Since 2008, Columbia Valley stakeholders have been working towards a recreation strategy for the Columbia Valley Area that respects and balances the needs of different users while safeguarding the core values that make this region an exceptional place to live, work, and play.

The roots of this initiative can be traced back to the mid-1990s when the Province of BC completed the Kootenay-Boundary Land Use Plan (see interactive timeline below). The Columbia Valley was not included in the Plan’s Implementation Strategy and management guidelines for backcountry recreation and access, leaving a gap that has not yet been filled.

Preloader

  • 1993

    Kootenay Boundary Land Use Planning process initiated by Province to develop a comprehensive and integrated vision for land and resource use in the Kootenay Boundary region.

  • 1997

    Kootenay Boundary Land Use Plan completes Implementation Strategy with management guidelines for backcountry recreation and access management. The area covered by the Strategy overlaps with approximately 20% of the Invermere Timber Supply Area (TSA). The TSA encompasses the Columbia Valley.

  • 2008

    BC Provincial Trails Strategy released; some local Columbia Valley stakeholders form an informal group focused on backcountry stewardship issues.

  • 2011

    Columbia Valley Recreation Advisory Council (CVRAC) formally established.

  • 2013

    Provincial support for land use planning capacity decreased. As a result, BC was no longer participating on the CVRAC process.

  • 2017

    The beginings of the Columbia Valley Recreation Access Management Plan (CVRAMP) process.

  • 2018

    BC commits to working collaboratively with Indigenous Government, community and stakeholders to modernize land use planning. Terms of Reference are drafted for the CVRAMP process.

  • 2019

    The Columbia Valley Recreation Access Management Plan process is initiated by a Steering Committee comprised of local and provincial government and recreation stakeholders.

  • 2021

    To better reflect the goals and objectives of this community-led process, it is renamed the Columbia Valley Recreation Planning Initiative. Its primary objective is to develop recreation strategies for Crown lands in the region.

The current Columbia Valley Recreation Planning Initiative was born of a shared vision among diverse local recreational user groups, stewardship groups, local and provincial government and First Nations to resolve recreation management issues and support responsible and sustainable recreation on Crown land in the Columbia Valley.

The goal of the Initiative is to develop a Recreation Strategy that protects important values and reduces adverse recreation impacts on public lands. These values include:

  • Indigenous cultural and archaeological values and resources.
  • Environmental values including environmentally sensitive areas, significant ecological values, important wildlife habitat.
  • Range and agricultural values.

The Recreation Strategy will focus broadly on identifying which recreation activities and uses are appropriate at which locations and times of year. It will serve as a guiding document to inform future land use decision making.

The Columbia Valley Recreation Planning Committee will engage a broad range of stakeholders, recreation users and residents to help shape and inform the Recreation Strategy.

Please contact us if you would like to stay informed during the process.