Columbia Lake Motor Vehicle Prohibition

The public is invited to comment on the proposed hunting regulation described below.

Status: Proposed

Region: 4

Management unit (MU): 4-25

Regulation type: Motor Vehicle Prohibition

Species: All

Closing date: 16:30, March 22, 2024

Decision statement: Pending

Current regulation

Motor Vehicle Prohibition Regulation

Schedule 1 - Motor Vehicle Closed Areas

Columbia Lake

20  Effective year round, in those portions of M.U. 4-25 outlined in red on the attached Map No. 1-20/20, except that motor vehicles are permitted

(a)at all times, on roads shown highlighted in green on that map, and

(b)during the period May 1 to November 30 inclusive, on roads shown highlighted in yellow on that map.

Maps of Motor Vehicle Prohibitions in the Kootenay Region can be found at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/recreation/motor-vehicle-prohibitions/region-4.

Proposed regulation

Modify the year-round open road designation of Camp 1 Road at [50.175370°, -115.813120°] to a seasonally open road May 1- December 31 designation.

Modify the May 1- November 30 seasonally open to the Rod and Gun Beach to a fully closed road commencing at [50.201448°, -115.828701°].

Rationale

The proposed regulation changes are intended to (1) move road closure point to manage compliance, (2) mitigate damage to sensitive grassland and open forest ecosystems, (3) mitigate impact to critical Bighorn Sheep winter range habitat (this is supported by collaborative work on the Bighorn Sheep GAR Order), (4) mitigate predator impacts to Bighorn sheep populations, and (5) provide seasonal road access for public use.

Additional information