Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Process (SLIPP) Recreation Management Plan Report - Situation Analysis Submitted to: Fraser Basin Council Submitted by: Peak Planning Associates, Kamloops, BC July 2012 Table of Contents ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................................................................ I 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 THE SLIPP PROCESS AND CONTEXT FOR THE RECREATION MANAGEMENT PLAN .................................. 1 1.2 THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY ....................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 THE RECREATION OPTIMIZATION MANAGEMENT MODEL ...................................................................... 3 2 SUPPORTING CONDITIONS FOR LAKE-BASED RECREATION .................................................. 4 2.1 ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 SOCIOCULTURAL ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................................. 5 2.2.1 History of the Watershed ................................................................................................................. 5 2.2.2 Jurisdictional and Policy Framework in the Watershed ............................................................... 10 2.2.3 Business and Not-For-Profit Organizations in Study Area ........................................................... 31 2.3 ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................................................... 39 2.3.1 A Lake-Based Recreation Economy .............................................................................................. 39 2.3.2 BC Parks Support the Local Economy .......................................................................................... 40 2.3.3 The Tourism Economy ................................................................................................................... 40 3 THE RECREATIONISTS ......................................................................................................................... 46 3.1 RESIDENT CHARACTERISTICS & SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC PATTERNS ...................................................... 46 3.1.1 Columbia Shuswap Regional District ........................................................................................... 46 3.1.2 Thompson Nicola Regional District .............................................................................................. 48 3.1.3 City of Salmon Arm ....................................................................................................................... 49 3.1.4 Sicamous ........................................................................................................................................ 49 3.1.5 Chase ............................................................................................................................................. 51 3.1.6 Regional District North Okanagan ............................................................................................... 51 3.2 VISITOR CHARACTERISTICS ................................................................................................................... 52 3.2.1 Visitors to the Thompson Okanagan Region ................................................................................. 52 3.2.2 Visitors to the Shuswap Area ......................................................................................................... 53 3.2.3 Parks Users ................................................................................................................................... 54 4 LAKE BASED RECREATION ACTIVITIES IN THE STUDY AREA .............................................. 58 4.1 MOTORIZED LAKE-BASED ACTIVITIES .................................................................................................. 58 4.1.1 Pleasure Boating ........................................................................................................................... 58 4.1.2 Houseboating ................................................................................................................................. 61 4.1.3 Fishing ........................................................................................................................................... 62 4.2 NON-MOTORIZED LAKE-BASED ACTIVITIES ......................................................................................... 65 4.2.1 Canoeing & Kayaking ................................................................................................................... 65 4.2.2 Whitewater Rafting ........................................................................................................................ 65 4.2.3 Swimming ...................................................................................................................................... 66 4.2.4 Bird-watching ................................................................................................................................ 67 4.2.5 Camping ........................................................................................................................................ 68 5 ANALYSIS OF LINKS BETWEEN RECREATIONISTS, RECREATION AND SUPPORTING ENVIRONMENTS ............................................................................................................................................ 72 5.1 SOCIAL ISSUES ....................................................................................................................................... 72 5.2 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ....................................................................................................................... 73 5.2.1 Shoreline impacts .......................................................................................................................... 74 5.2.2 Water Quality Impacts from Houseboats ...................................................................................... 77 5.2.3 Parks Issues ................................................................................................................................... 79 5.3 ECONOMIC VALUE & ISSUES ................................................................................................................. 79 6 SUMMARY OF CURRENT SITUATION .............................................................................................. 81 APPENDIX A – RECREATIONAL ISSUES IDENTIFIED THROUGH EARLIER SLIPP PROCESSES ..................................................................................................................................................... 84 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................................. 86 Table of Figures Figure 1 Recreation Optimization Management Model ......................................................... 3 Figure 2 Columbia Shuswap Regional District ...................................................................... 25 Figure 3 Thompson Nicola Regional District ......................................................................... 26 Figure 4 Regional District of North Okanagan ...................................................................... 27 Figure 5 Visitor Statistics (Salmon Arm) - Tourist Origin (2006-11) ...................................... 54 Figure 6 Shuswap Lake Marine Park - Boating ..................................................................... 58 Figure 7 Visual Tally of Houseboats - Shuswap Lake Marine Park ........................................ 62 Figure 8 Fishing License Sales by Residency (1994-2010) ..................................................... 63 Figure 9 Summary of Angler Effort, Harvest & CPUE (1994, 1995, 2003-2010) ................... 64 Figure 10 Camping Attendance in BC Parks in Study Region ................................................ 70 Figure 11 Percentage Change in Camping (09/10 - 10/11) .................................................. 71 Figure 12 Shoreline Impact Levels ........................................................................................ 74 Acronyms ALIB – Adams Lake Indian Band BC – British Columbia CCG – Canadian Coast Guard CEAA – Canadian Environmental Assessment Act CPR – Canadian Pacific Railway CSA – Canada Shipping Act CSRD – Columbia Shuswap Regional District CTC – Canadian Tourism Commission DFO – Fisheries and Oceans Canada DND – Department of National Defense EAO – Environmental Assessment Office FIM – Foreshore Inventory Map HADD – Harmful Alteration, Disruption or Destruction IHA – Interior Health Authority IR – Indian Reserve MBCA – Migratory Birds Convention Act MJTI – BC Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation MOTI – BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure OCP – Official Community Plan QEP – Qualified Environmental Professional RAPP – Report All Poachers and Polluters RAR – Riparian Areas Regulation i RCMP – Royal Canadian Mounted Police RDMO - Regional Destination Marketing (and/or Management Organization) RDNO – Regional District of North Okanagan RMP – Recreation Management Plan ROMM – Recreation Optimization Management Model