EMAIL:

P.O. Box 3116, Revelstoke, BC V0E 2S0

info@northcolumbia.org WEBSITE: www.northcolumbia.org

April 24, 2015

City of Revelstoke
Mayor and Council
mmckee@revelstoke.ca
cbrothers@revelstoke.ca
sduke@revelstoke.ca
tenglish@revelstoke.ca
lnixon@revelstoke.ca
aorlando@revelstoke.ca
gsulz@revelstoke.ca

Columbia Shuswap Regional District

Loni Parker, Director Area B
lparker@csrd.bc.ca

Re: Upper Arrow Reservoir Management of Motorized Recreation within the

Drawdown zone

The North Columbia Environmental Society (NCES) is writing to request that all levels of
government work cooperatively to curtail the ongoing problems associated with
unmanaged motorized recreation within the drawdown zone of the Arrow Reservoir near
Revelstoke.
In 2005, BC Hydro facilitated a process to develop the Upper Arrow Reservoir
Drawdown Zone Management Plan (DDZMP). A committee of government agencies
(including the City of Revelstoke and the CSRD), environmental interests, recreation
groups, and property owners coordinated the three year public process to achieve the
final DDZMP. The DDZMP has closed to public use the high value wildlife habitat area
south of Drimmie Creek while establishing acceptable recreational uses within the open
area north of Drimmie Creek. While signs have been installed at entrance points and BC
Hydro has placed information notices in local papers, there is still a need for

enforcement and motorized recreation management to protect this sensitive wetland and
grassland area.
Recreational activities are not being managed and regular violations of the DDZMP are
occurring. We believe these violations are infractions of the Water Act, the Fisheries Act,
the Wildlife Act, the City of Revelstoke and the CSRD OCP and Zoning Bylaws.
The City of Revelstokes OCP states that environmental stewardship is a community
priority and that the drawdown zone is important habitat. The Drawdown Zone land is
identified as an environmentally sensitive area with a community goal to protect and
enhance these lands and a policy to secure protection through legal mechanisms.
The CSRDs OCP has an environmental management objective to protect
environmentally sensitive lands including the drawdown zone and to restrict the use of
lands that are environmentally sensitive. The CSRDs Zoning bylaw identifies the
drawdown zone as Foreshore and Water with permitted used that include water based
uses (navigation, boating, docks, etc.) and passive recreation. Passive recreation is
defined as recreation that does not include the use of motorized vehicles.
The City and the CSRD have a responsibility to manage land use in accordance with
their OCPs, Bylaws, and Federal and Provincial legislation.
Recent violations that have been brought to our attention include:
Mud bogging;
Destruction of fish and stream habitat;
Destruction of wetlands and grasslands;
Disturbance and displacement of waterfowl and wildlife;
Pollution through oil spills;
Creation or deposition of dust, litter and fires; and
Trespass on private property.
A recent event included two days of efforts to pull a mud bogging truck out of the mud
and included the use of a backhoe, three tow trucks and an excavator. The results
include those shown in the below photograph as well as broken hydraulic hose, oil spill,
and violation of numerous regional, provincial and federal laws. The DDZMP does not
permit motorized recreation, such as dirt biking, ATVing, and mud bogging.
The NCES recognizes the huge potential of these lands as critical habitat for fish,
wildlife, and water birds. Wildlife viewing and bird watching has become one of the
fastest growing recreational activities throughout the world. The provincial government
now recognizes viewing as a priority and a larger public interest than hunting. Promoting
and managing this area for its natural attributes will create both compatible recreation
and tourism opportunities for both the City of Revelstoke and the CSRD.

Motorized Recreation - Arrow Reservoir

The NCES hereby requests that all motorized recreation be curtailed immediately and
that no unlicenced vehicles be allowed within the drawdown zone. Enforcement of
regional, provincial and federal legislation is absolutely essential to protect this sensitive
habitat.
Thank you for supporting the habitat within the drawdown zone.
Yours truly,

Fraser Blyth
Vice-President