Year: 2017

Volunteers Building Bridges

Dave LeeMarch 12, 20170 commentsCastle Provincial Park, National ATV News

This article shows the dedications and commitment of the Quad Squad of Alberta. Closing these ORV trails to ORV use is just not making any sense. I do agree that all ORV riders must be aware of their footprint and must learn to manage their riding areas responsibly.

One of the most important things we can do in the backcountry is to “Steer Clear of Water!” Using existing bridges wherever and whenever possible is one of the best ways to adopt more responsible practices when recreating in the backcountry. Luckily, local volunteers and organizations, such as the Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad, have invested time and money into providing these bridges for you!

On Saturday June 4, 2016, Outreach Assistants Rob, Thomas, and Ryan drove out to Blairmore for the 22nd Annual Ed Gregor Memorial Stewardship Day. They had been asked by Gary Clark, president of the Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad, to come out and assist with the decking of two new OHV bridges that spanned Gold Creek near the abandoned town of Lille.

Volunteers from the Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad and the finished OHV Bridge

Volunteers from the Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad and the finished OHV Bridge

The Oldman Watershed Council places a priority on engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders, and the Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad have proven to be terrific partners over the years. Gary Clark is a member of our newly formed Recreation Advisory Council (RAC), which is a group made up of OHV users that will help inform the OWC on how to educate OHV users on safe, appropriate, and sustainable motorized recreation.

Quad Squad Volunteers Secure Bridge Decking

Quad Squad Volunteers Secure Bridge Decking

These two new bridges will allow OHV users in the Gold Creek area to keep their machines out of the creek while exploring the area. This is particularly important since Gold Creek is critical habitat for our native, and threatened, West Slope Cutthroat Trout. In addition to the bridges, Mike Taje from Alberta Environment and Parks installed signs at the Gold Creek Crossings noting that Gold Creek is protected habitat for species at risk.

Rob Taylor, OWC Outreach Assistant (also extraordinaire), helps Mike Taje, Alberta Environment and Parks, install Species at Risk Signage at OHV crossings on Gold Creek

Rob Taylor, OWC Outreach Assistant (also extraordinaire), helps Mike Taje, Alberta Environment and Parks, install Species at Risk Signage at OHV crossings on Gold Creek

So … remember to keep those wheels out of water in order to protect our headwaters!

If you would like to donate or volunteer your time on upcoming projects like this please visit the Oldman Watershed Council’s website today!

Crush bad habits, not cans, on the trail

Dave LeeMarch 8, 20170 commentsNational ATV News

ATVers in B.C. can work together to make drinking and riding a thing of the past.
RIDERSWEST
by Kirsten Armleder |

A group of ATVers on a trail in B.C.

ATVBC and its member clubs promote safe and responsible riding. — Kirsten Armleder photo

Spring is right around the corner, which means a new ATVing season in B.C. is about to begin. It is time then to broach a subject that’s been in hibernation for the last three or so months—drinking and riding.

Haven’t we been over this before—is it still a problem? Well, consider this: the British Columbia Coroners Service reports that from 2006 to 2015, there were 132 accidental ATV deaths in the province. Alcohol and/or drug use was determined to be a contributing factor in 56.6 per cent of these cases.

More recently, the Trauma Services team at Interior Health—which is the publicly funded health care provider for B.C.—conducted research on the nature of injuries related to ATV incidents that occurred within Interior Health’s service area between 2006 and 2016. Out of the 388 trauma admissions that were attributed to ATV injuries, there were six documented in-hospital deaths and 40 deaths at the scene. Alcohol and/or drugs were felt to a contributing factor in 55 per cent of pre-hospital deaths. The team also discovered that nearly 40 per cent of documented injuries reported no helmet used by the rider.

Facts and figures aside, no one can deny drinking slows your reaction time and impairs your ability to make decisions. Over the years, the organization that represents ATVers on a provincial level in B.C. has worked diligently to address the issue.

“On both safety training courses (the CASI ATV RiderCourse and the Canadian Safety Council ATV Rider Course), we teach how drugs and alcohol affect your judgement to make proper decisions,” said Ralph Matthews, vice-president and safety co-ordinator for ATVBC. “At all ATVBC events, we stress zero tolerance of both while riding on the trail. Save it for the end of the day.”

ATVBC also stresses the importance of wearing a helmet.

“At all ATVBC events, the wearing of an approved safety helmet is mandatory,” said Matthews.

By law, ATVers in B.C. are required to wear an approved safety helmet while operating on public land. This law applies to those riding UTVs or side-by-sides as well.

Let’s talk about side-by-sides for a moment. Equipped with car-like driving features, seatbelts and roll bars, they can give the false impression of added safety. Side-by-sides are powerful vehicles, however, and they have a high centre of gravity so rollovers and crashes can and do occur.

Speed can easily come into play, especially in the sportier models, which tout state-of-the-art suspension systems and upwards of 110-horsepower engines. It is imperative, then, for the operator to know his or her vehicle’s handling capabilities and take it easy when the conditions are not favourable. As with a car, if there are passengers present, the operator is responsible for their safety as well.

Riding a side by side in B.C.

The helmet law applies to side-by-side riders as well, and if the vehicle comes from the manufacturer with a seatbelt, it must be worn when riding on public land. — Monte Smith photo

Reaching the 10 per cent

Often, it has been said that 90 per cent of all ATVers out there are safe, responsible backcountry users. So what about the remaining 10 per cent who ruin it for the rest of the user group—how can we reach them without being labelled the fun police?

According to Matthews, being an advocate for safety takes discernment. For example, when approaching someone who isn’t wearing a helmet, Matthews said, the best way is to be as non-confrontational as possible. Inform them that is it now mandatory to wear a helmet. If a deeper discussion ensues, help them to see the bigger picture—for the decisions we make today impact the riding opportunities we’ll have tomorrow.

Province changes Castle Parks Draft Managment Plan after overwhelming feedback

Dave LeeMarch 2, 20170 commentsCastle Provincial Park, National ATV News

Lethbridge News NOW
By Lara Fominoff @fomsy1 on Twitter

LETHBRIDGE – The push-back from the rallies, the protests and the letter- writing campaigns seems to have worked, at least to a certain extent.

In a stunning about-face, Environment Minister Shannon Phillips says the province is changing the initial Castle Parks Draft Management Plan to include a number of new initiatives, along with a consultation process with the public and stakeholders that will begin next week.

The details of the public consultation process have not yet been announced, however Phillips says it will begin somewhere in southwestern Alberta March 8th.

“There will be a number (of sessions). Because we are looking at trail planning, in the Porcupine and Livingstone’s two areas that are going to be public land use zones, in addition to how they relate to the next five years within the Castle, it will be quite a long process. I anticipate it will take at least the summer if not longer. There will be a very frequent engagement with communtities and people who make their livelihood in the area. Landowners, ranchers, and the recreation groups.”

Many Off Highway Vehicle recreation groups have been calling for an extention to the 60- day feedback window on the draft managment plan, saying the comment period is far too short.
That window has now been extended 30 days, until April 19th.

A number of changes to the actual plan are also being implemented, including:

1) Allowing hunters access to trail networks to make sure they can safely get in and out of the area and recover game safely.
2) Working with grazing permit holders to allow them to be managed by rangelands operations staff. A meeting with ranchers in the Castle area will be held Friday, March 3rd.
3) Ensuring fish recovery strategies and protection of the Cutthroat and Bulltrout fish populations.
4) Allowing the elderly and those with disabilities access to the park with special infrastructure investments.
5) The maintenance of northern access routes into the parks from the Crowsnest Pass.
6) No changes to OHV trail access this year (2017). There will be a focus on closing illegal trails and creating proper signage in the parks. The province will work with OHV groups on planning and ensuring the existing infrastructure is EITHER moved OR maintained as the years go on.
7) Exploring the effects of summer versus winter OHV use with the Alberta Snowmobile Association and government scientists to ensure trail planning proceeds accordingly.
8) Increased enforcement and education in the parks.

Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad President Gary Clark is shocked and pleased with the announcement; something that he says his group has been asking for, since 2003.

“We were shocked at first when OHV use was disallowed, when we were told that OHV use would be allowed. But at the same time we also thought we put what we thought were very good submissions forward. This shows that we can properly control OHV use, which quite frankly, was running a little rampant …. and we can control it and have a good balance with the environment and at the same time keep tourism alive in southwestern Alberta.”

The only thing Clark says should be explored is a permit -type system; something many groups have also been advocating for decades. The important thing, he emphasizes, would be not to put the money from that kind of system into general revenue, “so that you can spend that money on maintaining the trails and building the bridges over the waters to protect the fish habitat, and move bad trails away from the waterways. It would be nice to have a steady source of funding.”

The province is investing $20 million dollars in the Castle Parks over 4 years. Phillips says in the coming weeks and months, more details on capital infrastructure and improvements will also be announced.

Time to Take Action, Eastman ATV & ATV MB

Dave LeeMarch 1, 20170 commentsClub News Eastman ATV

Don’t take your riding area for granted!

Just look around the web or on one of the online Off Road forums. As an ORV rider it is up to you

to protect your privilege to ride Crown land here in Canada. “DON’T TAKE THIS for GRANTED”

Alberta’s exciting developed ORV trails are prosed to be phased out with in two to five years in a new designated park management plan.

Alberta NDP, Wildland Provincial Park sparks anger to Remove ORV Trails Click Here for more info on this article !

Renew your membership with Eastman ATV today and add your voice to the cause. Supporting responsible riding on sustainable trails.

Click Here to renew your Membership.

ATV MB will be holding their AGM on March, 18th Please consider attending this very important meeting. This is your opportunity to make a difference.

Click Here for more information and the agenda for this very important meeting.

IT IS Up To YOU to protect your riding area, take action today by adding your voice to cause.

Partnering for the future of ATVing

Dave LeeFebruary 22, 20170 commentsATVMB, National ATV News

ATVMB and SATVA have started collaborating in order to better serve their members
RIDERSWEST
by Karen Kornelsen |

Manitoba and Saskatchewan have a lot in common, including terrain.— Photo courtesy Con Huberdeau

Manitoba and Saskatchewan have a lot in common, especially when it comes to ATVing. The similarities in the challenges they face and the resources they have are part of the reason the Saskatchewan All Terrain Vehicle Association (SATVA) and ATV Association of Manitoba (ATVMB) decided it was time they work together.

The idea originally formulated in 2015 at the Power Up and Beyond conference held in Toronto, according to Kim Wozniak, ATVMB manager. She and John Meed, SATVA general manager, had a discussion about the similarities between their two organizations and common issues they both face.

“John later suggested that we may be able to learn from one another by sharing our successes and any issues we may face and the best way to do that would be by having a representative from each federation serve in a non-voting capacity on our respective boards,” said Wozniak. “This idea was presented to the ATVMB board of directors who embraced it, feeling that this partnership would be beneficial to both organizations.”

According to Meed, of all the jurisdictions in Canada, Saskatchewan and Manitoba closely align with certain challenges.

Facing the challenges

“Right now, neither of us are getting a tremendous amount of government support, which is one of the real issues we need to overcome,” said Meed. “Support can come in a lot of ways including financially but it also mean support in creating opportunities to develop trails and steward existing trails within provincial forests.”

The two organizations also have issues with resources, with both organizations only having one part-time staff person. They also have roughly the same number of clubs.

“With the two organizations working together, there is definitely strength in numbers,” said Meed.

A provincial partnership

There are a few ways SATVA and ATVMB plan to work together, on top of having a representative attending the other’s board meetings. In the future, a joint board meeting may be held. They’re also playing with the idea of having a trail-building workshop.

“One of the problems we have is the lack of expertise in our area as far as developing and putting together the groundwork to get the support and resources to even start working on a trail,” said Meed. “We collaborated with the provincial government on one trail this past year and that proved to be pretty beneficial. If we did a workshop, we think certain interest groups would also see the benefit and it’d be great to develop best practices in trying to develop a trail system within an area.”

“Sharing of knowledge and expertise in areas where one group excels over the other will contribute to the overall success of an organization,” Wozniak said. “In addition to our individual partnership with SATVA, our connection with the All Terrain Quad Council of Canada (AQCC) expands on that and gives us the opportunity to connect with other similar federations who face similar challenges. Identifying these challenges nationally allows AQCC to better serve those federations by being able to deliver solutions that can work across provincial borders.”

The national scene

The AQCC held its annual general meeting in Halifax in September and both Wozniak and Meed were in attendance.

“One of the big benefits of the AGM is collaboration,” said Meed. “It’s great having all the provincial jurisdictions there and have discussion on what each one is facing. I think the AQCC is also wanting to be more receptive and focused on helping the provincial federations thrive and be more productive. One of the things that came out of the conference was to start rethinking the strategic plan for the organization and how they can help the provincial federations do what they need to do at a federal level.”

For Wozniak, this was her first AQCC and she said she found it quite interesting.

“AQCC is a fairly young organization as far as national organizations go and they are working on how best to serve all ATV federations in Canada,” she said. “Attending the conference reconfirmed that having a national voice is important and beneficial to our provincial endeavours. I came away from the conference with an interest in assisting AQCC to the best of my ability to ensure that ATV federations across Canada thrive. We all have challenges in our respective provinces and strengthening our national organization will also strengthen the provincial federations.”

Going forward, both SATVA and ATVMB are looking forward to more collaboration in 2017 and are excited to grow the partnership even further.

Amphibex Icebreakers Begin Work on the North Red River

Dave LeeFebruary 22, 20170 commentsManitoba Media Bulletin

Manitoba Infrastructure reminds river users to observe warning signs and stay clear of equipment as ice-cutting machines and icebreakers take to the north Red River between Netley Creek and Netley Lake north of Selkirk starting February, 22nd

Safety notices have been posted in areas where the Amphibex machines will be working as a reminder for ice fishers, snowmobilers and other river users. Ice fishers should remove huts or other material in the areas covered by the ice-mitigation program. Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts are advised to stay off the ice where notices are posted or where recent ice cutting is apparent.

The ice-jam mitigation program focuses on sections of the north Red River with a history of ice-jam related flooding. The equipment is operated and maintained by North Red Waterway Maintenance Inc., a corporation formed by the rural municipalities of St. Andrews, St. Clements and the City of Selkirk. The Amphibex fleet crushes more than 25 kilometres of river ice annually.

Cabela’s GPS Seminar

Dave LeeFebruary 22, 20170 commentsClub News Eastman ATV

Our membership had an opportunity to attend a GPS seminar hosted by Cabela’s . Eastman Members spend over 3 hours with Nick Lisney, Former Optics Outfitter/Current Fishing Outfitter at Cabela’s. We were given the opportunity to learn more about our personal GPS units as well we explore the units offered by Cabela’s. We had over 25 members attend. This session was a great start to learning what we as a club require and how to program and download maps as well as fine tuning our GPS to our personal needs. If anyone has any questions on their own GPS or would like any further information on how to use or buy a GPS to suit their needs, please contact Nick Lisney at Cabela’s. He will spend time in the store with anyone interested on a more personal level. Thank you for making our first event of this king a great success!

In defence of the Castle

Dave LeeFebruary 20, 20170 commentsCastle Provincial Park, National ATV News

BY LETHBRIDGE HERALD ON FEBRUARY 19, 2017.

© Lethbridge Herald photo by Tijana Martin Shannon Phillips, Minster of Environment and Parks speaks to the media on Friday to help clear up some misconceptions in relation to the Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park Draft Management Plan. @TMartinHerald

J.W. Schnarr
Lethbridge Herald
jwschnarr@lethbridgeherald.com
Misinformation surrounding Off Highway Vehicle use in the Castle parks area is undermining the process of “authentic dialogue” between user groups, says the provincial environment minister.
Shannon Phillips said the development of the Castle parks areas has been overshadowed by “disrespectful” language, and that there have been a number of false statements and misinformation spread regarding the issue.
“The fact of the matter is that the previous government recommended in the Porcupine Hills and in the Livingstone recreation area, that there be recreation management planning,” she said.
“The fact is also that the previous government didn’t get around to it.”
Phillips said her government continues to engage OHV users to ensure proper supports are put in place to make sure “high quality” OHV experiences are available to user groups. But, she says, the process is still ongoing.
“I want to be clear right now. The decisions haven’t been made. The plan that is before us is a draft.”
Phillips said the draft was created through consultation with technical working groups who examined the science around recovering the fishery, the wildlife habitat, and ensuring the water supply is in working order.
“That science informed our recommendation that there be a staged, phase-out of OHV use that is causing a great deal of erosion and a great deal of habitat loss in particular for our trout fishery,” she said.
“And a phasing in, in an appropriate way, with the right staging points, the right bridges, and trail networks in places where it is more compatible, and it has less of an impact. I don’t know how the previous governments made decisions, but in our world, a draft means exactly that.”
A number of groups have already engaged the government on the issue, according to Phillips, who said respectful dialogue and participation in the process is more effective than other means of letting the government know their wishes.
“All of them have made really interesting contributions,” she said. “They’ve really taken this on as a draft, and they are very likely to see their input reflected in the final management plan.”
Phillips said the original working groups that contributed to the draft were intended to reflect the variety of interests involved. Municipalities were sought out for representation as well as ranchers and landowners.
“They are the ones who often have to end up footing the bill for much of the activity that goes on in the landscape,” she said.
She said ranchers in particular have suffered from irresponsible OHV use because the activity interferes with their ability to make a living.
“All of those voices were recognized and included around the table,” she said. “As was small business.”
At a recent OHV rally in Lethbridge, Wildrose leader Brian Jean described the decision to phase out OHV use as something that would negatively impact people’s jobs, their traditions, and their way of life.
Phillips described that kind of talk as inflammatory and unhelpful.
“I would also reject his assessment,” she said. “If he had been out talking to the ranchers I have talked to, and the municipalities I have talked to, he would have a different view of this. It is very clear he has not done that.”
Follow @JWSchnarrHerald on Twitter

Man impaled by branch while on ATV: EMS

Dave LeeFebruary 18, 20170 commentsNational ATV News

ORV’s can be very dangerous and unfortunately we read about people becoming severely injured all to often. Safety never takes a holiday please consider taking a safety course.

As an ORV operator would you consider taking a online safety course?

FILE: A man was flown to the Foothills Hospital Friday night after he was impaled by a branch while on his ATV.

Global One / Global Calgary

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A man in his 40s was flown to the Foothills Hospital in Calgary Friday night after his leg was impaled by a branch.

EMS said the man had been on his ATV in the area of Highway 40 and Transalta Road west of Calgary when the incident occurred just after 7 p.m.

According to EMS spokesperson Stuart Brideaux, the victim was driven to a main road in a private vehicle with the branch still in his leg when EMS intercepted them.

Crews called for STARS to transport the man to the Foothills Hospital.

The man is believed to have a severe upper leg injury and was listed in serious condition.

Castle Provincial Park the Facts may Mislead You.

Dave LeeFebruary 13, 20170 commentsCastle Provincial Park, National ATV News

Justified science or activist agenda?

BY LETHBRIDGE HERALD OPINON ON FEBRUARY 11, 2017.

Barry Harper

Others have spoken of the Castle South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (SSRP) land-use process and its shortcomings re: ignored input from traditional users such as hunters, fishers and OHV recreation. These are the users targeted with reduced access under SSRP proposed parks. I will focus on other aspects of the process followed by this government.

Minister Phillips has asserted that it is the “science” that drives the decision for the parks. That said, as an average Albertan I have the right and obligation to current and future generations to ensure that such science isn’t biased by the activist environmental NGOs I perceive are driving these park decisions. A critical factor being used to curtail OHV multi-use trails is the concept of linear footprint (LP). While science seems related mainly to wildlife mortality on highways, it is being applied to all linear features from highways to static fence lines and, yes, OHV trails.

Clearly, wildlife fatalities on highways is many orders of magnitude different than, say, a seldom-used, single-track motorcycle trail that may coincide with a cow trail. LP should entail on-the-ground research into intensity of use of LPs, duration of same and whether it is intermittent or continuous along with habitual game movement patterns and seasonality. That is not the case; all LPs are deemed of identical impact intensity and continuous per SSRP workshops. I view this as theorizing given, even the Grizzly Bear Recovery Program June 2016 draft, specifically identifies the need for research “to quantify the effect of OHV use” for their study let alone such possible impacts on 200-plus “endangered plants and animals” per Minister Phillips. Most outdoorsmen will tell you linear features, of themselves, do not curtail game movement and may be routinely used by wildlife.

Then there is the crucial “more than 200 species of endangered plants and animals” in the Castle claimed by Minister Phillips. Hey, I am not a biology expert, but I also know there is science and there is peer-reviewed believable science. This led me to ask who the authority in Canada is – it’s the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC Secretariat). A search of their database of all Alberta species at risk as at Feb. 3, 2017 lists 152 species of which 48 are “Not at Risk” and only 32 are “Endangered.” This puts the minister’s 200-plus “endangered” species at 6.25 times the peer-reviewed numbers for all of Alberta. This is an astonishing discrepancy! Given so much is driven these days by environmental activists inserting themselves into government decisions, I ask what affiliations do the minister’s science sources have with such activists and why doesn’t her science have the authentication of COSEWIC?

There are other questions as well, such as why aren’t Nature Conservancy of Canada vast land positions included in the scope of SSRP land use deliberations? They are substantially paid for by the public in the name of conservation. How is it cattle that defecate in our precious watersheds and stomp through riparian areas aren’t excluded from such parks?

As both a non-motorized and motorized recreationist who has random-camped in Alberta for over 40 years, and raised my family to responsibly enjoy these pursuits, I regard myself as being environmentally responsible and take exception to this rushed closure dictate. I have long promoted environmentally responsible designated OHV trails including proper management, enforcement, training, funding mechanics along with tourism potential thereof. I have worked for same at local, provincial and national levels over 15 years. We know how to build responsible trail systems; check with the Alberta Off-highway Vehicle Association for specifics. My experience has been that politicians are consistently deceptive and have managed to screw up even the best and most responsible of past proposals – that hasn’t changed.

Environmental activists such as Y2Y, CPAWS, AWA and adjuncts, seek to shut down the mountain corridor from some traditional uses. That not only includes motorized access, but also effectively impacts hunting and fishing access along with local community economies that depend on access. Their stated and highly promoted scheme is to have the entire mountain corridor made into a continuum of government designated parks, or equivalents, restricting only some traditional users and negatively impacting local communities all along the mountain corridor of Alberta, B.C. and Yukon. Check a map against Y2Y maps and see how many mountain corridor parks and near-equivalents we already have in Alberta. These activist NGOs are the same tax-subsidized, grant-funded and professionally managed NGOs whose politicalized agendas and lobbying attack and undermine our critical resource industries.

Time all Albertans get involved in this potential monumental impact on public access to public lands which, if Y2Y is followed, will amplify throughout all of Alberta.

Barry Harper is a Lethbridge resident who, in addition to being an active outdoorsman, has been involved in seeking responsible solutions to issues of OHV at the local, provincial and national level for more than 15 years.