MEAGER CREEK AND KEYHOLE HOT SPRINGS VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT PROJECT PUBLIC ONLINE SURVEY What We Heard MAY 2020 Table of Contents 1 MEAGER CREEK AND KEYHOLE HOT SPRINGS PUBLIC ONLINE SURVEY RESULTS 1 About the Meager Creek and Keyhole Hot Springs Visitor Use Management Project 1 About the Survey 1 Engagement Timeframe 1 Response Rate 2 SECTION 1: MEAGER CREEK HOT SPRINGS 4 SECTION 2: KEYHOLE HOT SPRINGS 7 SECTION 3: GENERAL 8 SECTION 4: ABOUT YOU 8 FOOTNOTES CAPRICORN LANDSLIDE (ABOVE PHOTO) MEAGER CREEK AND KEYHOLE HOT SPRINGS VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT PROJECT PUBLIC ONLINE SURVEY WHAT WE HEARD MAY 2020 FRONT AND BACK COVER IMAGE: THE UPPER LILLOOET RIVER COPYRIGHT © 2020, PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL IS OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA AND PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW. IT MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED OR REDISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. HOT SPRINGS PLATEAU ABOVE MEAGER CREEK (ABOVE PHOTO) Input from this survey will inform the planning process and Meager Creek and Keyhole be considered by project partners to identify objectives for Hot Springs Public Online the future management of Meager Creek & Keyhole Hot Springs. Additional public engagement opportunities will Survey Results be available at a later date once proposed management actions have been identified. Opportunities and information will be posted on our project website.3 ABOUT THE MEAGER CREEK AND KEYHOLE HOT SPRINGS VISITOR USE ENGAGEMENT TIMEFRAME MANAGEMENT PROJECT January 12 – March 16, 2020 The Province is partnering with Líĺwat Nation to address visitor use management at Meager Creek and Keyhole RESPONSE RATE Hotsprings. Meager Creek and Keyhole Hot Springs are 773 responses were received both natural hot springs in the remote Upper Lillooet River Valley, located about 60 kilometers northwest of the Village of Pemberton, within the territory of Líĺwat Nation. N These hot springs have high cultural and spiritual values, wildlife and ecological values, as well as recreational values. MEAGER CREEK AND However, both hot springs have seen negative impacts KEYHOLE HOT SPRINGS AREA from overuse in the past. Meager Creek Hot Springs was once a popular recreation site, but has been closed since the Capricorn landslide, the largest recorded landslide in Canada, destroyed road access in 2010. Road access has been re-established via a different route, but Meager Creek Hot Springs remains closed due to public safety concerns. Keyhole Hot Springs (also known as Pebble Creek Hot Springs) has been closed seasonally since 2017 due to wildlife conflicts caused by recreational users. In light of changes to access and recent increases in public visitation during site closures, the Province andLíĺwat Nation are taking this opportunity to enter into a planning process to reassess management of both hot springs. This process is guided by the Visitor Use Management Framework.1 0 10 20 30 km The Fraser Basin Council, as an impartial facilitator, is assisting with collaboration and engagement with local LEGEND government, stakeholders and the public. For more Visitor Use Management Project information please visit our project website.2 Sea to Sky Natural Resource District Protected Areas ABOUT THE SURVEY The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations PROJECT AREA: SEA TO SKY NATURAL RESOURCE DISTRICT AND THE MEAGER CREEK AND KEY HOLE HOT SPRINGS VISITOR and Rural Development is partnering with Líĺwat Nation, USE MANAGEMENT PROJECT AREA. (ABOVE MAP) and working with local government, stakeholder groups, and the public to understand the diversity of values, interests, and concerns at both hot springs. The Fraser Basin Council assisted with this survey. PAGE 1 MEAGER CREEK AND KEYHOLE HOT SPRINGS VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT PROJECT | PUBLIC ONLINE SURVEY | WHAT WE HEARD QUESTION #4: Section 1: Meager Creek What do you think is special, meaningful or Hot Springs unique about Meager Creek Hot Springs and the surrounding area? (check all that apply) QUESTION #1: Wilderness values How many times have you been to Meager Creek Hot Springs? Recreation values Never been, and have no interest in going Wildlife values 2% Never been, but Ecological values would like to go 46% Less than 5 times Geology values 33% Between 5-10 times 10% Cultural or spiritual values Over 10 times 9% Hunting, gathering values QUESTION #2: Have you visited Meager Creek Hot Springs since Economic/Tourism values the 2010 landslide? 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 NUMBER OF RESPONSES Yes 26% No 74% QUESTION #3: Do you typically visit Meager Hot Springs for day use or overnight use? Day 34% Overnight 25% N/A 41% MEAGER CREEK NEAR MEAGER HOT SPRINGS (ABOVE PHOTO) PAGE 2 MEAGER CREEK AND KEYHOLE HOT SPRINGS VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT PROJECT | PUBLIC ONLINE SURVEY | WHAT WE HEARD QUESTION #6: What concerns do you have with the current situation and activities at Meager Creek Hot Springs? (Please indicate how concerned you are with the following:) Unauthorized commercial/guided use is occurring Visitor behavior is inappropriate or disrespectful Impacts to unique ecosystem Disruption and impacts to wildlife Hot springs are closed to public Visitors are not well informed of safety risks Public use is occurring despite the closure OLD SIGNAGE AT MEAGER CREEK HOTSPRINGS (ABOVE PHOTO) Lack of on-site management/maintenance QUESTION #5: How important to you is it that the following Impacts to cultural and spiritual values values are protected at Meager Creek Hot Springs? Wilderness values Safety risks Wildlife values Health risks Ecological values Economic benefits or tourism opportunities are being missed Recreation values 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 NUMBER OF RESPONSES Cultural or spiritual values Not at all concerned Slightly unconcerned Neutral Moderately concerned Very concerned No opinion Geology values (research & education) Hunting, gathering values Economic/Tourism values 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 NUMBER OF RESPONSES Not at all important Slightly unimportant Neutral Moderately important Very important No opinion PAGE 3 MEAGER CREEK AND KEYHOLE HOT SPRINGS VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT PROJECT | PUBLIC ONLINE SURVEY | WHAT WE HEARD QUESTION #7: What is most important to you for the future Section 2: Keyhole Hot Springs management and use of Meager Creek Hot Springs? (check all that apply) QUESTION #9: How many times have you been to Keyhole Maintaining the natural state of the hot springs Hot Springs? Protecting wildlife, wildlife habitat, and unique ecosystems Never been, and have no interest in going 1% Allowing the public to visit the hot springs Never been, but would like to go 41% Ensuring visitors are well prepared and well informed about the area Less than 5 times 38% Between 5-10 times Keeping the hot springs clean and facilities maintained 14% Over 10 times Managing risks from natural hazards and protecting public safety 6% QUESTION #10: Increased management presence at the hot springs Have you visited Keyhole Hot Springs since the new Lil’watátkwa7 trail was built in 2014? Continuing the site closure Allowing guided, commercial use of the hot springs recreation site Yes 41% Commercializing or developing the hot springs No 59% 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 NUMBER OF RESPONSES QUESTION #11: Do you typically visit Keyhole Hot Springs for day QUESTION #8: use or overnight use? In your opinion, what would be the best option for future visitor use management at Meager Creek Hot Springs? (please check one) Day 43% Overnight Closed to the public to 18% protect public safety and other important values N/A 8% 39% Open to the public with restrictions to protect public safety and other important values 75% Open to the public with no restrictions 16% No opinion 1% PAGE 4 MEAGER CREEK AND KEYHOLE HOT SPRINGS VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT PROJECT | PUBLIC ONLINE SURVEY | WHAT WE HEARD KEYHOLE HOT SPRINGS (ABOVE PHOTO) QUESTION #12: QUESTION #13: What do you think is special, meaningful or unique How important to you is it that the following about Keyhole Hot Springs and the surrounding are protected at Keyhole Hot Springs and the area? (check all that apply) Lil’watátkwa7 trail? Wilderness values Wilderness values Recreation values Wildlife values Wildlife values Ecological values Ecological values Recreation values Geology values Cultural or spiritual values Cultural or spiritual values Geology values (research and education) Hunting, gathering values Hunting, gathering values Economic/Tourism values Economic/Tourism values 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 NUMBER OF RESPONSES NUMBER OF RESPONSES Not at all important Slightly unimportant Neutral Moderately important Very important No opinion PAGE 5 MEAGER CREEK AND KEYHOLE HOT SPRINGS VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT PROJECT | PUBLIC ONLINE SURVEY | WHAT WE HEARD QUESTION #14: QUESTION #15: What concerns do you have with the current What is most important to you about the future situation and activities at Keyhole Hot Springs & management and use of Keyhole Hot Springs & the the Lil’watátkwa7 trail? (Please indicate how concerned Lil’watátkwa7 trail? (check all that apply) you are with the following:) Maintaining the natural state of the hot springs Visitor behavior is inappropriate or disrespectful Protecting wildlife, wildlife habitat, and unique ecosystems Disruption and impacts to wildlife Ensuring visitors are well prepared and well informed about the area Impacts to unique ecosystem Managing risks from natural hazards and protecting public safety