Telkwa Council is frustrated with the Ministry of Forests’ public consultation on proposed mandatory access restrictions in the Telkwa Mountains.
They’re looking at restrictions for both motorists and hikers in different areas of the mountain range aimed at keeping a dwindling caribou population alive. The ministry says the herd is down to about 18 Caribou that is at the continual risk of extirpation.
Mayor Darcy Repen says the public needs more time to be informed on the issue.
“Just very disappointed with the whole process. I think there’s far too many questions unanswered at this point,” says Repen.
The ministry says a regulation change on the access restriction could come as early as June 2018.
Hearing recommendations from the Telkwa Mountain Recreation Access Management (TRAM) group over 8 months, the ministry has identified 6 recreation zones in the Telkwa Mountains: Grizzly Plateau, the Meat Cache, Hunter Basin, Webster Lake, the North and East Telkwas, Mooseskin Johnny East and West.
The proposed areas of restriction as presented to Smithers Council for non-motorised use are in the area north of the Starr Basin. For motorized restrictions, a map presented to council shows proposed restrictions in the Hunters Basin along with restrictions north of the Starr Basin.
The ministry says their direction is based on existing scientific literature and research on the Telkwa caribou along with consultation with TRAM and other groups.