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 Plan’s Implementation Strategy and management guidelines for backcountry recreation and access in the Columbia Valley were very limited, leaving a gap that has not yet been filled.
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 recommendations for recreation management that protect important values and reduces adverse recreation impacts on public lands. These values include:
Recommendations from this initiative will focus broadly on identifying which recreation activities and uses are appropriate at which locations and times of year and will serve as a guide 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 our recommendations.
Please contact us if you would like to stay informed during the process.