PROPHET RIVER HOTSPRINGS PROVINCIAL PARK

PURPOSE STATEMENT AND ZONING PLAN Peace Region 2006

Approved by:

______Date:______2006 Andy Ackerman, Regional Manager Environmental Stewardship Division Peace Region

______Date:______2006 Nancy Wilkin Assistant Deputy Minister Environmental Stewardship Division

1 Figure 1: Regional Context Prophet River Hotsprings Park

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Subject Area Subject Area " Other Protected Areas

Projection: UTM Zone 10 Datum: NAD83 Highway Road Produced in June 2006 for 1:600,000 Ministry of Environment This is a visual representation by Ministry of Agriculture and Lands 0 2.5 5 7.5 10 12.5 only and should not be used for Integrated Land Management Bureau Kilometers legal purposes

PROPHET RIVER HOTSPRINGS PROVINCIAL PARK Purpose Statement and Zoning Plan

Primary Role

The primary role of the Prophet River Hotsprings Park is to protect locally significant hotsprings and associated wildlife habitat. The tufa mound created by mineral deposits from the springs is edged on one side by stands of black spruce that thin out to the alpine of the surrounding mountains. The area is frequented by sheep, caribou and moose.

The park is located west of the Alaska Highway between Fort St. John and Fort Nelson. The area is accessible only by hiking, horse or helicopter.

Known Management Issues Response Hunting pressure on wildlife that congregate in Monitor hunting pressure to determine whether vicinity of mineral lick in the park. adverse effects on species populations are occurring. Oil and gas development in the vicinity of the Work with the Oil and Gas Commission and park may increase access to the area for tenure holders to ensure appropriate access recreational users controls are implemented to maintain park values. Park location affords opportunity to enhance Work, in consultation with affected protected area connectivity between Northern stakeholders, towards establishing a protected Rocky Mountains Provincial Park and Redfern area corridor between Northern Rocky – Keily Provincial Park Mountains Provincial Park and Redfern-Keily Provincial Park that includes the area of Prophet River Hotsprings Provincial Park

Zoning:

The entire park is zoned special feature to protect the hotsprings and the wildlife that frequent them. Motorized access other than by boat is not appropriate in this park, as directed by the draft Muskwa-Kechika Recreation Management Plan.

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Conservation Representation - ecosection Prophet River Hotsprings Provincial Park represents a portion of the Eastern Muskwa Ranges ecosection. 40% of this ecosection in BC is contained in protected areas. Prophet River Hotsprings makes a very minor contribution to that representation (less than 0.1%) biogeoclimatic subzone/variant Prophet River Hotsprings represents the Spruce – Willow – Birch moist cold (SWB mk) variant. This variant is 22.5 % protected province wide, of which the park contributes less than 0.1%.

Special Feature Hotsprings with associated tufa mounds

Rare/Endangered Values

Scientific/Research Opportunities Tufa formation and ecology

Recreation Representation Backcountry Destination Travel corridor Local recreation limited local use of hotsprings, due to difficult access Special Opportunities

Education/Interpretation Opportunities

Cultural Heritage

Representation This park lies within the area traditionally used by the First Nations of Treaty 8. One archaeological site is known to exist in the park, consisting of prehistoric surface lithics.

Special Feature

Other Management Considerations

Other Designations

Relationship to other PAs Northern Rocky Mountains Provincial Park

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is located just to the North of Prophet River Hotsprings, and Redfern Keily Provincial Park is located just to the south.

Collaborative Management Arrangements This park will, once the agreement is signed, be subject to the Memorandum of Agreement respecting the management of provincial parks between the Government of BC and the Treaty 8 First Nations.

Partnerships

Vulnerability

Relationship to other Strategies The park is within the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area and was identified in the Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan as a Goal 2 (special feature) area. The Prophet River is also a Provincial Heritage River.

Area: 184 hectares

Date of establishment: June 29, 1999

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