User:BC604/Golden Ears Provincial Park

To be added to the existing lead: Golden Ears Provincial Park is situated in the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish people. The area was logged extensively in the 1920s by the Lougheed and Abernathy Logging Company. Many recreational attractions are found within the park. Golden Ears Provincial Park is a protected area that contains many endangered species of flora and fauna.

First Nations Territory

The area encompassed by Golden Ears Provincial Park sits within the traditional territory of the Coast Salish people. The following is a list of First Nations whose traditional territories include all or part of Golden Ears Provincial Park.

• Katzie First Nation
• Kwantlen First Nation
• Matsqui First Nation
• Sts'Ailes people
• Tsawwassen First Nation
• Stó꞉lō Nation
• In-SHUCK-ch Nation
• St’at’imc/Lillooet Tribal Council

Traditional Use

Historically, the area enclosed by the boundaries of Golden Ears Provincial Park provided an important source of sustenance and resources for the local First Nations. The Katzie First Nation traditionally used the areas in what are now the southern and western sections of the park for hunting and fishing. Several sites of cultural importance to the Katzie First Nation are also enclosed within the boundaries of the park. The St’at’imc/Lillooet people traditionally used the northern area of what is now Golden Ears Park as a trade corridor. The Kwantlen First Nation traditionally used what is now the southeastern portion of the park for hunting and trapping.

Some examples of animals that were traditionally hunted by the local First Nations include: Mule deer, Roosevelt elk, Mountain goat, Black Bear, North American beaver, and American marten. Archeological studies of the area indicate that fishing around Alouette Lake has been taking place for several thousand years. Fish that were historically harvested in Alouette Lake and Alouette River include: five different species of Pacific Salmon, Steelhead, Sturgeon, and Trout. Many species of plants were historically gathered in the area, including but not limited to: cedar bark, Wapato (Sagittaria latifolia), cranberries and other types of berries.

Current Use

The local First Nations whose territory is included within the park have retained their rights to gather resources within the park boundaries. Hunting and trapping are only permitted for individuals who belong to one of the local Nations. The Katzie Cultural Education Society provides some educational programs at the Outdoor Learning Centre in the park.

First Nations Involvement in Management Decisions

The Order in Council that created Golden Ears Provincial Park as a separate entity from Garibaldi Park makes no mention of First Nations involvement in this decision. BC Parks has made a commitment to include First Nations voices in the decision-making processes for management of Golden Ears Provincial Park. One core ideal outlined in the Golden Ears Park Management Plan is that the park must allow for the local First Nations to continue their traditional practices, such as hunting and gathering. Opportunities for park visitors to learn about First Nations culture relevant to the park area are also part of the core ideals of the Golden Ears Park Management Plan.

The Katzie First Nation has done significant work to ensure that their traditional territories are being managed according to their principles. The Katzie First Nation has been involved in efforts to bring spawning salmon to Alouette Lake, which was blocked by the creation of a dam on Alouette River in 1928, these efforts have been made in partnership with BC Hydro and the Alouette River Management Society. The Katzie First Nation has also been involved in a study of plant diversity and abundance in the Alouette Lake riparian zone.

Industry in Golden Ears Park

In 1897 a copper mine was developed along the east side Pitt Lake in Golden Ears Park. The mine title changed hands many times prior to closure during the great depression. Pitt Lake's lost gold mine is a legend of an Indigenous man named Slumach who was aware of a large gold deposit in the park. History channel produced a show Deadman's Curse which aired in July 2022 documenting search for the gold and research into Slumach. Timber harvest by the Lougheed and Abernathy Logging Company in the 1920s was extensive and at one point the largest logging operation in North America. In 1929 a large forest fire consumed 60,000 hectares of forest and halted logging in the area. Most of the old growth Cedar and Hemlock was either logged or lost in wildfire fire. In 1926 BC Hydro constructed the Alouette Dam on Allouette Lake for power generation. The Alouette reservoir is connected to Stave Lake via a diversion tunnel.

Park Creation

The Golden Ears Provincial Park was named after the twin peaks of Mount Blanshard. In 1933 the area that is now Golden Ears Park was incorporated into Garibaldi Provincial Park because of the scenic and recreational value of the area. Golden Ears Provincial Park was established in 1967 as 62,539 hectares of protected area designated as separate from Garibaldi Provincial Park for the appreciation of the barrier between Golden Ears and Garibaldi areas. The creation of Golden Ears Provincial Park allowed more focus to be placed on the recreational elements available in the region surrounding Alouette Lake. The expansion of highways increased the accessibility of Golden Ears Provincial Park and other parks, which led to the rise in popularity of camping in the area.

Golden Ears Park Management Plan

Golden Ears Provincial Park

Purpose and Objectives

Golden Ears Park is one of the largest and most popular parks in British Columbia, attracting an average of 610,000 visitors every year. Following the park’s heightened popularity and continued increase in foot traffic, the province of British Columbia enacted the official Golden Ears Park Management Plan in November of 2013, to preserve the natural beauty and ecological components of the park. The plan highlights the park’s unique features and significant amenities, including its cultural, natural, and recreational values. An emphasis was placed on enforcing a sustainable vision for the future by addressing pre-existing management concerns, and offering tangible solutions and alternatives.

Protecting and Maintaining Wildlife Populations

These ecological conservation initiatives have been put in place to preserve the park’s natural ecosystem and protect the wildlife that inhabit Golden Ears from the impacts of repeated recreational activity. Erosion is a common issue that the management plan addresses. Whether that be erosion from hiking trails due to heavy foot traffic, or shoreline erosion caused by water sports and recreational boating. Repeated stress without accountability will result in irreversible environmental damage, as well as potential habitat loss for certain species. The province plans to collaborate with regulatory agencies to mitigate erosion concerns. There are also research plans in place to develop a deeper understanding of the park’s wildlife population, and supporting recovery initiatives for endangered species.

Species at risk

Over 85 B.C. Red listed species have been documented in Golden Ears Park. Some Red listed species that may be found in Golden Ears Park are Actaea elata, Spotted Owl, Monarch butterfly, Sage thrasher. The aforementioned species are registered as endangered in Schedule 1 of the The Species at Risk Act (SARA) as well as many other B.C. Red listed species which can be found in the park. The Government of British Columbia has documented 1824 Blue listed in Golden Ears Park such as Grizzly Bears. Western population Grizzly Bears are registered as a species of special concern in Schedule 1 of SARA. Golden Ears Park is a habitat for many species registered as endangered or of special concern within SARA.

Vegetation in the Park

Western Sword Fern

Golden Ears Park is home to three eco-sections within its borders, Eastern Pacific Ranges, Southern Pacific Ranges, and the Fraser Lowlands. Within the three eco-sections lies a large diversity of vegetation. Many of which commonly observed to be different variations of ferns, trees, and flowers. Ferns often observed include the Western Sword Fern, Leathery Grape Fern, American Parsley Fern, and the Common Bracken.

The park also has been dedicated to being a protected area for many plant and insect species that are, or have been deemed "red" or "blue" listed by the BC Centre for Disease Control. Using trees as an example, the Douglas-Fir tree that has been recovering from near extirpation in 2012 has been frequently spotted in the higher elevations of Golden Ears Park. Other plant species that are often observed include the Himalayan blackberry, Salmonberry, Snow Bramble, Skunk Cabbage, and Knotweed.

Invasive Species

Even if it may not be apparent, some very commonly noticed species of plants in BC are invasive. For example, the Himalayan Blackberry and the Knotweed family are both non-native species to BC and are found to be very harsh in terms of their impacts towards the habitats they live in. The Himalayan Blackberry bush is not only very fast growing, but it also produces sharp thorns that can harm other plants or animals. This species is also known to grow over top of low-growing plants, and become very dense to the point of limiting the movement of other animals in the area.

Species such as these often have common traits to one another that make them easily identified as invasive. Some of these traits include fast growth, reproduction and dispersal, an ability to adapt to different climates and conditions, and the capability to reproduce on their own if necessary . Though not all invasive species are created equal, and it is important to note that although some species found in Golden Ears Park are not native to the area, it does not inherently mean that they are all vicious or harmful to their environments. Especially in situations of feeding wildlife and increasing wildfire protection, they may serve more good than evil.

Endemic Species

With the multitude of ecology management plans currently underway and efforts being made by many sectors of the public, native species of plants found in BC are able to live, grow and regain previously strained population numbers within the protected areas of BC Parks such as Golden Ears. By using the previous example of trees, Golden Ears Park lends itself to being a protected area for many endemic species of trees in Canada as well. Sitka Spruce, Western White Pine, Douglas fir and Mountain Hemlock trees are all considered to be endemic to the Pacific Northwest, and are protected within the park boundary in order to preserve the habitat that these red and blue listed species live in.

Snow Bramble

Aside from the tree populations found within the park, there are many endangered plant species that are native to BC that can be found thriving in Golden Ears Provincial Park, species such as: Coastal wood ferns, Menzies’ Burnet, and Snow Bramble.

Management Plans for Invasive vs. Endemic Species

Currently, there are many government-run management plans and invasive species organizations that are vital to the prevention of the spread of invasive species, and the protection of endangered plants and animals. Organizations such as the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia (ISCBC), and the Golden Ears Management Plan have been two essentials in terms of maintaining the biodiversity in Golden Ears Park and upholding a key set of goals in order to preserve its beauty for future years. Published in 2013, one of the main purposes of the Golden Ears Management Plan was to outline a vision for the future use(s) of the park, and establishing the role the park has in being known as a protected area. This plan explains in detail goals that BCParks has for the managing of the spread, and preventing the introductions of invasive species amongst the 56 000 hectare park.

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