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Management

Bighorn Management

Policy and Legislation

With the designation of the Bighorn Backcountry in late 2002 the Government created 6 Forest Land Use Zones (FLUZs) in the Bighorn region. In many cases, these FLUZes have overridden the Eastern Slopes Policy by legalizing motorized access in the Prime Protection Zone. Although the FLUZs offer a higher degree of protective management, they serve to fragment the landscape further.

The 6 FLUZs

  • Blackstone/Wapiabi: Provides a year-round network of trails for non-motorized and equestrian users. No motorized recreation access allowed.
  • Job/Cline: Provides motorized, non-motorized and equestrian users with designated trails and areas by type of use and seasonal access.
  • Kiska/Wilson: Provides a large network of trails for motorized, non-motorized and equestrian users. Most trails are year-round access though a few trials have seasonal restrictions.
  • Upper Clearwater/Ram: Provides year-round access for non-motorized users and seasonal access for motorized users. Access in some areas requires written approval from a Forest Officer.
  • Panther Corners: Provides a year-round network of trails for non-motorized and equestrian users. No motorized recreational access allowed.
  • Dormer-Sheep: Provides year-round access for motorized, non-motorized and equestrian users.

 

 

The Bighorn area is managed under the regulations of the Forest Lands Use Zones. Historically, the area was managed under the  Eastern Slopes Policy and the  Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).
  • The Bighorn Wildland is zoned as Prime Protection and Critical Wildlife zones under the IRP
  • There are extensive Multiple Use Zones adjacent to the Wildland.

 

Definitions
Term Description
Prime Protection Zone
  • "to preserve environmentally sensitive terrain and valuable aesthetic resources".
  • Industrial development and ORV use are prohibited
Critical Wildlife Zone
  • "to protect wildlife populations by protecting habitat that is essential to those populations".
  • Industrial development and ORV use are permitted.
Multiple Use Zone
  • "to provide for the management and development of the full range of available resources, while meeting long term objectives for watershed management and environmental protection".
  • Industrial development and ORV use are permitted.
Forest Land Use Zone
  • An area of land to which legislative controls are applied under the authority of the Forests Act. A FLUZ is created specifically for that landbase and the conditions that exist within it. Each FLUZ can vary greatly on what is or is not permitted.

 

For external information provided by the Government of Alberta, please visit: www.bighorn.gov.ab.ca

 

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