Mount Robson Provincial Park Including Mount Terry Fox & Rearguard Falls Provincial Parks DRAFT BACKGROUND REPORT September, 2006 Ministry of Environment Ministry of Environment BC Parks Omineca Region This page left blank intentionally Acknowledgements This Draft Background Report for Mount Robson Provincial Park was prepared to support the 2006/07 Management Plan review. The report was prepared by consultant Juri Peepre for Gail Ross, Regional Planner, BC Parks, Omineca Region. Additional revisions and edits were performed by consultant Leaf Thunderstorm and Keith J. Baric, A/Regional Planner, Omineca Region. The report incorporates material from several previous studies and plans including the Mount Robson Ecosystem Management Plan, Berg Lake Corridor Plan, Forest Health Strategy for Mount Robson Provincial Park, Rare and the Endangered Plant Assessment of Mount Robson Provincial Park with Management Interpretations, the Robson Valley Land and Resource Management Plan, and the BC Parks website. Park use statistics were provided by Stuart Walsh, Rick Rockwell and Robin Draper. Cover Photo: Berg Lake and the Berg Glacier (BC Parks). Mount Robson Provincial Park, Including Mount Terry Fox & Rearguard Falls Provincial Parks: DRAFT Background Report 2006 Table of Contents Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................1 Park Overview.................................................................................................................................................1 Significance in the Protected Area System .......................................................................................1 Features of national and international significance...........................................................2 Features of provincial, regional and local significance .....................................................2 Conservation Role of Mount Robson Provincial Park ......................................................................4 Recreation Role of Mount Robson Provincial Park ..........................................................................6 The Planning Process ......................................................................................................................................6 Mount Robson Provincial Park Swift Current River Addition..........................................................6 Regional Context.............................................................................................................................................8 First Nations......................................................................................................................................8 Mount Terry Fox Provincial Park .....................................................................................................8 Rearguard Falls Provincial Park........................................................................................................9 The Robson Valley LRMP................................................................................................................9 Kinbasket Resource Management Zone............................................................................11 Valemount Community Watershed....................................................................................12 Boundary/Horsey Creek RMZ...........................................................................................13 Settlement/Agriculture RMZ .............................................................................................14 Jasper National Park........................................................................................................................15 Yellowhead National Historic Site..................................................................................................15 Natural Values of Mount Robson Provincial Park ........................................................................................18 Climate ............................................................................................................................................18 Physical Geography ........................................................................................................................19 Geology...........................................................................................................................................20 Significant geological features..........................................................................................20 Geomorphology ................................................................................................................20 Soils.................................................................................................................................................21 Water...............................................................................................................................................21 Vegetation .......................................................................................................................................22 Biogeoclimatic zones ........................................................................................................22 Ecosystem Diversity ..........................................................................................................25 Vegetation Disturbance ....................................................................................................28 Special Vegetation Features .............................................................................................31 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat..........................................................................................................31 Large Carnivores..............................................................................................................32 Smaller carnivores............................................................................................................33 Ungulates..........................................................................................................................33 Small mammals .................................................................................................................38 Birds..................................................................................................................................38 Amphibians and reptiles ...................................................................................................40 Fish ...................................................................................................................................40 Ecology ...........................................................................................................................................41 Greater Yellowhead Ecosystem ........................................................................................41 Species at risk ...................................................................................................................45 Cultural Values..............................................................................................................................................48 Archaeology ....................................................................................................................................48 History.............................................................................................................................................48 First Nations History ........................................................................................................49 Fur Trade and Exploration...............................................................................................51 The Overlanders................................................................................................................52 Cheadle and Miltons Northwest Passage .........................................................................52 The Railway Survey Era....................................................................................................53 Early Climbers, Tourists and Settlements.........................................................................53 Mount Robson Provincial Park, Including Mount Terry Fox & Rearguard Falls Provincial Parks: DRAFT Background Report 2006 The Yellowhead Highway .................................................................................................56 Visual and Recreation Values........................................................................................................................57 Features ...........................................................................................................................................57 Wilderness.........................................................................................................................58 Visual and scenic ..............................................................................................................58 Biological..........................................................................................................................59 Activities .........................................................................................................................................59 Facilities ..........................................................................................................................................62