Legislation introduced today, if passed, will add more than 55,000 hectares to B.C.'s protected areas system, announced Environment Minister Mary Polak.

Bill 11 - the Protected Areas of British Columbia Amendment Act, 2014, adds land to two existing conservancies and two parks, and marine waters to four existing conservancies, protecting more area for future generations to enjoy. If passed, this legislation also modifies the boundaries of six parks, one conservancy and one ecological reserve.

"Since 2004, the system of Class A parks, conservancies, ecological reserves and protected areas has increased by more than 3.2 million hectares," said Polak. "Through this legislation we are helping to further protect our environment, including habitat for caribou and bighorn sheep, kelp beds and corals, grey whale feeding grounds and other areas with high ecological values."

If passed, this legislation adds nearly 23 hectares of land to Syringa Park in the Kootenays. Almost four hectares of land of an existing recreation area are being added to Paul Lake Park near Kamloops. More than 33,000 hectares of land are being added to Indian Lake - Hitchcock/Át Ch'îni Shà Creek Conservancy and Upper Gladys River/Watsíx Deiyi Conservancy, following the recommendations of the Atlin Taku Land Use Plan.

A combined total of over 22,700 hectares of marine waters are being added to four conservancies on the Central Coast (Mahpahkum-Ahkwuna/Deserters Walker Conservancy, Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy, Ugwiwa'/Cape Caution Conservancy and Ugwiwa'/Cape Caution - Blunden Bay Conservancy).

This legislation includes modifying the boundaries of the following provincial parks:

• Removing approximately 11 hectares of land from Indian Arm Park for the transfer of 26 recreational lots to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations;
• Removing approximately 10 hectares of land and Brewster Lake Road from Elk Falls Provincial Park, allowing the City of Campbell River to redevelop a water supply system;
• Removing approximately 2.75 hectares of land from Paul Lake Park, taking out an existing community water development from the park to allow for future upgrades;
• Removing approximately two hectares of land from Kleanza Creek Park, providing a local First Nation community with safe and reliable drinking water; and
• Removing 75 square metres of land from McDonald Creek Park, providing access to private land surrounded by the park.

Boundaries are also being modified in Mount Richardson Park, Tow Hill Ecological Reserve and Kamdis Conservancy to correct administrative errors; each of these three amendments being less than a hectare in size.

These amendments assist government in meeting a number of its economic objectives, including the redevelopment of a hydroelectric power generation station and community water supply systems, and commitments from land use plans and strategic agreements with First Nations.

Covering over 14 million hectares, British Columbia's provincial protected areas system is one of the largest in North America.

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834

BACKGROUNDER

Descriptions of expanded parks and conservancies and boundary adjustments

Indian Lake - Hitchcock Creek/Át Ch'îni Shà Conservancy addition (7,835 hectares): The addition to this conservancy adds high value winter caribou habitat around Airplane Lake. This addition is the result of the Wóoshtin Wudidaa Atlin Taku Land Use Plan. The conservancy is centered on Indian Lake and Hitchcock Creek, bordering the Yukon Territory. The total area of Indian Lake - Hitchcock Creek/Át Ch'îni Shà Conservancy will be 60,619 hectares.

Mahpahkum-Ahkuna/Deserters Walker Conservancy addition (6,438 hectares): The addition of marine waters to this conservancy protects kelp beds, corals, tidal lagoons, marine mammal habitat and Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation's cultural heritage features. This marine addition is the result of recommendations in the collaborative management plan developed by BC Parks and the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation. The conservancy is located in the Queen Charlotte Strait, one of the richest marine environments on the west coast of North America, about 32 kilometres northwest of Alert Bay. The marine addition greatly enhances the ecological value of the existing conservancy, protecting both the islands' marine waters and lands. The total area of Mahpahkum-Ahkwuna/Deserters Walker Conservancy will be 7,369 hectares.

Paul Lake Park addition (3.9 hectares): The existing recreation area is being added to Paul Lake Park, located about 25 kilometres north of Kamloops, providing a higher level of protection for this area. The addition includes a popular group camping and picnic area. It also contains a small field for recreational activities, picnic tables and a shelter to the west of Paul Lake. The total area of Paul Lake Park will be 728 hectares.

Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy addition (736 hectares): The addition of marine waters to this conservancy protects kelp and seagrass beds and important marine mammal habitat, as well as First Nations traditional use areas and marine-oriented recreational values. This marine addition is the result of recommendations in the collaborative management plan developed by BC Parks and the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation. The conservancy is situated in a dynamic and highly productive marine environment at the junction of Johnstone Strait, Queen Charlotte Strait and Knight Inlet, about 72 kilometres southeast of Port Hardy. The total area of Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy will be 1,375 hectares.

Syringa Park addition (22.88 hectares): The addition to Syringa Park, located about 19 kilometres northwest of Castlegar, is the result of a private land acquisition and also includes lands transferred to BC Parks from BC Hydro. The addition to the park contains important habitat for resident bighorn sheep, a species considered to be of special concern. The total area of Syringa Park will be 4,499 hectares.

Ugwiwa'/Cape Caution Conservancy (15,444 hectares): The addition of marine waters to this conservancy protects intertidal and marine areas with high ecological values, including kelp beds, a number of intertidal flats, high tide lagoons, globally significant tidal rapids, marine mammal habitat and seabird colonies. This marine addition is the result of recommendations in the collaborative management plan developed by BC Parks and the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation. The conservancy is located on British Columbia's southern central coast, about 56 kilometres north of Port Hardy. The addition to the conservancy makes a significant contribution to the representation of the Queen Charlotte Strait Marine Ecosection. The total area of Ugwiwa'/Cape Caution Conservancy will be 25,685 hectares.

Ugwiwa'/Cape Caution - Blunden Bay Conservancy (94 hectares): The addition of marine waters to this conservancy contributes to the protection of intertidal and marine areas with high ecological values, including kelp beds, grey whale feeding grounds and foraging areas of the marbled murrelet. This marine addition is the result of recommendations in the collaborative management plan developed by BC Parks and the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation. The conservancy is located on British Columbia's southern central coast, about 60 kilometres north of Port Hardy. The total area of Ugwiwa'/Cape Caution - Blunden Bay Conservancy will be 331 hectares.

Upper Gladys River/Watsix Deiyi Conservancy addition (25,255 hectares): The addition to this conservancy is being established as a result of the Wóoshtin Wudidaa Atlin Taku Land Use Plan. The conservancy is centered on Eva and Angel Lakes and includes the headwaters of the Gladys River, located about 50 kilometres east of Atlin. The addition to the conservancy contains traditional use areas for the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and adds to a large contiguous network of protected areas that extend from Gladys Lake down to the B.C./Alaska border on the Taku River. The total area of Upper Gladys River/Watsíx Deiyi Conservancy will be 56,358 hectares.

Media Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834