Who is behind snowmobile Closures

X-it

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http://www.therebel.media/audit_suzuki . Sign this petition to find out.
 
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moyiesledhead

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Dam horseback riders are bad around here


Apparantly Huckleberries need to be protected from us dreaded motorized terrorists around here now too. This is from the proposed motorized closure in Sand Creek:

"Area is receiving increased pressure from non hunting ATV and off road traffic. The area has also been identified as important huckleberry production for Grizzly bears. Increased motorized access into these habitats is resulting in an increased recreational and commercial harvest of huckleberries. Increased motorised non-hunting recreational traffic is increasing the risk of disturbance and displacement of wildlife in important migration, and low to mid elevation winter range."

 

ferniesnow

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Apparantly Huckleberries need to be protected from us dreaded motorized terrorists around here now too. This is from the proposed motorized closure in Sand Creek:

"Area is receiving increased pressure from non hunting ATV and off road traffic. The area has also been identified as important huckleberry production for Grizzly bears. Increased motorized access into these habitats is resulting in an increased recreational and commercial harvest of huckleberries. Increased motorised non-hunting recreational traffic is increasing the risk of disturbance and displacement of wildlife in important migration, and low to mid elevation winter range."

Glad you noticed. Also, the big proposed closure in Alexander citing goat and sheep winter range along the Divide. My information tells me that most, if not all, of the winter range is in wind swept Alberta or on the eastern slope. I have never seen a snowmobile get to goat habitat, although, I am sure some have tried.

The ramifications in that proposal are down right scary in both the eastern and the western Koots. They have the tools in the tool box and I don't understand why they don't confiscate some of the OHV's that are causing damage instead of trying to "educate" and still work at closing more areas.
 

oler1234

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I had heard talks as well in the golden area of closing silver mines due to goat and sheep habitat. Ironically the guy pushing it has tenure up there for guiding/wildlife adventures.
 

moyiesledhead

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They have the tools in the tool box and I don't understand why they don't confiscate some of the OHV's that are causing damage instead of trying to "educate" and still work at closing more areas.

Because it's easier and cheaper to enforce if it's all closed. Very little of this is science based any more.
 

moyiesledhead

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I would tend to agree. That is a good way to look at it. The science data that is put forth is just a smoke screen.

It's worse than that most of the time. It's pure speculation, surrounded by words like "could, maybe, might", and it gets passed off as science. Now they're even trying to pass off the "precautionary principle" as science.

"The precautionary principle or precautionary approach to risk management states that if an action or policy has a suspected risk of causing harm to the public or to the environment, in the absence of scientific consensus that the action or policy is not harmful, theburden of proof that it is not harmful falls on those taking an action."
 

ferniesnow

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It's worse than that most of the time. It's pure speculation, surrounded by words like "could, maybe, might", and it gets passed off as science. Now they're even trying to pass off the "precautionary principle" as science.

"The precautionary principle or precautionary approach to risk management states that if an action or policy has a suspected risk of causing harm to the public or to the environment, in the absence of scientific consensus that the action or policy is not harmful, theburden of proof that it is not harmful falls on those taking an action."

Maybe it is time to find some cool places in Montana and/or Idaho.
 

Barry Barton

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Their are lots of different groups that are trying to close our areas and with what people are doing up their with the garbage there not bring down is helping these nuts. Seen some pics of the golden area a few years ago from the summer time and a garbage dump looked cleaner so I think were shooting our self so we should stop bitching about the peaple that want to close the areas we love and start to control our own sport a little more.
 

bobsledder

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Didn't take them long did it? For winter, all it looks like are trails and a couple of small areas that will be open. I could be wrong but that's what I saw on the map.
Thats the end of sledding in that area.
 

west coast

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Here on van island most of the snowmobiling is in the park. Watch for choppers and have fun.
 

ferniesnow

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The Ministry of Environment, et all, has proposals out for the 2016-2018 Hunting Synopsis. That's where we have to go to find closures, etc.. If one isn't a hunter or new to the area, from the get-go it seems kind of non-productive that for example a photographer who is a non-hunter would even look at a Hunting Synopsis to take a quad up near the alpine to take special pictures.

The following are proposals and will go through due process but we already know where that will lead. A few brief closures that are proposed: closing roads for ATV's that allow people to get closer to huckleberry areas so that the bears can have this necessary food source (as if they have been starving for the past 80 years as people have been using the area; a big closure in Alexander (the Sparwood clubs main riding area); lots of elevation closures for sleds and ATV's; and the always troublesome Barnes/Elliot Lake area. IMHO, these guys have the tools in the tool box to enforce the laws already in place but the poor bleeding hearts want to educate instead of using the hammer (heavy fines and confiscation of OHV, truck, trailer, etc.). I am sure if there were a few examples out there where people lost a lot of chit, most of the problems would go away.

The new proposals are below:
View attachment Access regulation proposals Table Submission 2016_psit.pdf
 

ferniesnow

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If the above cannot be accessed here is a copy/paste:
Proposed regulation change


Type (proposed)


Area


New, removeor amend


Rationale


Staff lead


Combine the existing BrewerCreek MVAHC Closure and theDutch Creek MVAHC closuresplus the Goldie Creek AMAinto one AMA. Expand toinclude all area above theexisting south facing lands onthe Dutch Creek Drainageabove (but not inclusive) ofthe Brewer/Dutch Creek Road.[COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-26[/COLOR]


AMA


East Kootenay


Amend


Over the past decade the area hasbeen extensively developed as aresult of forest operations. Bothexisting closures plus the proposedexpansion provide important fallrange for elk, mule deer and whit-tailed deer. Also important migrationcorridor for all species. The area isseeing an increased in hunting andnon hunting ATV traffic plus theconstruction of several unauthorizedATV trails.


Doug


Convert the existing Big SandCreek MVAHC to an AMA.Objective would be tomaintain seasonal access onthe main access into thisclosure but restrict access onall side mineral explorationand forestry roads. [COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-22[/COLOR]


AMA


East Kootenay


Amend


Area is receiving increased pressurefrom non hunting ATV and off roadtraffic. The area has also beenidentified as important huckleberryproduction for Grizzly bears.Increased motorized access intothese habitats is resulting in anincreased recreational andcommercial harvest ofhuckleberries. Increased motorisednon-hunting recreational traffic isincreasing the risk of disturbanceand displacement of wildlife inimportant migration, and low to midelevation winter range.


Doug


Convert Lime and Iron CreekVAHC to AMA. Changeboundary to include west sideof Lime Creek bridge. [COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-22[/COLOR]


AMA


East Kootenay


Amend


6 stream crossings in Iron Creekwhere vehicle use could damagehabitat, vehicle access to LimeCreek VAHC requires crossing BullRiver.


Doug


Convert Rusty & Deer CreekVAHC to AMA [COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-15[/COLOR]


AMA


West Kootenay


Support AMA


Protect the mule deer that stagealong the ridge & are vulnerable tolocalized overharvest.


Doug


Convert Rialto Creek/TulipCreek VAHC to AMA. [COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-15[/COLOR]


AMA


West Kootenay


Amend - mapneeds revisionanddescription inWMU sectionneeds to becorrect


Illegal trail building, constantenforcement issues. Reducedisturbance and displacement tomigrating mule deer and sheep.


Pat


Convert Cambridge,Sheppard/Malde/Tiger CreekVAHC to AMA. [COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-09[/COLOR]


AMA


West Kootenay


Amend - mapneeds revisionanddescription inWMU sectionneeds to bemore detailed


Area is threatened by heavy off-roadvehicle use. Area is important muledeer winter range, threatened bynoxious weed invasion.


Pat


Expand Haynes Tower/Swanson VAHC to includeHarrison. [COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-22[/COLOR]


VAHC


East Kootenay


Amend


Recent extensive logging and roadupgrades have occurred throughoutthe upper Bull River (west side).The majority of the area is within amotorized vehicle hunting closureexcept for the headwaters of theBull River. This drainage has alsobeen extensively logged recentlyallowing for very easy access intogoat habitat. Amending the currentMVHC to include the headwaters ofthe Bull River would move thenorthern boundary of this closureapproximately 5 km straightlinedistance north. In 2014, weconducted a goat inventory in thisarea (Unit 4B) which indicated a 55%decline in the population of goatssince the last inventory in 2004.


Irene


Convert Leadville Creek VAHCto AMA [COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-06 [/COLOR]- Closure point onmain road upstream of 8kmmark


AMA


West Kootenay


1988 as VAHC- amend toAMA?


Road development into LeadvilleCreek opened up access to areasthat supported deer and elkpopulations moving towards winterranges (wildlife connectivitycorridors). Caribou in area wereconsidered vulnerable to mistakenharvest or poaching.


Doug


Convert Sanca VAHC to AMA.[COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-06[/COLOR]


AMA


West Kootenay


Amend - mapneeds revisionanddescription inWMU sectionneeds to bemore detailed- amend toAMA?


Reduce displacement anddisturbance of mule deer migratingto winter ranges. Area has beenheavily logged, increasingvulnerability of mule deer. Winterranges are threatened by noxiousweed invasion, spread by vehicles.


Doug


Ammend AMA in AlexanderCrk [COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-23[/COLOR]. Change the existingseasonal restriction on eastslope of Alexander to restrictthe use of motorized vehiclesduring winter months onidentified mid to highelevation grass land winterranges.


AMA


East Kootenay


Amend


Avoid winter disturbance of Bighornsheep on winter ranges.


Doug


Switch the Wigwam AMA [COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-02[/COLOR]from the west road to the eastroad


AMA


East Kootenay


Amend


The current open road is extremelyrough and involves 2 streamcrossings. This change will reduceconflict with residents and theguide-outfitter who required apermit to access cabins from thenew road. Most valuable winterrange is on the east side.


Doug


Amend Baynes Lake AMA.4-22


AMA


East Kootenay


Amend


Amend existing AMA to include thesand island due to increasedmotorized use causing habitat lossand disturbance to nesting curlewsand FN arch sites.


Irene


Create new AMA at Kindersleymineral lick. [COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-35[/COLOR]?


AMA


East Kootenay


New


Motorized / mechanized use of lick.


Irene


Expand 9 Mile VAHC to includenew roads off Mt. Glen. [COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-24[/COLOR]


VAHC


East Kootenay


Amend


New roads have increased access toBighorn Sheep habitat. Wildfire hassubstantially increased sightabilityin area.


Irene


Create Pend d'Oreille AMA.[COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-08[/COLOR]


AMA


West Kootenay


New


There has been recent damage toconservation properties and illegaltrail building throughout the valley.An extensive trail network and roughroads cross through this entire area.BCTS intends to start logging in theLimpid and Wallack drainages in thefall of 2015 which will create newroads as well as increase the qualityof existing roads; this will increasehunting pressure on populations ofungulates;
protection of GAR Orderdesignations in the area (WHA andUWR); Prevention of increased highelevation habitat damage by ATV’sand ORV’s; protection of the highquality ungulate wintering habitat.


Doug, Pat


Ammend the Upper Elk ValleyAMA (Mt. Bleasdale). 4-23


AMA


East Kootenay


Amend


To exclude snowmobiles above acertain elevation as new loggingroads are providing access into goatand sheep winter range.


Irene/Peter


Amend Galton AMA (closeroads lower down). [COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-02[/COLOR]


AMA


East Kootenay


Amend


Increased vehicle access, sheepdisturbance.


Doug


Amend Broadwood/WigwamFlats closure to closed all year(currently open June 15 to July15). [COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-02[/COLOR]


AMA


East Kootenay


Amend


The road corridor provides anglerswith access to remote streamhabitat utilized by bull trout forstaging during their spawningmigration from the upper KootenayRiver system. Bull Trout arevulnerable to exploitation duringthis time. An increase in poachingduring the road opening over thelast two years has been reported. Itwas recommended by the KootenayAngling Management Plan ReviewCommittee (KAMPRC) to close theroad access year round. Given thestatus of bull trout as a listedspecies and the transboundary andregional importance of the WigwamRiver bull trout population,additional conservation tools arevaluable to ensure long termsustainability.


Irene


Expand Barnes LAKE AMA.[COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-23 [/COLOR]is in EK


AMA


East Kootenay


Amend


Difficult for COS to enforcecurrently.


Doug


Buckworth-Corn Creek VAHC
[COLOR=rgb(100.000000%, 0.000000%, 0.000000%)]4-07[/COLOR]

AMA

West Kootenay

eliminate To protect elk and staging mule DougCorn Crk 1996 deer, reduce spread of invasive
VAHC & weeds from FSR into good UWR
create (John Gwillim data).

BuckworthAMA


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