Gains and Exceptions
The Ski Area Management Guidelines (2006) is a key policy document for the management of ski areas in the mountain national parks. The guidelines define “exceptions to the guidelines” and “substantial environmental gains” as one of the basis of ski area planning.
A substantial environmental gain is defined as “…a positive change in key ecological conditions (wildlife movement and habitat, wildlife mortality, sensitive species/areas and aquatic ecosystems) that leads to the restoration or the long term certainty of maintaining ecological integrity.” Leasehold reduction or reconfiguration that results in better protection of sensitive areas is an example of a substantial environmental gain.
An exception is defined as development that can be considered at a ski area with a substantial environmental gain. Exceptions may be permitted for:
- facilities;
- parking;
- terrain modification limitations; and
- adjustments to the developed area.
The Lake Louise Draft Site Guidelines for Development and Use contain a number of gains and exceptions that are summarized below. Interested readers should refer to the full text of the Ski Area Management Guidelines, the draft Site Guidelines, and the draft Strategic Environmental Assessment for all information related to this aspect of the draft site guidelines.
Substantial environmental gains:
There are four key proposals in the draft Site Guidelines that can be considered substantial environmental gains consistent with the Ski Area Management Guidelines.
Purple and Wolverine Bowl lands removed from ski area
- Identified by Parks Canada as important alpine wildlife habitat for grizzly bear, wolverine, mountain goat and other wildlife;
- Serve as a wildlife corridor to the Baker Creek and Skoki Valley areas;
- Valley bottoms of bowls contain soil and vegetation complexes that hold considerable snowmelt and precipitation groundwater, regulating flows to important fish habitat in Corral Creek throughout the summer season;
- Parks Canada has long considered development of these areas would result in adverse impacts to wildlife and stream flow in the Corral Creek watershed; and
- Total Purple and Wolverine Bowls land to be returned to the protected wilderness zones of the park equal to 537 hectares.
Whitehorn Wildlife Corridor land removed from the ski area lease and added to the protected zones of Banff National Park
- Considerable undeveloped areas of the ski area leasehold lie at lower elevations and are traversed by the Whitehorn Wildlife Corridor;
- Addition of these lands to the protected areas of the park will provide long-term certainty that wildlife movement effectiveness through these areas will not be impaired by potential future use or development;
- Land to be added to the protected zones of the park include the Lower Front Side, Ford Hill, and Olympic West areas; and
- Total Whitehorn Wildlife Corridor land to be removed from the lease and added to Parks protected zones equal to 488 hectares.
Summer use relocation to improve grizzly bear habitat
- Relocation of the Lake Louise Ski Area summer season hiking, sightseeing and interpretive programs to the upper ridges of Whitehorn Mountain will relocate summer visitors away from locations in the middle of prime summer grizzly bear habitat in the center elevations of the area, to higher elevations less used by bears;
- Measure expected to reduce disturbance, displacement and habituation of grizzly bears and diminish the potential for human/bear encounters.
Significant reduction of water withdrawal during low flows
- The current snowmaking supply system withdraws water directly from the Pipestone River and potable water is withdrawn from Corral Creek for use at Temple Lodge;
- The greatest snowmaking water need is late fall and early winter which coincides with late season low flow river and creek conditions;
- Westslope cutthroat trout (species listed as threatened under Species at Risk Act) and bull trout (species of concern) are found in the Pipestone River and Corral Creek;
- The storage of water withdrawn during high flow periods for use at more sensitive times of year is a key aspect of this environmental gain; and
- Conservation and efficiency measures, the development of alternative water sources and the use of storage reservoirs that can be trickle-charged will help secure necessary surface flows to support fish habitat during low flow times of the year.
Exceptions to the Ski Area Management Guidelines: The substantial environmental gains make it possible to consider the following exceptions to the site guidelines.
West Bowl development
- Parks Canada proposes to issue the ski area a Licence of Occupation for West Bowl, for winter use only, to regulate out-of-bounds skiing presently occurring at West Bowl, located at the edge of the ski area. The size of the proposed West Bowl licence is 173 hectares.
- Currently outside of the ski area lease, West Bowl habitually sees a moderate to high level of use by skiers accessing this backcountry area of the park from the Summit lift.
- The goal is to maintain the current West Bowl skiing experience by providing more adventurous and higher skilled skiers with a controlled, safer experience in complex terrain.
- The character of West Bowl will remain the same, with no lift, no cut runs and no grooming of the bowl. The ski area will conduct avalanche control, provide safety patrols and develop an egress trail below the cliff band to guide skiers safely back to the Juniper area.
Hidden Bowl development
- Parks Canada proposes to issue the ski area a Licence of Occupation for Hidden Bowl, restricted to winter use only. The proposed size of the Hidden Bowl licence is 183 hectares.
- Hidden Bowl development will introduce guests to a backcountry bowl skiing experience that is suited to intermediate and advanced skiers and provides an alternative to the expert terrain of the Whitehorn Back Bowls.
- A single return lift and one warming hut are proposed for Hidden Bowl. There will be no future cut runs, no grooming of the bowl and there must be sufficient setbacks from Hidden Lake and creeks. The ski area will conduct avalanche control, provide safety patrols and develop a winter only access/egress trail returning to the main ski area above Temple Lodge.
Richardson’s Ridge development
- Richardson’s Ridge area is approximately 80 hectares within the current ski area lease, but outside its current developed area boundary. Development of this terrain will provide significant new beginner to upper intermediate ski terrain for visitors.
- The exception for the development of Richardson’s Ridge would allow for a ski lift, ski runs and glading on the south end. This exception also includes redevelopment of a previously lifted area known as Prunepickers on the opposite side of Corral Creek above Temple Lodge to provide safe and convenient skier access back to the Richardson’s Ridge lift base from Temple Lodge.
West Juniper Area
- The West Juniper area is approximately 30 hectares within the current ski area lease, but outside its current developed area boundary.
- The exception for the development of West Juniper would allow for new runs to provide more beginner and lower intermediate ski terrain.
New Eagle Ridge Lodge
- The proposed Eagle Ridge Lodge will be located within the current lease and developed area in the vicinity of the top terminal of the existing Grizzly Gondola on Whitehorn Mountain.
- The Eagle Ridge Lodge will replace the use of the Whitehorn Lodge as a mid-mountain visitor centre in the summer season. In winter, it will provide an additional day lodge with support services for skiers, relieving current congestion at the existing lodges and improving visitor experience.
- Summer use of the Whitehorn Lodge would no longer be permitted after the Eagle Ridge Lodge is constructed, improving habitat security for grizzly bears and other species.
Terrain modification:
- There are a few locations at the ski area where existing ski-ways providing access from one ski pod to another are narrow, often congested and can pose potential safety concerns. There are also a few intermediate and beginner slopes with sections prone to icing or with exposed rocks that can create hazards for skiers.
- The following major terrain modifications to improve ski safety are proposed: Hump ski-way area, Hell’s Kitchen area, and the Marmot-Wolverine crossover. Modifications in these areas may include addressing sudden slope transitions and run reconfiguration.
For more information: www.parkscanada.gc.ca/lakelouise2015
