By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

New Castle Parks Management Plan released: OHV access to be completely phased out

May 18, 2018 | 2:12 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Environment Minister Shannon Phillips has released the final Castle Parks Management Plan, along with plans for more park infrastructure and camping opportunities. https://talkaep.alberta.ca/2864/documents/10327

It includes about three million dollars in new investment in 2018 alone.

“Over the last two years for Castle, we’ve focused on planning, consultation and engagement with First Nations, stakeholders, industry and the many Albertans who camp, fish, hunt and hike with their family in southwest Alberta. We undertook very detailed conversations with people to better understand and manage conservation and land use, and to protect ranching and recreation livelihoods in the province.”

Phillips says protecting wildlife and headwaters, and respecting and upholding indigenous rights and ensuring exceptional recreational opportunities was the priority in the new plan, which is the most extensive one the province has ever developed.

“It received the highest number of responses Alberta Parks has ever seen during a consultation process. We held over 45 meetings with the public, stakeholders and first nations. We received 15,000 pieces of correspondence, from about 10,000 Albertans.”

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Some of the new improvements in the park, which will be completed over the next few years, include:

• 12 new campsites in Lynx Creek, each with a fire pit, picnic table, washroom facility and garbage receptacles
• Nine improved rustic camping areas with space for 150 camping units, each with fire pits
• Two new warm-up huts with seating for 12 at the Syncline South Staging area and the Beaver Mines Lake Boat Launch
• Five new “comfort cabins” at Beaver Mines Lake
• Trail improvements at Table Mountain, Grizzly Lake and Barnaby
• Installation of new wayfinding signage and emergency contact information
• A new “Epic Trail” for mountain bikers will also be created in the park that will connect to the Crowsnest Pass and existing bike trails in the park.

However, the plan indicates that over the next three years, all summer OHVs including dirt bikes, quads, and side-by-sides will be banned from the park.

A reclamation plan for previously designated AND illegal OHV trails will be developed to prevent access.

Any trails created for non- motorized recreation uses will be modified to ensure they can only be used for their designated purposes.

All sustainable OHV trails will now be in the Porcupine/Livingstone Public Land Use Zone and in other areas of the province where they’re allowed.

Other trails in the park that aren’t designated for new uses will also be identified and reclaimed.

Snowmobiles will NOT be banned from the park, as the plan indicates that their impact to wildlife and the natural environment is not nearly as extensive as summer OHVs.

However, the plan also indicates that more studies need to be completed to fully understand the implications of allowing snowmobiling in the park during winter months.

Random camping will still be allowed, but visitors must camp according to the “leave-no-trace” principles, and in an area prescribed for undesignated camping, or be no closer than one kilometre from a designated campground or roadway.

The Yellowstone to Yukon Initiative, issued a news release shortly after the announcement, applauding Phillips and everyone involved in creating the Castle Parks Management Plan.

“After 30 years of hard work, we’re grateful to have a plan that will restore the balance of nature protection, recreation and economic diversification,” said Gord Petersen of the Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition.

Dave Hockey with the Great Divide Trail Association was equally as pleased.

“It has provided clarity, assurance and opportunity for recreation users who love the quiet contemplation of wild nature, and a reduced footprint on this ecologically important area of Alberta.”

Travel Alberta’s CEO Royce Chwin says his organization will also provide $400,000 for advertising to boost local and international tourism to the Castle region, especially after the series of closures in the Waterton Lakes National Park and Castle regions last year due to wildfires.

“Most of the greater Castle region is open for business. We want to ensure visitors are considering southwest Alberta for the 2018 summer season.”

Lethbridge News Now has contacted both the Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad and the Alberta Off Highway Vehicle Association for their reaction to the release of the new management plan, and park infrastructure plan.

We will include their comments in a story as well.