Where does the wildlife actually live?

The map below shows which zones have been identified as important winter habitat for which Sea to Sky creatures. Note that the locations are approximate and represent zones that can vary in size, shape and use.

(Click on image to Enlarge)

In winter, motorized recreation can have significant impacts on wintering wildlife, from deer to grizzly bears to mountain goats. According to the Environmental Risk Assessment done on this area in 2008, “frozen snowmobile trails can facilitate access of wolves and so increase predation rates. Animals may also be displaced from critical winter and spring habitat by snowmobiles and helicopters (particularly grizzly bears, mountain goats and wolverines).” (Holt & Hamilton)

For Grizzly Bears, winter displacement can be caused due to excessive noise disturbance while in the den. Loud motor sports will disturb a bear’s hibernation (despite popular belief, they are actually pretty light sleepers) causing them to potentially abandon their den and waste energy or to be disturbed during gestation and lactation within the den, which are crucial to cub survival. (for more on Grizzlies, click here)

The LRMP states that “in general, motorized recreation should be located in areas with lower biodiversity values.” and “Motorized activities should be avoided in fragile environments, including areas with sensitive soils, riparian areas, wetlands, meadows and alpine areas. Motorized activities that do occur in these areas should be carefully planned, and impacts should be mitigated to the extent possible.” (LRMP)

What do the Different Designations Mean on the LRMP?

RA1 vs. RA1-A Zoning

RA1 (non-motorized use) is defined as: Self propelled activities that do not rely on a motorized vehicle for access or recreation use within a designated zone (such as backcountry skiing, ski touring / mountaineering, cross-country / nordic skiing, dogsledding, snowshoeing). Only non-motorized transport may be used to access these areas.

RA1-A (Non-motorized use with air access) is defined as: Self propelled activities that do not rely on a motorized vehicle for recreation use within a designated zone (such as those listed above), but aerial transport is allowed for drop off / pick-up of day use or multi-day recreation users.

This means that helicopters are allowed for the drop-off and/or pick-up of backcountry users only. They cannot provide a traditional heli-skiing operation or other operation that includes multiple laps or usages of a certain zone in a day.

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Wildland Zones (27% of LRMP)

The Wildland designations are a new designation introduced with the LRMP. They have been identified to recognize First Nations culture and heritage values, wildlife habitat values, beautiful scenery and healthy ecosystems, old-growth forest stands, alpine lakes, backcountry recreation value (e.g. huts or trails), backcountry tourism potential, and proximity to existing parks. Their management objective is “To retain the remote character of the Zone and associated high quality of wilderness experience for First Nations cultural uses and commercial and non-commercial backcountry recreation.”(British Columbia)

Wildland Zones are each assigned a core emphasis to reflect their main ‘value.’ 

• Cultural – Emphasis is on maintenance of First Nations spiritual, cultural and traditional integrity and renewable resource harvesting activities
• Recreation – Emphasis on non-commercial recreational activities
• Tourism – Emphasis on commercial recreation activities
• Wildlife – Emphasis on maintaining and protecting functional habitat for wildlife

Within Wildland Zones, management directions include:

• Commercial timber harvesting NOT allowed
• No infrastructure of independent power projects (IPPs)
• Some mining activity allowed (see definition of Mineral Zone)
• Area-specific direction for backcountry commercial and non-commercial recreation activities

See Zone designations in the table below:

Emphasis	Zone Name or Location
Cultural	Blanca Lakes Skwxwú7mesh-úhl Snewáyelh / Cultural Training Area Tricouni Lakes Skwxwú7mesh-úhl Snewáyelh / Cultural Training Area Nexw Áyantsut / Lower Sims Creek North Lizzie Creek to Cloudraker Mountain Upper Elaho Qwalímak / Upper Birkenhead Úll’us / Upper Ryan Skelulátkwa / Owl Creek St’uqál’ts / Upper Lillooet Upper Soo
Recreation	Blanca Lakes II Cayoosh Range – Seven Mile Creek SW Cypress Peak – Cloudburst Elaho Headwaters Mount Currie Mt. Jimmy Jimmy Pebble Creek – North Creek Phelix Powder Mountain Ryan River – Rutherford Creek Sky Pilot South Creek 19 and 21 Mile Creeks – Upper Madely Twin 1/Twin 2 Divide to Joffre Lakes Park Upper Meager Creek Westside Elaho River below Sims Creek
Tourism	Birkenhead Peak Gowan Creek – Livingston Creek Salal Creek – Athelney Pass Tantalus South – Woodfibre – Echo Lake Twin Two Peak to Storm Peak Upper Ashlu Upper Haylmore Creek Manatee Glacier Upper Sloquet – East Upper Sloquet – West
Wildlife	Tenquille Lake Sockeye Creek Phelix to D’arcy Rogers Creek Watershed Salal Creek – NW Fork Falk Creek Upper Douglas Creek Seven Mile Creek to Haylmore Creek Upper Sims Creek

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Conservancies (4% of LRMP)

Conservancies are designated:

1. for the protection and maintenance of biological diversity and natural environments;
2. for the preservation and maintenance of social, ceremonial and cultural uses of First Nations;
3. for protection and maintenance of recreational values; and
4. to ensure that development or use of natural resources occurs in a sustainable manner consistent with the above purposes.

Within conservancies, industrial resource development activities like commercial logging, mining, hydroelectric development, and new roads are not allowed. All activities must strive to be consistent with First Nations cultural values and interests. Only non-motorized recreation activities are permitted, and all commercial recreational activities must be compatible with First Nations uses (exception for pre-existing motorized commercial recreation, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by First Nations and the Province)

 

Conservancy	Approximate Area (ha)
Callaghan	8,223
Estétiwilh / Sigurd Creek	1,082
I7loqaw7 / 100 Lakes	1,028
K’zuzált / Twin Two	2,127
Qwalímak / Upper Birkenhead	4,806
Upper Elaho	10,128
Upper Rogers Kólii7	3,898
Upper Soo	9,993
TOTAL	44,887

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