FAQs

Park management plans outline the intended policy direction and management strategies for a park.  Management plans provide guidance to decision-makers and clarity to the public regarding management, use and development of the park over a 15 years period.

The park management planning process can be summarized in the following 8 steps:

1. CRD Board approval to initiate the project
2. Gathering of background information
3. Initial engagement process—gathering information, ideas and suggestions from First Nations, other governments agencies, stakeholders, interest groups and the public
4. CRD team considers input received and develops a draft management plan that tries to address all interests in a fair and appropriate manner
5. Second engagement process—Review of the draft management plan by First Nations, other government agencies, stakeholders, interest groups and the public
6. CRD team considers input received and finalizes the management plan
7. Regional Parks Committee review of the proposed management plan
8. CRD Board review and approval of the proposed management plan.

Park classifications are used to distinguish the intended role and key management focus of a park within the overall regional park system. Classification is based on the purpose for which the park was acquired and its significant values.

There are three zones proposed in the draft management plan:

• Environmental Protection Zone
• Outdoor Recreation Zone
• Park Services Zone.  

These are explained below:

The objective of the Environmental Protection Zone is to protect ecologically significant areas through long term science-based land stewardship. Visitor experience in these areas is focused on nature study, environmental interpretation, and appreciation of natural features. Low impact nature trails may be permitted and in some areas visitor access may be restricted.

The objective of the Outdoor Recreation Zone is to provide areas that can accommodate concentrated recreation use.  Visitor experience in these areas is focused on active participation in outdoor recreation activities. Activities can be more concentrated in this zone. Natural values may be compromised to allow higher level of activity.

The objective of the Park Services Zone is to provide areas needed to support park services. This zone is used for park entrance hubs (e.g., parking, primary visitor information areas, toilet buildings). Considerable landscape modification is allowed.

Nearly 85% of Mount Work has been mapped as sensitive ecosystems through the joint federal/provincial Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory.  Six distinct ecosystems, six distinct plant communities, and three animal species in the park are provincially-listed as being at-risk or sensitive and require special protection.  The Environmental Protection Zone is used to help protect species and ecosystems needing the highest degree of ecological protection.   More information about the ecological values of Mount Work is included in Appendix 3 of the draft management plan.

As the popularity of mountain biking continues to increase the demand for more and varied mountain biking opportunities also increases.  Mount Work has provided a regionally significant mountain biking area since the late 1990s.  The management planning process provided the appropriate opportunity to review the size of the designated mountain biking area within the park and make changes to address the needs for the next 15 years.  The expansion provides 5 kilometers of additional trails (that were existing but previously unsanctioned) and helps compensate for trails on the Hartland Landfill property that will be closed within the next 10 years. For the most part, the boundary of the designated mountain biking area has been modified to follow the edge of trails so it is clear to users in the field.

Through the initial engagement process the received input from:

• The W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council’s Technical Committee
• Government, stakeholder, and interest groups including 2 federal government agencies, two provincial government agencies, three municipal governments, two stakeholders with land interests/tenures in the park, 5 interest groups that use the park, and 1 community/residents group
• Park neighbours
• Three former landowners (who donated or sold lands to CRD for the park)
• 1,114 members of the public.

It is hard to say specifically when the plan will be completed and approved by the CRD Board.  In part, progress  depends on the amount of time needed to review and consider the input received through the second round of engagement, how much editing of the draft plan is needed to finalize it, time needed for internal reviews and Regional Parks Committee and Board meeting dates.  

The tentative timeframe for the remaining steps in the planning process is:

• Review and consideration of input received and finalizing the management plan Summer-Winter 2022
• Final proposed management plan available for the Regional Parks Committee - Spring 2023
• CRD Board review and approval – Spring 2023.