Banff National Park of Canada
Park Management
9.0 A Place for Environmental Stewardship
9.1 Overview
Environmental stewardship reduces the impact of our daily activities on the environment. Actions range from individual actions to large scale programs requiring complex approaches (e.g., waste management, contaminated sites management, energy audits). This field, often referred to as environmental management, has expanded rapidly in the past ten years as a result of changing public expectations, new knowledge, physical constraints and changing social values. Environmental stewardship encompasses a broad range of issues and actions, from reducing resource consumption to restoring disturbed landscapes. The concept of environmental stewardship is closely linked to the TIAC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Sustainable Tourism (see Section 5.2).
Banff National Park, as a World Heritage Site, must meet the highest standards of environmental stewardship. It must do this consistently, over the long term. Although Parks Canada must take responsibility for direct leadership in this area, responsibility for delivery extends to communities, residents, visitors, businesses and institutions.
9.2 Environmental Management
Parks Canada has worked on reducing the impact of visitors' activities and parks operations on the ecosystem. The park has also worked with various partners on stewardship initiatives (e.g., TransAlta's Enviropartners program, waste conservation programs, recycling programs). There have also been many volunteer initiatives in the park.
In recent years, the federal government has moved towards a more formalized and standardized 'environmental management system' (EMS) that applies to all departments. In April 1995, it approved the policy on the Greening of Government Operations (Environment Canada, 1995). This policy commits federal organizations, including Parks Canada, to actions which:
- meet or exceed environmental statutes and regulations;
- emulate the best practices from the public and private sectors; and
- develop and implement environmental management systems.
The stewardship initiative has been carried a step further with the publication of A Guide to Green Government (Environment Canada, 1995) and amendments to the Auditor General's Act that came into force in December 1995.
Parks Canada will prepare a sustainable development strategy. This strategy will outline Parks Canada's goals and action plans for integrating sustainable development into its policies, programs and operations and will be implemented at all levels.
The protection of Canada's natural and cultural heritage is a priority for the Department of Canadian Heritage. It is essential to comply with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and in some circumstances to exceed the requirements of the legislation (Department of Canadian Heritage, January 1996). Parks Canada managers must ensure that they respect the commitment to apply "federal environmental legislation meticulously . . . in heritage places administered by Parks Canada" (Parks Canada, 1994).
Parks Canada's management plans will be assessed according to the Environmental Assessment Process for Policy and Program Proposals. These assessments will consider existing development and facilities as well as new strategic directions and their cumulative effects. The implementation of specific projects will be conditional upon subsequent assessment under CEAA when enough detail is available.
Some proposals that are not subject to CEAA or the Environmental Assessment Process for Policy and Program Proposals could have an adverse effect on the park's natural and cultural resources. This includes introduction of, or increases in, activities such as dog-sledding, which are not considered a project under CEAA, and are not a policy decision, but require an assessment of environmental impacts. If Parks Canada is the agency responsible for making decisions about these proposals, managers must ensure that an environmental assessment is completed and considered before the proposal proceeds (Department of Canadian Heritage, January 1996).
9.2.1 Strategic Goals
To demonstrate exemplary awareness and practice of environmental stewardship.
To show leadership in demonstrating sound environmental practices.
To ensure that all aspects of Parks Canada's activities, services, and products as well as those of residents, businesses and visitors, contribute to the principles of environmental stewardship and sustainability.
To ensure that all environmental assessment legislation and policy applying to the Department of Canadian Heritage is applied appropriately.
9.2.2 Objectives
- to be seen as a leader in environmental stewardship in the park;
- to work with local communities and businesses in the shared responsibility of preserving ecological integrity;
- to ensure all park staff have the necessary knowledge and tools to make environmentally responsible choices;
- to use education and communication to encourage local residents, businesses and park visitors to be more involved in natural area conservation and to act in an environmentally responsible manner; and
- to ensure that all environmental assessments are of superior quality and are comprehensive in terms of social, economic, cultural and environmental content.
9.2.3 Key Actions
1. Play a lead role in developing an environmental stewardship plan for the park.
- support the continuous review and improvement of environmental performance.
2. Work with others in the park, particularly communities and businesses, to establish environmental management systems for businesses and institutions.
- work with leaders in each sector;
- assign priority to areas where actions have the greatest benefit and results can be most readily shown; and
- promote the shared responsibility for preserving ecological integrity.
3. Enlist the support of volunteer organizations, municipalities, commercial enterprises, educators, and residents in developing and implementing a comprehensive stewardship program.
- provide a range of volunteer opportunities that encourage a sense of ownership of the park.
4. Take advantage of every opportunity to include the environmental stewardship concept in leases, partnership agreements, educational programs and visitor activities.
5. Work with regional organizations to coordinate environmental management standards and processes.
6. Ensure environmental assessments of proposals in the park are of a superior quality. Clearly outline and enforce standards and expectations.
7. Incorporate messages regarding environmental stewardship into park communications and training programs.
8. Work with the Town of Banff, the Hamlet of Lake Louise and others to encourage residents and visitors to behave in an environmentally friendly manner.
9. Work with partners in the region to pursue the concept of a Regional Waste Management Authority.
9.3 Tertiary Sewage Treatment and Phosphate Removal NEW!
There are two wastewater treatment plants in Banff National Park - one for the Town of Banff and one for the Hamlet of Lake Louise.
The Peyto Lagoon was designed to treat sewage from Tunnel Mountain Campground (Village I and the east half of Village II). The process used at the time this facility was built does not provide tertiary treatment and is no longer acceptable.
9.3.1 Strategic Goals
To maintain and, where necessary and feasible, to restore water quality to the highest possible standards, where human use of surface and groundwater does not impair the ability of aquatic and riparian systems to support a full range of naturally occurring species, or the safety of water for human consumption or use.
To demonstrate leadership in maintaining good water quality.
To strive, over the long term, to achieve water quality standards which equate as closely as possible to the naturally occurring waters of the park.
- to reduce the amount of phosphorus in the Bow River;
- to reduce the use of phosphate in the park; and
- to ensure that the impact of sewage treatment plants, septic tanks and human effluent on aquatic resources is kept to a minimum.
9.3.3 Key Actions
1. Work towards the following leadership targets for water quality at the Treatment Plants
Phosphorus - 0.15 mg/L
Fecal coliform - < 20/100 ml (end of pipe)
<2/100/ ml (end of mixing zone)
pH (acidity) - meet background levels of receiving waters
BOD5 (Total) - Summer < 10 mg/L
Winter < 20 mg/L
total suspended solids < 10.0 mg/L
NH3N - summer < 1 mg/L
winter < 5 mg/L
Note:
- The target for phosphorus is achievable with existing Best Available Technology Economically Achievable (BATEA). In the long term the goal will be to strive towards 0.005mg/L.
2. Improve the Lake Louise Wastewater Treatment Facility (LLWTF) so it can meet these standards.
3. Immediately examine the need for a standby generator for the LLWTF.
4. Work with the Town of Banff to meet the standards described in action 1.
5. Work with partners on a communication program to encourage people to reduce their use of phosphorus.
6. Improve the treatment of sewage from the Tunnel Mountain Campground.
- meet targets by the spring of 1998.
7. Design and implement a program to inform the public and commercial users about nutrient loadings and methods to reduce loadings.
8. Test the performance of wastewater treatment facilities at selected outlying commercial accommodation, campgrounds, day use areas, hostels, etc..
- take corrective action as required.
9. Implement a water conservation program for Lake Louise immediately.