History

• February 1, four protesters (Mike Judd, Rick Collier, Reynold Reimer and Jim Palmer) are arrested by RCMP for declining to leave the Castle logging protest camp, despite a court order to do so.
• SRD officers and RCMP also serve a Court Order against five more protesters. The Court Order was served against  Mike Judd; award-winning author Sid Marty; and three other local residents, Gordon Petersen, Tim Grier and Diana Calder.  
• Road clearing work at the site begins.
• February 3, the Court Order is appealed at the Alberta Court of Queens Bench in Calgary.
• February 23, in a negotiated agreement, provincial officials decide not to charge anti-logging protestors who were arrested on February 1. Protestors who were named in the related Court Order will not be appealing that Order in court. Lawyers for the protestors, and the Crown’s lawyer, reached an out-of-court understanding where no further action will be taken against those arrested, and where the Court Order will be allowed to expire.

• January 11, despite the frigid temperatures, local residents set up a protest camp in the planned logging location.
• January 19, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) serves the protesters a Notice of Development under the Public Lands Act to vacate their camp immediately.
• More than 150 people attend a rally, January 22 to protest the logging.
• January 23, SRD issues trespassing notices to the protesters who remain at the site. The protesters file an appeal.
• January 26, RCMP and the SRD staff serve protesters with a court order to vacate the area and dismantle the camp. In fact, the order bans named protesters from all public land in Alberta nearly 400,000 km² of land! The court order states: "The parties shall not occupy or use any other public lands in the province of Alberta unless otherwise authorized to do so."
  
• January 30, a court order is served requiring the protesters to cease their "trespass" on public lands. Protesters are until February 1, when the RCMP will begin making arrests.

An Alberta government update report on grizzly recovery in the province, titled Grizzly Bear Conservation in Alberta. 2010 Management Activities and Recovery Implementation, finds that in 2010, 5 of the estimated 51 grizzlies in the Castle region were known to have died, and another was relocated. This 11.8% removal rate adds to the 1 grizzly killed and 4 relocated out of the region in 2009. This underlies the importance of the findings of a Global Forest Watch report released in March that had concluded that the Castle Special Management Area is no longer secure for grizzly bears and that sustainable environmental management of the Castle wilderness is not occurring. The Castle continues to be a population sink for grizzlies.

More than 80 people attend a rally, June 8, on the steps of the Alberta government's McDougall Centre in Calgary, to protest the planned logging in the Castle Special Place.

Legal counsel for Mike Judd, a Pincher Creek based landowner and outfitter, files a Leave to Appeal application with the Alberta Court of Appeal in Calgary, appealing against the Energy Resource Conservation Board (ERCB) approval of Shell's Mount Backus well. The appeal is on the basis that the ERCB “erred in law by not properly considering the potential impacts of Shell's project on endangered grizzly bear populations and by refusing to allow evidence about the presence of a known and documented grizzly bear den to be admitted at the public hearing.” The appeal is eventually thrown out. Local residents plan a “wake/ celebration” at the site “to mourn the loss of the site, but also to celebrate all the time, effort, and passion that went into trying to protect it.”

The Praxis Group of Calgary carries out an opinion poll survey of residents living close to the Castle (in the Livingstone Macleod riding of MLA Evan Berger). Of the 774 residents surveyed 74 per cent agree that the province should legally establish a 1,023 km² Wildland Park to better protect the Castle Special Place. 77 per cent also oppose plans by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Spray Lake Sawmills to clear-cut log the area between Beaver Mines Lake, Castle Falls and Lynx Creek starting in June. In an earlier survey of Lethbridge and Coaldale residents, more than 85 per cent of those surveyed opposed the clear-cut logging in the area, and 87 per cent of residents surveyed supported the establishment of a Wildland Park in the area.

Global Forest Watch (GFW) Canada produce a new report: Castle Area Forest Land Use Zone: Linear Disturbances, Access Densities and Grizzly Bear Habitat Security Areas. The report finds that the total length of roads and trails that are potentially used by off-highway vehicles within the Castle is 1,283 km, or a density of 1.3 km/km². The Castle falls within one of the Core Grizzly Bear areas recognized by the Alberta government: access densities in these areas are intended to be no higher than 0.6 km/km². Motorized access in the Castle goes far beyond the designated trail system.The report concludes that the Castle Special Management Area is no longer secure for grizzly bears and that sustainable environmental management of the Castle wilderness is not occurring. The report concludes “The Castle Area Forest Land Use Zone is not being managed according to its mandate, regulations or stated purpose. Access is not being controlled, and is a threat to all other public values of this area.”

• A December 1995 pipeline leakage caused by internal corrosion (the pipeline had been in operation for just 3 months);
• An August 1997 pipeline failure which led to a sour gas leak which killed a cow and calf;
• An observation that “The Carbondale and Castle River systems operated without further corrosion-related releases until November 2007, at which time a rupture occurred...” This pipeline failure occurred shortly after ERCB’s predecessor, the Energy Utilities Board, had held its first hearing into Shell’s application to drill the Mount Backus well. Permission was denied after this first hearing.

ERCB's language in turning down the pipeline is surprisingly strong:

• “The Board does not disagree that the operational procedures and pipeline technologies proposed by Shell may work for corrosion mitigation; however, these considerations have been
  outweighed by examples of its poor operating practices, such as improperly secured open excavations, odour complaints, pipeline and associated equipment failures, spills, poor reclamation efforts, and weed growth at Shell’s facilities."
• “The Board is of the view that Shell, in the way that it has operated its existing infrastructure in this area, has not adequately demonstrated that it has followed its own procedures. Until Shell can better demonstrate compliance with its own procedures, the Board is of the view that it is not reasonable to tie in these additional production volumes and add more pipeline length to the system. Therefore, the Board hereby denies Applications No. 1614198 and 1614210.”

The ERCB decision also recognizes that Shell’s rare plant survey of the potential well site was flawed: it failed to find 9 rare plant species which were discovered in later independent surveys. Subsequently, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development suspends approval of the well development until a plan is produced to “mitigate” impacts on rare plants. An SRD spokesman comments: “We require them to come up with some sort of mitigation approach that ensures that what kind of impact they might have would be minimized, where it can be avoided it is, and if there is some impact it’s done in a way that affects as few specimens as possible... We need to say that construction wouldn't begin on the site until we're satisfied the issue's been resolved.”

The new C5 Forest Management Plan is passed, but does nothing to respect the non-forestry values of the region. AWA and local residents remain active in protesting against plans for clearcut logging in the Castle region. AWA has identified a need for education of suppliers of wood products as to the source of timber, and is working with Alberta Foothills Network to investigate the possibility of a market action campaign based upon these contacts.

August 2009, a leaking filter pot spills 20,000 litres of diesel at Shell's Waterton 69 well. The spill is cleared up quickly and no diesel apparently reaches the nearby Carbondale River.

Shell issues a letter reaffirming its position on protected areas in the Castle: “Shell continues to believe that through appropriate discussion, dialogue, compromise and negotiation between government, Shell and other stakeholders it is possible that an acceptable agreement can be reached for the establishment of a park.”

Castle Special Place Citizens’ Initiative meets throughout the year. This is a broad group, with individuals representing adjacent landholders, industry, First Nations, Municipal governments, watershed groups and environmental organizations. In October 2009, AWA is one of the many signatories to sign on to the Castle Special Place Conceptual Proposal for Legislated Protected Areas, which is sent to the Minister for Tourism, Parks and Recreation. Proposal is in response to “Broad, local and regional concern for achieving better short and long-term protection of the Castle Special Place.” The initiative proposes “legislating the entire protected area (except the [Castle Mountain Resort] lands) within the province’s current protected areas and parks legislation,” and proposes that “the present types of recreational uses, including hunting and fishing, and summer grazing permits continue within the ecological limits of the Castle Special Place.”

The Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) issues its decision (2008-127) denying Shell Canada permission to drill a sour gas well and construct two pipelines and a central facility close to the town of Beaver Mines. Shortly after the initial EUB hearing into Shell’s proposals ended in October 2007, a nearby Shell pipeline had ruptured, causing a sour gas leak which forced the evacuation of 10 homes, with other residents ordered to stay in their homes. Subsequently the Board decided to delay its decision on the Shell application until investigation of the pipeline leak was complete; the final report on the leak was published in October 2008.

In its decision on the Shell applications, EUB rules that “sufficient details have not been provided on how Shell will operate and monitor the proposed pipelines to ensure their integrity over the long term.” Interveners, including the Castle Crown wilderness Coalition, argue that the ERCB should convene a public inquiry into the whole Shell Waterton gathering system.

Shell Canada issue a letter clarifying that they “are not opposed to the creation of a park” in the Castle region. “We believe that any process to establish a park must include broad stakeholder consultation and a committed effort to address the concerns of all parties.”

Shell also commits to:

• “not proceed with further development in the front canyons or Mill Creek beyond the extent of our existing facilities…”
• not drill any more wells on Prairie Bluff
• not proceed with exploration and development activity in the South Castle and West Castle drainage south of Southfork Mountain.

Castle Special Place Citizens' Committee begins to meet to discuss protection options in the Castle, specifically the area identified by the province's Special Places program, 1995-2000.

At an Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) hearing into a proposed |Shell Canada gas well at Mount Backus, near Beaver Mines, Shell publicly states for the first time that they do not oppose a protected park in the Castle. Local residents and the Castle Crown Wilderness Coalition speak out strongly against the proposals. Just weeks after the hearing, local residents are evacuated from close to the proposed well because of a sour gas pipeline leak.

Also in October, the Premier of Alberta and the Governor of Montana sign a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the Government of the State of Montana, and the Government of the Province of Alberta, which includes the statement: “To improve understanding, raise awareness and promote collaboration on the management of the Crown of the Continent ecosystem, the Participants [the Province of Alberta and State of Montana] wish to pursue the following … (d) ensure sustainable flow of economic, social and environmental benefits and preserve the ecological values of this outstanding landscape.”

Approval of the draft C5 Forest Management Plan is again postponed by Ted Morton, Minister for Sustainable Resource Development. Minister Morton delays implementation of the plan until the Oldman Watershed Council has completed its report on the state of the Oldman Basin in the fall “with an eye to shifting priorities to better consider environmental protection” (Calgary Herald, March 13, 2007). Minister Morton later writes, in a letter to AWA, “In the proper context, timber harvesting and forest management planning could be used as an innovative tool, within a broader land management scenario, to create wildlife habitat and watershed integrity and support natural areas and conservation.”

AWA Research program in the Castle continues with 3 projects:

• An Overview of Invasive Species in the Front Range Canyons, finds a number of invasive plants, including three noxious weeds, and concludes that “active removal and continued control are necessary to eliminate weed species.”
• A second study, Monitoring the Revegetation of High Elevation Disturbed Sites on Prairie Bluff studies how well Shell Canada’s 1991 revegetation of an old access trail had succeeded. It finds that “by 15 years post-disturbance, natural recovery on the disturbed area was well advanced. This indicates that in the absence of non-native species, native plant communities can recover on high elevation disturbed areas.”
• A third study is begun to look at direct seeding of whitebark pine seeds in subalpine areas.

A proposal by Castle Mountain Resorts (CMR) to withdraw 30,000 m³ of water from the Westcastle aquifer for snowmaking is withdrawn in November, following Statements of Concern filed by the Castle Crown Wilderness Coalition (CCWC) and the Parks branch of Alberta Community Development. Of particular concern are the potential effects on water levels of the nearby Westcastle River Wetlands Ecological Reserve and the implications for plants and wildlife such as bull trout. Other options for CMR are now somewhat, limited following the Alberta government’s recent decision to cease issuing new water extraction licences from the Oldman River basin.

• “Maximum cut block sizes as currently defined are a concern. Our committee believes current cut block maximums (500 ha) coupled with low retained structure have great potential to compromise the ecological and social values inherent in the plan.
• “Important issues such as fragmentation, connectivity and habitat patches have not been addressed in the Forest Management Plan or in some form of environmental assessment, nor have the cumulative effects been considered in the planning process. We suggest they should be an important component of the forest management plan.
• “What is not clear is how the computer modelling takes into account all the other values that we developed and identified as objectives. We know that it is thought by SRD that run 90022 will in 20 years best meet the desired future forest criteria but confidence by CROWPAC and perhaps SRD in that prediction is low especially concerning the non-timber values of the forest.”

Plans to develop the former ranger station and old minimum security camp on crown land in the Castle are vigorously opposed by locals and environmental groups. The plan would convert the land into a trailer park offering year-round accommodation and recreational facilities in the area.

Prince Philip writes a letter of support for the Andy Russell Park proposal to Sierra Club Canada. "I can only hope that the appropriate action to bring about this desirable proposal will be taken as soon as possible."

AWA opposes Prairie's Edge Aviation’s plan to operate guided helicopter tours in the Castle wilderness. “Helicopter access must only be allowed where it does not adversely affect wildlife, non-motorized back-country recreation, or fragile terrain.”

The Draft Forest Management plan is released for the C5 Forest Management area. This region stretches from southern Kananaskis Country south to the border of Waterton National Park and includes the Castle region. The plan proposes to “maintain or increase the net forest (commercial timber harvesting) land base in the C5 FMU” and proposes a 25% increase in an already considerable Annual Allowable Cut (AAC). Much of the Castle area is not slated for clear-cutting for the next 20 years, but the plan still ignores proposals for protection in the region. AWA comments include: “The plan appears to be very much a ‘Forestry’ management plan, as opposed to a ‘Forest’ management plan. Although only 34% of the C5 land base is designated for harvesting, this plan will have serious implications for the other 66%. The emphasis of the plan continues to be on the provision of a continuing timber supply (“The FMP will focus on managing the C5 forest land base to supply a continuous flow of timber” [1.2 Purpose and Scope of this Plan]), rather than the management of a complex forest ecosystem.”

Calls for the new Andy Russell Wildland are tabled in the Alberta Legislature by Harry Chase, Alberta Liberal Party Critic for Community Development. They receive a warm response from members of all political parties. “Alberta would benefit from remembering people like Andy Russell, respecting the original First Nations inhabitants, and protecting more places like the Castle wilderness,” said Chase. “I urge all members of the House to support the creation of the Andy Russell I’tai Sah Kòp wildland provincial park as a legacy for future Albertans to enjoy” (Alberta Hansard, November 16, 2005).

Supporters of the US group, the Natural Resource Defense Council, send 23,000 letters to Premier Klein in support of designation of the Andy Russell Wildland.

A group of well-known western Canadian figures, including wildlife artist Robert Bateman, water scientist Dr. David Schindler, writers Sid Marty and Farley Mowat, and politician Joe Clarke, write to Premier Klein to encourage protection in the Castle region. “What good will it be if the last piece of the wilderness frontier Andy brought from the mountains and foothills of southern Alberta to the world […] is no longer intact to inspire our children and grandchildren?”

Alberta Court of Appeal overturns earlier Judicial Review decision, which ruled that Alberta Environment was ‘patently unreasonable’ not to require an Environmental Assessment for future expansions of Castle Mountain Resort in the Westcastle Valley.

CPAWS and Shell Canada jointly release Selected Ecological Resources of Alberta’s Castle Carbondale: A Synopsis of Current Knowledge. The 216-page report, written by Martin Jalkotzy, raises some eyebrows because industry and environmental groups both seem to be working together to call for improved management in the Castle region. The report finds that the province has "missed opportunities" to resolve conflicts, has failed to use "specific, legally binding" management techniques and conducted "little to no enforcement" of rules in the region.

Third year of AWA rare plant survey, and first year of invasive weed survey carried out in the Front Range canyons. “AWA’s studies show there has been a dramatic and irreversible vegetative change to many of the natural systems in the Castle, particularly at low elevations along valley bottoms. Non-native grasses have replaced native plant species resulting in impaired watershed integrity and diminished wildlife habitat. Several species of noxious weeds are widespread and abundant, particularly along drainages in the Carbondale watershed.”

Premier Ralph Klein writes, in response to AWA’s proposal, “I was honoured to have the opportunity to attend and speak at a memorial for Andy Russell. He was a great Albertan who made it his life’s work to educate people about wildlife and conservation. His great work will live on through his books, films, and articles, and I have shared your idea with the Honourable Gary Mar, Minister of Community Development.”

Gary Mar writes, “Designating the Castle as Andy Russell Wildland Provincial Park would be a fitting tribute to a truly great Alberta who dedicated his life to protecting Alberta’s wild places. I will discuss your proposal further with my colleague, the Honourable David Coutts, Minister of Sustainable Resource Development.”

Government appeal of the Judicial Review decision that not holding an EIA of the proposed Castle Mountain Resort expansion was ‘patently unreasonable.’

Beginning of process to revise 1992 Castle River Access Management Plan for Motorized Recreational Access. Groups involved in the original process are contacted by SRD.

AWA comments include:

• “Wrong to have an access management plan which looks solely at motorized access and ignores its effect on non-motorized access.”
• “Limited resources for enforcement and weak penalties make access control considerably less efficient.”

AWA is still committed to seeking legislated protection for the Castle Wildland.

August 2004: the government files to appeal the decision.

Alberta's Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner finds that the Department of Environment and Sustainable Resources Development contravened the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act in refusing to release information relating to Alberta Environment's decision to not require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Castle Mountain Resort expansion.

Shell agrees to decommission old Waterton #12 well site, North Drywood Creek, one of 26 old sites in the front range canyons, though they are not legally obliged to do so. Soil samples revealed alarming levels of soil contamination, leading to the recommendation that the whole site be excavated to bedrock (more than 10,000 cubic meters of soil). For wells drilled prior to 1972, there is no legal reclamation requirement.

Castle Crown Wilderness Coalition (CCWC) issues report: Grizzly Bear in southwest Alberta: A vision for population and habitat recovery, by Dr. Brian L. Horejsi. The report estimates that there may only be a total of 39 grizzly bears in Southwest Alberta south of Highway 3. Only about a quarter of these are females, with as few as three or four of these females being adults. With very low productivity, adult females are the crucial element of long term grizzly survival; so few adult females cannot sustain a stable grizzly bear population given current levels of mortality and the management removal of bears from the area. The report recommends:

• The Grizzly Bear should be recognized as endangered and managed with care.
• A core protected area in the Castle Wilderness should be established immediately to provide habitat.
• The effects of roads, off road vehicle use, oil and gas activity and recreational real estate development must be addressed.
•  Implementation of a voluntary grazing permit buy out program to increase the quality of habitat on public land.

A full-scale environmental impact assessment should be conducted for logging in the area before any more planning proceeds

CCWC appeal to the Environmental Appeal Board (EAB) over Alberta Environment’s approval of proposed changes to CMR’s Sewage Lagoon next to West Castle River Wetlands Ecological Reserve. The clause limiting approval to 88 housing units would be removed by these changes. CCWC argues that this decision should not be made until the judicial review process has taken place.

August 2003: The Lost Creek Fire burns 21,000ha

AWA begins 3 year Rare Plant survey of the front range canyons in the Castle area. Study focused on the lesser known areas of the Castle, including the upper parts of the Front Range Canyons, South and West Castle and Carbondale valleys.

CMR Area Structure Plan proposes expanded ski hill development; expansion of housing to 225 units; and development of additional facilities including restaurants, pubs and retail space. 

The Panel on Ecological Integrity of Canada's National Parks details that the health of Waterton Lakes National Park is dependent on adjacent provincial and private lands. It recommends that the federal government dedicate funds to conservation efforts in this larger ecosystem and seek provincial cooperation to find conservation solutions for lands adjacent to Waterton.

Shell Canada
The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) release their Screwdriver Creek Decision Report (2000-17) in response to an application by Shell Canada and Canadian 88 to drill at the eastern edge of the Castle Wilderness. It acknowledges that significant regional cumulative environmental impacts have occurred in the Castle, and that biological thresholds for some species (i.e. grizzly bears) have likely been exceeded. However, the Board continues to approve development.

Forestry
Atlas Lumber, and to a lesser extent Spray Lake Sawmills, continue wide spread clearcutting of old growth forests within the Castle Wilderness. In response, the Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition (CCWC) initiates a consumer boycott of lumber taken from the area.

Access Management
AWA, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Professional Outfitters Association and Speak Up For Wildlife withdraw from Castle Access Management Plan Working Group due to the fundamentally flawed process, particularly the failure to use the best available science in decision-making.

Forestry
Atlas Lumber proposes a winter logging plan that would remove the last remaining stands of mature old-growth forest in the Lynx Creek-Carbondale drainage.

Integrated Resource Plan
Plans to review the Castle Integrated Resource Plan also announced.

Access Management
Castle Special Management Area Forest Land Use Zone designated, March 1998. This zone will allow for clear-cut logging, oil and gas development, motorized access, mining exploration and the four season West Castle resort. The 94 hectare West Castle River Wetlands Ecological Reserve established.

• “The process, as it exists, is not soundly based on available information and relies too heavily on the unsubstantiated opinions of the participants.”
• The forestry representative exhibited bias in recognizing and supporting the needs of motorized recreation users but not those of non-motorized users.
• About three quarters of the user public are not members of any group and so were not represented at the table.”

Access Management
Access Management Plan process initiated by Alberta government.

Shell Canada
Shell Canada is given permission to drill at Upper Whitney Creek, one of the last pockets of untouched wilderness on the east slopes of southern Alberta. Road construction and drilling commences the next year.

• Lack of environmental impact assessment
• Threat to grizzly bear populations, including Waterton Park and the US
• Risk to bull trout habitat
• Visual impact, including 24 km of upgraded access road.
• Safety concerns
• ERCB approves Shell well licence in June, with certain conditions. A campaign to boycott Shell products soon follows. ERCB issues Shell Canada a drilling licence, but Shell later decides not to drill at the site due to geological reasons.

June: Shell Canada also announces its plans to drill three new wells on prairie Bluff, over 7000 feet and also in the Prime Protection Zone.

Alberta Forest Service assists in determining possible access routes to locations for wells proposed by Shell Canada on Prairie Bluff (in Zone 1, Prime Protection).

A campaign to boycott Shell products follows. Shell Canada decides not to drill at the site due to geological reasons.

Westcastle Ski Hill
The Alberta government sells 12.5 hectares (30 acres) of public lands in the West Castle for an expansion of the ski hill, as well as commercial and residential development. The land is sold for $1,235.50/hectare ($500/acre). Provisions are made in the Agreement for the future sale of another 40 hectares.

AWA applies for protection and rezoning of entire South Castle as Prime Protection Zone. The government rejects the AWA application and approves a drilling application by Shell Canada.

AWA also submits Preliminary Disclosure for a Wilderness Natural Area to Don Sparrow, Associate Minister for Public Lands and Wildlife. Both proposals are summarily dismissed.

Integrated Resource Plan
Instead, with only a few minor changes, the Alberta government approves the 1984 draft of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The introduction to the Plan emphasizes the values of the area:

• “The watershed, recreation and tourism resource management objectives have highest priority in the Castle River area.”
• “The primary intent of the Castle-Front Range Headwaters resource management area is to provide a wide range of extensive recreation opportunities. This is in recognition of the high potential of this area for wildland recreation as identified in the eastern Slopes policy.”
• The new Plan still purportedly sets watershed protection and recreation as primary values of the area, but changes the zoning to facilitate proposals by Shell Canada to drill in the Jutland area. Tourism, specifically “intensive tourism facility development”, is also added as one of the priorities for the region. The Planning Team acknowledges AWA’s proposals for a Wildland Recreation Area, but responds that a “wildland management philosophy” will suffice. In a letter to AWA, Alberta Energy and Natural Resources states “It has become very apparent that our definition of ‘wilderness’ differs from your in that we recognize that wildlands include areas where management strives to hold types and intensities of resource use to the lower end, but not extreme end, of the development continuum.”

Shell Canada
Shell Canada applies once again to drill in Jutland area.

Integrated Resource Plan
A revised draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is released with zoning changes. The Prime Protection Zone is reduced and no longer includes the Jutland site. The management planning committee for the South Castle includes AWA and Shell Canada Environmental Biologist Doug Mead, representing the Canadian Petroleum Association.

• “Provincial Parks Division has proposed a large Provincial Park for the Castle River sub-basin, to provide for both intensive and extensive recreation use.”
• “As a result of improved methods of detecting and suppressing fire, there has been a significant loss of winter range to natural succession.”
• “The location of recreation developments and associated infrastructure can significantly affect the fisheries resource since most summer recreation is associated with fishing.”
• Proposed to expand Zone 2 (Critical Wildlife Habitat) to include elk winter range on Maverick and Byron Hills.
• Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) team recommends expansion of Prime Protection (Zone 1) area in the South Castle.

Together with Waterton Lakes National Park, Glacier National Park and adjacent lands in Montana, the Castle River drainage is declared a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve. South Castle becomes the Biosphere Zone of Cooperation.

Shell Canada
Shell Canada applies for reduction of Prime Protection Zone in the South Castle to allow exploratory drilling. The Alberta government rejects the rezoning application, though Fred McDougall, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, writes to AWA: “Although it would be convenient to process every proposal in the area by means of strict application of the (Eastern Slopes) policy, this would be inconsistent with the intent – that is, to apply the policy in a reasonable manner, taking into account changing circumstances and new information.” However, rather than compensating Shell Canada Ltd. for its leases and purchasing back other leases in the area or letting them expire, the government extends the life of the lease.

In 1921 manpower constraints forced the park to divest itself of more than half of its territory. (By 1976 the park is 195 sq mi.)