The Wilderness Stewardship Foundation works together with many different interest groups in the South Chilcotin Mountains. Together, we want to ensure the ongoing development of the area is sustainable and doesn’t destroy the natural resources we depend on.
In order to achieve this, we work on referrals and assessments that are sent to us by businesses in the area and the government of British Columbia. See the full list of past referrals and assessments below.
| Date |
1999 |
| Location |
Bridge River Watershed |
| Company Name |
TLH Heli-Ski Ltd. |
| Development Proposal |
TLH Heli-Ski Management Plan |
| Summary of issues |
Displacement of mountain goat and big horn sheep. |
| Solution |
Cancel ski runs on the Shulaps Mountains and Relay Tyaughton area to reduce sheep displacement issue. Restrict flight path to stay away from mountain goat winter ranges and reduce risk of displacement. |
| Date |
2001 |
| Location |
McGillivray Pass / Connel Creek |
| Company Name |
White Cap Resorts Ltd. |
| Development Proposal |
Ski Touring / Hiking Operation |
| Summary of issues |
Potential displacement of mountain goat from prime habitat winter and summer. Grizzly bear displacement from prime habitat in summer. |
| Solution |
Mitigation strategy needed. |
| Date |
January 2004 |
| Location |
Chilcotin Mountains |
| Company Name |
Rex Mount Ranch Ltd. DBA Spruce Lake Adventures |
| Development Proposal |
CR Application of horse pack trip operation |
| Summary of issues |
Camp and horse grazing conflicts with existing operations. Potential limit of carrying capacity of some areas.Wildlife displacement from prime habitat. |
| Solution |
Separate areas of use and disperse use. |
| Date |
January 2004 |
| Location |
Bridge River Valley |
| Company Name |
Tyax Resort |
| Development Proposal |
CR Application for horse pack trip and ATV operation. |
| Summary of issues |
No grazing tenure for horses and want ATV access into subalpine. Cabin location displacing mountain sheep herds on Shulaps Mountain Noaxe Lake. |
| Solution |
Pack in feed for horse trips. No new road development for ATVs into subalpine and limited camp development. |
| Date |
2004 |
| Location |
Chilcotin Mountains |
| Company Name |
Tyax Air |
| Development Proposal |
CR Application for mountain biking in the Chilcotin Mountains. |
| Summary of issues |
Non-compatible use of horse trails and safety risk to horses and riders by mountain bikers. |
| Solution |
Pre-trip orientation to be given to mountain bikers. Guided mountain bike trips only. Notice to horse pack trips of future bike trips so avoidance schedule can be developed. Limit speed of mountain bikers. |
| Date |
2004 |
| Location |
Hurley River Road |
| Company Name |
Canada West Mountain School Inc. |
| Development Proposal |
CR Application for hiking mountaineering in railway pass. |
| Summary of issues |
Nill |
| Solution |
Nill |
| Date |
2004 |
| Location |
Grouty Peak / Hurley River Road |
| Company Name |
Backcountry Snowcats Ltd. |
| Development Proposal |
Hurley Cat Ski and Year-Round Lodge |
| Summary of issues |
Potential displacement of mountain goats, grizzly bears and moose from prime habitat. |
| Solution |
Mitigation plan needed. |
| Date |
2005 |
| Location |
Hurley Pass / Lone Goat |
| Company Name and Participants |
Whistler Heli-Ski Commercial Snowmobilers Public Snowmobilers |
| Development Proposal |
Joint Use Agreement |
| Summary of issues |
Overlapping use conflicts between heli-skiing, snowmobile companies, and public snowmobiles. |
| Solution |
Separate use areas to reduce conflict between snowmobilers and heli-skiers. Set limits for number of snowmobilers to use area. Match experience to carrying capacity. |
| Date |
2005 |
| Location |
Eldorado Area / Slim Creek Area |
| Company Name |
TLH Heli-Ski |
| Development Proposal |
Review of heli-ski activities. |
| Summary of issues |
Potential conflict between snowmobilers and heli-ski operations. Potential displacement of mountain goat from prime wintering grounds. |
| Solution |
Separate use areas to reduce conflict between snowmobiles and heli-skiers. Helicopters stay away from goat wintering areas on south aspects and wind-swept ridges. |
| Date |
2006 |
| Location |
Marshal Lake |
| Company Name |
Phil and Mandy Rogers |
| Development Proposal |
Marshal Lake Area New Cattle Grazing Tenure |
| Summary of issues |
Potential overgrazing on big horn sheep and deer wintering area, south of Carol Lake. Potential conflict between grizzly and cattle. |
| Solution |
Drift fence to keep cattle north of Carol Lake. Constant range riding to prevent cattle getting sick on vetch and to reduce chance of grizzly getting habituated on cattle. |
| Date |
July 2006 |
| Location |
Cariboo Chilcotin Region |
| Company Name |
Tolko Industries Ltd. |
| Development Proposal |
Cariboo Woodlands Forest Stewardship Plan |
| Summary of issues and mitigation strategy |
– Road Access: We support 100% deactivation of all block roads, spur roads, watershed roads, and main-haul roads where possible. We are totally opposed to any loop roads for obvious reasons.- Backcountry Objective: We see that the backcountry objective for the South Chilcotin is to maintain only 30% backcountry, but the majority of it is used around the Big Creek Park.We support maintaining the buffer around Big Creek Park, combined with road deactivation.The Taseko backcountry is 70%.This combined with road deactivation is workable.
Maintain visual quality in Taseko area for tourism operator (need to consult operators).
Wildlife management for Taseko/ Big Creek area
This requires 100% road deactivation. We support 100% road deactivation. |
| Date |
2007 |
| Location |
Hurley River Road |
| Company Name |
Nomis Resort Group |
| Development Proposal |
Hurley / Lone Goat Gravel Pit |
| Summary of issues |
Moose displacement from prime habitat during road reconstruction. |
| Solution |
Summer work schedule. |
| Date |
December 2007 |
| Location |
Anderson Lake |
| Company Name |
BC Ministry of Environment |
| Development Proposal |
Community Watershed Designation |
| Summary of issues |
Nil |
| Solution |
Nil |
| Date |
January 2008 |
| Location |
South Chilcotin Mountains |
| Company Name |
Intrawest Timber |
| Development Proposal |
Tyaughton Mud / Nooxe Creek Watershed Risk Assessment and Road Deactivation |
| Summary of issues |
Old logging roads washing out. |
| Solution |
Deactivate or water bar roads wherever it’s suitable and needed. |
| Date |
March 2008 |
| Location |
Downton Lake, Bridge River Valley (British Columbia) |
| Company Name |
Max Pacific Power Inc. |
| Development Proposal |
Waterpower Project Cluster (Run-of-River Power) |
| Summary of issues and mitigation strategy |
– Bridge River: Potential displacement of grizzly from prime habitat during construction.- Nichols River: Potential displacement of grizzly from prime habitat during construction.- McParion Creek: Prime moose area – potential displacement of moose during construction. Prime grizzly area – potential displacement of grizzly during construction. This project has high potential to displace grizzly from the west end of Downton Lake. A good mitigation plan is required.- ZZ Creek: Potential displacement of grizzly from prime habitat during construction. |
| Date |
March 2008 |
| Location |
Carpenter Lake, Bridge River Valley (British Columbia) |
| Company Name |
Max Pacific Power Inc. |
| Development Proposal |
Waterpower Project Cluster (Run-of-River Power) |
| Summary of issues and mitigation strategy |
– Truax Creek: Limited concerns for wildlife. Limit road development along south side of Carpenter Lake to meet LRMP directives.- Rob Creek: Limited concerns for wildlife. Limit road development along south side of Carpenter Lake to meet LRMP directives.- Tommy Creek: Year-round mountain goat ranges on west side of Tommy Creek. Limit road development along south side of Carpenter Lake to meet LRMP directives.- Keary Creek: Year-round mountain goat ranges on west side of Keary Creek and critical winter range. Limit road development and deactivate road when done. Limit road development along south side of Carpenter Lake to meet LRMP directives.- Yalakom Creek: No issues on powerline. |
| Date |
March 2014 |
| Location |
Liza Lake, Bridge River Valley (British Columbia) |
| Company Name |
Interwest Timber |
| Development Proposal |
Cutblocks |
| Summary of issues |
The proposed cutblock is part of an important migration route for Big Horn Sheep. A large land slide in the area causes deep snow drifts in the winter that the sheep cannot travel through so they must use the adjacent forest for travel. The cutblock encompasses this vital travel corridor. |
| Solution |
Add a 50m retention buffer around cutblock keep all trees larger than 75 cm. |
