Big Basin

The Big Basin Goal 2 area (Appendix III Map 3 Big Basin Goal 2 Candidate) is comprised of a small (± 500 hectare) area bounded on the east side by Churn Creek and the west side by a basalt cliff and scree slope. The north boundary is a small ridgeline leading in an easterly direction from the cliff to the creek. The southern boundary is an irregular line beginning at the confluence of Fairless and Churn Creeks, and then leading in a westerly heading just south of a wetland complex to join the rimrock. A diverse and regionally unique forest cover of aspen, spruce, pine, fir and grasslands characterizes the area. The gently sloping slump terrain of the area has created a number of small wetland drainage areas and three small lakes. There is a natural scree slope at the base of the rimrock on the west side of the area. Numerous wildlife trails lead through the area. The area is located in the Chilcotin Plateau (CHP) Ecosection, which is currently underrepresented in the protected areas system, with only 3.9 percent currently protected. The area is in the Interior Douglas-fir dry cool (IDFdk4) biogeoclimatic subzone, which is also underrepresented, with only 8744 hectares or 2.34 percent protected in the CHP Ecosection. The important natural values of the proposed Goal 2 area include wetlands, habitat for mule deer, sheep, waterfowl and birds and a diversity of forest cover.

The recreational values of the proposed protected area in Big Basin are:

• A 4x4 trail and a horse trail leading from a break in the rimrock and meandering through the area to Churn Creek; and
• Opportunities for hiking, fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, and horseback riding.

Issues and goals:

A placer claim is located adjacent to Churn Creek near the confluence of Fairless Creek. This is accessed by a small trail/road leading through the candidate area from the rimrock. The Table recommends that the Big Basin protected area boundary encompass this placer claim, but that the claim be “saved and excepted” from the legal description of the protected area. The save and except excludes the placer claim from being in the protected area but allows the feature to be added to the protected area if the claim lapses or is abandoned at some point in the future. Only the portion of the claim that will ultimately be included in the protected area will be affected by the recommendation. Land outside the protected area will remain available for future placer mining, unaffected by the presence of the protected area. Traditional road access to this placer claim will be guaranteed through the protected area. The rationale for including the claim inside the protected area boundary and then “save and accepting” it is that the claim boundary has not been surveyed, and therefore cannot be “found” on the ground, making it impossible to draw a legally accepted protected area boundary. The Ministry of Energy and Mines regulates mining and access for mining.