Poachers' Landing Provincial Recreation Area Management Plan Alberta Community Development Parks & Protected Areas September 2002 Poachers' Landing PRA Management Plan POACHERS' LANDING PROVINCIAL RECREATIO N AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1. 1 HISTORY OF PARK ESTABLISHMENT .............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 2 SIGNIFICANT FEATURES OF THE PARK ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 PURPOSE OF MANAGEMENT PLAN........................................................................................................................................................ 6 1.4 SUMMARY OF MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES AND GUIDELINES .......................................................................................................6 1.5 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ..................................................................................................................................................................8 2.0 OVERVIEW OF PARK ............................................................................................................................................................... 9 2 .I REGIONAL SETTING AND ACCESS ..................................................................................................................................................9 2.2 DESCRJPTION OF PARK ................................................................................................................................................................ 9 2.2.1 Archaeological/ Historical .................................................................................................................................................10 2.2.2 Geology and Soils ...............................................................................................................................................................11 2.2.3 Aquatic Systems .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.4 Climate ...............................................................................................................................................................................13 2.2.5 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................................................... 13 2.2.6 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................................................................ 17 2.3 VISITOR USE .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 18 2.3.1 Outdoor Recreation and Appreciation Opportunities ........................................................................................................ 18 2.3.2 Park Visitation ........................................................................................................................................................... 19 3.0-- ROLE IN ALBERTA'S PROTECTED AREAS NETWORK ................................................................................................ 20 3.1 OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................................................................... 20 3.2 NATURAL REGIONS FRAMEWORK ...................................................................................................................................................... 20 3.3 CLASSIFICATION AND LEGISLATION ................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.4 CONTRIBUTIONS OF POACHERS LANDING PRA TO PROVINCIAL OBJECTIVES ..............................................................................................24 3.5 GUIDING PRINCIPLES ................................................................................................................................................................. 25 4.0 PARK ZONING ........................................................................................................................................................................... 27 4.1 FACILITY ZONE .......................................................................................................................................................................... 27 4.2- NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ZONE ......................................................................................................................................................... 27 4.3 ACCESS ZONE ............................................................................................................................................................. 27 5.1 OBJECTIVES AND MANAGEMENT ACTIONS .................................................................................................................. 29 5.1 1 PRESERVATION ................................................................................................................................................................................ 29 5.1.1 Systems Related ......................................................................................................................................................... 29 5.1.2 Geological I Landforms Resources .................................................................................................................................... 29 5.1.3 Aquatic Resources ............................................................................................................................................................. 30 5.I.4 Vegetation ................................................................................................................................................................................... 30 5.I.5 Wildlife ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 5.1.6 Historical I Cultural .......................................................................................................................................................... 32 5.2 HERJTAGE APPRECIAT ION ........................................................................................................................................................... 32 5.2.J Interpretation I Environmental Education................................................................................................................................. 32 5.2.2 Visitor Information .............................................................................................................................................................33 5.3 OUTDOOR RECREAT I ON ...................................................................................................................................................................... 33 5.3.1 Camping ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 33 Poachers ' Landing PRA Management Plan 5.3.2 Access I Staging Areas ....................................................................................................................................................... 34 5.3.3 Trails ................................................................................................................................................................................. 34 5.3.4 Equestrian Use ................................................................................................................................................................................... 35 5.3.5 Hunting and Fishing .......................................................................................................................................................... 36 5.3.6 Snowmobile Use ................................................................................................................................................................................. 36 5.3.7 7 Recreational OHV and Watercraft .............................................................................................................................. 36 5.3.8 Special Events .................................................................................................................................................................... 37 5.3.9 Other Recreational Activities ............................................................................................................................................ 37 5.4 TOURISM .....................................................................................................................................................................................................