Banff National Park of Canada

Park Management

Banff National Park Management Plan

2.0 CONTEXT AND A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

2.1 Regional Context

Banff National Park lies at the heart of the Central Rockies Ecosystem (CRE). Straddling the continental divide, this ecosystem extends west to the Columbia River Trench and just beyond the foothills of Alberta to the east. A combination of factors including hydrology, vegetation, wildlife, transportation and jurisdictions have determined the boundaries of this area of approximately 40,000 km².

A variety of federal, provincial, and municipal agencies, often with very different mandates, oversee preservation, tourism, forestry, mining, oil and gas extraction, energy development and stock grazing in the CRE (White et al, 1995). Lands zoned for multiple use make up about 60% of the area. Almost 30% of the ecosystem is set aside as protected areas. The central portion, including Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks and Assiniboine, Hamber and Mt. Robson Provincial Parks in British Columbia, is recognized internationally as a World Heritage Site.

Although there are sizable areas of wilderness in the CRE, considerable development in the valley bottoms and montane areas support tourism, residential accommodation and transportation. The Canmore Corridor, the montane area just east of the park, is growing faster than any other area in the province. The Town of Canmore grew by 10% in 1995 and its population is expected to reach 20,000 by the year 2010.

Intensive land use in both Alberta and British Columbia put pressure on the park. Logging in British Columbia and ranching and tourism in Alberta fragment habitat and provide increasingly easy access to previously inaccessible areas of the park.

The park is a vital link in the national transportation system. Between 25 and 30 trains follow the CPR main line through the park every day. Traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway increases by approximately five per cent annually and as a result the highway is now twinned for half its length in the park.

2.2 The Town of Banff and the Hamlet of Lake Louise

In 1887 there were a total of 180 lots leased in the townsite. Six hotels, nine stores, two churches, a school and a post office provided services for visitors and residents (Lothian, 1977). From these early beginnings, the Town of Banff has grown to its present population of about 7,600 residents. In 1990, the Town was granted municipal status and now has a Mayor and an elected council. The Hamlet of Lake Louise, on the other hand, remains a visitor service centre with a population of about 1,500 people.

2.3 Park Policy and Land Use

The evolution of Parks Canada's policy has manifested itself in many ways. In the formative years of the park, the focus was on tourism opportunities around the hot springs and on encouraging private enterprise to invest in the park. More recently, there has been a growing emphasis on conservation and the protection of the park's natural systems.

Many activities sanctioned by former policies would not be considered today. In fact, many of the park's current efforts are aimed at restoring systems that were radically altered as a result of former policies. Although hunting was prohibited in 1890, it was not until 1959 that predator control programs ended. Fire is a critical link in the natural evolution of the environment. However, fire suppression in Banff National Park has interfered with this natural process, favouring the growth of spruce forests to the detriment of other habitats such as grassland and trembling aspen stands. The last major fire in the Bow Valley occurred in 1908.

The extensive infrastructure required to meet the needs of a growing number of visitors has fragmented the landscape and disrupted habitat connectivity for critical species such as grizzly bear and wolves. Activities such as the construction of reservoirs, the damming of rivers and lakes for water and recreation, the controlled release of water from dams, and alterations due to highway and railway construction have affected aquatic resources and caused the loss of many naturally flowing streams in the park.

2.4 Human Use

The number of visitors to Banff National Park has tripled since 1970. Between April 1995 and March 1996, approximately four million people visited the park. At the same time, an estimated four million people passed through the park on their way to another destination. Surveys indicate that almost 80% of the people who visit Banff National Park come into the Town of Banff at least once during their stay. Surveys also show that the majority of park visitors are from Alberta, of which more than half are from the Calgary area. These statistics highlight the recreational importance of the park for the people in the surrounding region.

The significance of Banff National Park to the provincial and national tourism industry is undisputed. In the years ahead, many factors will enhance this significance - improved marketing, development in adjacent areas, economic and government policy, concern for the environment, more demand for day use, improvements in science and technology, changes in visitor demographics, tourism planning and development, and the open skies policy.

Most park visitors remain in frontcountry areas, primarily on the highways, in the Town of Banff, and in the Hamlet of Lake Louise. Backcountry use has declined from a peak of 20,300 user nights in 1975 to 18,000 user nights annually.

2. 5 Vision for the Future

• Banff National Park is an important cornerstone of Canadian identity and an international obligation to World Heritage.
   
• If we are to pass the legacy of Banff National Park on to future generations, there must be limits to development.
   
• There is a need to reduce stress on park ecosystems and to restore natural processes.
   
• Partnerships are essential if we are to be as effective as possible.
   
• The public will only support decisions that are fair and arrived at through a process they understand.

• The park is a living example of the way in which nature is protected while appropriate kinds and levels of human activity are welcomed.
   
• Natural systems and their component native species are free to function and evolve. The park supports and is supported by the natural systems of the region around it.
   
• The park is available to all Canadians and international guests who wish to participate in a diverse range of appropriate activities. They treat the park with respect. The quality of the natural environment is fundamental to the visitor experience, which is enriched by the quality of services provided.
   
• Understanding the value of our national parks is a part of being Canadian. Education and awareness about national park values, ethics, natural and cultural heritage and services are provided both within and beyond the boundaries of the park. Introduction to this knowledge is a fundamental part of each visitor's experiences.
   
• A healthy economic climate, based on the heritage values of the park, contributes to national, provincial and local economies. Appropriate businesses evolve and operate along aesthetically pleasing and environmentally responsible lines. Innovative ideas, designs and technology are emphasized when providing services, including education, transportation, waste management, and other infrastructure.
   
• Federal, provincial and municipal authorities cooperate in protecting and managing the national park and regional ecosystem. To achieve this, they nurture cooperation with businesses, organizations, and open, accountable, and responsible decision-making. Principles of precaution are exercised when the effects on the ecosystem are uncertain.
   
• Laws and regulations affecting the economy and the environment are consistent and predictable. Enforcement of regulations is consistent.
   
• Park communities are healthy and are leaders in environmental and cultural resource stewardship. Residents are hospitable and pride themselves in accepting their responsibility for protecting and sharing this natural and cultural heritage for the benefit of present and future generations.

• The park will adopt an integrated approach to decision-making. This approach will take into account the ecological, cultural, social and economic situation in the entire Central Rockies Ecosystem.
   
• The parks Heritage Tourism Strategy will serve as a model of integrated management. It will help visitors appreciate the park while keeping their impact on the park's resources to a minimum.
   
• Restoring habitat, mitigating the impact of human activities and facilities, and reducing human-caused mortality will contribute to the on-going viability of sensitive species such as grizzly bear, wolf, wolverine and cougar.
   
• People who live and work in the park will be a community of communicators, welcoming visitors and enhancing their understanding of the nature, culture and history of the park.
   
• There will be limits on the Town of Banff, the Hamlet of Lake Louise, overnight accommodation, ski areas, and day use of certain areas.
   
• Overnight and day use on key trails will be managed in a way that enhances the visitor experience and minimizes the impact of this use on the park.
   
• Parks Canada will complete and implement conservation and maintenance plans to enhance the integrity of the park's seven national historic sites.
   
• The park will adopt environmental stewardship practices that support sustainable heritage tourism and serve as models of excellence.
   
• Aquatic programs will enhance the natural biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems, and restore natural flow regimes and native fish.
   
• Controlled burns will be used to increase the diversity of the park's natural vegetation.
   
• The park will pursue strategies for managing elk that have become accustomed to humans. These strategies will be based on studies of elk movement in and around the Town.
   
• The airstrip, and the bison paddock will be closed. The horse corrals and cadet camp will be relocated. This will allow wildlife to pass through the Cascade Wildlife Corridor.
   
• The Fairholme Benchland will be protected as the largest intact block of secure wildlife habitat in the park's montane ecoregion.
   
• Steps will be taken to keep the impact of human use of the Vermilion Wetlands, Sulphur Mountain, and the golf course to a minimum.
   
• Programs will be put in place to eliminate the habituation of bears in the Lake Louise area.
   
• The capacity and development of the park's three ski areas will remain consistent with approved long-range plans.
   
• Environmental assessment practices will be of the highest standard.
   
• The public will be engaged in an open, participatory and informative manner in achieving the objectives of this plan.