News/Reports
Evans Lake Ecological Reserve #32 Purpose statement
Primary Role
EVANS LAKE ECOLOGICAL RESERVE Purpose Statement
The primary role of Evans Lake Ecological Reserve is to protect a distinctive stand of yellow cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis). The ecological reserve creates an excellent opportunity to study and research a tree species and associated flora more commonly found in subalpine forests of the Pacific coast. The ecological reserve contains one of the few stands of yellow cedar in the interior of the province and is undoubtedly the best example of a yellow cedar ecosystem within the British Columbia interior.
The yellow cedar grows near the shore of Evans Lake to the 2,130 metre level and is sometimes dense enough to form the dominant tree community. In other areas within the ecological reserve, yellow cedar occurs sporadically with old growth Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir.
Evans Lake Ecological Reserve is also formally part of Valhalla Provincial Park, a Class A park.
Yellow cedar photo by Walter Siegmund (Wikipedia)
See the full PDF of the Purpose Statement at:evanser_ps
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Known Management Issues |
Response |
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Unauthorized air access to Evans Lake increases otherwise regulated public use within the ecological reserve. Currently, landing on Evans Lake is through permit only. |
Liaison with permittees to facilitate reporting of violations. More park staff presence within the ecological reserve. |
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Illegal camping along the shores of Evans Lake and within ecological reserve. Associated impacts (i.e. fires, garbage). |
Increase staff presence/enforcement and inform park visitors of ecological reserve designation (i.e. signage). |
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Ecological inventory information for this reserve is very sparse. |
Support any research aimed at collecting baseline inventory information. |
Area: 165 hectares
Date of Establishment: March 8, 1972
Formally included with Valhalla Provincial Park. 1 of only 2 ecological reserves in the West Kootenay.