Castle Provincial Park OHV Closures

Ramjet15x

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Check out the link, please provide comments to the park site!


OHV users will likely be pushed out of one of the most amazing areas we can access!
 

TylerG

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Check out the link, please provide comments to the park site!


OHV users will likely be pushed out of one of the most amazing areas we can access!

there is discussion about allowing EXISTING trail SYSTEMS to remain, meaning the Crow Snow Riders and the Crowsnest Quad Squad trails may be left alone and left open, however you will not be allowed to deviate from these trail systems. This is still in its early stages but get your letters into you MLA's and those involved with this decision and get your thoughts heard!
 

Ramjet15x

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I Don't know of any other provincial parks that have trail access to OHV's, not trying to be sarcastic at all Tyler, but would suggest it would only be a little shop talk and may at best be allowed for a trial and then be shut down for non compliance.

Write the emails and letters to your MLA, which may not be to open to our concerns.

We we need to make positve noise to be heard.
 

TylerG

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I Don't know of any other provincial parks that have trail access to OHV's, not trying to be sarcastic at all Tyler, but would suggest it would only be a little shop talk and may at best be allowed for a trial and then be shut down for non compliance.

Write the emails and letters to your MLA, which may not be to open to our concerns.

We we need to make positve noise to be heard.

yes, the letters and phone calls need to happen, this has been in the works for years....... I also agree that I do not know of any other Provincial Park that allows OHV usage, however, this may be an exception, I'm sure that is what I had read in one of the articles about it.
 

Summitric

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courtesy of Grinder on another thread:

Re: Castle area(southwest alberta) soon to be protected area
On Friday, September 4th, the Provincial Government announced a new Provincial and Wilderness Park in the Castle Mountain area. This is the first park in Canada to allow the present use of ATV'S on the designated trail system in the Castle area, and also to allow hunting. Logging is out. We will no longer be able to ride on pipelines, or power lines, however Environment and Parks has assured us that there will be a lot of money put into the Parks for trail maintenance and upkeep and also possibly new trails to replace lost pipe and power line trails. The government is holding a 30 day public forum where you can provide your feedback and you are all strongly urged to complete this feedback. The stronger the voice, the more we can influence our views. Please go to the following link which explains the Parks and what is allowed and what will not be allowed and take the survey for the feedback. Our office was advised of this announcement 20 minutes prior to it being announced. Rob Simieritsch, who is the new Regional Director, (replacing Daryl) for Environment and Parks called our office as they themselves had just found out about it.







From quad squad site
 

Ramjet15x

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Tyler, I stand corrected, it does comment on allowing some OHV use and open camping!

Please take the time to fill out survey from summitric's link, only takes a couple minutes
 

TylerG

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Tyler, I stand corrected, it does comment on allowing some OHV use and open camping!

Please take the time to fill out survey from summitric's link, only takes a couple minutes

hopefully this remains true, those clubs have tons invested in those trails, they also comment to possibly allowing more trails..... only time will tell!
 

imdoo'n

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any info on outcome, haven't rode in the area, but always wondered driving by.
 

turbo392

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I was riding last Sunday at Beaver Mine, SW of Pincher Creek and every trail I rode had been repaired and improved. New bridges everywhere.
 

Bert204

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Just be forewarned from somebody who moved to Alberta from big NDP country do not give them an inch they will take more than just a mile. There is nothing more they love than to close ATV trails, Mars Hills in Manitoba has been a big issue for several years now. Hopefully next spring those commie bastards will be voted out.
 

turbo392

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They think we are destroying the environment and don't hug or lick enough trees for their tastes.

Do you have anything to back up your claim? I'm getting really tired of people playing human centipede when it comes to talking about the NDP and the government.
 

KatMan

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see below. as far as the above poster being "tired" of hearsay, how about talk to this club about not being heard/et when they did provide input?

notley is speaking about this right now. more info to the public should be available later on today.

this is very bad for the OHV community, and am afraid it will not stop with the castle area.




A little more info from Crownest Pass Quad Squads facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/Crowsnest-P...9842127702245/

"I was advised of very quick notice of a conference call with the Minister of Parks and Environment at which time at 6:00 P.M. last night that the boundaries of the new Parks have been approved by an order in council to be about the same as the original proposal and effective immediately that all "illegal trails" in the Castle will be closed and some designated trails will remain open for OHV use for a period of two to five years to allow for the development of other trail systems outside of the Parks. (At the same time reducing the amount of trails in the Porcupine and Livingston Range) Not sure how that is going to work. I raised the question to the Minster why has this decision been made when the Castle Management Board that I was sitting on has not made any recommendations to the Government that I am aware of. I believe this Board was simply a dog and pony show as the Government had already made their decision. The Minister's response was that this is just a draft plan and all recommendations would be considered. There is a 16 day public consultation process where apparently there will an on-line format for people to voice their concerns although at this point we have not been able to locate a link for this survey. Once we find it we will advise. This information will be announced by the Premier at 11:00 at the Kootenai Brown Village in Pincher Creek today. I urge anyone that can attend to be there to voice their displeasure. The Quad Squad will continue its efforts to preserve our recreational sport."
 

KatMan

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update.

public input re this as of today. start rallying NOW to voice your approval/disapproval. this will be your last chance to for any change.


Alberta establishes the Castle Provincial Park and the Castle Wildland Provincial Park and is seeking input on the draft Management Plan

From September 4 to October 5, 2015, Albertans were invited to comment on the Government of Alberta’s proposal to enhance protection of the Castle area. As a result of what we heard from the public, stakeholders and Indigenous Peoples, the Government of Alberta is pleased to announce the establishment of the Castle Provincial Park and the Castle Wildland Provincial Park. This protects important wildlife populations and habitat, as well as critical headwaters. Recreation and tourism potential of the area is enhanced and will help to diversify the local economy into the future.

Due to the complex nature of the landscape, Alberta Parks has developed a draft Management Plan for the Provincial Park and Wildland Provincial Park with advice and recommendations from First Nations and key stakeholders. The draft plan sets out objectives and strategies for management of the parks over a ten year period.

Your input is valued. Public participation is an important part of the management planning process and Albertans are being invited to share their thoughts and suggestions on the draft plan.
More information on the new parks, the draft management plan process, and upcoming public open houses can be found at www.albertaparks.ca/consult
 

KatMan

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coles notes re OHV use in the new parks:


all OHV use gone in 3-5 years. enjoy while you can.

· Recreational off-highway vehicle use is not scientifically supportable in the Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park due to the extremely high biodiversity values, the necessity to protect the headwaters of the Oldman watershed, critical fish habitat for species at risk, and the high conservation values.
· The transition strategy will allow short-term use on designated trails north of highway 774 (3 to 5 years), the cessation (starting May 1st) of recreation OHV use south of highway 774, and the reclamation of previously unauthorized random trails throughout the Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park.
 

takethebounce

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coles notes re OHV use in the new parks:


all OHV use gone in 3-5 years. enjoy while you can.

· Recreational off-highway vehicle use is not scientifically supportable in the Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park due to the extremely high biodiversity values, the necessity to protect the headwaters of the Oldman watershed, critical fish habitat for species at risk, and the high conservation values.
· The transition strategy will allow short-term use on designated trails north of highway 774 (3 to 5 years), the cessation (starting May 1st) of recreation OHV use south of highway 774, and the reclamation of previously unauthorized random trails throughout the Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park.

Can you share where you found the coles notes version,specifically relating to "all OHV use gone in 3-5 years"

I have now seen the updated link of FAQ's, very different from the original proposal. All the more reason to continue to support your local OHV clubs, quite disappointing to see how they have changed what was supposed to be conintued use of OHV's

Found here is the new FAQ's. https://talkaep.alberta.ca/CastleManagementPlan/faqs




There was plenty of time for the users to draw attention to this potential change in land management. Just see a few knee jerk reactions today relating to the change for Castle and I want understand the changes and view the actual changes being made.

Everything I have seen, which isn't a lot as there is not much to see, is a change to the existing Castle PLUZ area to now a Wildland park with a Provincial Park. The overall dimensions may have only changed slightly.

Existing

https://www.albertaparks.ca/media/6372664/9a-castle_currentstate_20150806-final.pdf

what was proposed and apparently now is what will be put in place

https://www.albertaparks.ca/media/6372906/castle-proposed.pdf

The resulting decisions



the FAQ's, which appear to be very clear in continued OHV use, but again what information is missing

https://www.albertaparks.ca/media/6373227/faqs.pdf
 
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KatMan

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it right there. under point 8. as for your "knee jerk reaction" comment and that there was plenty of time for input, maybe you should chat with the crowsnest quad squad as they have been extremely involved with this process, providing input, improving trails, and educating on responsible quad use. all of their recommendations were ignored.

and to those who support/supported Notley, and were(past tense) a user of the castle region, or present user of porcupine, or willow creek or Livingstone range, et, et, et, (soon to be closed), i ask you to PM me, so you can explain exactly what it feels like to Fawk yourself.
 

takethebounce

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rambled a bit there. i now see that you saw the point 8. i'm just pissed, having trouble concentrating.


Alberta to expand Castle area parks, phase out off-highway vehicles | Globalnews.ca

Like I said, I hadn't seen anything to show what these new changes were. It appeared that it was some comments not based on fact as no one was sharing the missing info. Then in the other thread with this discussion it was made clear. You I am sure have seen it happen, media reports one thing and the reality is something else. I just wanted the missing info so I could understand the frustrations.

I can appreciate that emotions are running high right now. Rightfully so!


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