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BC Conservation Officer Service
Access Management Compliance and Enforcement Program (AMCEP) May/June Report Compiled by Conservation Officer Patricia Burley May 15-June 30, 2017
Upper Elkvalley/Fording AMA June 2017
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Introduction
The Conservation Officer Service is happy to announce that the Access Management Compliance and Enforcement Program (AMCEP) was renewed for another 5 years effective May 2017. The AMCEP was initiated in 2009. Since 2009 the AMCEP has focused primarily on the Access Management Areas (AMA’s) within the Regional District of East Kootenay’s (RDEK) Electoral Area A from May 15 to November 15. Currently the AMCEP joint partnership, with the Conservation Officer Service, is the only position of its kind in British Columbia. The Elk Valley alone has 14 Access Management Areas, BC Recreation Sites and Trails permitted non-motorized trails and a number of Motor Vehicles for Hunting Closed Areas (formally known as VAHCs). Thank you to the RDEK, Columbia Basin Trust, other stakeholder groups and the Communities of Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford for supporting this valued program and contributing to its success. Monthly reports are completed by CO Burley, who has been the CO Access Guardian since 2012. The following information is some highlights from the start of 2017 to the end of June. As of the fall of 2015 the Conservation Officer Service was given the new Off Road Vehicle Act to educate and enforce. During the early winter of 2017 East Kootenay CO’s patrolled crown land, Forest Service Roads and snowmobile staging areas to conduct compliance checks. On one Saturday the Fernie CO’s issued 32 tickets to snowmobilers for not having their snow machines registered and not having a plate displayed ($173-$230). Corbin, Wigwam Flats, East Flathead and Galton AMA’s are the most utilized AMA’s for illegal snowmobile use. Other AMA’s have exemptions for snowmobile use. CO Burley and CO Gordon (new to Fernie as of September; he took CO Garay’s position) took part in the Fernie Snowmobile Associations (FSA) Avalanche Awareness Days in March (Figure 1). Search and Rescue and Avalanche Canada also took part in the event to educate the public on avalanche safety. CO Burley has provided AMA information to the club and will continue the communication on what the requirements are while snowmobiling in an AMA and what they need for the ORVA. The FSA posted the following information on their Facebook page. “Fernie Snowmobile Association We recently had the opportunity to chat with Fernie Conservation Officer (CO) Patricia Burley to learn more about her unique role as the Access Guardian for our region and about the key things every sledder needs to know about riding responsibly in the Elk Valley. Here's a quick recap. Conservation Officers are public safety providers focused on natural resource law enforcement and human wildlife conflict prevention/response. There are 3 CO's based in Fernie and 4 in Cranbrook supporting the East Kootenay Zone. Patricia details that they have a vast mandate, guided by legislation, to protect not only fish and wildlife conservation and public safety, but also land/air/water pollution, spills, burning, dumping and livestock issues! The Off Road Vehicle Act has been in effect since Nov 2015. CO's provided a one year grace period where they focused on education and have now shifted gears to enforcement of this new public safety legislation.
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While sledding in BC ALL riders must have helmets, vehicle registration, insurance, and a driver's license. It is important to note that there are several Access Management Areas in our region, such as the Galton Range, East Flathead and Alexander Creek, which serve to protect sensitive wildlife and habitat similar to the Caribou closures found in other areas of BC. Patricia summarizes "The people in the East Kootenay’s have such a great opportunity to explore the beauty of the Rockies which provides a variety of recreational experiences. I enjoy making contact with all these user groups and will continue to build a better understanding to the public of the laws and regulations that are built around them". On behalf of the FSA, we are so fortunate to have dedicated community members like Patricia working hard to protect the environment and recreational opportunities for sledders in our region - THANK YOU CO Burley for your hard work! Links to AMA maps and copies of her monthly reports can be found by clicking the link in the comments section below. Riders can expect to see Conservation Officers like Patricia at staging areas and on trails in the Elk Valley. We ask that ALL sledders act as good ambassadors of our sport and operate in full compliance with the ORVA legislation and extend a welcoming hand when stopped on the trail. “
Figure 1: FSA’s Wranger Cabin March 2017 Rob Lanthier (Fernie and District Search and Rescue), Patricia Burley (Conservation Officer), Dave Hozjan (Fernie Snowmobile Association). Since March 30/17 hours were utilized in the important role of education and outreach to community members and stakeholder groups. The 2017 AMCEP’s plan was presented to the Mayor and Council Members (Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford), Elkford Rod and Gun Club, Fernie Rod and Gun Club, Sparwood Fish Wildlife Association, Cranbrook ATV Club and Sparwood Secondary School grade 9 and 12 Biology classes. CO Burley will continue to attend meetings and answer questions with these groups. On May 2/17 CO Burley, Inspector Caravetta, Ecosystem Biologist Allana Oestreich and other zone CO’s took part in an East Kootenay/Columbia Zone AMA meeting. It was a good
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opportunity for CO Burley to hear the similar issues that other CO’s who patrol and respond to AMA complaints have to deal with. Signage still seems to be the number one issue within AMA’s. The signs get ripped down or personal do not have time to post new ones. During 2017 Biologist Oestreich will be ordering new kiosks and large maps that will be posted in the Electoral Area A AMA’s. The CO’s and local recreation club members will help post AMA signage.
Figure 2: CO Burley and CO Gordon patrolled the closed area of Wigwam Flats AMA in May.
Figure 3/4: Grave Prairie AMA. CO Burley took part in a recreation airplane ride on her personal time in May. She was able to see Grave Prairie AMA from the air and look for vehicles. There were no illegal camps or vehicles seen in the closed areas.
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Figure 5/6: Sheep Mountain AMA. Continuous patrols are conducted in this area as there are numerous vehicle tracks in the closed areas in the sensitive grasslands. CO Burley conducted patrols in Alexander Creek AMA in May and June as the southeastern portion of the AMA was closed from April 1-June 15. CO Burley encountered hikers, anglers, campers and a couple trucks that were caught driving behind the Crownsnest Pass Provincial Park-year round closure (rest area pull out near the AB/BC border). One VT and 3 WT’s were issued to non-residence during this time. One new concern that the CO’s will be dealing with from now on is the use of pedal assist mountain bikes. CO Burley met with one of these bikers in late May and later on determined that it IS illegal for the pedal assist bikes to be in a closed non-motorized area. The legislation under the Wildlife Act states that it is illegal to use or operate a motorized vehicle in a prohibited area. The word use is what makes the bike illegal. The bike has a motor attached to it so if it is in use or not it is still not allowed on the closed roads.
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Figure 7/8: Phillips Pass in Alexander Creek AMA. The photo on the right shows a year round closed road that is being utilized by motorized traffic. The road leads to the cell tower. CO Burley patrolled the East Flathead AMA on May 31. She checked a number of black bear and grizzly bear hunters, ORV’s, campers and a trapper. She had two tickets issued for an ATV that did not have registration or insurance.
Figure 9-10: May 31, East Flathead AMA, they bears are moving around On June 27 CO Burley rode with Ecosystem Biologist Allana Oestreich on the UTV (side by side quad) through the Upper Elk Valley/Fording AMA to Big Weary seasonally opened trail (July 1-August 30/17). The trail was well maintained by the Elkford ATV Club. Trucks, ATV’s, dirt bikes and mountain bikers were all spoken to along the ride back on the Elk River Forest Service
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Road. No vehicles were encountered in the closed section. In the below picture there was a black bear, elk and a moose all seen in the one draw/avalanche chute. Our mountains are so precious and wild. The landscape is very sensitive at the top of the Big Weary Trail so it is important to educate people riding to this area to keep the walking along the trail to a minimum. Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep live here as well.
Figure 11: At the top of Big Weary trail within the Upper Elk Valley/Fording AMA. CO Burley worked with the BC Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Club based out of the East Kootenay’s regarding fundraising efforts towards the 2017 issue of the Outdoor Access Guide (OAG). The Outdoor Access Guide has been a successful tool in helping educate and inform the public within the Crownest Pass and East Kootenays on Electoral Area A AMA Maps (Figure 12). The club presented to the RDEK electoral areas and the Municipalities of Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford and Cranbrook asking for funding towards the new OAG magazine. CO Burley took part in two presentations to help answer any questions people had about the magazine. The club has spent countless volunteer hours working on this project and it is very appreciated that they are taking the leadership. They want to add the Cranbrook area AMA’s (the trench) into the magazine and update the maps for better clarity. The presentations were well received and the funding goal was almost met. CO Burley will help canvass for the remaining money to reach their goal of $10,000. We hope the new magazine will be ready for the fall of 2017.
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Figure 12: Outdoor Access Guide for Electoral Area A; AMA and non-motorized hiking/Nordic trail maps. The 2011-2015 monthly AMCEP reports and yearly summaries are now available online for the public to read. They can been view on the following website: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/kootenay/eco/accessmaps.htm
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Statistics
Figure 13: Current Summary of total time spent in the field up to June 30, 2017.
Figure 14: Current Summary of statistics up to June 30, 2017. The filtered numbers are for the months of May/June.
Figure 15: Current Summary of total outreach provided to the public up to June 30, 2017. It should be noted that Officer Presence is calculated as the time Officer(s) were physically present in an AMA, it does not account for travel.
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People that are educated are defined as COS discussing specific AMA facts and requirements for which the person in question was previously unaware. It should be noted that the Access Guardian Program and general AMA facts are discussed with more than 80% of contacts.
Figure 16: Total summary from the AMCEP 2011-2015, from the first completed 5 year contract. Summary AMA RAPP calls continue to be reported to CO Burley and the other CO’s. The bear issues within the valley have not been a concern up to this point, but that might change if the berry crop dries up early this summer. The Cranbrook CO’s will be assisting with patrols within the Electoral Area A AMA’s when time permits. CO Burley’s time was also spent following up with Human Wildlife Occurrence Reports (HWOR) when other CO’s were not available. Officer time is taken up in the office to deal with any HWORs, tickets, project reports or non-compliance investigations (photocopying, scanning ect). All CO’s time has been added to the 2017 Excel spreadsheet when working on investigations, the Outdoor Access Guide, AMA Reports and field time. The people in the East Kootenay’s have such a great opportunity to explore the beauty of the Rockies which provides a variety of recreational experiences. CO Burley is enjoying making contact with all these user groups and will continue to build a better understanding to the public of the laws and regulations that are built around them. If you have any questions or concerns about the May/June AMA Report or questions for CO Burley, she can be contacted at: RAPP 1-877-952-7277
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Desk 250-423-4264 Cell 250-423-1888 [email protected] 1621A 10th Avenue P.O Box 2877, Fernie, BC, V0B1M0 The Conservation Officer Service is a public safety provider focussed on natural resource law enforcement and human wildlife conflicts prevention and response. Our Vision: To be a progressive and respected leader in environmental compliance and enforcement, shared stewardship and public safety. The Conservation Officer Service Motto is: Integrity, Service and Protection Please see the attached Excel 2017 Stats for more detail of the Access Guardian’s patrols and outreach efforts from March to June 30, 2017. Maps To reduce document size, AMA maps have not been included in this report. If required maps of individual AMAs are available on the Ministry of Environment website (www.env.gov.bc.ca/kootenay/eco/accessmaps.htm) The maps available from the MOE website are in colour and contain much greater detail.
