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.