Cougar Canyon Ecological Reserve Management Plan
Table of Contents
Introduction page
6
Background Summary page
6
Role and Long-term
Vision page
8
Management
Objectives and Five Year Plan page
8
Figures ............
I Introduction
Ecological
Reserve Purposes
As stated in the
Ecological Reserve Act of 1971, ecological reserves are established for the
following purposes:
Scientific
research and educational use
Representation
of natural ecosystems
Study
of recovery processes after human disturbance
Protection
of rare and endangered native plants and animals in their natural habitat
Protection
of other unique and rare botanical, zoological or geological phenomena.
Management of
ecological reserves is therefore primarily concerned with strict protection of
the resources themselves and with the supervision of appropriate research and educational
functions of a type that will not harm or diminish these resources.
Recreation and
tourism are not supported in ecological reserves, although public access for
non-consumptive or observational purposes is not inhibited provided no
significant impact on resources results.
Purpose of the
Management Plan
This plan states
the role of Cougar Canyon Ecological Reserve in the provincial system, the
long-term vision for the reserve, and management objectives and actions to
bring them about. The ecological reserve role and objectives as stated in this
plan cannot be contravened in meaning or intent without consultation with the
public and approval by the District Manager and BC Parks Management Committee.
The five year plan is subject to annual review and adjustments.
II. Background Summary
Natural
Features
Located
10 km S of Vernon, the reserve is reached from the West Kootenay Power access
road which parallels its west side. Approaching from the north this road passes
through Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park by what is at present a public road. At
one point south of the park the West Kootenay Power road crosses a private
property where gates have been erected, therefore freedom of access may not
always be available from this direction. From the south, entry is gained from
Sawmill Road off Oyama Road via a locked gate and private road.
On
the west side the reserve boundary runs along the West Kootenay Power
high-tension line right-of-way; on the east an irregular boundary may be
redefined by the Okanagan-Shuswap LRMP. Present dimensions give a protected
area of 550 m between 450 m and 870 m elevation.
Physiographic
location is within the North Okanagan Basin Ecosection near its transition to
North Okanagan Highland Ecosection, and falls within the Okanagan Very Dry Hot
Interior Douglas-fir variant of the Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification
with minor representation of the Shuswap Moist Warm Interior Douglas-fir
variant.
The
reserve is a steep-sided north-east to south-west valley deepened by post-glacial
melt water erosion. Soil depth is shallow to absent on the valley sides, deeper
on the valley floor.
Drainage
is provided by a small stream which runs through several small lakes along the
length of the reserve starting at a minor seepage near the north boundary. It
is supplemented by a number of seasonal streams flowing from the east slope;
there are none entering from the west. By late summer in all but the wettest
years out-flow at the south end has ceased.
Where
rock outcrop is not present the north-west-facing slope is mostly Douglas-fir
forest, markedly different from the more open Ponderosa Pine/Douglas-fir forest
on the opposite slope. Steep grass openings cover areas of shallow soil. In the
valley bottom thicker mixed forest fill the gaps between lakes.
One
Blue Listed plant occurs in the reserve and another, so far not conclusively
identified, will probably also prove to be a listed species, in addition to
which there are 3 Blue listed reptiles.
Larger
wildlife includes Black Bear, deer (probably Mule Deer), Coyote and Moose, some
on a transient basis. A disused beaver lodge could be seen 20 years ago but no
recent activity has been noted.
Traditional
Uses
No indications of
native use have been reported.
Administrative
History
Cougar
Canyon was proposed as an ecological reserve in the early 1970s and finally
approved by order-in-council #2565 in 1981.
In
the late 1970s consideration was given to extending the boundary of Kalamalka
Lake Provincial Park to include the canyon but the proposal was dropped
The
Okanagan-Shuswap LRMP when finalised may recommend variation of the east
boundary of the reserve.
Management
Issues
Access
from the south is through two private properties. At present the Volunteer
Warden is allowed entry to the first by key under a permit that specifies no
accompanying persons.
The
second private property, adjacent to the reserve, is held for the purpose of
eventual development. No firm proposal has yet been presented to the local
government for approval.
Access
from the north is through Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park, then along West
Kootenay Power's 4 x 4 road. Two private parcels are crossed, one of which has
metal gates at its boundaries. There is no guarantee freedom of access can be
relied on.
The
powerline right-of-way provides a conduit for the spread of weed species along
the ridge top. In the main, they are restricted to areas of disturbance along
the road and around pylon sites but could extend into the reserve.
Evidence
of hunting and camping within the reserve have been reported in the past though
no recent instances have been cited. Development of property to the south may
cause a resumption of these activities due to higher population and improved
access.
Eventual
resort and/or housing development to the south could introduce domestic pets
into the southern end of the reserve, and increase the risk of accidental fire.
Research and
Education Use
Rugged
terrain reduces the practicability of formal research in this reserve, however,
inventories of the major animal and plant categories have been compiled on an
informal basis.
Access
difficulty makes this reserve unsuitable for education purposes although if
development occurs adjacent to the south end it may be desirable to arrange
some introductory programs there to foster understanding and a local protective
spirit.
III. Role and
Long-Term Vision
One of the
purposes in acquiring this ecological reserve was to secure a complete small
stream system with lakes at a low altitude to provide an opportunity for
research. Difficulty of access and movement within the canyon are impediments
to carrying out this role as only the northern lake and the southern four can
be reached without excessive effort, however the reserve does still offer
possibilities for investigation not readily available elsewhere.
·
Where
the valley-bottom stream starts by the northernmost lake is a damp area of
Western Red-cedar and Skunk Cabbage uncharacteristic of this altitude (ca. 550
m). A study of its amphibian and arthropod populations has attraction as a
research project.
·
As the
canyon lakes are not connected to any other bodies of water above on the
hillside or below in the valley (the outlet stream terminates 100 m above
Kalamalka Lake), and may not have received accidental or intentional input from
fishermen (possibly excepting the southernmost lake), it may be that these
lakes have been isolated through post-glacial time. Studies of lake components
could therefore have interest to distribution and evolution researchers.
·
The
steep east and west slopes, including any addition through the LRMP process,
have not undergone logging nor been utilized by range cattle, except possibly
at the extreme north and south ends, leaving these areas in an undisturbed
condition suitable for test plot establishment.
Despite these
possibilities, research and education functions are not easily adaptable to
this reserve. Its long-term vision, therefore, is best restricted for the
immediate future to one of conservation and limitation of access.
IV. Management
Objectives and 5-year Action Plan
Regional
Development
In so far as some
form of development project will eventually go ahead south of the reserve, the
object is to minimize any impact this will have on resources and, conversely,
any impact in the opposite direction that could cause harm to and complaint
from the development.
Action
Develop an
approach to development planning on adjoining property.
Preference will be shown to proposed plans that specify low-impact activities
(golf course, large lot residential) close to the reserve and concentrated
residential areas at a distance.
Fencing
If practical,
arrange for any incompatible activity on adjoining properties to be segregated
from the reserve by means of fences.
Action
Require a surveyed
and well-marked fence between the reserve and land development constructed at
the developer's cost.
Grazing
Prevent cattle use
beyond the minor amount of trespass that presently occurs seasonally at the
south end and along the ridge top.
Action
Monitor.
Fire
Minimize risk of
fire from illicit camping. Recognize naturally caused fire as a normal
ecological process, though at the same time respecting management
considerations on the surrounding provincial forest lands.
Action
Monitor former
camp sites.
Require a buffer
zone and fire plan for contiguous development properties.
Forest Disease
Permit native pest
and disease processes to proceed unless part of a regional outbreak, or
involving non-native vectors, in which case evaluation and appropriate
strategies will be developed with the local Forest District Office.
Action
Monitor.
Introduced
Plant Species
Prevent major weed
infestations in the reserve.
Action
Monitor West
Kootenay Power access road and pylon sites for the presence of noxious weeds.
Access
1. Assure access will continue to be available
through private property south of the
reserve.
Action
Continue friendly
relationship with representatives of the owner and gatekeeper. Also make
contact with officials of any new development
project or contractor as required for the same purpose.
2. Assure access will continue to be available
through private property on the approach from the north.
Action
Ascertain owner of
private property that impinges on access road in order to learn their
intentions.
3. When possible to have the West Kootenay
Power road re-sited at the two or three
points where it crosses into reserve property.
Action
Request company to
advise whenever roadwork is planned.
Increase signage
along this road.
Research and
Education
1. Make information available on opportunities
for non-destructive research, and continue benchmark studies.
Action
Assure reserve
information is included in research summary lists maintained in Victoria.
2. In the event of residential construction
south of the reserve, inform the public in the new community of the
purpose and importance of the ecological reserve program to head off the possibility of inappropriate use.
Action
Prepare to provide
suitable signage or information kiosk at the boundary. Plan for short
introductory walks and explanatory talks for new residents.