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Friends of Strathcona Park

Newsletter - Spring 2013Box 3404, Courtenay, B.C. V9N 5N5

www.friendsofstrathcona.org

to issue such a per-mit under theParks Act, as theauthority under theAct is to issue per-mits that he be-lieves are neces-sary to preservethe wilderness val-ues of the park.As horse riding upthe Bedwell wasnot an existingrecreational activ-ity, it is difficult tosee how a permitfor such an activitycould help in anyway to preservean existing value. Other arguments

were made as well, but this was the central one. Weobtained, during the hearing, an agreement with thedefendant (Parks) that each side would pay their owncosts. For a small not-for-profit, this is a great relief -should we lose we will only have our own legal coststo pay.

Thank you for your support through this case. It hashelped to know how many people in this area are insupport of preserving our park and also how many ofyou have generously helped financially with the legalcase

Waiting … Waiting … Waiting ….

We are still awaiting the reservedjudgment on our judicial review of thepermit issued to CWR to develop horsetrails, a horse and rider campgroundand horse tours up the Bedwell Valley.The hearing lasted for 5 days lastFebruary with our lawyer Scott Bern-stein assisted by Anna Johnson pre-senting arguments on the Friends be-half. Jennifer Pass, Jack Welsh, KarlStevenson and Ken Vande Burgt at-tended for the whole time and werevery impressed by the judge’s atten-tion to the case.

We argued that the Minister of the En-vironment does not have the authority

A View of the Bedwell Valley from above.

Annual General MeetingJune 22, 2013, 2 - 4 p.m.

in the Comox Valleydetails following.

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AGM

This year’s Annual GeneralMeeting will be held, like lastyear’s, in the Comox Valley.We had better attendance lastyear because the meeting wasmore accessible and less of atime commitment for ourmembers. It also costs a lotless.

This year the AGM is sched-uled for Saturday June 22 atJennifer Pass and Jack Welsh’shouse at 3164 Hellicar Road inthe Comox Valley. The meet-ing will be from 2 – 4 p.m. fol-lowed by a potluck barbequeand music around the fire. One of the high-lights of past AGM’s was the social time afterthe meeting, and we want this to continue.FOSP will provide some salmon and you areasked to bring potluck extras to complementthis.

Jennifer and Jack have acreage so camping isavailable for any who want to stay overnight.

To get to the AGM from the south headthrough Courtenay on Highway 19A. Whenyou pass Canadian Tire keep going straightahead along Headquarters Road instead ofturning right towards Campbell River. FollowHeadquarters Road for about 10 km and watchfor Hellicar Road on your left just pastTsolum River Road. Jennifer and Jack’s isthe second from the end of the road on theright, directly across from the milk can. Thereis limited parking, so you should park alongthe road. Please indicate on the memberhsiprenewal form if you will be attending so we

can plan accordingly.

Friends to host Bedwell Valley Traverse

For the last few years the Friends have beenworking on establishing an alternate route toexplore and enjoy the beautiful Bedwell Val-ley. This has included repairs to the GayleMcGee suspension bridge in 2010, and clear-ing projects in partnership with BC Parks onboth the upper and lower valley trail in 2011and 2012.

Last year the Friends guided two groups intothe valley, one from the Tofino side going up,and one from the Bedwell Lake side goingdown. The trip was a wonderful success foreveryone who participated.

This year we are planning to do the same tripagain, taking more time for the groups to en-joy the route, and perhaps do some hiking to

The Bedwell Valley - the big slide

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highlight points along the way.

The journey will take us through a fas-cinating array of diverse ecosystems,including old growth forests (missed bylogging), an incredible high elevationmaple forest, valley bottom alderforests and alpine environments, neverstraying far from the Bedwell and itsbeautiful waterfalls.

The trip will take approximately oneweek. There will be a fee of $100 perparticipant which will cover the costsof water taxis and transportation, andprovide a small donation to theFriends’ legal fund to protect the Bed-well Valley. Registration will be lim-ited to 24 participants, 12 in eachgroup.

The trip will be conducted in the sec-ond or third week of August, snow conditionspermitting. If you would like to register yourinterest to participate, please contact Kel Kellyat 250-337-8348 or at kelkelly55@yahoo.ca .Places will be reserved in the order they are re-ceived.

We are hoping that this trip will be a celebra-tion of a victory in court to protect this beauti-ful place.

Summer Project - Friends Hoping to Im-prove Signage

The signage in Strathcona Park is inadequate ina number of ways. There not enough signs insome locations, what exists is often not clearenough in conveying "the message", and someof the signs are not persuasive enough tochange peoples’ behaviour.

Perhaps the best example of this are the "nofire" signs - a simple picture of a fire with a red

line through it. While the message is clear asin instruction, it doesn't give any informationabout why fires are a bad idea. There is awhole new generation of campers out therewho have no idea that the little stick they areburning on their harmless little fire may in factbe 300-500 years old. Many people are notaware of the incredible time it takes for thealpine to regenerate.

We would like to do something creative aboutthis with BC Parks. We'd like to work with thecommunity , especially school age kids, to dosome education on wilderness ethics and thenhold a contest to create effective signs on anumber of issues (fires, wildlife feeding, leaveno trace, the importance of parks etc.) The cre-ated designs would, of course, have to be ap-proved by BC Parks.

Elk at the Big Slide

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The next phase of the project wouldbe to a bring groups into the placesthe signs are going, to actually in-stall them. This would connect thesigns and the people who madethem with the actual places in thepark they are made for.

If signs were only needed for trail-heads, the group could erect thesign there, and then go into thattrail for the day, or for overnight.

We'd like to start this venture in avery small way, and be success-ful....perhaps choosing three or fourlocations for "no fire" signs thisyear and giving it a try. While thegroups are in to erect the signs, wemight be able to do a cleanup of il-legal firepits, garbage etc.

The Friends have begun a conversation aboutthis with BC Parks and hope that we canwork together to make it happen.

Federation of Mountain Clubs of B.C.

As you are probably aware, FOSP is a mem-ber of Federation of Mountain Clubs BC(FMCBC). FMCBC is working on a numberof position policies for the purpose of havinga starting point for advocacy issues.

One of the policies is a hut policy. There is alot of discussion and interest in huts being in-troduced to our parks. There are a broadrange of opinions and experiences with hutsthat needed to be incorporated into the pol-icy.

The hut policy is timely. BC Parks is enter-taining a bid by the Alpine Club of Canada tooperate the disused Ranger Hut near Hair

Trigger Lake. The discussion is about fear of thebookings being dominated by commercialgroups, and how the hut would require re-supply by helicopter or by snowmobile. Thebenefits would be to have backcountry ski ac-commodation and summer use for people notwilling to carry a full pack. The Friends’ direc-tors have not yet reached a consensus on this is-sue.

FMCBC is also involved in the drafting of aPublic Access policy. The access policy is aquite complex. At first it was thought that ef-forts should be made towards getting PublicTrust Doctrine legislation similar to Britain'sCountryside Right of Way (CROW) act. How-ever, access issues around Strathcona Parkwon't likely be resolved by Right to Roam legis-lation.

For instance: the access issue in Bedwell Sound

Looking up the Big Slide coming off Big InteriorMountain in the Bedwell Valley.

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is about getting the Government to declare thatthe public has access through private propertyowned by Clayoquot Wilderness Resort as wasclearly intended in the original land grants. Theaccess issue for Comox Glacier isn't aboutwalking across land, it's about driving on roadsthat are privately owned and maintained for in-dustrial purpose. The access issue on aban-doned forestry roads to places like OshinowLake is about getting funding to restore andmaintain them for the relatively few that willuse them.

Another access issue is the planned closure ofWood Mountain Park and including the land intreaty negotiations. Apparently there was con-sultation done by BC Parks that determined thepublic didn't care about Wood Mountain Park.However, losing Wood Mountain Park as partof a treaty where the land becomes treaty settle-ment land means potentially losing the existinghiking access to Forbidden Plateau.

As you can see the outstanding access issuesare complex and unique for each situation.

In another initiative FMCBC is conducting asurvey to support the position that there arehealth benefits to be derived from hiking. Thevalue of such a position is to support hikingtrails in areas protected from other uses.

These issues and others that FMCBC is ad-dressing through policy, tie in well with FOSP'spurpose.

Comox Valley Road Runners Award

The FOSP were honoured to be one of two re-cipients of a $300 donation from the ComoxValley Road Runners at their Half Marathon inMarch. The other recipient was Kid SportB.C. who received the same amount. Each yearthe running club chooses a worthwhile charity

to donate to, and this year the FOSP was cho-sen as one of them.

When asked why they chose us, their presidentsaid, “We like what you do.” It’s gratifying tobe recognized this way. Thank you CVRR.This $300 will be spent in the Park on thissummer’s project.

SPPAC report

The last Strathcona Park Public AdvisoryCommittee meeting was held in Courtenaylast February 27th. The next one is scheduledfor May 22nd at BC Parks Miracle Beach Of-fice. This change of location makes it muchmore convenient for anyone living in the Co-mox Valley to attend as a member of the pub-lic to see and hear the committee do its work.The Friends think you would be suitably im-pressed by the level of discussion and thoughtthat goes into SPPAC’s recommendations.

FOSP also welcomes a new member to SP-PAC. He is Darren Saare from Port Alberni.The last SPPAC meeting was his first.

President of Comox Valley Road Runnerspresenting cheque to Friends of Strathcona

Park director John Milne

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At the last meeting much of the time was de-voted to discussing the new proposal to turn theoperation of the Ranger Cabin near HairtriggerLake over to the Alpine Club of Canada to op-erate as a hut. There were various benefits andconcerns weighed by SPPAC members. Somebenefits are the ACC taking over the operationand maintenance of the facility as Parks haveno budget to keep it up, it would be availablefor use all year, and it may take the pressure offCirclet Lake,

Concerns about this proposal include increasedimpacts in the area around the cabin, fees andreservation procedures, helicopter use for ser-vicing, and setting precedent for other similarproposals in the Park.

SPPAC decided to create some criteria for thisproposal and ask for feedback from variousgroups. It was noted that the FMCBC have adraft policy for huts in parks which may be use-ful in considering this proposal.

Other topics discussed during the meeting werepublic access to the Park through Mount Wash-ington Resort’s property, viewscape impactsfrom logging adjacent to the Park, problemswith access through TimberWest’s property,and the Comox Lake Sustainable Use Recre-ation Proposal, and campfires in the Park. Thecampfire problem resulted in SPPAC followingup with a forum on its facebook page with lotsof comments. (On facebook search for Strath-cona Park Public Forum to follow this discus-sion and future ones).

Nyrstar Mine at Myra Creek also produced a lotof discussion around the removal of dangertrees along the road to the Upper Myra Fallstrail as well as the Mine Restoration Plan andthe use of wood waste on the land being re-claimed.

This is a very brief summary of the meeting,and more can be read when the minutes areaccepted and posted on Parks’ SPPAC web-page atwww.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/ strath/strathwk.html where the minutes of allpast meetings are available.

Park Update

Some of what is happening in the Park hasbeen covered above. More news from AndySmith, Strathcona Park Supervisor, follows.

The staffing budget for Strathcona will be thesame next year as last. This means oneRanger and one Senior Ranger will be hiredthis summer for the Park. Andy has addedRon Quilter’s job to his own until a replace-ment for Ron can be hired sometime in April.

Nyrstar Mine operating in Strathcona-Westmin Park has been busy this year. Theyhave cleared an area of trees to obtain cleanfill for reclamation. Proceeds from the timbersale may possibly be used in Strathcona Park,but there are no guarantees this will happen.The Tailings Dam Facility Closure Plan wassubmitted to the Ministry of Mines and its re-view should be completed soon. The dam atJim Mitchell Lake should have its level raisedthis summer with details being worked outnow. The Price ore body along the road to theBedwell Lake trail will be worked on withmaterial to be removed through the mine soimpacts along the road are minimized. Hazardtrees along the road to the Upper Myra Fallstrail were felled and left as woody debris.Nyrstar has donated $25,000 to BC Parks tobe used in Strathcona and Strathcona-Westmin Parks.

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BC Parks spent $65,000 in 2012 on replacingthe Paradise Meadows Loop Trail Bridge, re-placing some boardwalks and a toilet at Bat-tleship Lake. The Elk River Trail has beenassessed with a report to come. A further$100,000 has been asked for 2013 projects

Ron Quilter’s Retirement

In December Ron Quilter retired as B.C.Parks Zone Manager for this area. He had along and respected career with parks and theFOSP appreciate all he has done for Strath-cona Park over the years. As a token of ourthanks we presented him with a lovelyframed picture of Cream Lake and hope it re-minds him of the beauty of Strathcona Park,a very special place for all of us.

Pat Broadland

On January 2, 2013 the Park lost another el-der who stood up and was arrested in theblockade of 1988. Pat and her husband Bobhave been supporters of the Friends eversince. Pat always felt passionate towardsStrathcona and we will all miss her. TheFOSP send our condolences to Bob.

Bob tells alovely storyof lookingfor Pat onthe block-ade only tosee her be-ing cartedoff by the police. It seems Bob knew nothing ofPat’s plans. Perhaps Pat didn’t either.

Bob had a long, distinguished career with BCParks, being one of the original architects of ourcherished system back in the 1950’s. Our parksystem owes a lot to people like Pat and Bob asthey were there at its beginning, and had an enor-mous impact on its creation.

Comox Lake Watershed Sustainable UseRecreation Area

Since last year the Friends have been involved ina series of meetings held under the banner of theComox Valley Conservation Strategy Commu-

Ron Quiler with the framed photograph the Friendsgave him as a token of appreciation.

Pat Broadland R.I.P.

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nity Partnership. The committee has beencomprised of representatives of FOSP, theCourtenay Fish and Game Club, and theConservation Strategy. David Stapely hasbeen the main author of this report.

Meetings have included discussions withTimberWest, the K’omoks First Nation, var-ious Ministry officials, and Regional Districtstaff. Presentations have been made to theComox Valley Regional District, the coun-cils of Courtenay, Comox, and Cumberland,and SPPAC. Many user groups have beenconsulted including ATV operators, horseriders, mountain bikers, hikers, and others.Responses have been very favourable for themost part.

The proposal has five goals which are 1. Maintainhigh water quality, 2. Conserve sensitive ecologi-cal areas and biodiversity, 3. Ensure public ac-cess, 4. Enhance and protect public recreation val-ues and 5. Support and oversee development ofsustainable economic opportunities.

The Friends got involved as the Comox Lake wa-tershed includes some of Strathcona Park and ac-cess problems have impacted the public’s abilityto visit the Park for some time. This also is aunique partnership where a very diverse group ofusers are all in agreement. To see the full reportvisit www.cvconservationstrategy.org and clickon the link on the right side of the page.

FOSP Membership FormThank you for renewing.

Name ______________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________

City________________________________________Postal Code______________________

Phone __________________________ alternate phone (cell) ________________________

e-mail _____________________________________________________________________

Membership (suggested $10 per year) __________________

Donation (tax receipts for anything over $25). ______________________

Number of People coming to AGM (June 22 ______________________

Would like to take part in this summer’s sign project ___________________

Comments (eg. What do you think of huts in the Park?)____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

send to: Friends of Strathcona Park, P.O. Box 3404, Courtenay, B.C. V9N 5N5