Park Management Plan Annual Report, 2023-2024

The protection of natural and cultural resources, park landscapes, and ecological integrity is fundamental to Parks Canada’s mandate. Progress has been made on various ecological conservation objectives.

Objective 1.1: Ecological integrity of forest ecosystems is improved.

• Prescribed fire plans are in place for Kicking Horse Meadow 1, Float Creek, Porcupine Creek, and the Ice River. Prescribed fire operations will only be conducted when predetermined weather and site conditions are met.

Objective 1.2: Ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems is improved.

• Following confirmed presence of whirling disease in Emerald Lake, Wapta Lake, and the Kicking Horse River in 2023, Parks Canada took action to prevent further spread by restricting angling and watercraft activities in the park while further monitoring takes place.

Objective 1.3: Ecological impacts of human use are addressed.

• The 49-hectare Ross Lake community-level fireguard was completed between 2023-24. This will protect the communities of Field, BC, and Lake Louise, AB from wildfire, and enhances grizzly bear habitat away from the Canadian Pacific Railway and Trans-Canada Highway in Kicking Horse Pass.

Objective 1.5: Cultural resources are documented and protected.

• Creation of a geodatabase containing all Cultural Resource Impact Assessments, accompanied by a web map tool, enhances Parks Canada’s ability to monitor and protect cultural resources effectively.
• Ongoing condition monitoring, utilizing photographic methods aligned with national guidance, ensures the preservation of cultural heritage for future generations.

National parks offer unparalleled opportunities for visitors to connect with nature and culture. Parks Canada’s commitment to enhancing visitor experiences while ensuring ecological sustainability is evident in the following achievements:

Objective 2.1: Sustainable, well-designed infrastructure accommodates visitor use and protects park ecosystems.

• New wayfinding signage was installed in the community of Field, improving the sense of arrival.
• All sites in Kicking Horse and Takakkaw campgrounds are now available on the Parks Canada Reservation System, improving the utilization of available sites.
• 10 of 30 tent sites at Lake O’Hara Campground were upgraded in 2023.

Objective 2.4: Sustainable trails and facilities provide a range of high-quality visitor experiences.

• A new trail alignment was designed and constructed in the fall of 2023 between the community of Field and the Stephen Creek footbridge to replace a badly deteriorated and eroded trail. This trail opened in 2024.

Parks Canada is committed to deepening and strengthening our relationships with Indigenous peoples. Through collaborative agreements and initiatives, we aim to recognize and respect Indigenous connections while advancing shared priorities.

Objective 3.1: Indigenous peoples with connections to the park are engaged through strong collaborative relationships with Parks Canada.

• Contribution agreements have been established with the Shuswap Band and the Ktunaxa Nation Council.

Objective 3.2: Park management is strengthened through the participation of Indigenous communities and the braiding of Indigenous knowledge into park programs and management decisions.

• Parks Canada provided funding to the Ktunaxa Nation Council to advance the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action 79, supporting the research, writing, and publishing of the book "q̓apkiǂ [k-ahp-kihlh] – to tell someone everything". This initiative amplifies Ktunaxa voices and their connection to their land, including the northern portion of their traditional territory encompassed in the mountain national parks.
• Ktunaxa Nation Council and Secwépemc Nation representatives participated jointly with Parks Canada representatives as part of the Aquatic Stewardship Working Group to develop a draft Aquatic Stewardship Plan for Yoho and Kootenay national parks.

Objective 3.3: Indigenous partners benefit from economic opportunities associated with the park.

• Parks Canada provided funding to Secwépemc and Ktunaxa to support the development of a Secwépemc Guardian Program and a Ktunaxa ʔa·knusti Guardian Program, respectively. These programs will expand existing Indigenous Guardian Programs into Yoho and Kootenay national parks through pilot phases, with the goal of establishing long-term Indigenous Guardian Programs in the national parks.

Through innovative programs and educational initiatives, Parks Canada strives to foster meaningful connections and shared stewardship. Here are some notable achievements:

Objective 4.2: Current and engaging learning programs allow Canadians to develop a sense of shared stewardship and connection to the park.

• In 2023, the outdoor Burgess Shale exhibit at Field Visitor Reception Centre was upgraded to reflect the most recent research and understanding of this globally significant fossil site.

Objective 4.3: Canadians are engaged in learning about the park, allowing them to experience and form meaningful connections without visiting in person.

• Parks Canada developed and launched the Burgess Shale Fossils Google Arts and Culture virtual exhibit, with plans to enhance it further with additional virtual experiences.
• Collaboration with other mountain parks resulted in the development of a Google Arts and Culture exhibit on whitebark pine, raising awareness about this important species at risk, and conservation efforts to protect it.
• A podcast series on species at risk is in development, offering another tool for Canadians to learn about the park's biodiversity and conservation efforts.
• Two “Explore by the Seat of Your Pants” virtual programs on winter safety and park stewardship provide interactive learning experiences for audiences unable to visit the park in person.
• Through initiatives like the 5-year By the Light of the Fire program, we engage with communities through outreach events and social media to share important information about fire management.

Through careful management of development and land use, Parks Canada aims to protect the park's unique qualities for future generations.

Objective 5.2: Wilderness areas are managed to maintain wilderness character and ecological integrity.

• A two-year pilot for paragliding has been completed with at least 19 flights occurring in Yoho, with the majority being launched from Emerald Peak, providing new outdoor recreation opportunities with minimal impact to the park. This pilot program is currently under review, reflecting our commitment to responsible management of recreational activities while preserving the park's natural environment.

Objective 5.4: The village of Field is a sustainable visitor centre for welcoming and orienting visitors to the park while providing comfortable living environments for eligible residents.

• A review of the Field Community Plan began in 2024. Community engagement sessions and online survey have been completed, with a draft expected by fall 2024.
• An M.Sc. thesis and two scientific publications were completed on elk habitat use and movement in the Field Flats area that fills data gaps for impact assessment and mitigations related to future Trans-Canada Highway twinning, ensuring that wildlife movement corridors around the community are maintained or improved.

Parks Canada collaborates with regional partners to achieve landscape-scale conservation and maintenance of wildlife corridors.

Objective 6.2: Wildlife corridors continue to function as movement pathways for animals traveling between the mountain parks and lands managed by others.

• Genetic data on wolverines has been collected and published, aiding in the identification of landscape-level corridors.
• Winter monitoring of wildlife corridors in the Kicking Horse River Valley was completed in 2023. Monitoring will be conducted annually and an analysis completed and reported in the next State of the Park Report.

Parks Canada aims to understand and address the impacts of climate change through research, monitoring, and proactive management strategies.

Objective 7.1: Research and monitoring to enhance understanding of the effects of climate change on key ecosystem parameters is supported within the park and the results are shared with park visitors and Canadians.

• Completed monitoring of pika and bird populations in 2023, with results slated for inclusion in the next State of the Park Assessment, to better understand climate change impacts on local biodiversity.
• Collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada on a pilot study investigating stream ecosystem functioning in response to glacial recession. Fieldwork for this study has been completed, contributing valuable insights into the ecological implications of glacial retreat in the park.

Objective 7.2: The threats posed by climate change to park ecological and cultural resources, infrastructure, and operations are mitigated through active management and adaptation based on available scientific research, monitoring, and predictive modeling.

• Completion of wildfire risk reduction measures around Emerald Lake Lodge was completed in 2023, enhancing the resilience of infrastructure and cultural resources in the face of increasing fire risks.
• The Ross Lake fire guard was completed in 2023-24, demonstrating our commitment to ecosystem resilience and adaptive management in response to climate change-induced challenges.

Objective 7.3: Carbon emissions from Parks Canada sources within the park are reduced in accordance with the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy through the development of energy-efficient infrastructure, use of renewable energy, and programs to encourage the reduction of fossil fuel use.

• Replacement of nine internal combustion engine fleet vehicles with five zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) and four hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), aligning with sustainability goals and contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions within the park.
• Upgrades to the HVAC system in the Parks Canada Field administration office have resulted in improved energy efficiency.