Draft management plan for Callaghan Park draws a crowd
B.C Parks was encouraged by the large Whistler turnout at the first open house held in the corridor to showcase the draft management plan for Callaghan Lake Provincial Park, a small 2.7 hectare Class A protected area situated at the top of the Callaghan forest service road.
The open house was held Monday, Jan. 22 to solicit public input on the plan which will set management direction for the park over the next 10 to 20 years. Other meetings were scheduled for Pemberton, Squamish and North Vancouver.
Most attending the Whistler event had questions for B.C Parks representatives relating to commercial access and to a proposed snowmobile corridor that runs up the Callaghan forest service road, across Callaghan Lake and along a traditional route used by snowmobilers to access the bowls north of the park.
Groups like AWARE feel that allowing snowmobiles in the park could set a precedent for sledders to gain access to other provincial parks.
As AWARE’s Stephan Perron noted to members: "All the main trailheads used by non-motorized users to access the (Pemberton) ice cap now also allow snowmobiles. This park plan might be an opportunity to keep one valley where non-motorized users do not have to deal with the impacts of snowmobiles (noise, smell, disturbance) to reach the ice cap."
Parks extension officer Vicki Haberl said, however, it is not the mandate of B.C. Parks to keep snowmobiles out of provincial parks; that debate has to happen at a political level.
She said snowmobiling is an accepted activity in parks but, in some cases, motorized use may be banned because of potential impact on wildlife values.
"B.C. Parks, per se, does not restrict snowmobiling as an activity," said Haberl. "That fundamental question has already been considered in the broader provincial perspective. But, decisions are based on how appropriate the activity is for a particular park. In Garibaldi Park, for example, is was determined as not being appropriate."
Haberl said Callaghan Park is only a small piece of the greater Callaghan Valley puzzle and activities within the protected area must be in keeping with what goes on outside the park boundaries.
"One of the key objectives of this plan is to manage the park in consideration of how the rest of the valley is managed," she said.
Those who want motorized access banned in Callaghan Park may offer vociferous objection but it won’t necessarily sway parks officials to change that component of the plan.
Haberl noted that preparing a management plan is not a matter of counting up votes for and against activities. "We will make the best management decisions we can, based on public input combined with our knowledge and the broader perspective," said Haberl.
"Some people may make recommendations without a comprehensive understanding of the Parks Act." Those recommendations would have to be discarded. "But if there was heavy opposition to snowmobiling we would need to see if there was a convincing argument to change the fundamental work that has gone into the management plan," said Haberl.
That work includes recommendations of the Callaghan Study Team, socio-economic reports, public consultation, First Nations consultation and input from various government agencies.
"The question of snowmobiling is bigger than provincial parks," noted Haberl. "It’s a land use planning issue and in the Sea to Sky the discussion is more heated because of intensity of use. Places like the Callaghan have become a focal point for the whole debate."
The draft plan divides Callaghan Park into two zones: an intensive recreation zone and a natural environment zone.
The intensive recreation zone includes the road corridor – 10 metres on either side of the Callaghan forest service road centre line. It also includes the parking area at the south end of Callaghan Lake, bordered on the west by Callaghan Creek.
The natural zone encompasses more than 90 per cent of the park, including Callaghan Lake and the surrounding ridge and alpine areas. This zone, according to the draft plan, will be managed for moderate recreation. Hiking trails will be developed that link with trails outside the park.
A walk-in or boat-in wilderness campground will also be created on the north-east side of the lake. The existing camping facility on the south end of the lake will be closed and rehabilitated for a picnic and day-use site and the boat launch area will be improved.
B.C. Parks will maintain fishing opportunities in the park, if sustainable, and work with the Fish and Wildlife Branch to develop a fisheries management strategy. Commercial fishing trips will be considered under the park permit process.
The forest service will be encouraged to maintain the road into the park for two-wheel drive standards. It is currently maintained for four-wheel drive access.
Float planes will be permitted on Callaghan Lake but motorcycles and ATVs will be prohibited except on designated roads. Mountain bikes will only be allowed on a proposed east side trail that will connect with Madeley Lake. The trail will be maintained for both bikers and hikers. Bikers will only be permitted on the trail once is has been built to a standard to accommodate mountain bikes.
B.C. Parks will work closely with snowmobile clubs to encourage participation in monitoring snowmobiling activities in the park. This will include a co-operative approach to educating members on snowmobile ethics and preventing environmental damage, like fuel spills and the recent sinking of two snowmobiles in the lake.
Commercial filming will be permitted in the park, through a permit system, as will commercial aircraft access. Cat-assisted skiing and snowboarding will be sanctioned uses. So will hunting and trapping.
Wildlife in the park is typical of coastal mid- and high-elevation areas and includes black bear, black-tailed deer, cougar, mountain goat, wolf, wolverine, small furbearers, raptors, upland game birds and a variety of amphibians and reptiles.
Grizzly bear occasionally use portions of the park, which is adjacent to a B.C. Environment draft grizzly bear recovery zone. The Callaghan Valley as been identified as having good grizzly habitat potential.
According to the plan, B.C. Parks will work closely with the Olympic bid team to determine how best to ensure that Olympic developments in the Callaghan Valley will complement the park.
It has been suggested by bid planners that the 2010 Olympic nordic venue may be moved higher up into the Callaghan and some ski trails could go in and out of the park. The management plan may have to be altered should the bid be successful.
"We are asking that any comments be returned by the end of February." Haberl said it will take another month to compile and review the public feedback and determine what changes should be made to the plan based on the input.
The plan then goes to a Parks Management Committee, at the provincial level, for approval before it becomes a signed-off document. This could take several months.
Haberl said the draft plan can be viewed by following the parks links on the Ministry of Environment Web site at www.elp.gov.bc.ca . She is asking that any comments be sent to GSDInfo@gems5.gov.bc.ca
According to the draft plan, Callaghan Lake is one of only a handful of sub alpine lakes accessible by cars within a "reasonable" drive from Vancouver.
