BC Grasslands Summer 2002
BC Grasslands Summer 2002
BC Grasslands Summer 2002
BC
AUGUST 2002
Special Feature
Grasslands in the
Rocky Mountain Trench
GRASSLANDS
CONSERVATION
COUNCIL
OF
BRITISH
COLUMBIA
MAGAZINE
The GCC
CHAIR
PAST CHAIR
Leanne Colombo
INSET LOWER RIGHT: Ron LaRoy
Grasslands
BC
From a conservation and resource management perspective, ATVs, ORVs, dirt bikes and dune buggies
are all designed to travel off road and consequently
are referred to as All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). Although
snowmobiles are off-road vehicles, a process is
currently underway to develop new legislation and regulations for snowmobiles, and therefore they are not directly addressed in this issue of
BC Grasslands.
The inappropriate use of ATVs and the mismanagement of ATV use
around the province, both on private and crown land, is a very serious
threat to grasslands and other associated ecosystems, such as wetlands
and riparian areas. The GCC has heard a clear message from government
resource managers, the Federation of BC Naturalists, the Union of BC
Municipalities, the Outdoor Recreational Council, BC Cattlemens Association, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and the Federation
of BC Woodlot Associations (to name only a few) that British Columbia
needs some form of registration and licensing system, as well as
improved management of ATV use.
Needless destruction of habitat by ATVs is not a new problem.
Although ATV groups are making progress in organizing and educating
ATV users, there are many dirt bikers and quad users who are not part
of any association. And there lies the problem.Younger generations are
being fed powerful TV images: You have the ability and the freedom to
travel where no other vehicles have gone beforethrough streams, over
open grasslands, over rocky outcrops, up steep hill sides and through
alpine meadows. It is an appealing image. In the meantime, degradation
of one of BCs most endangered landscapes, our grasslands, continues
unabated, leading to erosion, the spread of invasive weeds and the loss
of wildlife habitat.
The fundamental problem is that resource managers, the ranching
industry, conservationists, ATV groups and the concerned public have no
effective means to address inappropriate use of ATVs on Crown or private
grasslands. ATVs do not require registration or a license for operation.
Because of this, land and resource managers and conservationists have
limited success in stopping reckless use of off-road vehicles.
Lets face it, without organization, a solid collaborative plan and a
means for registration of vehicles, how can we begin to talk about management, education, self policing and partnerships? For over 25 years,
various groups have discussed this issue and lobbied government, but
the problem remains.
In 2001, the GCC collaborated with various government and non-government organizations to produce an ATV background document: The
Need for a Provincial Licensing System and Improved Management of ATV
Use. The purpose of this backgrounder is to inform government and other
interest groups about the ATV problem and the urgent need to put in
place a system of licensing ATVs, particularly motorbikes and quads, so
people can be held accountable when using vehicles in closed areas or in
a manner damaging to the environment. The need for improved planning
and management of ATV use and the need for an effective educational
In This Issue
4 Addressing the Issue
5 Reversing the Damage
6 ATV Damage on Grasslands: The Tip of the Iceberg
7 Registration and Licensing of ATVs
8 Protect BCs Grasslands by Supporting the
Adoption of an ATV Law and Strategy Now!
SPECIAL FEATURE: GRASSLANDS IN THE TRENCH
10 Resource Management is Complicated in
the Rocky Mountain Trench
11 Garden Takes Root in the Columbia Valley
11 Sustaining Healthy Grasslands Symposium: Species
and Spaces at Risk
12 Weeds Catch a Lift with ATVs
12 Off-Road Mud Bogging is Fun,But!
13 Profile of a Grasslands Aficionado:
Mike Ferguson
14 Grasslands Fauna and Flora
16 ATVs: At Home on the Range?
17 Lack of ATV Licensing Can No Longer Be Ignored
18 Members Corner
20 GCC Project Updates
23 Across the Province
Apart from air and noise pollution, irresponsible All Terrain Vehicle
(ATV) use has a more direct impact on the environment. The allure of
these vehicles is that they provide access to parts of the backcountry that
were previously only accessible by non-motorized means. ATVs can be
used to ride through marshes, riverbeds, alpine areas and grasslands that
are extremely fragile and susceptible to damage by recreation vehicles.
However, travelling over fragile and previously untouched habitats has
significant effects such as crushed vegetation and increased wildlife mortality due to vehicle impact. When ATVs travel over grassland landscapes,
they create deep, bare tire marks, destroying the thin living crust of
lichens and mosses (cryptogamic crust) that protect the soil from
increased moisture loss and erosion. ATV trails allow for the spread of
seeds from plants that stick to the wheels of the vehicle. Because weedy
plants flourish in disturbed habitats, it provides the perfect circumstances
for an invasion of foreign plants that out-compete the native vegetation
and change the ecosystem. Hillsides become especially vulnerable to
increased erosion when the soil and vegetation are disturbed by ATVs.
BC
Grasslands
There are many subtle, indirect impacts that are significant in the long
term. ATVs tear up soil and vegetation and leave lasting trails criss-crossing the land. These trails provide hard-packed corridors that are used by
wildlife and humans. Not only does this increase the chance of encounters with wildlife, but it also results in unnatural movement corridors that
give an upper hand to predators in search of prey, and increases access to
the backcountry for hunters. The delicate balance between predator and
prey in nature and the territorial boundaries of wildlife populations are
disrupted.
Fragile ecosystems in the province already bear the scars of irresponsible ATV use. Damage includes deep tire tread marks, increased spread
of invasive and weedy plants, and increased erosion. These scars are
especially visible in grasslands that have experienced heavy use by ATVs,
motorbikes and trucks. These ecosystems are home to over
one-third of the endangered and threatened wildlife in BC including the
endangered burrowing owl. A significant amount of restoration is
required to return these scarred landscapes back to a healthy state.
Backcountry
There is currently no legislation to regulate the use of ATVs and off road
motorbikes in British Columbia. Over the past 30 years, concerned
citizens have urged the government to address the issue, but to date, very
little progress has been made. Together with a number of other groups,
CPAWSBC has been urging the government over the past two years to
establish regulations. In July 2001, CPAWS co-published a comprehensive
report: Alternatives for Regulation of All-Terrain Vehicles in BC (Rutherford 2001). The report examines options for regulation and makes a
series of legal and policy recommendations. The groundwork has been
laid; now the government must take up the work to establish regulations.
Until then, wildlife and ecosystems will continue to be affected.
Parks and protected areas in BC serve as a refuge for many species.
We must consider that sometimes the lack of motorized human activities
allows for greater ecological integrity and beautiful scenic getaways.
By accepting the limits to motorized use that are set in parks and protected areas, we ensure that these wilderness treasures remain healthy and
continue to inspire us into the future.
If you ride:
Stay on designated roads and trails
Do not use ATVs during spring thaw or after rain
Check for weeds and remove them from your vehicle before entering or
leaving an area
Keep your vehicle maintained to reduce pollution and excess noise
Be respectful of other trail users
Respect management decisions and road closures
Do not harass wildlife
Be an ambassador of your sport
Stay away from wildlife reserves and private lands
Accelerate slowly
Stay off hillsides
For everyone:
Restrict ATV access on your private land
Help restore damaged areas
Report sightings of irresponsible ATV use
Write a letter to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Management
urging him to explore and implement an ATV licensing program, and
work to keep parks and protected areas ATV free
Join CPAWSBC (www.cpawsbc.org) or other organizations working to
prevent irresponsible use of ATVs
Recently I was doing some monitoring work in a southern BC grassland. It was mid-June, and the ground was
still wet from a couple days of rain. Brilliant lupines and
brown-eyed susans dotted the grass sward, and the
mockingbirds were in full voice. Suddenly this pleasant
scene was ripped open by the angry revving of dirt
bikes, and two young men appeared, dressed in full battle gear. They didnt see me, as they were intent on finding a steep pitch to challenge. I was instantly furious, but
controlled myself and watched them for a few minutes.
The two soon found a suitable steep and virgin slope,
gunned their tightly-wound engines, and raced up as
far as they could, slicing through the scattered clumps
of bluebunch wheatgrass. When the bikes could go no
higher, they turned and bounced back down the slope,
to try again. I took some pictures of the deep tire ruts
they were making in the soft, loose soil of the hillside,
and then went over to them.
What followed was not pleasant and I wont dwell on
it, but the encounter taught me a lesson about the ordinary citizens perception of environmental damage.
These boys, perfectly normal young men in their late
teens, had absolutely no idea they were doing anything
wrong. The needs and sensitivities of that hillside of
native grass were not considered, in fact the boys never
even conceived of a hillside having needs and sensitivities. To them, that fragile slope of wheatgrass and stipa
was no different than a gravel pit.
This incident points out a fundamental issue in the
ABOVE:
Yellow bell
Dirt bikers on
Rampart Prairie south of
Cranbrook, BC.
Grasslands
BC
the Iceberg
petition to a Canadian television industry lobby organization. After six weeks with no response, I finally telephoned the CEO of the organization. His comment on
my petition was, in so many words,go tell somebody
who cares.
ATV damage on grasslands is the tip of a very ugly
iceberg. Sure we can run press releases on the problems
of ATV damage, we can post signs, we can try to use our
notoriously weak regulations, but until those two boys
and that television CEO learn about ecosystems, and
learn to have a shred of empathy and respect for them,
we are only treating symptoms, not the root cause.
Don Gayton is an ecosystem management specialist based
in Nelson. He has wide experience in grassland and dry
forest ecology, and writes non-fiction in his spare time.
ATVers on the Pettipiece side of the Lake Revelstoke Reservoir north of Revelstoke,
BC. PHOTO BY RON LAROY
The topic of annual licensing and registration of ATVs has come up many times among ATV users throughout the province. The pros and cons of such
a suggestion have been heavily discussed with many opinions given. Such things as making it easier to trace a stolen ATV, and a more accurate count of
users throughout the province go along with an annual registration. Dealers are generally in favor, especially those dealers near the AlbertaBC border
because of the sales tax situation. ATV/BC would go so far as to suggest that the Association handle this task, that it not be turned over to a government
ministry.
Licensing for easier identification of offenders would rely on enforcement and having enforcement people in the field. Mandatory third party liability
insurance is already required by the Forest Service when using Forest Service roads. Rules and regulations must be enforced, but at the same time
opportunity should be given to educate the user.
Some of the voices against registration and licensing cite another tax grab, money going to government for nothing and more regulations.
ATV/BC is in favour of registration and licensing, but there are conditions. Another tax grab is something we will not endorse. Money collected
through licensing and registration has to be returned to the sport. This money can be used for such things as safety training, developing ATV trails,
printing Ride Responsible literature, designating ATV areas, and educating the public that motorized recreation is acceptable. This form of recreation,
like many others, has to be understood. Communication between non-users and users needs to be established for better understanding by everyone.
ATV users must realize there are those who like a quiet hike in the backcountry, while those wanting the backcountry solely for themselves have to also
realize there are other users. Too many self-appointed experts try, and usually succeed in, establishing policy without a full understanding of our sport.
There are many uses of the wilderness that contribute to environmental impact: hiking, mountain bike riding, four wheeling, horseback riding,
camping and the free ranging of cattle. To single out the ATV as the culprit is unfair.
ATVing is an excellent form of family recreation. In this day and age of little family interaction, this sport has proven itself over and over again.
Handicapped and elderly riders have found an excellent form of transportation that allows them to access the backcountry and enjoy the outdoors,
and the fellowship of this form of recreation. Responsible users will look after the backcountry and will work towards educating those who dont.
ATV/BCs suggestion? Work with us, allow us to monitor ourselves, educate ourselves and others. Registration? Yes! Licensing? Yes! But with a financial return to the recreation. Without this return, NO!
Ron is vice-president of ATV/BC. Hes been snowmobiling since 1969 and quading since the mid 80s, staying actively involved with motorized recreation
during this time. Hes 57 years old and lives in Revelstoke, BC.
7
For the sake of the protection of the environment, BC is in dire need of a comprehensive all
terrain vehicle (ATV) law and management
strategy.
Currently, few restrictions govern recreational
ATV use within the province and enforcement
of the existing rules is difficult. While many
ATV riders enjoy their freedom to ride with
few regulations, the reality is that a host of
problems accompany that freedom. One of the
largest problems with the lack of regulation is
that ATVs are causing serious impacts and
damage to all of BCs wilderness environments,
particularly to BCs fragile grasslands. Hence,
the ATV issue is an urgent environmental issue.
BC has never succeeded in finalizing a law for
comprehensively regulating ATV use, despite
the fact that BC has known since the 1970s that
there was a need for legislation. On this issue,
Grasslands
BC
assisting enforcement efforts, such as adoption of easily readable license plates, a computerized system of registration, signage,
ticketing systems, use of conservation and
wildlife officers and self-regulation models,
etc.
A funding plan or modela key component
to the systems well-being, funding can be
sourced from registration fees, trail permit
fees, gas tax revenues, environmental surcharges or levies, sales taxes, or advertising
revenues
Clear interaction and communication with
stakeholders both at the outset and on an
ongoing basisthis reduces frustration and
encourages loyalty to the system by users of
the system
A range of creative possibilities exist for
responsible management of ATV/environmental
issues. It is my hope that BC will choose to
develop such a comprehensive ATV law and
strategy, through a consultative process. All
stakeholders stand to benefit from communicating with one another on these shared issues
and from working out strategies for managing
issues and conflicts.
In my view, any system which BC adopts
ought to include at least the following component parts, at a minimum:
The passing of basic comprehensive legislation to:
establish ground rules for access or nonaccess to public and private land and trails
establish basic rules and equipment standards regarding pollution and treatment of
the environment
address such issues as safety rules and
equipment
establish basic rules of conduct
provide mechanisms for effective enforcement of rules
The establishment of detailed standards,
most likely by regulation
The establishment of a computerized system
of vehicle ownership registration partnered
with a requirement to display a registration
plate on the ATV
An operator training and licensing requirement
Shooting star.
ILLUSTRATION BY
N.M.BRAND
SPECIAL
FEATURE:
GRASSLANDS
IN
THE
TRENCH
In about 1975, the assistant ranger in the Cranbrook forest district, Art Crane (now retired),
made a statement, the wisdom of which is still
current: Without timber management you cant
have range management. That sums up the
challenge of resource management, and thus
grassland management, on the floor of the
Rocky Mountain Trench. When nature and the
Kootenay Natives had a free hand, timber management was not a problem. If the trees got
lucky for a few years, the problem would eventually be looked after with fire, natural or otherwise.
In 1890 Mrs. Algernon St. Maur said this
about the Canal Flats area: The country over
which we rode was terraced, undulating
ground. [These terraces] are quite uniform, of
even surface, and covered with bunch grass and
sage brush, being quite free from boulders,
while here and there a few scattered pines
relieve the yellow bareness so characteristic of
this District.
Today there are a lot more than a few scattered pines in the floor of the Trench around
Canal Flats, or elsewhere in the Trench for that
matter. Boom and bust describes the last hundred years of grassland history here. As best we
can tell, the landscape of the Trench was relatively stable for hundreds or perhaps thousands
of years before the coming of the white man, a
landscape that burned frequently producing the
view described by St. Maur. Beginning in 1898
with the coming of the railway, Trench grasslands increased enormously as the accessible
timber in the Trench and side valleys was systematically logged off. And then the drought
and fires of the 30s made life even more difficult for trees. Talk about disturbance.
By the 1930s much of the Trench looked like
prairie. The first aerial photos of the Trench are
from 1948. Compared to the present, the
absence of trees in 48 is remarkable. How large
was this increase in grassland compared to the
pre-logged landscape? Ive never heard a guess,
learned or otherwise, but Im going to venture it
was at least double.
Grasslands
BC
10
On June 14th and 15th, 140 grassland enthusiasts gathered in Cranbrook, BC to partake in a
wonderful two-day event dedicated to healthy
grasslands. The focus of this years Sustaining
Healthy Grasslands Symposium was Species
and Spaces at Risk, hosted by the Grasslands
Conservation Council of British Columbia. The
enthusiasm was overwhelming as participants
from all over BC listened attentively to over 25
speakers address one of the provinces most
pressing issues: the many threats facing BCs
most endangered ecosystem: grasslands.
Talks ranged from a fascinating historical
perspective on the East Kootenay grasslands by
paleobotanist, Wayne Choquette, to an overview
on the passing of federal legislation on species
at risk by Michael Dunn of the Canadian
Wildlife Service, and a key presentation from
Dave Fraser of the Ministry of Water, Land and
Air Protection on the status of BCs species at
risk policy and programs. Speakers from private
business; non-government organizations;
provincial, federal and municipal government
agencies; and First Nations groups all offered
valuable perspectives on how to conserve grassland habitats for species at risk in BC.
But it wasnt all talk, talk, talk. Participants
were treated to several amazing field tours in
the East Kootenay grasslands. The first of three
tours, organized and hosted by Gary Tipper and
Kathleen Sheppard, included a walk through the
Wycliffe Wildlife Corridor. Guests experienced
the grandeur of these unique grasslands knowing that this area would be protected for a long
time as it is now in the care of The Land
Conservancy of BC. On Saturday afternoon, Don
Gayton led a three-stop tour on the outskirts of
Cranbrook to show participants the threats, the
demise, and the hope for grasslands in this
area. On Sunday, Don once again led grasslanders along the east side of Columbia Lake for an
all-day excursion and immersion in the Trench
grasslands.
As Bob Peart, Past Chair of the GCC, often
says in regard to grasslands,this is an important conversation, and one we must continue to
have. After such an energetic event as this one,
rest assured, this conversation will continue to
11
Grasslands
12
BC
PROFILE
OF
GRASSLANDS
AFICIONADO
that each day would bring. At the end of a day, the cowboys would be all played out, but my father would ride
off again alone to check more of the range.
The sheer immensity of the grazing area of Douglas
Lake Ranch, nearly a half million acres ranging in elevation from 2000 to 7000 feet, was both an advantage and a
disadvantage in range management. Moving the
cowherd of up to eleven thousand head over the range at
exactly the right times to accommodate the grass
required incredible planning and flexibility.Yet, ironically, it was precisely because the ranch was so huge and
the grass so varied that there was always a place for the
cattle to go.
I keep the cows movin. I dont want the range all
chewed up, the man of few words was quoted as saying.
The strategies he used to accomplish that included 1,000
miles of fencing that divided the ranch into pastures
based on vegetation type. Dry bunchgrass ranges were
suitable for winter or early spring grazing, while higher
elevation bunchgrass was reserved for late spring and
fall. He forced the cows to move not only between different ranges but also around the perimeter of designated
areas by strategically planning the location of salt blocks
and water access.
Mike protected the range from the invasion of noxious
weeds by insisting that gates were kept locked and people, vehicles and stray horses were kept out so they
couldnt compact the soil and spread weed seeds.He
carried on a constant war with knapweed and burdock,
remembers Pat Ferguson.Hed ride the range continually, not only checking its condition, but also searching for
noxious weeds. Hed mark them and send out crews to
get rid of them. Furthermore, Mike made sure that
every cowboy who rode for him knew the value of the
grass; hed fire a man on the spot if he found out he
passed a weed and left it standing.
He was proud of his cows and his horses, but most of
all, he was proud of his grass. It was his biggest worry
because he knew it was the key to the operation,
remembers his son.If spring rains were late, and the
grass was hurtin, he was hurtin. But once they came,
and the grass was fine, he was fine.
Kathy McCauley, BA, BEd, is a writer and teacher who
lives in the East Kootenay grasslands. You can reach her at
[email protected]
13
GRASSLANDS
FAUNA
AND
FLORA
Grasslands
BC
14
Long-billed curlew.
Chocolate lily.
PHOTO BY RON LONG
The summer season is a time when walks in our grasslands allow us to enjoy some of the most spectacular
blooms imaginable. It would be almost impossible to
choose a favorite grassland flower at this time of year
since there are so many with both beauty and a unique
nature. The chocolate lily, or Fritillaria lanceolata, is certainly no exception.
Chocolate lilies can generally be found blooming in
June or July depending on the weather and the elevation.
These plants enjoy rich grassland soils and Native
Canadians traditionally harvested the bulbs for food in
the early spring through late summer. If you examine the
bulbs you will see where the alternate name rice-root
originated. Numerous bulblets are commonly found
around the mother bulb that appear somewhat like rice
grains. This method of vegetative reproduction helps to
ensure propagation even if the bulbs are harvested
before the plant has a chance to set seed.
If youve ever smelled the flowers of the chocolate lily
youd probably wonder how anyone ever discovered the
edibility of their roots! The flowers themselves smell
quite foul, like rotting meat, in order to attract flies:
chocolate lily flowers depend on flies rather than honeybees and other insects for pollination. The lilies are generally grouped in twos or threes per stem and hang like a
bell, a position ideal for drawing the flies inside and
allowing them to be coated with pollen. The flies are
then fooled by the unattractive scent of the next flower,
and voila!, fertilization occurs. Even though the flowers
of the chocolate lily hang from the plant like a bell, once
the seeds are fertilized the maturing capsules of this
remarkable plant orient themselves in an upright position.
The colour of this flower is also quite unique.You may
hear the name chocolate lily and think a brown flower
sounds rather drab. This flower is anything but drab
upon close inspection! Each darkly colored sepal and
petal of the flower is flecked with green and yellow spots
and in the sunlight this flower takes on an incredible
deep burgundy reflection. The center of the chocolate lily
is filled with brightly coloured golden yellow stamens
that only add to its character. If you do discover what
you believe to be a spotless chocolate lily with a slightly
more compact flower you have probably come across one
of the northern rice-root lilies known as Fritillaria
camschatcensis. Northern rice-root has been known to
live in conjunction with the chocolate lily throughout
BCs grasslands.
15
Used everyday on a ranch to check cows, change irrigation and simply get the mail, all terrain vehicles seem
like a handy tool. But like any tool, if used without caution, they are dangerous. In this spirit, the British
Columbia Cattlemens Association (BCCA) supports
measures to reduce the impact of ATVs on rangeland in
this province.
Many cattlemen in BC make use of grasslands for
early summer pasture and knowing the right time to
turn cattle out onto these early ranges can be an art.
Producers take time
to consider the
amount of moisture
and grass available
before putting their
livestock onto range,
and working to
maintain the healthy
condition of these
rangelands is
a priority. Their
livelihoods rely
on access to these
ranges and they
spend countless
hours making sure that the animals are making the best
use of it without over-using the resource.
That is why when ranchers find areas that have been
damaged through careless use of ATVs, they are equally
as upset as any grassland conservationist would be. The
impact of motorized recreation is immediately visible on
the grasslands, but the after-effects have far greater
impact. The threat of noxious and invasive weeds is real
and contributes to the loss of biodiversity on the grasslands resulting in loss of habitat for threatened species.
The BCCA supports a three-pronged approach to the
problem of damage to sensitive rangelands.
from page 3
As a result of this process, the Canadian Parks and
Wilderness Society in partnership with West Coast
Environmental Law, commissioned an inter-jurisdictional analysis and developed Alternatives for Regulation of
All-Terrain Vehicles in BC (Susan Rutherford, July 2001).
The outcome of this paper is presented on page 8.
There is tremendous support provincially to resolve
this issue. Potential solutions have been explored and
Grasslands
BC
16
To the ignorant ATVer, climbing a steep, grassland hillside is nothing more than a test of mettle, an object to
conquer between rival egos, or just a friendly game
between riding buddies.
Unfortunately, the challenge to conquer the land is a
game with everlasting consequences in BC. Irresponsible
off-road riders are damaging sensitive areas, especially
wetlands and grasslands, and giving all ATVers a bad
name.
But there is a remedy: licensing all off-road recreational vehicles so those who ride in closed areas and
on private land can be reprimanded for their actions.
The key issue for us and many groups is that ATVs
and motorbikes do not require registration or a license
for operation, so conservation officers, the general public
and ATV groups have no effective means to address
inappropriate use of ATVs on crown or private land,
said Bruno Delesalle, executive director of the
Grasslands Conservation Council of B.C.
The GCC is one of 11 organizations trying to get ATVs
legislated under the Motor Vehicle (All Terrain) Act.
The original act, passed in the 1970s, was intended
mostly for snowmobiles. All terrain vehicles were just
starting to come out on the market, so it was expected
the legislation would be revisited later to include ATVs.
But this never happened. The result, many years later, is
a rising number of ATV users, but no legislation to cover
them.
Bruce Voth is a senior conservation officer for the
Ministry of Water, Land and Air protection. During his
30 years enforcing environmental regulations in BC hes
seen a marked increase in all terrain vehicle use.
In 1974 there were virtually no ATVs. In the 80s they
started to come on the market. By the 90s there was a
big influx of ATVs of all shapes and descriptions, said
Voth.
As it stands now, there is usually very little conservation officers can do when they hear about someone
riding in a closed area,but if they had a sticker (licenses)we could track them down, Voth said.
Unfortunately, a few irresponsible users are giving all
users a bad name. Like Bev Felske, president of the BC
ATV association, most ride with respect and care for
nature.
We are environmentalists, said Felske.And most of
us are old-age pensioners and we cant walk or hike, so
the only way we can enjoy the outdoors is on a motorized recreational vehicle.
17
MEMBERS
CORNER
Gerard Guichon Ranch Ltd. of Merritt, BC was awarded the BC Cattlemens Association Environmental
Stewardship Award in Dawson Creek in early June as part of the 74th BCCA Annual General Meeting.
Nominated for their stewardship practices and involvement with the community to promote sound
resource management, the Guichons contributions were recognized in the nomination by Doug and
Marie Mervyn. The Guichons unique multi-purpose duck ponds, successful short duration grazing system, assistance with the Burrowing Owl Recovery program and their support in conserving BCs grasslands through sustainable ranching were all mentioned as significant stewardship efforts.
My late husband, Laurie, and I had a vision of leaving the land in better shape than when we started,
said Judy Guichon, ranch owner. The generous show of support from fellow cattlemen, conservation
groups and wildlife biologists for the Guichons nomination clearly shows that the family is achieving
their goals.
Agnes Jackson, BC Cattlemens newly elected President feels,they are visionary. Before many ranchers,
Judy and Laurie saw the advantage of stewardship. They brought people together to appreciate ranching
and the environment.
Winners of each provincial award
are nominated for the Canadian
Cattlemens Association National Environmental
As the GCC continue to grow, so do the services it
Stewardship Award to be awarded later this year
provides to its members. It was decided at the June 2002
in Winnipeg.We believe that the [Guichons]
AGM that the current membership fee of $20 is too low,
long history of stewardship practices offers a
so as of January 1, 2003 the new GCC membership fee
good chance of winning the National Environfor an individual will be $30. The corporate membership
ment Stewardship Award, explains BC Cattlemens
fee will remain at $250. The GCC feels this is fair and
Association General Manager, David Borth.
hopes to continue to garner support from its members
Congratulations to the Guichons.
for the many grassland conservation initiatives weve
undertaken. Thank you.
Dear Members
Grasslands
BC
18
A Tribute to
Lloyd Hayward
19172002
Membership Renewals
success. And for this reason, we need your help in attracting new
members to our small but growing team. Currently, the GCC has 115
members with more donors than weve ever had. We think this is great,
but weve set our sights even higher: 250 members by the end of 2002!
Join in the effort to conserve BCs precious grasslands by joining the GCC
to a friend.
19
GCC
PROJECT
UPDATES
If grassland maps were on the market today, youd be wise to invest. While
the Canadian dollar slumps and the value of softwood depreciates, grasslands mapping soars in worth. Government agencies, non-government
organizations, and individuals involved in grasslands education, research,
monitoring, conservation and stewardship are all coming to realize the
value of the GCCs mapping work.
The BC Grasslands Mapping Project enters its third year of the fouryear project plan and there has been much progress to date. Base grassland ecosystems mapping at the 1:20000 map scale is now complete for
over 95% of BCs grasslands. To verify accurate mapping, the Project team
travelled from Kamloops to the Cariboo, up to Prince George, and finally
into the East Kootenay Trench for discussions with key grassland and
range experts. This verification process has not only helped us to arrive at
a consistent and accurate mapping product, but it has also served as a key
part of the Projects communication and extension work. Furthermore,
with the establishment of Regional Technical Committees, we are witnessing increased discussion on grassland issues among individuals in different branches of government. The word is out, and grasslands are gaining
the popularity they merit.
There is much to be done as the Project team moves into the third year
of grasslands mapping. With base mapping now complete, land status
and range tenure data can be incorporated, providing detailed information for an accurate assessment of the land status of BCs grasslands. The
Project team has already conducted preliminary analyses on the land status of grasslands in the Kamloops region, and there are some alarming
figures. For example, 50% of the Kamloops region grasslands are privately
owned, while only 5% of these endangered ecosystems are protected. In
fact, in the Merritt District, a mere 0.2% of grasslands are protected!
Year Three work is also planned on another key layer of the Geographic
Information System (GIS), namely the historical distribution of grasslands. Historical mapping will begin in the Natural Disturbance Type 4
(NDT4) valley bottoms, the traditional grasslands realm as seen by most.
With the native grasslands of these valley bottoms in the Okanagan,
ThompsonNicola, and East Kootenay Trench losing out to agricultural
and urban development, a historical layer for comparison to look at
trends and identify priority areas is vital.
With new funding partners and support from numerous groups and
organizations, the Project team is feeling confident that this year will be a
productive one. Its a good time to invest in grasslands mapping, the profits are sure to be huge.
For more information on the BC Grasslands Mapping Project, contact Ryan
Holmes, GIS Co-ordinator at (250) 371-6209.
Grasslands
BC
20
An Update on the
2002 Fundraising
Campaign
Mary Krupa, Fundraising Campaign
Coordinator for the Grasslands Conservation
Council
GCC on WWW
The GCC has secured funding to expand
www.bcgrasslands.org which will make it the
most comprehensive one-stop source of grassland-related information in BC. Over the next
Hamilton
Commonage
Grassland
Monitoring Project
The Hamilton Commonage Demonstration
Project was initiated in 1998 to bring together
environmental organizations, government agencies, ranchers and the Guichon Ranch in a joint
effort to develop a range management strategy
for the northwest quarter of the Hamilton
Commonage that would maintain and enhance
biological diversity and improve grassland and
riparian condition. This process resulted in
modifications to grazing management of the
Hamilton grasslands. These alterations aim to
improve grassland condition through changes
in cattle distribution, and they have protected
ecologically sensitive areas from grazing pressure altogether.
In order for the GCC to determine whether
the changes in management are effectively moving us towards our goals, a long term monitoring program needs to be developed and implemented to provide baseline information and
guidance for future changes in range management.
Consequently, since last fall the GCC has
developed and submitted several funding proposals to initiate the second phase of this
project: the Hamilton Commonage Monitoring
Project.
The goals of this monitoring are to measure
riparian and grassland recovery rates in new
and old exclosures and to test and provide monitoring tools to ranchers and range managers. In
this era of results-based management we want
to be able to assess the results of existing range
management practices or the results of changes
in range management practices on the health of
BCs grasslands.
The proposed project will establish a much
needed long term monitoring strategy for the
21
GCC
PROJECT
UPDATES
Preserving Working
Ranches
Jim White, Acting Vice-chair, Grasslands Conservation Council of British
Columbia
from page 12
tage of the open nest. During feeding and resting, disturbed wildlife will
expend valuable energy that they require for more critical times, such as
winter and migration. Any one of these effects is reason enough to use
off-road vehicles responsibly.
Off-road vehicles, like many of todays modern conveniences, can be
beneficial if used wisely. ATVs such as quads are beneficial work vehicles
and cause less ground disturbance than trucks or dirt bikes. Off-roading
can be fun, if users stay to established trails, respect private land, and
Grasslands
BC
22
ACROSS
THE
PROVINCE
Monitoring Restoration
of Fire-Maintained
EcosystemsRocky
Mountain Trench
The BC Ministry of Forests Research
Branch and the University of Alberta
in conjunction with the Invermere
Forest District have initiated a longterm ecosystem restoration monitoring project.
The overall goal of this project is
to establish a monitoring protocol
that will accurately document the
extent and rate of change in the
understorey of ingrown fire-maintained plant communities following
thinning and burning in the Rocky
Mountain Trench. Achieving this
goal will allow land managers to
evaluate and adapt ongoing management practices to meet the specific
objectives of ecosystem restoration
COSEWIC Update on
Four SpeciesSouthern
Okanagan Similkameen
Four species that occur in the South
Okanagan Similkameen area and
other locations in the Okanagan
Region were recently reviewed by
COSEWIC (Committee on the Status
of Endangered Wildlife in Canada)
and recommended for federal conservation status. They include:
Alligator Lizardnot at risk,
Western Screech Owlendangered,
Great Basin Gopher Snake threatened, and Western Skinkspecial
concern. The list of species that
depend on grassland ecosystems
continues to grow!
BC Cattlemens
Association AGM
The BC Cattlemens Association
hosted their 74th Annual General
Meeting and Convention in Dawson
Creek, June 6 to 8.
The 33 member Board of
Directors, each representing regional
cattlemens associations, elected
their seven-member executive:
Agnes Jackson, rancher from Napier
Lake, will serve as the President of
the BC Cattlemens Association for
the next two years; Ernie Willis of
Princeton will continue to serve on
the Executive as Past President; and
Mark Nairn of Riske Creek was
pleased to accept the position of
Vice-president.
The cattlemen were hosted by the
Peace River Regional Cattlemens
Association who received tremendous support from the City of
Dawson Creek and businesses in the
Noxious Weed
Symposium
Williams Lake
On May 30th, 2002 over 100 weed
management specialists, ranchers
and other participants gathered in
Williams Lake to address the growing noxious weed management challenge in BC. The symposium participants unanimously endorsed the following actions:
1. Initiate the development of a
province-wide strategy for effective noxious weed management as
soon as possible to reduce further
negative impacts of noxious
weeds.
2. Ensure a province-wide noxious
weed management strategy
includes the following elements:
a stable funding base;
improved coordination;
regional cooperation;
public awareness;
local and long-term commitment;
leadership;
an integrated approach;
multi-stakeholder involvement;
linkages to existing plans, policies
and programs;
an action-oriented approach;
more emphasis on preventative
strategies;
better application of existing technology; and
immediate attention before the
weed problem is out of control.
3. Engage relevant government and
non-government interests in the
development of a province-wide
noxious weed management strategy.
4. Request the Fraser Basin Council
to facilitate the establishment of a
multi-interest steering committee
or working group to develop a
province-wide noxious weed
management strategy.
BC Grasslands Magazine
ISSN 1496-7839
Grasslands Conservation Council of
British Columbia
BC Grasslands is a bi-annual
publication of the Grasslands
Conservation Council of British
Columbia (GCC). BC Grasslands is
intended to serve as a platform
for informing readers about GCC
activities and other grassland
programs across BC and Canada,
as well as providing a forum on
grassland ecology, range
management, grassland
conservation and stewardship.
BC Grasslands and the GCC
welcome submissions of letters,
articles, story ideas, artwork and
photographs for each issue.
Articles should be no longer than
600 words (300 words for letters
to the editor) and submitted as
electronic files (preferably
MS Word 95 or newer).
BC Grasslands reserves the
right to edit submissions for
clarity and length. However, every
effort will be made to work with
contributors to ensure content
remains unchanged. Deadline for
submissions for the next issue of
BC Grasslands is October 31, 2002.
Contributions, comments and
inquiries can be made to:
BC Grasslands,
Grasslands Conservation Council
of British Columbia
954A Laval Crescent
Kamloops, BC V2C 5P5
Tel: (250) 374-5787
Fax:(250) 374-6287
Email: [email protected]
Magazine Production
Bruno Delesalle
PUBLISHER/WRITER
Taylor Zeeg
EDITOR/WRITER
Funding
23
Thank You
If you have an event or message you would like to add to BC Grasslands GCC Message
Board, contact our office at (250) 374-5787. Submission deadline for the next issue is
October 31, 2002.
At the GCC we highly value what our readers think and a lot of future decisions will
be based on the feedback we receive on this
issue. If there are things you particularly
like about BC Grasslands, or would like to
see, please dont hesitate to phone our
Communications and Extension Co-ordinator, Taylor Zeeg at [email protected] or (250) 374-5787.
We Need Volunteers
Working
Funders
Beef Cattle Industry Development Fund, Ministry of Water,
Land and Air Protection, Ministry of Sustainable Resource
Management, Terrestrial Ecosystem Restoration Program,
Cattle Horn Fund, Ducks Unlimited Canada, City of
Kamloops, Endswell Foundation, TD Friends of the
Environment Foundation, Federation of BC Naturalists,
Grazing Enhancement FundKamloops and Cariboo
Regions, Habitat Conservation Trust Fund, Ministry of
Forests, The Real Estate Foundation of BC, Vancouver
Foundation, Canadian Parks and Wilderness SocietyBC,
Chasm Sawmills, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Kamloops
Naturalist Club, The McLean Foundation, Wildlife Habitat
Canada, The Nature Trust, Brink/McLean Foundation,
Southern Interior Weed Management Committee, Integrated
Wood Services, Greater Kamloops Motorbike Association
Donors
Gerard Guichon Ranch, Dr. Michael Pitt, William Stewart,
Les Southwell, Jean Humphreys, Bob Peart, Paul Sanborn,
Babs McLaren, John McQueen, Jim Turner, Vernon C. Brink,
Robert and Birgit Bateman, Geneve Dagenais, Fred
McMechan, Tracey Hooper, Brenda June Dixon, Kamloops
Naturalists Club, BA Blacktop, Brentwood Enterprises,
Windsor Plywood, John Nymeyer, City of Kamloops,
St. Georges Ranch
And a Special Thanks to
All GCC members, whose continued support has helped
make our programs a success
Ducks Unlimited for its generosity in providing affordable
office space and giving the GCC an opportunity to continue its growth and development
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society for all its support
and assistance with GCC programs and fundraising
Our many dedicated and hardworking volunteers who
have donated their time and energy to help the GCC grow
and prosper. These volunteers include Janet Delesalle,
Frances Vyse, Nicole Prichard, Nicole Brand, and the GCC
Board of Directors.
Thanks to the sponsors of this issue.
Ministry of Sustainable
Resource Management