PLATEAU MOUNTAIN ECOLOGICAL RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN January 2000 ALBERTA ENVIRONMENT Technical Report Number: International Standard Book Number: For copies of this report, contact: Kananaskis Country Natural Resources Service Alberta Environment Suite 201, 800 Railway Avenue Canmore, Alberta T1W 1P1 Telephone: (403) 678-5508 Fax: (403) 678-5505 OR Crowsnest Forest Area Land and Forest Service Box 540 Blairmore, AB T0K 0E0 Telephone: (403) 562-3210 Fax: (403) 562-7143 Email: [email protected] ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.0 SCOPE OF THE PLAN ....................................................................................................1 2.0 SYSTEMS CONTEXT......................................................................................................1 2.1 Ecological Reserves In Alberta......................................................................................1 2.1.1 Classification of Protected Areas ................................................................1 2.1.2 Systems Framework for Ecological Reserves..............................................2 2.1.3 Legislative Framework................................................................................3 2.1.4 The Role of Ecological Reserves..................................................................4 2.2 Role of Plateau Mountain Ecological Reserve ..............................................................6 2.2.1 Location and Significance............................................................................6 3.0 OVERVIEW.......................................................................................................................6 3.1 Location and Regional Setting.......................................................................................6 3.2 Legal Status (Order-in-Council) & Area .......................................................................7 3.3 Boundary Definition & Justification..............................................................................7 3.4 History of Reserve Designation.....................................................................................9 3.5 Resources .......................................................................................................................9 3.5.1 Geology & Landforms..................................................................................9 3.5.2 Soils............................................................................................................10 3.5.3 Climate.......................................................................................................10 3.5.4 Hydrology ..................................................................................................10 3.5.5 Vegetation ..................................................................................................10 3.5.6 Fauna .........................................................................................................12 3.5.7 Visual Landscape (Aesthetics) ...................................................................12 3.5.8 Palaeontology ............................................................................................12 3.5.9 Archaeology ...............................................................................................12 3.5.10 Special Features Summary ........................................................................13 3.6 Land Uses.....................................................................................................................13 3.6.1 Historical Land Use...................................................................................13 3.6.2 Dispositions................................................................................................13 3.6.3 Recreation..................................................................................................13 3.6.4 Surrounding Lands.....................................................................................14 3.6.5 Research.....................................................................................................14 3.6.6 Environmental Education ..........................................................................14 3.7 Commercial Activity....................................................................................................15 3.7.1 Natural Gas................................................................................................15 3.7.2 Communications Facilities ........................................................................15 4.0 MANAGEMENT ISSUES...............................................................................................15 4.1 Minimize Impacts From Ongoing Natural Gas Operations.........................................15 4.2 Unauthorized Vehicle Use and Impacts.......................................................................15 4.3 Reclamation .................................................................................................................16 4.4 Scientific Research.......................................................................................................16 4.5 Heritage Appreciation and Environmental Education .................................................16 4.6 Promotion.....................................................................................................................16 4.7 Public Safety................................................................................................................17 4.8 Recreation ....................................................................................................................17 4.9 Hunting ........................................................................................................................17 4.10 Trapping.......................................................................................................................17 4.11 Grazing.........................................................................................................................17 4.12 Pest/Weed Management...............................................................................................17 4.13 Relationship to Other Plans .........................................................................................18 4.14 Boundary Issues...........................................................................................................18 5.0 VALUES, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES .......................................................................18 5.1 Values ..........................................................................................................................18 5.2 Goals ............................................................................................................................18 5.3 Objectives ....................................................................................................................19 5.3.1 Protection...................................................................................................19 5.3.2 Heritage Appreciation...............................................................................19 5.3.3 Outdoor Recreation...................................................................................19 5.3.4 Tourism ......................................................................................................19 6.0 MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES...................................................................................19 6.1 Protection .....................................................................................................................20 6.1.1 Geologic and Geomorphic Resource Management ...................................20 6.1.2 Atmospheric Monitoring............................................................................20 6.1.3 Aquatic Resource Management .................................................................20 6.1.4 Vegetation Resource Management............................................................20 6.1.5 Faunal Resource Management ..................................................................21 6.1.6 Historic Values Management.....................................................................21 6.1.7 Visual Resource Management....................................................................21 6.1.8 Environmental and Ecological Monitoring ...............................................21 6.2 Uses of Natural and Historic Values............................................................................22 6.2.1 Scientific Research and Collection ............................................................22 6.2.2 Heritage Appreciation...............................................................................22 6.2.3 Recreation..................................................................................................22 6.2.4 Tourism ......................................................................................................23 6.2.5 Non-conforming Uses ................................................................................23 ii 7.0 SURROUNDING LANDS...............................................................................................23 7.1 Offsite Impacts.............................................................................................................23 7.2 Proposed Buffer Zones/Boundary Adjustments ..........................................................23 8.0 RESEARCH AND COLLECTION................................................................................23