M ANAGEMENT LAN P September, 2004 for Goat Range Provincial Park Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection Environmental Stewardship Division Goat Range Provincial Park M ANAGEMENT LAN P Prepared by Environmental Stewardship Division Kootenay Region Cranbrook BC National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data British Columbia. Environmental Stewardship Division. Kootenay Region. Goat Range Provincial Park management plan. -- Cover title: Management plan for Goat Range Provincial Park. Previously published 2000 by BC Parks, Kootenay Division. Also available on the Internet. ISBN 0-7726-4864-6 1. Provincial parks and reserves - British Columbia - Management. 2. Ecosystem management - British Columbia – Goat Range Park. 3. Goat Range Park (B.C.) II. Title. III. Title: Management plan for Goat Range Provincial Park. FC3815.G62 B74 2002 333.78’3’0971165 C2002-960230-0 F1089.K7 B74 2002 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements .........................................................................................................................................................................1 Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................................................................2 Significant Initiatives.................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................................3 The Management Planning Process ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Relationship with Other Planning............................................................................................................................................. 4 Background Summary ................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Management Issues ................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Natural Values Management..................................................................................................................................................... 9 Visitor Management ................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Role of the Protected Area...........................................................................................................................................................11 Provincial and Regional Context ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Significance in the Protected Areas System......................................................................................................................... 11 Protected Area Roles................................................................................................................................................................ 14 Conservation Role .................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Tourism and Recreation Role .................................................................................................................................................. 15 Cultural Heritage Role .............................................................................................................................................................. 16 Relationship with First Nations ..................................................................................................................................................17 Vision Statement ...........................................................................................................................................................................18 Protected Area Zoning .................................................................................................................................................................19 Introduction............................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Wilderness Recreation Zone................................................................................................................................................... 19 Natural Environment Zone ...................................................................................................................................................... 23 Special Feature Zone................................................................................................................................................................ 25 Natural and Cultural Values Management...............................................................................................................................26 Introduction............................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Ecosystem Management Approach....................................................................................................................................... 26 Land and Resource Tenures ................................................................................................................................................... 28 Vegetation.................................................................................................................................................................................. 29 Water.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Fish Values................................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Wildlife ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Cultural Heritage Values .......................................................................................................................................................... 35 Palaeontological Values (Fossils)........................................................................................................................................... 36 Visual Values ............................................................................................................................................................................. 37 Scientific Research and Education......................................................................................................................................... 37 Outdoor Recreation Opportunities Management....................................................................................................................39 Introduction............................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Outdoor Recreation Opportunities and Facilities ...................................................................................................................40 Hiking, Camping and Backpacking......................................................................................................................................... 40 Mechanized Activities ............................................................................................................................................................. 41 Hunting....................................................................................................................................................................................... 42 Backcountry Horse Use........................................................................................................................................................... 43 Commercial Recreation Opportunities ................................................................................................................................... 43 i Access Strategy........................................................................................................................................................................ 46 Management Services .............................................................................................................................................................. 47 Communications ............................................................................................................................................................................48 Introduction..............................................................................................................................................................................