A multi-stakeholder Planning Advisory Committee consisting of trail users, conservation groups and key stakeholders have gathered input to prepare a draft All Seasons Trail Plan for West Bragg Creek Kananaskis Country. The objective is to develop a high quality, all season, sustainable, non-motorized trail system in the West Bragg Creek area, with linkages to the Elbow Valley and Jumpingpound Valley.
The effort is being lead by the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association with funding from the Moose Mountain Environmental Enhancement (MMEE) Fund, a community environmental initiative created by Shell Canada, Husky Energy and partners, and Alberta Tourism Parks and Recreation (TPR).
‘The West Bragg Creek area has seen dramatic growth in summer and winter use, but the main trails and trailhead were only developed for winter cross country ski use. The All Seasons Trail Plan was developed with the goals of minimizing environmental impact of recreational use, while improving the visitor experience with the development of a multi-use summer and winter trail system,’ explains Planning Chair and GBCTA member Eric Lloyd of Bragg Creek, Alberta.
The public review period will be from November 26th, 2009 to Dec 18th, 2009. The Draft Plan will also be posted on the GBCTA website at: trails.braggcreek.ca.
This is the first phase of public input to the draft Plan. The second phase will run in early 2010 when the Plan will be formally posted on TPR website. The goal is to have stakeholder approvals by spring 2010, with Plan implementation proceeding as capital and volunteer resources allow.
The PAC consists of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (land manager), Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation (land manager and trail operator), local industrial users including forestry, petroleum and grazing stakeholders, trail users representatives from cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, mountain biking, equestrian, and conservation/environmental groups.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Eric Lloyd
Bragg Creek, AB
PAC Chair, GBCTA
elloyd@davincibb.net
Phone: 403 949-2696
Don Cockerton
Planning Consultant
Calgary, AB
Don.Cockerton@telus.net
Phone: 403 282-1758
Bruce Barker
GBCTA Director
Bragg Creek, AB
bruce@haywirecreative.ca
Phone: 403 949-0070
