New Partnerships Prescribed Fire in Provincial Parks
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BC Parks Newsletter April 1999 Volume 10, Number 2 a significant part of the area became a Prescribed Fire in Provincial Parks provincial park. Mike Rowden, Bonaparte Area Supervisor, recently by Mona Holley, Victoria wrote a Conservation/Recreation Stewardship Agreement with the KSA In 1998 Judy Millar, Resource Officer the public, staff that formalized the club’s role in pro- for the Okanagan District, was and politicians tecting their recreational interests and successful in acquiring funding regarding our the conservation values of the park. through the Skagit Environmental responsibilities. New Years Eve 1998 was a vivid Endowment Fund for public It has been reminder of this healthy relationship. education on prescribed fire. In the distributed to That brilliantly sunny early afternoon, fall, Ember Research Services was BC Environment, brothers Paul and Mark Denhaam, contracted to produce a brochure to the BC 17 and 15, of Surrey left Wendego describe and depict the Prescribed Federation Lodge at Tranquille Lake on rented Fire program of BC Parks. of Wildlife, snowmobiles, unaccompanied, for The new brochure depicts the BC Federation their first-ever ride. In mid-afternoon challenges that protected area of Naturalists they experienced a white-out blizzard managers face with regard to our and libraries. I that lasted only one hour but left stewardship role in managing them many miles from the lodge and protected areas for the public of British completely disoriented in the many Columbia. The Fire Ecology section meadows of Porcupine Ridge, all of briefly describes why we should have which look alike even to experienced a prescribed fire program and the riders of the Ridge. At the lodge, their Prescribed Fire Management section concerned parents reported them relates the process that is presently in overdue around 4:30 p.m. New Park – L place to implement the program. (continued on page 2) The brochure will assist in providing valuable information on New Partnerships prescribed fires to the public by Mike Rowden and Pat Moulton, regarding prescribed fires in Thompson River District protected areas. During the planning for the Kalamalka Lake Provincial Porcupine Meadows Park is symbolic Inside Park prescribed fire several ques- of the new relationships BC Parks is Prescribed Fire in Provincial Parks ……………1 tions were repeatedly asked and building with stakeholder groups. This New Park – New Partnerships ………………1 these are clearly answered within 1996 addition to the park system had Scarcity or Abundance?………………………2 the brochure’s Question and been part of the Bonaparte-Tranquille Parks Profile …………………………………3 Answers section. Access Plan, which quite successfully Staff Recognition Award Program……………4 This publication will also zoned recreational activities in the area A Walk through Time…………………………5 complement the fire management and established seasons of use that pro- plan currently being formulated for tect wildlife and their habitats. For Congratulations Due …………………………6 Skagit Valley Provincial Park, years the Kamloops Snowmobile Kootenay Lake, Evening………………………7 EC Manning Provincial Park and Association (KSA) had worked with Below the Highwater Mark……………………8 the Cascade Recreation Area. Environment and Forests to maintain Name the Protected Area………………………9 The information contained in the cabins and trails and monitor the Backcountry Recreation Impact brochure will be added to the BC approved season of snowmobile use in Monitoring (BRIM) …………………………9 Parks Web Site (www.elp.gov.bc.ca/ the wet meadow complexes of French Student Volunteer …………………10 bcparks) to broaden our readership Porcupine Ridge. It was natural that the Camping Fees Raised in Provincial Parks ……11 and further the process of educating club continue a stewardship role when New Parks for 1999 …………………………12 (“ New Park …” continued from page 1) out but stayed in touch with each Coincidentally, several KSA other’s headlights, sweeping the VISIONS is produced six times per members were staying in the Lodge’s meadows for signs of light or move- year by BC Parks, Ministry of cabins. Wendego Lodge has become a ment, stopping periodically to shout Environment, Lands and Parks to traditional New Years Eve destination and listen. The beauty of the still, maintain commitment to quality ser- for many snowmobilers who appreci- moonlit meadows was lost on the vice and stewardship and to encourage ate the many marked trails and the searchers as they scanned the tree innovation by everyone directly fantastic powder riding in Porcupine line intensely. As midnight neared, involved or interested in BC Parks. Meadows Park, not to mention the the fear of not finding the boys until VISIONS Newsletter is posted on wonderful hospitality of the Lodge morning weighed heavier. BC Parks’ web site : www.elp.gov.bc. owners, Norm and Flo Flynn. Led by Suddenly Rob Ormerod, KSA ca/bcparks/whatsnew/what.htm. George Dance, whose knowledge of President, spotted two nearly buried As VISIONS is now available on the the Ridge is phenomenal and who is black ArticCats and excitedly veered internet, please let us know if you experienced in search and rescue, toward a dark figure scrambling out would like to be removed from our seven riders including Darlene Dance, from under a tree. The boys had done mailing list. Mark Baker, Ed Mikalishen, the right things once they found To contact us regarding changes Rob Ormerod, Cal Moulton and themselves lost: near their sleds they to the VISIONS mailing list or to Thompson Plateau Area Supervisor, had burrowed into the hollow under receive a free subscription: Pat Moulton commenced an initial a huge spreading spruce, made I call (250) 952-6709 search of known, marked trails. By themselves a bed of spruce-boughs I send an email note to 7:30 p.m. all trails had been scoured and cuddled together in a cocoon of [email protected] without success. The high-elevation space blankets. Though slightly meadows, where the whiteout and frostbitten and hypothermic, they I write to: VISIONS, BC Parks, wind had obscured all traces of the were able to ride out after the 800 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC day’s tracks, were the only remaining searchers freed their stuck sleds. One V8V 1X4 Canada possibility. can only imagine how their parents Articles from readers are welcome. The RCMP was unable to confirm felt as they watched not seven but Deadline for material in the next issue Search and Rescue (SAR) response nine headlights sweep back down the is May 1, 1999. capacity or timing, given that it was trail to the Lodge at ten minutes after New Years Eve, so the search group the New Year had begun! Editor went out again. To avoid losing Certainly a fulfilling and special Nancy Chave searchers in the deep powder of the way to spend New Years Eve, and a trackless meadows, the seven spread celebration of our new partnerships. I Contributors Doug Biffard Denis Donnelly Debby Funk Marilynne Hann Mona Holley Scarcity or Abundance? Sarah Joanisse by Alice MacGillivray, Victoria Alice MacGillivray In a recent video-conference: “The Third Annual Worldwide Lessons in Pat Moulton Leadership,” author Stephen Covey (7 Habits of Highly Effective People) Anne Pellier emphasized a lesson he considers very important. ‘If leaders encourage a Roger Norrish mindset of scarcity, people will become increasingly competitive. By Laverne Rooker contrast, a mindset of abundance fosters collaboration.’ Mike Rowden It is very easy to think of ourselves in a world of scarcity; when you look at the trends and figures, it would be naive to argue otherwise. Minister Right? Cathy McGregor Perhaps not. I have had the privilege of spending time in every district office over the last two years, and the memories I took away focus on Deputy Minster abundance (see “Congratulations Due” on page 6). Despite the pressures Cassie Doyle we are all experiencing, I believe that by almost any non-financial mea- Assistant Deputy Minister sure, we have a culture of abundance. I Denis O’Gorman 2 VISIONS April 1999 Parks Profile This is another article in the Parks Profile series by Roger Norrish, Victoria Last December Ches Lyons died suddenly From his research and recommenda- while in Hawaii. He was 83 years old. tions, the Forest Service established Many of us who met Ches or worked numerous important recreation with him remember a talented, kind man reserves for future consideration as who maintained a keen interest in the provincial parks. natural world and human culture that Two projects Ches Lyons completed shaped our modern society. What many during his career with the Forest people may not know, is that Ches Lyons Service Parks Division stand out as was one of the original government particularly unique. The first involved people who formed the nucleus of what an intensive study of the administra- eventually became the BC Parks Branch. tion of Garibaldi Park that at that time (1952) included Golden Ears Park. In Most people are familiar with Ches this study, Ches provided an extreme- Lyons the author, world traveler, ly valuable record of Garibaldi Park in educator, photographer and artist. Ches Lyons circa 1954. the early years of its administration But Ches also contributed immeasur- and made cogent recommendations ably to the history and development for park ranger staff and facility of British Columbia’s superb provin- travel methods. In the north portion improvements. The second project cial parks system. of the park, they traversed by saw Yorke Edwards (BC Parks Ches, along with D.M. (Micky) riverboat the spectacular, sometimes Division biologist) and Ches Lyons Trew, Joe St. Pierre, Bob Boyd, dangerous, always intriguing lake join forces in 1953 to evaluate the Ole Johanson and Donald McMurchie and river system known as the Battle Mountain area next to the formed the nucleus of the BC Parks “Great Circle.” For true wilderness southeast boundary of Wells Gray Division in its formative years 1940 to adventure, the original Great Circle Park.