Moving forward to protect southern Alberta’s headwaters

In this Calgary Herald article, Alberta Minister of Environment and Parks, Shannon Phillips, describes the provincial government's planned approach to protecting the headwaters of southern Alberta.  Phillips writes, "...the province is designing a parks management and a tourism strategy for southwest Alberta. That work will involve months of engagement with local communities, Albertans, land users and First Nations. This kind of broad consultation is a necessity in order to get it right."  "A parks management plan for the Castle will involve input from local towns and counties, tourism authorities, land users, environmental organizations and recreational users. It will also ensure First Nations’ access for traditional land use and preservation of constitutional treaty rights."

For the whole article, click here.

Public Input invited on Proposed Protection of the Castle

To achieve enhanced protection of the Castle Special Management Area in southwest Alberta, the Government of Alberta will amend the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan to designate the Castle area under Alberta Parks’ legislation. 

Alberta Parks is inviting the public to provide input - comments, suggestions, concerns - about the proposed amendment.

More information about the proposed amendment, including maps of the proposed protected areas and how to provide public input, is available on line here (http://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/about-us/public-consultations/archives/enhancing-the-protection-of-the-castle-area.aspx).

Public input is due by October 5th, 2015!

Separate aboriginal consultation will follow the Government of Alberta’s First Nations Consultation Policy on Land Management and Resource Development and associated Guidelines.

Alberta moves to protect vast Castle wilderness area

"The Castle — an area of mountains, foothills, wetlands and prairie — is to be divided into a provincial park with full camping facilities and a wildland park with only limited backcountry camping. Both have the same level of protection."

For the full article in the Calgary Herald, click here.

Province to announce enhanced protection of Castle wilderness area

From the Calgary Herald:

"Following decades of lobbying for a provincial park in the Castle wilderness area, the province’s NDP government will Friday make good on its campaign pledge to better protect the iconic area in southern Alberta."

For the full story, click here.

Southern Alberta trout streams at risk despite recovery plan

This article in the Globe and Mail addresses the declining quality of habitat for native trout populations in Southern Alberta streams.