Proposed Protected Areas of the Rainshadow Wilderness

Southern Chilcotins/Spruce Lake - The 89,300 hectare Southern Chilcotin Mountains/Spruce Lake proposed protected area harbours rare mid-elevation grasslands in Tyaughton and Gun Creek valleys which are unique in the province. The Spruce Lake area is famous for its floral diversity, with values for mule deer, grizzly, California big horn sheep, mountain goat, wolf, marten and wolverine. The area's extensive trail system makes this wilderness extremely popular with backcountry recreationists. Ignoring widespread opposition, the B.C. Forest Service recently gave permission to Ainsworth Lumber Co. to commence road building and logging in the Tyaughton Creek Valley within the Southern Chilcotins Wilderness.

Upper Bridge River - The 72,300 hectare Upper Bridge River Watershed proposed protected area is a KEYSTONE. It links other Coast Mountain wilderness areas to each other. This headwaters area, the last 15 kilometres of the 125-kilometre-long Bridge River system, is the only part of the Bridge system left untouched by logging or unaffected by hydroelectric dam reservoir flooding. The Upper Bridge contains populations of moose, grizzly bear, mule deer, mountain goat, wolverine, mink and harlequin duck. Ainsworth Lumber Co. is currently road building further into the valley and clearcutting blocks of wild forest.

   Bridge River Glacier

Cayoosh Range - The 31,100 hectare Cayoosh Range proposed protected area is home to one of the greatest concentrations of mountain goats in B.C. The range is also a critically important grizzly bear area with migration links to other nearby wilderness areas. Important Stl'atl'imx First Nations heritage sites are found here near Seton Lake. Abundant alpine lakes, basins and meadows make the highcountry of the Cayoosh Range a favoured destination for hikers and mountaineers. A four season destination resort proposed for Melvin Creek threatens the area's wildlife--especially the mountain goats and grizzlies. Proposed logging by Ainsworth Lumber Co. threatens the Stl'atl'imx First Nations heritage sites.

Bendor Range - The 22,400 hectare Bendor Range proposed protected area is a remote mountainous wilderness with four large pristine watersheds, two of which are slated for immediate logging. The area harbours oldgrowth Douglas fir forests and prime grizzly and black bear habitat. Mountain goat are found at higher elevations. Alpine hiking areas along the ridgetops make this area a prime candidate for backcountry rambling.

Shulaps Range - The 10,400 hectare Shulaps Range proposed protected area has significant tracts of oldgrowth forest, including many stands of whitebark pine. Important mountain goat and California bighorn sheep habitat, including sheep lambing areas, are found throughout the range. The range has a very high rating for recreation, with old trails criss-crossing the ridges and basins. Ainsworth Lumber Co. has applied to the B.C. Forest Service for a permit to construct a logging road into the Shulaps Basin--the heart of this rainshadow wilderness area and the last unlogged basin in the Shulaps Range. This permit could be signed by the time this paper goes to press.

   Shulaps Basin
 

Cerise Creek - The 1,100 hectare Cerise Creek proposed protected area is an important "pocket wilderness"-a heavily used mountaineering area, with a mountain hut, contiguous with the established Joffre Lakes protected area.

Siwhe - The 22,600 hectare Siwhe proposed area contains an important hiking trail link to the Stein Valley. There are traditional First Nations plant gathering sites throughout the area. One valley in the area, Intlpam Creek, is under immediate threat of being logged.

Siska - The 7,400 hectare Siska Watershed proposed protected area contains numerous cultural heritage sites, including traditional trails as well as hunting and gathering areas. Siska Valley is part of an extremely important and fragile grizzly bear migration corridor that links the Rainshadow Wilderness areas with Manning Park and the Cascade parks in Washington State. Where the cool clean water of Siska Creek enters the Fraser River is an important sockeye salmon resting place. Even though the valley has been declared a Tribal Heritage Park by the Siska Indian Band, J.S. Jones Tibmer Co. wants to begin logging the valley this year.

Arthur Seat - The 2,100 hectare Arthur Seat proposed protected area encompasses rugged sections of the Thompson Canyon right up to Botanie Mountain. This area has a very high diversity of animal life, including western rattlesnake, gopher snake, spotted bat, bald eagle and California bighorn sheep. Hiking and horseback riding are the main recreation activities. This is an important area for native traditional use.

Clear Range - The 14,500 hectare Clear Range proposed protected area is an important traditional native hunting and gathering area. Its alpine areas are rich in species of plants and wildlife and provide spectacular views of the coast range. The Clear Range is a very high use area for Rocky Mountain and California bighorn sheep, particularly as summer range.

Two Spring - The 2,400 hectare Two Spring proposed protected area has large areas of oldgrowth forest, including ponderosa pine forest. Five orchid species can be found near its watercourses. Recreational use of the area is very high with people coming to see the spectacular limestone canyon, coloured lakes and pictograph sites. It is a major rock-climbing destination.

Big Bar Badlands - The 1,900 hectare Big Bar Badlands proposed protected area is representative of the rugged canyon and grassland-dominated benchlands along the Fraser River. It contains many large oldgrowth Douglas fir veterans, low-elevation grasslands and multicolored, gullied badlands. It is year round habitat for California bighorn sheep, rubber boas, and gopher snakes. It is a First Nations traditional usage area with spectacular scenery.

Northern Camelsfoot Range - The 48,300 hectare Northern Camelsfoot Range proposed protected area is a vast mosaic of dry forests and grasslands. It is an important migration corridor for grizzly bear and wolves. It contains multiple California bighorn sheep, mule deer and mountain goat migration corridors. Many hiking trails are found throughout the range. Logging, which continues today, has gone on for the last two years.

Southern Camelsfoot Range - The 14,100 hectare Southern Camelsfoot Range proposed protected area is extremely ecologically diverse, containing many stands of oldgrowth Douglas fir and ponderosa pine. The area harbours important habitat for mountain goat, California bighorn sheep, grizzly bear, fisher, and harlequin ducks. It is also a critical migratory corridor and winter range for mule deer. Many First Nations pit house and cache sites are found here. Today, it is the essential yet limited source of clean water for many Yalakom residents.

From: Wilderness Committee