Kootenay Region BACKGROUND REPORT January, 2004 Ministry of for Kokanee Glacier Water, Land and Air Protection Provincial Park This page left blank intentionally Table of Contents Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................1 Planning and Management History................................................................................................................1 Park Establishment and Legislation...............................................................................................................1 Management Direction from Land Use Plans..............................................................................................1 Natural Values...................................................................................................................................................................2 Climate................................................................................................................................................................2 Physiography .....................................................................................................................................................2 Geology and Soils .............................................................................................................................................5 Water...................................................................................................................................................................6 Vegetation..........................................................................................................................................................7 Wildlife .............................................................................................................................................................11 Fish and aquatic values..................................................................................................................................13 Rare and Endangered Species.......................................................................................................................13 Natural Disturbance........................................................................................................................................16 Cultural Values................................................................................................................................................................16 First Nations.....................................................................................................................................................16 Non-aboriginal.................................................................................................................................................17 Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Economic Values...............................................................................................18 Outdoor Recreation Features ........................................................................................................................18 Visual Values ...................................................................................................................................................19 Outdoor Recreation and Tourism.................................................................................................................21 Day-use (Peak season)...................................................................................................................21 Multi-day (Peak season)................................................................................................................21 Winter opportunities.......................................................................................................................22 Historic Features .............................................................................................................................23 Existing Facilities and Services ....................................................................................................................23 Access...............................................................................................................................................23 Kokanee Creek Road......................................................................................................23 Keen Creek Road............................................................................................................23 Woodbury Creek Road...................................................................................................24 Lemon Creek Road.........................................................................................................24 Enterprise Creek Road...................................................................................................24 Summary of Park Facilities...........................................................................................................24 Trailhead Parking...........................................................................................................24 Shelter Accommodation.................................................................................................24 Shelter (Day-Use)...........................................................................................................25 Campsites.........................................................................................................................25 Trails.................................................................................................................................26 Visitor Activity Areas ....................................................................................................................................27 Summer Months (June-September) .............................................................................................27 Winter Months (December to April) ...........................................................................................29 Park Visitor Profiles .......................................................................................................................................29 Visitor Use Trends: Past, Present; Future...................................................................................................30 Economic Indicators.......................................................................................................................................32 Kokanee Glacier Cabin-Economic Viability..............................................................................32 Kokanee Glacier Cabin: Financial Return to the ACC and Parks and Protected Areas....34 Commercial Interests......................................................................................................................34 Land Tenures, Occupancy Rights and Resource Uses .............................................................................................35 Tenures, Rights and Resource Uses in the Protected Area......................................................................35 Mineral Tenure................................................................................................................................35 Water Rights....................................................................................................................................35 Park Use Permits.............................................................................................................................36 Hunting/Trapping/Fishing.............................................................................................................36 First Nations Interests ....................................................................................................................................36 Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park: Background Report 2003 Patterns of Land Use Next to the Protected Area......................................................................................37 Guidance from Land Use Plans....................................................................................................37 Mining Activity...............................................................................................................................37 Logging Activity .............................................................................................................................37 Commercial Activity......................................................................................................................38 Backcountry Skiing.........................................................................................................38 Trapping...........................................................................................................................38 Recreational Activity......................................................................................................................39 Parks and Protected Areas Operations........................................................................................................................40 Operation Infrastructure and Facilities ........................................................................................................40 Kokanee Glacier Cabin ..................................................................................................................40