The Crowsnest Pass draws in upwards of 10 thousand off-roaders each season. There is something about it’s unregulated charm and raw wilderness that keeps people coming back.
But that could soon change as the government drafts it’s land management plan.
Kieth Routley is leading a campaign to let the government know this is not what outdoor enthusiasts want for the area.
“It effects everybody out there,” Says Rouley. “There’s hunters, there’s fisherman, there’s mountain bikers, and any access to this great country that is right out our back door will be restricted.”
An advisory council has recomended to the Alberta government that the castle region become much more protected and that recreational use be drastically limited.
“What we’ve got in this documentation which was given to us by the government is that here it shows that recreational use of public lands is point 5 percent area of land. ”
Routley is pushing to spread awareness and let other enthusiasts know how the government is considering designating the land. He believes the name “South Saskatchewan Regional Plan” has deterred Albertans from getting informed and getting invoved.
He’s collected over 9 thousand signatures through an online and written petition opposing the recommended land use restriction.
But not all outdoor enthusiasts are siding with Routley.
In a statement released to Global News the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Association calls for the area to become a wildland provincial park. It says:
“Public opinion studies conducted in the region indicate that an overwhelming majority (82%) of regional residents believe that protecting the watershed should take priority over recreational activities in the area.”
The crowsnest pass quad squad believes it’s already made giant strides in protecting the watershed, while enjoying the area.
President, Wade Aebli says “Over the past 5 years the Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad Association has invested over 1 and a half million dollars into the local trail network to improve it and make it more sustainable. ”
Part of that investment has been in specially designed bridges that allow off-roaders, hikers and bikers to use the trail system while protecting water quality and fish habitat.
Alberta’s environment minister, Diana McQueen says nothing is written in stone yet, and the government is still taking input from Albertans on how best to manage the land.
“Any groups that feel like they haven’t been consulted, we’re going to get out there and hear from you because these are long term plans so its important to us that we get the plans right.”
The next phase of planning is scheduled for may of this year.
Sign the off-roaders opposition petition at http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Prevent_the_LOSS_of_recreational_land_usage_in_Southern_Alberta/?cIozjeb
Read more on the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan at landuse.alberta.ca/RegionalPlans/SouthSaskatchewanRegion/
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