, new backcountry camping areas. Increase knowledge of ecosystems • Work with First Nations communities, other ministries, and protect at-risk plant community groups and/or educational institutions to communities and species. support inventories and studies aimed at better understanding the distribution of plant species and ecosystems and their ecology; including how they will respond to environmental changes such as climate change (e.g. BC Parks Long-term Ecological Monitoring Program, First Nations Land Guardian programs). • Monitor activities occurring in areas containing known at- risk plant species to assess their potential negative impacts, including alpine areas and the areas where blue-listed species are found in the vicinity of Fairy Lake. Limit activities as necessary. • Prevent damage to riparian areas by maintaining the existing bridges at the large water crossing on Redfern Lake Trail. • Prevent damage to riparian vegetation by encouraging horse users to adhere to the horse riders’ backcountry ethics that have been developed for the park, which advocates resting horses away from the water’s edge17. Prevent the establishment or • Require commercial operators, through park use permits, spread of invasive species. and encourage park visitors to adhere to BC Parks Invasive Plant Best Management Practices18 and guidance in the regional hunting regulations, including using local weed free hay, pelletized and processed feed for pack animals. • Encourage commercial operators and other park visitors to report occurrences of invasive species. 17 For guidance on Horse Riders Backcountry Ethics, visit http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/redfern/trails.html#ethics 18Best management practices for invasive plants in Parks and Protected Areas in BC http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/conserve/docs/iscbc-bc-parks-bmp-20180412.pdf Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 24 Management Objective Management Strategies • Monitor invasive species establishment, review management actions and explore treatment options19. 3.1.4 Wildlife Ensuring the protection of wildlife and wildlife habitats is a key role of Redfern-Keily Park; however, the remoteness of Redfern-Keily Park presents challenges in determining wildlife abundance, key wildlife habitat locations, engaging in regular regulation enforcement and effectiveness monitoring of wildlife management techniques. Habitat mapping for important wildlife species, as recommended in the Fort St. John LRMP, has not been completed for the park. The Northern Mountain population of Caribou is provincially blue-listed and federally classified by COSEWIC as Special Concern, and the Pink Mountain subpopulation may be declining in size. Caribou are susceptible to threats such as habitat loss and alteration, altered predator/prey dynamics and disturbance throughout their range. Habitat management activities that reduce old and mature forests, and change predator/prey dynamics20, can enhance habitat for other ungulate species which may negatively impact Caribou. The Plains Bison is an introduced species that could become a concern in the park. Bison exhibit highly territorial behaviours and will actively prevent other wildlife species from using an area they are currently occupying. This territorial behaviour serves to limit habitat available for native ungulate populations. The ministry responsible for wildlife management collaborates with BC Parks on any changes to hunting regulations within the park. There is currently limited entry hunting (LEH) for Plains Bison in the park, but this may change to a general open season (GOS) if the population increases or moves outside its core area. Many activities that park visitors pursue are integrally tied to the area’s abundance and variety of wildlife, such as hunting, trapping and nature appreciation. Management Objective Management Strategies Increase knowledge of wildlife • Work with First Nations communities, other ministries, populations, distributions and community groups and/or educational institutions to habitats, and ensure that all encourage wildlife inventories and studies aimed at better activities are managed to maintain understanding species’ needs; including how the wildlife healthy wildlife populations and composition will evolve in response to environmental 19 The use of herbicides in parks is only considered if there is no alternative treatment that has proven to be successful and if there is a significant threat to the ecological integrity of the park, as well as the surrounding area. 20 The report “Role of Protected Areas in Caribou Management in British Columbia” gives details of the issues surrounding Caribou management, with recommendations for Caribou management in the protected area system. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 25 Management Objective Management Strategies minimize disturbance to the changes such as climate change, and natural and prescribed ecosystem fire. • Work with partners and other government agencies to identify and map locations of listed or significant species (e.g. Caribou, Elk, Moose, Mountain Goat, Grizzly Bear). • Recommend the use of the BC Conservation Data Centre Data Submission process to collect informal wildlife information from First Nations, commercial operators and other park visitors21. • Coordinate with the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area wildlife management plan (two documents)22 to guide wildlife management decisions within the park, as appropriate. • Develp a consistent approach with the ministry responsible for wildlife management for collaboratation on wildlife management initiatives and policy (e.g. predator management). • Limit motorized access to high capability Mountain Goat and Caribou habitat by only allowing motorized use in the Nature Recreation Zone. Implement greater spatial or seasonal restrictions as necessary and based on scientific rationale. Prevent impacts of non-native • Work with the ministry responsible for wildlife species to native wildlife management to determine if Plains Bison are significantly populations and their habitats. impacting native wildlife populations or their habitats. If there are significant negative impacts, review the hunting regulations and determine if any changes are required. Ensure management activities do not create additional habitat in the park that Bison could occupy. • To protect native species from competition or disease introductions, llamas and other exotic animals are not permitted within the park; only horses and mules are permitted for recreational purposes. Maintain current trapping • Monitor trapping harvest to ensure conservation objectives opportunities subject to are met. conservation objectives. 21 https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/conservation-data-centre/submit- data 22 http://www.muskwa-kechika.com/management-area/legislation-planning Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 26 3.1.5 Fish and Aquatic Life Redfern, Fairy and Trimble lakes were stocked with Rainbow Trout prior to park establishment, resulting in the lakes being popular for fishing. There have not been any recent fishery studies or research into other aquatic species in the park. Management Objective Management Strategies Increase knowledge and • Work with educational institutions and First Nations to plan understanding of aquatic values, and implement aquatic species studies in Redfern, Fairy and and encourage needed research. Trimble lakes and Petrie and Keily creeks. Protect and maintain the natural • Identify and map locations of listed or significant species diversity and productivity of and areas of critical habitat. Focus initially on areas that aquatic ecosystems while could be negatively impacted by recreation; and Petrie and maintaining a low intensity, high Keily creeks (potentially important spawning areas for Bull quality fishery. Trout and a post-summer refugia for mature Arctic Grayling). • Monitor recreational fishing activities; focusing on Redfern, Trimble and Fairy lakes. Collect information regarding species caught, numbers caught, and size of fish. Limit activities as necessary to avoid negative impacts to native fish populations. • Investigate management strategies to stop the spread of introduced non-native Rainbow Trout. 3.1.6 Cultural Values While First Nations cultural values are known to be present in the park, information on these values is limited. This lack of information increases the risk of unintentional damage to sensitive sites. Management Objective Management Strategies Gain a better understanding of • Support efforts to conduct historical and ethnographic cultural values, archaeological research and cultural heritage field inventories as sites, spiritual sites and traditional appropriate (e.g. funding opportunities or permits). use locations in order to better • Work with First Nations to implement protective measures ensure protection. where threats to known cultural values are identified. Promote stewardship and • Support, when possible, opportunities for First Nations awareness of cultural values and traditional, sustenance and harvesting activities. First Nations use in the park. • Support, when possible, opportunities to develop cultural interpretive material for the park. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 27 Management Objective Management Strategies • Pursue opportunities to incorporate traditional knowledge into park management. 3.1.7 Access Management Because access can have a substantial impact on a park’s conservation, recreation and cultural values, access management is one of the most important strategies that BC Parks can utilize to manage those values. For Redfern-Keily Park, access is managed by having (1) very limited summer motorized access and a motorized access weight restriction (Redfern Lake Trail only); (2) only a basic system of trails (for both motorized and non-motorized users); and (3) limits on commercial aircraft access. This combination has allowed BC Parks to be able to ensure the wilderness integrity of the park is protected while allowing visitors to enjoy the natural beauty that the park has to offer. However, use of the access trails has increased over the past decade and the condition of the access trails continues to deteriorate. One of the primary reasons appears to be that motorized recreation vehicles (e.g. ORV, side-by-side, snow bike, e-bike) are more readily available to the public and technological advances in those vehicles are resulting in greater numbers, or sometimes less experienced park users, being able to access the park. Both Redfern Lake Trail and Sikanni Chief River Trail allow for motorized access outside of the park, whereas only Redfern Lake Trail allows for motorized access within the park23. In 2018, changes to the Public Access Prohibition Regulation, under the Wildlife Act, changed the weight restrictions of ORVs from 500 kilograms to 750 kilograms. Use of machines that exceed the weight restriction for the trail is not compliant with the Muskwa-Kechika Access Management Area route regulation and can lead to additional trail damage. The condition of the Redfern Lake Trail, in particular, is of concern. Both BC Parks and the ministry responsible for the portion of the trail outside of the park receive annual complaints regarding the trail’s condition. Many members of the public would like to see improvements made along the Redfern Lake Trail, both inside and outside of the park. Only the last 15 kilometres of the trail is within the park. The ability to maintain Redfern Lake Trail (or make improvements) is complicated by terrain instability and accessibility. Trail/access improvements, particularly those outside of the park, would likely result in increased visitation. For Redfern-Keily, the Fort St. John Land and Resource Management Plan recommended that the majority of the park be managed to maintain 23 For non-winter only. In winter snowmobile use is permitted in an expanded area of the park, please refer to Figure 5. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 28 its wilderness and wildlife values, and that human use could be restricted to protect and manage these values. Illegal trail development is a growing concern in Redfern-Keily Park: branching from existing trails within the park and branching off industrial roads that may be developed in the vicinity of the park boundary. There is unauthorized ORV trail development occurring to Fairy Lake and into the park from the non-motorized section of the Sikanni Chief River Trail that leads into the park, as well as other locations. Management Objective Management Strategies Manage access to protect the • Work with the ministries responsible for managing and natural, cultural and recreational maintaining the access trails outside the park to understand values of the park. user levels and condition of the Redfern Lake and Sikanni River trails and to collaborate on environmental or safety concerns in order to maintaining safe and sustainable access to the park. • Continue to enforce access restrictions for the Muskwa- Kechika Management Area identified within the Wildlife Act Public Access Prohibition Regulation (see Sections 1.8 and 2.6.1 and Figure 4) through compliance and education. • New methods of air access (i.e. Unmanned Air Vehicles / drones) will not be allowed unless authorized under permit for commercial filming or research. • Encourage industrial users in adjacent Resource Management Zones to develop industrial accesses away from park boundaries to minimize any impacts to the park. Encourage monitoring of any changes to industrial access to determine the effects of those changes on natural, cultural and aesthetic values. Maintain an adequate level of • Allow motorized forms of access to continue in compliance access for users. with the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area identified within the Wildlife Act Public Access Prohibition Regulation (see Sections 1.8 and 2.6.1 and Figure 4). Limitations may be required to support conservation objectives. • Mountain bike and Class 1 e-bike access is restricted to Redfern Lake Trail and Sikanni River Trail, which ends at Trimble Creek, outside of the park. The Sikanni River Trail is restricted to mountain bike and Class 1 e-bike only. Mountain bikes and all classes of e-bikes are permitted on the Redfern Lake Trail. • The Redfern Lake Trail will be monitored and maintained to address any safety and environmental concerns, but no major upgrades will be considered. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 29 Management Objective Management Strategies • Deactivate unauthorized trails. • Maintain bridges at large water crossings on Redfern Lake Trail. Construct new bridges only to maintain access routes or protect park values. 3.1.8 Recreation Management Redfern-Keily Park provides a wide range of recreational opportunities for park users (from naturalists to hunters). All of the activities are long-standing and pre-date the establishment of the park. Redfern-Keily Park is to be maintained as a wilderness area. This means that visitor use levels need to be kept relatively low. Promotion of the park must therefore be minimal. The Fort St. John LRMP directed that the existing variety of recreational activities be retained, and that a range of wilderness recreation opportunities be available in the park. It also recommended that backcountry facilities be provided in suitable areas, while maintaining the area in a natural or natural appearing condition. To ensure enjoyment and safety of the public, users need to be aware of the different allowable uses in the park (and along the multi-use access trails) and respect that other users have different needs. The different use types also result in risks that all users should be aware of (e.g., during hunting seasons, visitors should be aware that areas around hunting kills are higher risk for bear encounters). Continuation of commercial recreation opportunities is very important as it allows for a different park experience and type of park user. Continuation of existing commercial recreation opportunities was supported by the Fort St. John LRMP. Packed trails on snow can facilitate access by wolves by easing travel conditions. This can lead to increased predation if the trails are close to Caribou and Mountain Goat winter ranges. Snowmobiling can also displace wildlife from their preferred habitat areas, causing them to use more energy and have less optimal food and cover available. Management Objective Management Strategies Maintain the wilderness quality of • Educate visitors about minimum impact camping and the park and protect the natural backcountry wilderness ethics at all sites in the park to avoid and cultural values while providing site degradation and minimize human-wildlife conflicts. wilderness recreation • Allow continued use of the park for hunting, fishing, opportunities. snowmobiling, ORVing and horse use; restrictions will be implemented as necessary to protect park values. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 30 Management Objective Management Strategies • During the winter, allow snowmobiles in the Nature Recreation Zone only (for the winter timing window, see Figure 5). • Enforce zoning and trail restrictions (e.g., do not allow ORV and snowmobile access within the Wilderness Recreation Zone). • Encourage research aimed at studying the effects of motorized traffic on wildlife populations and other park users to limit or reduce negative impacts. Adopt proven management strategies to address impacts as feasible. Enhance visitor awareness of risks • Provide and promote bear awareness information including associated with recreation in the the BC Parks brochure24 to reduce potential for negative park. bear/human interactions. • Educate users to be aware the trails are multi-use and promote safe use of the trail for all users. Increase visitor awareness of park • Promote the “leave no trace” wilderness ethic for public values and backcountry etiquette. lands. An adapted version specifically geared towards horse users is available on the Redfern-Keily Park website25. Ensure commercial recreation use • Continue to collect information from commercial operators levels and management practices regarding use levels, locations and management concerns. protect natural and cultural values • Ensure park use permit holders are aware of park while respecting business needs of conservation objectives and do not act or condone guests the commercial operators in acting in a manner contrary to those objectives. accordance with the Fort St. John Land and Resource Management • Take advantage of appropriate opportunities to coordinate Plan. with park use permit holders to accomplish conservation and recreation objectives (e.g., park use permit holders to monitor recreational fishing activities). Minimize the environmental and • Any new, or changes to existing, commercial visual impacts of permitted facilities/structures such as cabins will only be permitted in facilities. the Nature Recreation Zone and will follow the relevant BC Parks policies, and direction in the Fort St. John Land and Resource Management Plan. • All structures are required to reflect the wilderness character of the park. 24 http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/conserve/bearsandcougars.pdf?v=1444863686822 25 To view Horse Riders’ Backcountry Ethics visit http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/redfern/trails.html#ethics. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 31 3.1.9 Prescribed Fire The agreement between BC Parks and the Range Program, administered by the ministry responsible for range, considers allowing prescribed fires if they are identified in a Range Use Plan and are consistent with park values and/or a park management plan. Plans used to manage prescribed fire need to be clear on the purpose of the burn because it will inform the BC Parks Impact Assessment and decision making process. With climate change predictions forecasting warmer drier summers for the park area and potentially novel ecosystems, wildfire frequency may increase (both in scale, frequency, and intensity) and post-fire vegetation dynamics may also change. This highlights the need to be adaptive when considering prescribed fire in the park in the future. Management Objective Management Strategies Use fire as appropriate to manage • Work with other agencies, First Nations, academia, relevant wildlife habitat and forage stakeholders and local community groups to continue to production considering the research the history and future objectives of prescribed impacts and benefits to all wildlife burning in the park. species and ecosystems. • Work with stakeholders, First Nations, and the relevant ministries responsible for managing wildlife, range, and wildfire to identify clear objectives and strategies for prescribed fire in the park, by: o Considering prescribed fire for maintenance of early seral habitat and forage production where previously used, subject to the BC Parks Impact Assessment process and associated policy; o Conducting research about fire history and natural range of variability in the park; o Adapting as necessary in the future, based on research findings, climate change, and government policy. This may include an amendment to the management plan. • Do not use prescribed fire to create early seral habitat where there has not been previous prescribed burning for this reason. • BC Parks will work collaboratively with the ministries responsible for range, wildlife, and wildfire to evaluate prescribed burn proposals and coordinate prescribed burning objectives across the larger landscape and park values (e.g., minimize creation of non-native bison habitat). Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 32 Management Objective Management Strategies • Ensure any proposed prescribed burns for wildlife habitat enhancement are assessed using the BC Parks Impact Assessment process. Work collaboratively with the • Follow the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Range Program to manage Range Administering and Managing Range Act Agreements in Act tenures. Parks and Protected Areas, and the associated Policy and Guidance. • Work with range tenure holders and ministry staff responsible for range management to ensure range use is in alignment with maintaining healthy ecosystems that have a disturbance regime that closely mimics natural disturbance regimes in terms of frequency and severity of disturbance. Information on the results of • Ensure monitoring is done to determine if burn plan management activities is objectives are met and to record any unintended impacts collected. on ecosystems and wildlife. 3.1.10 Climate Change The most consistently recommended approach for adapting to climate change is to maintain natural connectivity across the landscape. Redfern-Keily Park relies on the movement of species across its borders. Working with adjacent land managers to maintain connectivity across the landscape is one of the most important actions that can be taken, particularly in light of the potentially rapid changes that may be brought about by climate change. Management Objective Management Strategies Mitigate or lessen the effects of • Work with land managers of adjacent areas to maintain climate change on the park and its connectivity across the landscape to allow for species values. movement. • Encourage research/monitoring of climate change to determine the effects on park and protected area values and ecosystem functioning and appropriate actions for response. 3.2 Zoning Plan In general terms, a zoning plan divides a park into logical management units within which certain activities/uses are permitted and a particular set of management Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 33 objectives apply. Zoning is often used to physically separate incompatible activities or uses within the park and provides visitors and managers with a quick visual representation and appreciation of how a particular park is managed. Zones are designed to reflect the physical environment, existing patterns of use, and the desired level of management and development in a given management unit. Appendix A contains an allowable use matrix that covers activities, uses and facilities in each zone. The Redfern-Keily Park is divided into two zones: Wilderness Recreation Zone and Nature Recreation Zone (Figure 5). 3.2.1 Wilderness Recreation Zone Most of the park is zoned Wilderness Recreation, encompassing approximately 79,260 hectares or 98% of the park during the summer. The Wilderness Recreation Zone includes Keily and Petrie creeks, and all of the mountains and ice fields. The main objective of this zone is to protect the natural environment while providing low-impact, wilderness recreation. This area of the park contains important wildlife habitat and spectacular landscape features. Future facility development, other than trapline cabins, is not allowed; this will enable visitors to have a solitary wilderness experience in the park. The only motorized uses permitted in this zone are: fixed wing aircraft, rotary aircraft, and snowmobiles for trapping and bison hunting purposes. Snowmobile use in the Wilderness Recreation Zone for bison hunting requires written authorization from a park officer and will only include areas below 1400m elevation and within the zones identified for bison hunting under the hunting regulations. 3.2.2 Nature Recreation Zone The Nature Recreation Zone is located in the southern portion of the park, and covers different areas in summer and winter. In summer the zone is approximately 1,455 hectares or 2% of the park. It includes Redfern Lake and Redfern Lake Trail. The main goal of this zone is to provide backcountry recreation opportunities while protecting the natural environment. This area of the park is the most easily accessed and provides a staging ground for recreational activities in the rest of the park. Motorized travel is permitted. There has been limited facility development and levels of use are relatively low so the area still retains a feeling of wilderness. During winter months (November 1 through April 15th), the size of the Nature Recreation Zone is increased to allow for enhanced winter recreation activities, mostly snowmobile use (Figure 5). The Nature Recreation Winter Zone includes areas below 1400m elevation as well as some additional recreational snowmobile destinations (identified by Northland Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club). These additional destinations include a route to Colledge Lake, located outside of the park to the south, and the headwater area of the Besa River. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 34 Muskwa-Kechika Access ManagementArea (AMA) route - ,,_, Motorized travel is restricted to " ' ~ ~ ✓ /; ,%;: within 10 metres of route , vehicles 1'0 \~ under 750 kilograms only i .---- Non-AMA route - Closed to all motor ,.., ,,_., vehide trav el (snowmobile exempt) c, Kature Recrution WS\terZol\ng{Nov 1 toAf,s 15} Redfern-Keity Park C, GREAT SNOW MT MTN l S TRI ::,. GE R <,,o .. ( O R E D F E R >l1~ MTN ' '· I (L -::-;_~ "',.;,t, ,.0 1 , _.,- ~ La-~ke \9\ .,. s, , , : l /'-i...,n,. \, (J '-....iA - t-,\ ' , 8RJTISI-I r, , ,o ·, ' ' 3.75 7.5 ------~ 5\ '""I .5 COLUMBIA ,,,- _ 1 1 _y,pmetetJ Figure 5: Redfern-Keily Park Zoning Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 35 4.0 Plan Implementation 4.1 Implementation Plan BC Parks will seek project-specific funding and partners to implement high priority strategies. Specific projects will be evaluated for their priority in relation to the overall protected areas system. Many of the initiatives contemplated are not funded as part of core BC Parks activities so jointly seeking funds with outside partners will be a key aspect of the management plan implementation. BC Parks uses Annual Management Plans to address issues in provincial parks and protected areas on a priority and annual basis. The issues and strategies presented in this plan will form the basis of the Annual Management Planning process for Redfern- Keily Park. BC Parks strives to ensure First Nations’ values and inputs are reflected in the development of the Annual Management Plan for the park. Management results will be monitored against stated objectives, and work plans may be revised as part of the collaborative management process. Alternate implementation strategies for priorities not funded as part of core ministry activities may be pursued by BC Parks or its partners. In addition to any legislation or policies highlighted in the management plan, there are numerous other provincial policies and guidelines which will be considered during management plan implementation. This includes items such as: BC Parks’ policies on permitting, conservation, commercial recreation guidelines and policies, and impact assessment processes. 4.2 High Priority Strategies • Work with First Nations communities, other ministries, community groups and/or educational institutions to support inventories and studies aimed at better understanding the distribution of plant species and ecosystems and their ecology; including how they will respond to environmental changes such as climate change (e.g. BC Parks Long-term Ecological Monitoring Program, First Nations Land Guardian programs). • Monitor invasive species establishment, review management actions and explore treatment options26. • Work with partners and other government agencies to identify and map locations of listed or significant species (e.g. Caribou, Elk, Moose, Mountain Goat, Grizzly Bear). 26 The use of herbicides in parks is only considered if there is no alternative treatment that has proven to be successful and if there is a significant threat to the ecological integrity of the park, as well as the surrounding area. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 36 • Work with the ministry responsible for wildlife management to determine if Plains Bison are significantly impacting native wildlife populations or their habitats. If there are significant negative impacts, review the hunting regulations and determine if any changes are required. Ensure management activities do not create additional habitat in the park that Bison could occupy. • The Redfern Lake Trail will be monitored and maintained to address any safety and environmental concerns, but no major upgrades will be considered. • Work with stakeholders, First Nations, and the relevant ministries responsible for managing wildlife, range, and wildfire to identify clear objectives and strategies for prescribed fire in the park, by: o Considering prescribed fire for maintenance of early seral habitat and forage production where previously used, subject to the BC Parks Impact Assessment process and associated policy; o Conducting research about fire history and natural range of variability in the park; o Adapting as necessary in the future, based on research findings, climate change, and government policy. This may include an amendment to the management plan. 4.3 Plan Assessment In order to ensure that the management direction for Redfern-Keily Park remains relevant and effective, this management plan will be assessed by BC Parks staff on a regular basis (i.e., at least every 5 years). Minor administrative updates may be identified and completed at any time (e.g., correct spelling errors, update protected area details where needed), and will be documented according to BC Parks guidelines. If an internal assessment reveals that the management plan requires updating or substantial new management direction is needed, a formal review by BC Parks may be initiated to determine whether the management plan requires an amendment or if a new management plan is required. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 37 Appendix 1: Appropriate Use Table The following table summarizes existing and potential future uses in Redfern-Keily Park that are and are not appropriate in each zone. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all uses that may be considered in this protected area in the future. Please note that some appropriate uses are geographically restricted (i.e., only allowed in certain areas of Redfern-Keily Park) or are only appropriate at certain times of the year. Please ensure that you are well informed of any use restrictions as indicated in the table. It is important to review relevant sections of the management plan when interpreting the table. Appropriate Use Table Legend N Not an The use is not appropriate in the indicated zone. If the use currently exists appropriate use but the management planning process has determined that the use is no longer appropriate in all or part of the park, the management plan will include strategies for ending the activity (e.g., phasing out, closing). Y May be an Some level or extent of this use may be appropriate in the zone indicated. appropriate use The management plan may provide guidance on the appropriate level of use and may address specific restrictions or planned enhancements (e.g. capacity, designated areas for a particular activity, party size, time of year, etc.). For new or expanded uses, this symbol indicates that the use may be considered for further evaluation. The appropriateness of some activities may not be confirmed until a further assessment (e.g., BC Parks Impact Assessment Process) or evaluation process (e.g., park use permit adjudication) is completed. Y1 Appropriate use The use is not normally appropriate in a park but was occurring pursuant to as per section 30 an encumbrance or Crown authorization at the time the park was designated of the Park Act and is allowed to continue. Activity/Facility Nature Wilderness Comments Recreation Recreation Zone Zone Recreational Activities/Uses Aircraft (fixed wing) – access Y Y BC Parks may request submission of a and landing / takeoff flight plan as part of a park use permit. Aircraft (rotary) – access and Y Y BC Parks may request submission of a landing / takeoff flight plan as part of a park use permit. Operators are encouraged to keep to historical flight paths. Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) – N N May be authorized under permit for with or without passengers commercial filming (if not detrimental to recreational values) or research only Boating (human-powered and Y Y electric) Boating (combustion engine Y N power) Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 38 Activity/Facility Nature Wilderness Comments Recreation Recreation Zone Zone Camping (designated sites) Y N Fire rings allowed in Nature Recreation Zone Camping (“no trace”— Y Y undesignated sites) Fishing Y Y Hiking/backpacking Y Y Horses and Mules Y Y Dogs off leash Y Y Dogs are allowed off leash in parks larger than 2,000 Ha Hunting Y Y Land-based Mechanized Y Y Designated trails only for mountain biking Activity (e.g., mountain biking, and e-biking (i.e., Redfern Lake Trail only). Class 1 e-biking, dog sleds, Follow BC Parks e-biking policy. horse sleds) Land-based Motorised Activity Y N Designated trails only (i.e. only Redfern (e.g., 4x4, ORV, Class 2 & 3 e- Lake AMA route). Follow BC Parks e-biking biking, motorcycle – not policy snowmobiles) Skiing (back-country, cross- Y Y country, not track based) Skiing (downhill and cross- N N country track based) Skiing (helicopter or cat- N N assisted) Snowmobiling Y N Snowmobiling for Trapping Y Y Requires a park use permit Purposes Snowmobiling for Bison Y Y* *If authorized by a park officer, below Hunting Purposes 1400m elevation and within the zones identified for bison hunting under the hunting regulations. Recreation Facilities/Infrastructure Boat Launches Y* N *Existing non-permanent only Boat Wharves and Docks N N Cabin, Huts and Shelters (as Y N defined in the Fixed Roof Accommodation Policy) Lodges (as defined in the Fixed N N Roof Accommodation Policy) Trails Y Y Existing trails only Visitor information buildings Y N Information shelters only Other Activities/Infrastructure Commercial Filming Y Y Requires a park use permit Cutting Dead Standing Trees Y Y Requires a park use permit Grazing (horse) Y1 Y1 Backcountry recreation purposes only. New PUPs can be issued as necessary to support commercial backcountry Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 39 Activity/Facility Nature Wilderness Comments Recreation Recreation Zone Zone recreation opportunities subject to management plan. Prescribed Fire Y Y Will be considered in accordance with Section 3.1.9 Trapping Y Y Requires a park use permit Utility corridors N N Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 40 Glossary Cirque – a half-open steep-sided hollow at the head of a valley or on a mountainside, formed by glacial erosion. Facility – refers to a building such as a lodge, cabin, campsite or trail but does not include toilets, fire rings or food caches. Glacial till – unsorted sediment deposited by a glacier. Hanging valley – a valley that is cut across by a deeper valley or a cliff. Hoodoo – a column or pinnacle of weathered rock. Thrust fault – a break in the Earth’s crust, across with older rocks are pushed above younger rocks. Electric bike (e-bike) – An electric bike, or motor-assisted cycle, is a two- or three- wheeled cycle with a seat, pedals and an electric motor. A motor assisted cycle (MAC) cannot be gas-powered. Redfern-Keily Park Management Plan 41