grande prairie region parks management plan preliminary strategies march 9, 2009

Grande Prairie Region ParksManagement Plan

Preliminary Strategies

March 9, 2009

Parks Division

www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/consult/GrandePrairie Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582

Why are we preparing this plan?

• The Grande Prairie region has one of the highest growth rates in the province, resulting in increased demand for recreational experiences and park use.

• In response, Alberta Parks Division is initiating a review of park recreational opportunities and supporting facilities in the Grande Prairie region.

• The resulting management plan will guide development and management activities in 10 parks within a one hour drive of the City of Grande Prairie.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/consult/GrandePrairie

Which parks are included in the plan?

• Saskatoon Island Provincial Park• Saskatoon Mountain Natural Area• Kleskun Hill Natural Area• Young’s Point Provincial Park• Williamson Provincial Park• Simonette River Provincial Recreation Area • Musreau Lake Provincial Recreation Area • O’Brien Provincial Park• Big Mountain Provincial Recreation Area• Demmitt Provincial Recreation Area

Parks Division


What is a management plan?

• A management plan gives direction to the future management of a park or a group of parks.

• The plan ensures that their protection and use is consistent with park legislation, regulations and policies.

• Key to the management planning process is building relationships with stakeholders, Aboriginal communities, park visitors and the public at both the local and provincial level, and gathering their ideas on the future management of a park or a group of parks.

Parks Division


Process for developing this management plan:– Pre-planning (collecting information, identifying

issues, developing management strategies)– Public input on preliminary strategies – Preparation of draft management plan– Public review of draft management plan– Final revisions and approval of draft management

plan– Implementation of plan

Parks Division


Grande Prairie Region Parks

Parks Division


Vision for Grande Prairie Region Parks

• Protect the unique landscapes and features in parks in the Grande Prairie region

• Support and sustain the variety of recreation opportunities made possible by the diverse park landscapes

• Provide enhanced interpretation and environmental education services for the area

• Support tourism potential of the Grande Prairie region

Parks Division


Opportunities…

• The diverse landscapes in the Grande Prairie region make possible a variety of recreation opportunities.

• Each individual park does not have the capacity to provide a full range of recreation opportunities, but as a package these 10 parks offer a wide range of both land and water-based recreation opportunities.

Parks Division


Management Challenges…

• Some parks are over-capacity and others are under-capacity. How do we balance use so that all parks remain sustainable?

• What choices need to be made to conserve the land base and continue to offer a wide range of recreation and education opportunities in our parks in the Grande Prairie region?

Parks Division


Our preliminary strategy…

• Alberta Parks Division has prepared a preliminary strategy for managing these parks as a regional package for providing recreation and education opportunities.

• For each of the 10 parks, the following slides: - describe the park

- state a vision- identify opportunities and strategies to reach the vision

• Your comments about the vision and strategies will help set the management direction for these parks.

Parks Division


Saskatoon Island Provincial Park

Overview of Saskatoon Island Provincial Park

• Protects rare Peace Parkland landscape• Part of Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary

for waterfowl • Staging and breeding site for trumpeter swans• Abundant saskatoon stands• Provides interpretation and environmental

education• Popular camping and day use spot

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582


www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/consult/GrandePrairie

VisionSaskatoon Island Provincial Park will be a focal point for

environmental education in the region, while continuing to offer a range of recreation opportunities compatible with the Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary designation and its small but diverse land base.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Opportunities

• The diverse park landscape lends itself to environmental education and interpretation, and is near to city and county schools. Current services can be built on.

• The small land base does not allow for expanded camping facilities. Day use, walking and nature viewing opportunities can be expanded.

• This focus supports the Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary designation and the conservation of native Peace River Parkland landscape.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Strategy

• Refocus the park as a regional environmental learning centre.

• Build a multi-purpose Park Centre to support environmental education and nature-based recreation, and ensure other facilities also support this focus.

• Retain current campground with minor upgrades, maintain/expand day use and trails.

• Facilities provide visitors with opportunities to connect with the natural world e.g. natural playground, trails, wildlife viewing

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Saskatoon Mountain Natural Area

Overview of Saskatoon Mountain Natural Area

• Boreal forest in the midst of farmland• Vegetation at site is uncommon in surrounding area• Site of oldest known human occupation in northern AB• Best panoramic view of area• Day use site• Trails used for hiking, horse-back riding, OHV use.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



VisionSaskatoon Mountain will be a provincial park that protects boreal

forest in the midst of farmland and offers a range of high quality outdoor recreation opportunities such as camping, day use, and hiking.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Opportunities

• Since 1936 the site has been considered for park status. Is there community support for this now?

• Large enough land base to support recreation facilities

• Could provide alternate outdoor recreation site to ease pressure on over-capacity parks such as Saskatoon Island

• Provincial park status provides a higher level of conservation and onsite management

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Strategy

• Re-designate as a provincial park which provides legislative and policy tools to develop recreation facilities and sustain the land base.

• Develop camping, day use, trails, and interpretation facilities to make this a destination.

• Add former grazing lease land.

• OHV use and hunting will not be permitted in the provincial park.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Young’s Point Provincial Park

Overview of Young’s Point Provincial Park

• Diverse boreal forest landscape

• Natural fishery in Sturgeon Lake

• Over 150 species of land and water birds

• Offers wide variety of both land and water based recreation opportunities – camping, group camping, day use, boating, fishing, hiking and biking, bird watching, winter sports

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



VisionYoung’s Point Provincial Park will be a key regional destination park

that offers an excellent diversity of both land and water-based recreation opportunities.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Opportunities

• Has a large land base with capacity for facility expansion.

• Sturgeon Lake at 43 sq. km is large enough to support power boat use.

• The park facilities are under-used, and visitors could be redirected from smaller, busier parks to this park.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Strategy

• Expand campground as demand increases

• Redevelop day use/beach area

• Expand boat access and develop docking/marina to support power boating in region

• Include Young’s Point in provision of interpretation services to visitors

• Add Sturgeon Lake Natural Area to the park

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Williamson Provincial Park

Overview of Williamson Provincial Park

• Small land base with campground on Sturgeon Lake

• Day use and beach area

• Major boat launch access to Sturgeon Lake

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



VisionWilliamson Provincial Park is a small park that provides access to

Sturgeon Lake and offers camping and day use opportunities.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Opportunities

• Small land base suitable for camping

• Continue to provide day use, beach, boat launch.

• Work with Sturgeon Lake First Nation

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Strategy

• Maintain current campground

• Possibly develop some of campground into group camp

• Improve day use area

• Maintain boat access to Sturgeon Lake

• Develop initiatives with Sturgeon Lake First Nation

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Musreau Lake Provincial

Recreation Area

Overview of Musreau Lake Provincial Recreation Area

• A lake and forest setting in lower foothills

• Diverse forest is a mix of boreal and foothills vegetation

• Site of important archaeological dig

• Camping and group camping offered

• Increasingly popular spot for day use and water-based recreation

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582

Musreau Lake Provincial Recreation Area


VisionMusreau Lake will be a provincial park which provides low-key

outdoor recreation opportunities in an outstanding diverse forest setting.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Opportunities

• The setting can offer a more peaceful and rustic outdoor experience in contrast to other parks in the Grande Prairie region.

• Musreau Lake has good recreational water quality, but at 5.5 sq km is too small to support regional demands for power boat use. An option is to provide opportunities for small motor or self-propelled boats.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Strategy

• Re-designate as a provincial park to recognize natural values of the site and the range of recreation opportunities offered.

• Develop a redesign of facility areas - day use, group use, boat launch area, and parking. Upgrade and potentially expand current campground.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



O’Brien Provincial Park

Overview of O’Brien Provincial Park

• A small day use park along the Wapiti River about 10 km from Grande Prairie

• Popular site, especially on hot summer days

• Visitors picnic and play in the river.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



VisionO’Brien will be a provincial recreation area providing day use

opportunities close to Grande Prairie.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Opportunities

• Periodic floods and size of site constrain amount of facility development

• Remains suitable for day use

• Designation as a provincial recreation area would better reflect the recreation opportunities on the site.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Strategy

• Maintain as popular day use area

• Improve safety and access to river

• Possibility of expanding land base to support additional river-oriented recreation

• Re-designate as a provincial recreation area.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Kleskun Hill Natural Area

Overview of Kleskun Hill Natural Area

• One of few sites that gives a feel for pre-cultivation Peace River Parkland landscape

• Vegetation and wildlife common to southern Alberta, but rare this far north

• Most northerly badlands landform in Alberta

• Microfossil finds on site

• Small campsite leased to County of Grande Prairie

• Used for picnics, nature viewing, touring historic community buildings moved on site.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



VisionKleskun Hill will be a provincial park that protects significant landforms

and rare native Peace River Parkland landscape. The site will offer opportunities for day use and environmental education, and be linked to Grande Prairie area tourism initiatives.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Opportunities

• This northern-most badland landscape is nationally significant – “one of a kind” which warrants legislative protection.

• The site protects rare Peace River Parkland landscape.

• The site has education and tourism potential.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Strategy

• Re-designate as a provincial park in recognition of national significance.

• Current campground is too small to be viable; the land base would not support a larger one without compromising the landscape. Redesign as a day use area to support potential tourism and education programs.

• Nurture links with County dinosaur tourism initiative.

• Historic buildings are incompatible with focus on landscape significance and education programs. Work with local community to develop a plan for the future of these building.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Simonette River Provincial Recreation Area

Overview of Simonette River Provincial Recreation Area

• This small site is along the Simonette River.

• The main attraction is the river and large sandy beach.

• Visitors camp or come for the day to play on the beach and in the river.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



VisionSimonette River Provincial Recreation Area is a river-focused

recreation site with rustic, low-key camping and day use.

Opportunities

One of few sites in the Grande Prairie region with excellent water-based recreation opportunities – swimming, boating, beach use.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Strategy

• Expand campgrounds to about 50 sites, may need to add some land to the south to support development.

• Floodplain constrains facility development on east side of road. Most appropriate for group or tent camping that requires little infrastructure support.

• Add bed and shore of river in order to be able to enforce park regulations on beach area.

• Look at upgrading day use.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Big Mountain Provincial Recreation Area

Overview of Big Mountain Provincial Recreation Area

• This site is leased to Swan City Snowmobile Club.

• It is used as a staging area for off-highway vehicle use.

• Also used as a group campground.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



VisionBig Mountain Provincial Recreation Area will be a staging area and access to

designated off-highway vehicle trails on surrounding crown land.

Opportunities

• Provide more formalized opportunities for OHV use in the region.

• This provides recreation opportunities for a segment of recreational users generally not offered opportunities in other parks.

• This vision supports Land Use Framework and other current recreation planning initiatives.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Strategy

• Upgrade staging area for OHV users.

• Work with SRD and trail users to upgrade trail system.

• Parks will take a more active role in management of site.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582



Demmitt Provincial Recreation Area

Overview of Demmitt Provincial Recreation Area

•Small wayside campground on Highway 43 near BC border

•Operated by County of Grande Prairie


Vision

Demmitt Provincial Recreation Area is a small rustic campground for travelers and local people.

Strategy

• Continue lease arrangement with the County of Grande Prairie to manage the campground.

• If Highway 43 is twinned to BC border, investigate opportunities to add improvements to site.

Parks Division

Toll Free: 1-866-427-3582

Demmitt Provincial Recreation Area


• We want to hear from you!– Website: www.albertaparks.ca– Email: [email protected] – Mail:

Grande Prairie Region Parks PlanRoom 1301, Box 18 Provincial Building10320 99 StGrande Prairie, AB T8V 6J4

– By May 10, 2009

Parks Division


Next steps and timelines

– May 10, 2009: end of public consultation for preliminary strategies

– Summer 2009: Prepare draft management plan

– Fall 2009: public review of draft management plan

– Winter 2010: plan approval

Parks Division


In closing…

• Alberta Parks Division wants to meet the increased demand for recreational opportunities from Alberta’s growing population.

• We want to provide quality experiences and recreational opportunities at the parks within the Grande Prairie region.

• We want to hear from YOU on your ideas about how to manage these parks.

Parks Division


grande prairie region parks management plan preliminary strategies march 9, 2009

Documents

future management

resulting management

grande prairie regiontoll

management activities

alberta parks division

grande prairie regionsupport

city of grande prairie

group of parks