2019 – 2020 R E P O R T
British Columbia is recognized around the world for the beauty and diversity of its natural environment. The provincial protected area system is as diverse as the landscape it represents. Each year the Provincial Government acquires new lands for parks and protected areas. These acquisitions are often augmented by individuals, corporations and conservation groups. Working closely with its partners, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy spent $6,779,350 on land acquisition in 2019-20, acquiring over 650 ha of land valued at over $9,719,500.
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101 ha Clinton
Chasm Park protects the river canyon of the Chasm Creek Valley and the Bonaparte River Valley. The unique features of Chasm Park include colourful geological formations, offering hiking spectacular views and hiking opportunities.
Acquisition of the two inholdings will reduce the risk of incompatible uses occurring in the middle of the park, conserve ponderosa pine at the northern limit of its range, provide wildlife habitat and incredible viewing opportunities.
The two inholdings, valued at $420 000, were generously donated under the federal ecological
gift program in memory of pioneer ranchers.
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24.5 ha Bella Coola
Tweedsmuir Park is one of the largest parks in BC, located in the west-central region of the province, 480 km northwest of Vancouver. Acquisition of this inholding prevents logging, which would have detracted from the visual appreciation of the surrounding park by visitors travelling along the highway. Other values on the site include rare ecosystems, connectivity Grizzly bear habitat and salmon enhancement. This land was valued at $575 000.
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20 ha Okisollo Channel, Quadra Island
The small islands that make up the Octopus Islands Marine Park provide safe anchorage for boaters travelling the scenic Inside Passage. This boat access park offers a number of recreational opportunities in addition to boating and paddling, including swimming, hiking, fishing, scuba diving and wilderness camping. This island was purchased for $1 525 000; utilizing a generous donation from the Marine Parks Forever Society.
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2 ha
Duncan
If it is outdoor recreation you are after, Cowichan River Park provides opportunities to go swimming, canoeing, white-water kayaking, tubing, camping, fishing or hiking. The park protects significant stretches of the Cowichan River, which is designated as both a BC Heritage River and a Canadian Heritage River, and is internationally renowned for its wild salmon and steelhead fishery. Acquisition of this inholding works towards completion of the land assembly along this recreation and conservation corridor. The land was purchased for $395 000 using a donation from the BC Parks Foundation.
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65 ha Penticton
Skaha Bluffs Park provides a variety of recreational opportunities including hiking, rock climbing and wildlife viewing, while also protecting habitat for a variety of species at risk, including big horn sheep, myotis, night snake and Western screech owl. Acquisition of this 65 ha parcel will expand the park and further protect threatened riparian and grassland plant communities. This ecological gift was valued at $1 035 000.
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18 ha Kaslo
The Purcell Wilderness Area embraces six large drainages, three flowing east to the Columbia River system and three flowing west to Kootenay Lake. It is a challenging, undeveloped nearly pristine mountain landscape encompassing five biogeoclimatic zones and the only intact ecosystem in southeastern B.C. Wilderness recreation values include hunting, fishing, hiking, cultural sites, climbing and wildlife viewing. Acquisition of this waterfront parcel reduces the number of inholdings in the southern section of this park.
The land was purchased for $640 800.
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0.17 ha Fort St. James
Mount Pope is a day-use park popular with hikers and rock climbers. A 6.5 km hiking trail to the peak provides a panoramic view of Stuart Lake and the adjacent mountains to the north.
Natural values of Mount Pope park include rare plants and animal species associated with limestone rock formations and caves, as well as valuable winter range for mule deer.
The land was valued at $220 000 and will be used for parking for trail users.
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0.9 ha Statutory Right of Way Valemount
Mount Robson Park, the second oldest park in BC, provides everything from developed, vehicle- accessible camping to remote valleys. Flora and fauna are typical of the western slope of the Rocky Mountains in the North Continental Range. There are excellent wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the park. The right of way was acquired for $50 000 in order to protect a portion of the Overlander Trail along the steep banks of the Fraser River.
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82 ha South Okanagan
Cathedral Park comprises an expanse of jagged mountain peaks, azure lakes and flower-dappled alpine meadows. Located between the dense, wet forests of the Cascade Mountains and the desert-like Okanagan Valley, this mountainous park offers a rich variety of terrain, flora and fauna.
The two inholdings were transferred from Okanagan College for $1. Acquisition will reduce the risk of incompatible uses occurring in the park and enable management of these parcels by the province in a manner consistent with the rest of the park.
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59 ha McBride
West Twin protected area was established to protect rich wildlife values and bio-geoclimatic representation in the Robson Valley trench.
This protected area contains the only protected corridor across the Robson Valley trench. The area runs from the Cariboo Mountains in the south, through the main Robson Valley trench, and up the fronting ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
The key inholding along the Fraser River was purchased for $120 000.
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2.5 ha Mile 463, Alaska Highway
The natural beauty of Muncho Lake Park includes spectacular folded mountains, bountiful wildlife, brilliantly-colored wildflowers, impressive geological formations and alluvial fans. Muncho Lake is home to lake trout, arctic grayling, bull trout, and whitefish. This level piece of waterfront land, purchased for $590 000, was acquired to enhance camping opportunities in the northeast part of the province.
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76 ha Northern Vancouver Island
Cape Scott Provincial Park is a rugged coastal wilderness located at the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island. The park is characterized by more than 115 km of ocean frontage and spectacular remote beaches. Visitors can choose between a day hike or a backpacking excursion to explore the sandy beaches, rainforests, lowland bogs and muskeg. The two inholdings were purchased for $515 000 in order to reduce the risk of incompatible uses occurring in the park and to further protect the forests and cultural values of this wilderness park.
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123 ha Haida Gwaii
Naikoon Park is comprised of a mixture of coastal temperate rainforest ecosystems, wetlands, bogs, sand dunes and approximately 100 km of beaches. Naikoon lies entirely within the Queen Charlotte Lowland eco-region. Primary attractions for visitors include Haida cultural history, beaches, hiking, fishing, and wilderness camping. The two inholdings were purchased for $411 000 in order to enhance the park and to prevent incompatible uses from occurring in this pristine
wilderness.
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1 ha Hope
Landstrom Bar is located near Hope along the banks of the Fraser River. The ridge is a south-facing, grassy slope, providing a micro-climate for plants not normally native to the area, including chocolate lilies. There are picturesque viewpoints of the Fraser River, Hope, Silver Creek and the Fraser Valley.
Landstrom Bar offers hiking and provides public access to almost 1 km of frontage along the Fraser River, with sand and gravel beaches, and opportunities for fishing and wildlife viewing.
The land was purchased for $762 500 in order to enable the development of public access and a parking area.
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32 ha Slocan
Valhalla Park protects the diverse topography, majestic peaks and unique vegetation typical of the Selkirk Mountains. There are opportunities for the backcountry adventurer, beaches for boaters – some for waterskiers and others for canoeists and varied and abundant hiking opportunities, from short walks to wilderness treks and mountain climbing. Other recreational activities including fishing and wildlife viewing. The inholding was purchased for $175 000, preventing incompatible uses from occurring and further protecting the ecological integrity of this
diverse area.
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Trapline Tenure Slocan
Acquisition of the trapline tenure eliminates the harvesting of fur bearing animals in a large portion of the park, as recommended in the park management plan. The trapline tenure impacted 33,000 ha of the 50,000 ha park and was purchased for $50,000.
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21.2 ha Pe achland
Okanagan Mountain Park is a rugged landscape with mountain lakes, grasslands and spruce-fir forests. The park, dominating the east side of Okanagan Lake between Kelowna and Penticton has secluded bays, sandy beaches and six marine campgrounds along 33 km of shoreline. The land, worth over $1,000,000, was donated as part of a rezoning and subdivision process and will provide a buffer between the park and the adjacent residential subdivision.
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8 ha Kamloops
Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area rises from the hot, dry Thompson valleys through three distinct grassland communities to the forested hills. Nowhere else in western North America do these grassland communities exist in such close proximity. Grasslands, forests, lakes, ponds, wetlands, riparian areas, estuarine areas, rocky slopes and cliffs provide habitat to a wide variety of flora and fauna. The land, sloping steeply to the forested hills above and worth $50,000, was donated under the Ecological Gift Program.
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16 ha Greenwood
Jewel Lake Park offers camping in a wilderness setting. The lake is approximately 3 km long with fly fishing for rainbow trout being a very popular activity. This 16 ha parcel at the south end of the lake will expand and enhance the recreational values of the park. The land was purchased for $615 000.
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After receiving land When the Ministry acquires a property, there are For more information on the acquisition priorities from several steps to be completed before it can become a Ministry of Environment and the Regional Offices, the park or protected area. These steps include legal Climate Change Strategy Land Land Acquisition Section boundary mapping, determining and undertaking an Acquisition Program, contact: develops and secures appropriate legal designation and completing James Robertson, RI approval for a consultations with First Nations, local governments Land Acquisition Officer consolidated provincial and other stakeholders. or priority list, which is based Cheryl Wirsz, RI, RPP, MCIP Properties can be legally designated under the Park upon factors such as Senior Land Officer ecological integrity, Act or Protected Areas of BC Act. Designations recreational, cultural or include: addition to an existing park, protected area, BC Parks heritage experiences, conservancy, ecological reserve, or creation of a new Ministry of Environment and vendor willingness to sell, provincial park, protected area, conservancy or Climate Change Strategy operational pressures, ecological reserve. PO Box 9398 Station Prov Gov timing, budget and 525 Superior Street After a property is legally designated and in partnership opportunities. Victoria BC. V8W 9M9
consultation with stakeholders, the Ministry may amend an existing management plan or create a new Email: [email protected] Acquiring a new property Email: [email protected] involves initiating the management plan for the park or protected area. A project, undertaking management plan is a document that outlines the Visit: www.env.gov.bc.ca valuations, assessments, vision and direction for the park, including direction on negotiating a settlement, types, location and threshold of uses and activities and ensuring legal and within different parts of a park or protected area. technical requirements The plan is the result of a management planning are met. process developed with First Nations, local governments, the public and other interest stakeholder groups.
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