The Dude
11-22-2011, 10:06 PM
Well to all those (incl myself) who are sick of seeing ATVs off-road in the Alpine in the Okanagan, here's a new proposal that would apply to ALL users above 1700M, not just hunters
Proposed Regulations:
Prohibit motor vehicles above 1,700 m elevation throughout the Okanagan Region except for use on existing roads or trails. Existing Road or Trail means:
any paved route
any marked cross-country or downhill ski route
any logging road, resource road, permit road or previously constructed non-status road which is sufficiently hardened that environmental damage is not occurring from the use of motor vehicles
any mining trail built with a bulldozer or excavator
any roads or trails that access fences, powerlines, wind generators, communications or other such sites
any trail that has been so frequently used by vehicles that the native vegetation has been obliterated and only compacted, exposed soil remains in the tire tracks. No continuous vegetative material remains within the travel area with the exception of that portion of the track which is straddled by the vehicle travelling.
Click here (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/resident/docs/ahte/okanagan_alpinemvp.pdf)to see map of proposed area.
Snowmobiles are proposed to be exempt from this regulation.
This proposed regulation applies to all users and is not specific to hunters.
Rationale:
Off road use in sensitive alpine habitats can negatively impacts alpine soils and plant communities. The Okanagan has some of the highest densities of roads in the province with easy access to alpine areas. At the same time the popularity of ATV’s is growing rapidly. The purpose of this regulation is to protect sensitive alpine habitats while maintaining access to ATV and other motor vehicle users. An elevation boundary is proposed as most backcountry users carry GPS and/or maps, that would allow users to identify boundaries and for Conservation Officers to enforce the regulation. This proposed access regulation has received general support from most user groups who share concerns with protecting alpine environments from off-road vehicle damage. The regulation would protect 3,265 km2 of alpine not already protected by other legal mechanisms (e.g. Provincial Parks) . This proposed regulation would be complementary to Section 46 (1) of the Forest and Range Practices Act, and would increase enforcement ability.
Link here: http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/ahte/hunting/okanagan-alpine-motor-vehicle-prohibition
Proposed Regulations:
Prohibit motor vehicles above 1,700 m elevation throughout the Okanagan Region except for use on existing roads or trails. Existing Road or Trail means:
any paved route
any marked cross-country or downhill ski route
any logging road, resource road, permit road or previously constructed non-status road which is sufficiently hardened that environmental damage is not occurring from the use of motor vehicles
any mining trail built with a bulldozer or excavator
any roads or trails that access fences, powerlines, wind generators, communications or other such sites
any trail that has been so frequently used by vehicles that the native vegetation has been obliterated and only compacted, exposed soil remains in the tire tracks. No continuous vegetative material remains within the travel area with the exception of that portion of the track which is straddled by the vehicle travelling.
Click here (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/resident/docs/ahte/okanagan_alpinemvp.pdf)to see map of proposed area.
Snowmobiles are proposed to be exempt from this regulation.
This proposed regulation applies to all users and is not specific to hunters.
Rationale:
Off road use in sensitive alpine habitats can negatively impacts alpine soils and plant communities. The Okanagan has some of the highest densities of roads in the province with easy access to alpine areas. At the same time the popularity of ATV’s is growing rapidly. The purpose of this regulation is to protect sensitive alpine habitats while maintaining access to ATV and other motor vehicle users. An elevation boundary is proposed as most backcountry users carry GPS and/or maps, that would allow users to identify boundaries and for Conservation Officers to enforce the regulation. This proposed access regulation has received general support from most user groups who share concerns with protecting alpine environments from off-road vehicle damage. The regulation would protect 3,265 km2 of alpine not already protected by other legal mechanisms (e.g. Provincial Parks) . This proposed regulation would be complementary to Section 46 (1) of the Forest and Range Practices Act, and would increase enforcement ability.
Link here: http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/ahte/hunting/okanagan-alpine-motor-vehicle-prohibition