Tourism and Recreation

The plan area has high recreation values due to its landforms, climatic diversity, relatively undeveloped state, and proximity to the lower mainland.

Major summertime activities include rafting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and off-road touring. Ski touring and snowmobiling are popular winter activities.

Tourism (commercial recreation) offers a wide variety of services and has potential for diversification and development.

The major recreation resources within the South Chilcotin SRDZ (SC Plan area) are the trails, recreation corridors, lakes, unique geological features, relatively remote and undeveloped terrain, and the opportunities for a recreational experience in a natural or natural appearing environment.

Visual quality

In the South Chilcotin Special Resource Development Area the direction is to maintain the visual quality in the areas adjacent to the Big Creek Protected Area (Park).

For the Gaspard Enhanced Resource Development Zone (West Churn Creek), the direction is to maintain the visual quality in the viewshed of key lakes.

For tourism, the direction is to maintain the visual quality in the viewshed surrounding existing tourism operations.

Backcountry condition

Maintain 30% of the South Chilcotin Special Resource Development Zone in a backcountry condition. In order to be compatible with the timber targets this includes areas above 5,000 feet, and is mainly located in the western portion of the SRDZ, adjacent to the Big Creek Protected Area (Park).

Maintain 2% of the Gaspard Enhanced Resource Development Zone in a backcountry condition in order to provide for recreation trail networks.

Tourism development

Promote tourism development in this SRDZ, and focus tourism use and development on the backcountry areas identified in the recreation targets.

Backcountry Definition

Current public and commercial activities within the SC Plan area focus on the same or complementary outdoor activities, and thus the same natural features. By managing backcountry areas, opportunities for both new recreation and future tourism development will be maintained and enhanced.

In this context, reference to recreation includes public and commercial recreation.

The goal in delineating backcountry is to provide areas, in the most natural state available, where there are opportunities for a spectrum of recreation and commercial tourism activities, which take their meaning from the natural environment.

Government clarification interprets backcountry to mean a combination of Recreation Opportunity Spectrum experience classes “primitive, semi-primitive non-motorized, and semi- primitive motorized” as well as a wide range of values including: relatively undisturbed viewscapes, watercourses, wildlife populations, recreational features and some level of limited access.

Backcountry does not mean roadless in all circumstances and forest harvesting will occur in these areas over time, changing the existing character and quality of backcountry over time.

In order to remain compatible with other Land Use Plan targets; backcountry areas were overlapped with as much other non-timber targets as possible. Some of these included:

Other areas with harvesting strategies compatible with backcountry: OGMA, riparian areas, and areas with high wildlife values
Areas managed for visual quality objectives
Classified lakes
Tourism use areas
Recreation use areas. and
In addition, Wildlife Tree Patches are to be optimized to contribute to visual management.

Methodology of Backcountry Area Selection

The selection of backcountry areas followed four steps:

Step One: Mapping of specific CCLUP direction
Areas over 5,000 feet (1524 metres), mainly located in the western portion of the polygon, adjacent to the Big Creek Park were mapped.
Step Two: Information gathering
Recreation inventory and analysis studies were completed by L.A. West (Churn area), Viewpoint Consulting (west of Churn), and J.S. Hart and Associates (trail inventory and assessment). Public input was gathered which included location of trails, campsites, significant viewscapes and important recreation use areas. Current patterns of use e.g. horseback use, hunting, snowmobiling, trail bike use, 4X4 expeditions, etc. were also interpreted.
Step Three: Correlation of information
The recreation and visual subcommittee appointed by the Table mapped all areas with significant recreation and tourism values and established a hierarchy of importance and values based on the information received.
As much as possible, overlaps with other non-timber values (such as areas with high wildlife values and OGMA) were optimized.
Step Four: Strategy Development
Backcountry management strategies were developed based on the information mentioned above.

Identification of Area

The Backcountry Area includes the area adjacent to Big Creek Park south of Piltz Peak, Hungry Valley, Upper Dash Valley, Lone Valley, the Mud Lakes road, alpine areas in the vicinity of Quartz Mountain, Red Mountain, and the trail connection to Churn Creek Protected Area along Lone Cabin Creek. Using the CCLUP backcountry target for South Chilcotin Special Resource Development Zone of 30% or 36,310 hectares, the Table identified a backcountry area of 32% or 38,515 hectares within the South Chilcotin Special Resource Development Zone.

The backcountry strategy created two zones within the backcountry area:

Core Backcountry Area
Connection Backcountry Area

Core Backcountry Area includes the area adjacent to Big Creek south of Piltz Peak, Hungry Valley, upper Dash Valley and Lone (Beaver) Valley. Connection backcountry area includes Quartz Mountain, Red Mountain, Mud/Swartz Road, portions of the Dash/West Churn trail, and Lone Cabin Trail connection to Churn Creek Protected Area.

Issues:

Lack of inventories and opportunity studies on recreation and tourism features (e.g., lakes, trails) can limit their recognition and
Industrial development and road construction can change the recreation and tourism opportunities available.
Competition between public and commercial uses of the same areas can lead to degradation and a loss of economic and social
Decreased health and sustainability of fish and wildlife populations can reduce the viability of recreation resources and tourism
Recreation and tourism activities can have adverse impacts on fish, wildlife, and terrain (especially in popular areas). The social and physical carrying capacities of recreational sites and areas become a concern as the numbers of users and types of use

Goals:

A wide range of high quality, well-managed recreation/tourism experiences available for residents and visitors.
Secure commercial
Minimal conflicts with other resource based
Recreation and tourism development that considers carrying capacities, local interests and job creation.
Foster and support a high quality, well managed and ecologically sustainable recreation and tourism sector.
Use temporary industrial access in core backcountry areas
In core backcountry areas, manage for: natural appearing environment, low interaction with other people, high probability of experiencing solitude and closeness to nature, self-reliance and challenge.
Establish recreation facilities only where required for safety and sanitation in core backcountry areas.
Place higher emphasis on visual management in core backcountry areas,
Use motorized restrictions/non-motorized zones in core backcountry areas.
Manage trails in connection backcountry areas, focusing on the trail’s feature
Manage visuals from trail corridors in connection backcountry areas; and
Use temporary access roads and deactivation techniques in connection backcountry areas.

Objectives	Management Direction/Strategies	Measures of Success/Targets	Intent
1. Manage recreation and tourism use within physical and social carrying capacities	1.1 Consult with First Nations during recreation-related inventories to improve information on traditional use and avoid potential conflicts with new activities
	1.2 Increase the physical capacity of the site/area by expanding or hardening facilities in a way that prevents site degradation but conserves a natural appearance
	1.3 Replicate the experience by developing another comparable site/area
	1.4 Ration use by permit only when necessary to meet management plan and recreational quality or ecological integrity objectives
2. Balance tourism and recreation interests with other resource users	2.1 Encourage the agencies involved in tenure administration, or appropriate statutory decision makers, in cooperation with the resource based tourism industry and recreational interests, to consider setting physical and social carrying capacities (and limits to acceptable change) on a priority basis in areas where user density issues are identified		This should respect First Nations values on the landscape and be coordinated through the development of a Recreation Management Strategy
	2.2 Encourage partnerships between government, First Nations and other sectors, including the tourism industry that will facilitate the resolution of potential resource user conflicts
	2.3 Encourage tourism operators to work with First Nations and other groups to avoid potential accessrelated conflicts
	2.4 Manage for high-quality visual landscapes along main recreation corridors and at significant features (see Visual Management section)
	2.5 Identify existing recreational use near settlements (“near” is to be defined by the process itself and dependent on the type of recreational use being examined)
3. Subject to the availability of government resources, provide facilities and services to support a wide range of recreation and tourism opportunities;	3.1 When considering applications under the Land Act and Forest Act, recognize the value of maintaining existing and potential public recreational access points to lakes and rivers in order to maintain options for long term expansion of water-based recreation, except where this adversely affects Species At Risk habitats		The provision of facilities, services and overall management of recreation is subject to government resources (staff and funding) Prior to designations, interagency referrals will be used where appropriate to identify any potential resource tenure and use conflicts The maintenance of existing sites & trails may take precedence over additional infrastructure.
	3.2 Encourage partnerships (between government, First Nations and recreation user groups) wherever possible in order to deliver recreation objectives
	3.3 The management of recreational lakes, trails and other features noted in Table 1 below should be considered in addition to existing sites and trails
	3.4 To retain recreational quality and experiences, apply appropriate designations (e.g., Land Act Reserve) and manage recreational use on public access points to lakes and rivers
4. Maintain or enhance identified backcountry areas to support a broad range of recreation and tourism opportunities	4.1 Coordinate access-related recreation planning through the development of a Recreation Management Strategy		This objective is not intended to restrict the issuance of cutting permits. The intent is to maintain the broad range of recreational opportunities and experiences across the plan area
5. Undertake area-focused tourism/recreation planning to balance the interests of commercial tourism, public recreation groups and other stakeholders	5.1 Encourage coordination among agencies to foster tourism business opportunities within the plan area
	5.2 Involve First Nations in community economic development planning to identify opportunities and avoid potential conflicts (legal or otherwise) between users
	5.3 Consult with First Nations for information on spiritual values and relative significance to First Nations culture
	5.4 Public recreation groups, commercial tourism interests and other stakeholders should make efforts to work cooperatively in order to find mutually agreeable approaches to recreation use and management of activities
	5.5 First Nations should be involved in planning public recreational use/activities and the identification of related potential economic development opportunities
6. Develop and implement a management plan for designated mining/tourism areas (see Tourism Opportunities map)	Management plan for mining/tourism areas completed by 2005	Management plan should be guided by the intent of the Mining / Tourism Memorandum of Understanding Encourage tourism development in mining/tourism areas
7. Maintain the aesthetic integrity of known physical features and key areas of special value to tourism operators	7.1 Tourism operators will identify features and areas significant to their business in operating plans submitted to tenuring agencies		The Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, in cooperation with First Nations, Land and Water BC, Ministry of Forests, and other relevant agencies will be the keeper of information on special features
	7.2 First Nations should identify special features and areas during resource planning and consultation so that these are recognized when new tourism developments are being considered by tenuring agencies
	7.3 Information collected will be provided to appropriate resource management agencies and industrial operators

Objectives	Management Direction/Strategies	Measures of Success/Targets	Intent
Core Backcountry Areas Note: The following guidelines do not apply to snowmobiles unless they are specifically mentioned.
1. Recognize existing trails in the backcountry.	1.1 Do not construct new trails, unless relocation is necessary to prevent environmental degradation. Cutting of new trails is prohibited. (Section 102 of the Forest Practices Code Act) (Subject to Objective 4 below.)
1. Recognize existing trails in the backcountry.	1.2 Advise ATV and motorcycles to stay on the trails and that cutting of new trails is prohibited. (Section 102: Forest Practices Code Act)
2. Protect sensitive alpine habitats from damage.	2.1 Use Section 105 of the Forest Practices Code Act to exclude ATV and motorcycles from the alpine and alpine forest (above 6,000 feet: 1828m), other than on existing trails (see Section 12). Note - This guideline will also apply to alpine areas outside of the backcountry area (Access Management: Section 12).
3. Protect important wetland and riparian habitats in Hungry Valley from degradation.	3.1 Advise the public of the sensitivity of the Hungry Valley wetlands and that Section 102 of the Forest Practices Code Act, which deals with the protection of recreation resources, may be invoked if damage becomes excessive.
4. Provide for a range of recreational activities from 4WD to nonmotorized access, and to minimize conflicts between users.	4.1 Allow ATVs and motorcycles to use: The trail through Hungry Valley to Big Creek Park boundary: Trail section 3-6-7. The trail to the east of Hungry Valley to the Dash Valley: Trail section 8-11. The trail from Swartz Lake through Lone Valley to Prentice Lake: Trail section 15-13-14. The trail from Lone Valley to Dash Valley cabins: Trail section 13-11 This use will be subject to review at a future date if the levels of use result in unacceptable impacts on other resources.
	4.2 ATVs and motorcycles are not allowed into the upper Dash Valley (Trail section 11-9-10, and 11-12) or on the trail connecting upper Dash to Fish Lake (Trail section 6-9). The traditional recreational use on the above trails is horse pack trips. ATV access is difficult on these trails and current ATV use is reported to be minimal.
5. Avoid wildlife/recreation conflicts in Hungry Valley	5.1 Exclude snowmobiles from Hungry Valley wetlands from December 1 to March 31 to protect identified moose habitat. Snowmobile access to Hungry Mountains would be permitted (on the trail at the east end of Hungry Mountains). This restriction applies to all snowmobiles, not just to recreational snowmobilers. Snowmobilers will have alternate access to areas in the vicinity of Hungry Valley on operational roads, which will be constructed outside of the wetlands.
6. Avoid overuse of natural forage in the vicinity of camps.	6.1 Inform the public that the Gang Ranch horse pastures are critical to the ranch’s ability to manage Crown Range.
	6.2 Monitor use levels. If problems are identified, a further action plan is to be developed.
7. Inform the public of access restrictions.	7.1 Place signs at the following locations: Where Prentice Lake trail enters the Williams Lake Forest District (stay on existing trails). Where the Lone Valley trail forks off of the Swartz Lake road (stay on existing trails). Where trails intersect the alpine (stay on the trail). At the entrance to Hungry Valley from Gaspard Lake whereroad forks to Mud Lake and Fish Lake (sensitive wetlands). Start of non-motorized trail segments (no motorized access). Gang Ranch horse pastures (critical forage issues).
Connection Backcountry areas Note: The following guidelines do not apply to snowmobiles unless they are specifically mentioned.
1. Recognize existing trails in the backcountry.	1.1 Do not construct new trails, unless relocation is necessary to prevent conflicts with other values.
1. Recognize existing trails in the backcountry.	1.2. Advise ATV and motorcycles to stay on the trails. Cutting of new trails is prohibited. (FPC Act Section 102)
2. Protect sensitive alpine habitats from damage.	2.1 Exclude ATV and motorcycles from the alpine and alpine forest (i.e. Above 6,000 feet, 1828 metres), other than on specified trail connections. Note - This guideline will also apply to alpine areas outside of the backcountry area (Access Management: Section 12).
3. Provide for a range of recreational activities from 4WD to nonmotorized access, and to minimize conflicts between users.	3.1 The upper Lone Cabin Creek horse trail and the Swan Lake trailare in the Gaspard-Churn Creek ATV restricted area (see Current Road and Vehicle Restrictions, Section 12)
4. Inform the public of access restrictions.	4.1 Place signs at the following locations: Where existing trails intersect the alpine (Stay on the trails) Gaspard-Churn Creek ATV restricted area.

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