OHV user input required for added Public Consultation activities

AOHVA - COHV Advisory: March15, 2017

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Be sure to share this information with your family and friends - anyone who rides an OHV anywhere in the province of Alberta.

Included in this issue:
New Public Consultation Session announced.
What we heard at the most recent Public Consultation sessions
Government's Castle Park Survey has been updated - get your responses in.
OHV use and Random Camping - input needed to fully define the experience.
Radio advertising supports OHV use across the province.

If you ride an off-highway vehicle in Alberta
TAKE ACTION!
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
The Public Consultation Process is changing

The Government of Alberta is currently enacting the biggest change to land use in the province in 30 years. Quite likely, it will impose a significant reduction or the complete elimination of motorized recreation in our parks and public lands; from the Castle right on up through the Eastern Slopes and beyond.

UPCOMING PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS

Plan to attend the meetings set for public consultation on recreational uses in southern Alberta and the Castle parks. Additional meetings may be scheduled for the coming weeks.

March 17, 2017
Blairmore, Alberta
2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Elks Hall
2025-109 Avenue

Check this site for additional meetings:
https://talkaep.alberta.ca/CastleManagementPlan

WHAT WE HEARD

Following is a synopsis of the feedback we received from some of the participants at the recent Castle Mountain Park Management Plan Public Consultation sessions. Specific comments are in quotation marks as they were taken directly from participant comments provided to AOHVA.

300 attended the session in Pincher Creek – March 10
200 attended Chain Lakes - March 11
5000 surveys submitted as of March 11
Survey results have NOT been released.
ATTENTION: People who previously responded to the survey should submit their answers to the new question – they do not have to redo the whole survey. See survey link below.

Story Boards were set up with Parks staff assigned to a specific area, responding to questions.
Story Boards were also set up with respect to the Porcupine Hills and Livingstone areas.
The sessions were orderly and participants from both the government and the public were respectful, engaging in meaningful conversation.

The sessions were more of a show and tell than a consultation.
People could complete a paper feedback sheet, write comments on a comment card or the graffiti wall and could have their comments and questions captured by an official "Note Taker."
All of the information gathered at these sessions will be consolidated and provided to the government verbatim.

"I was told this process will be used to fast track decisions about Porcupine Hills and Livingstone"... likely the entire Eastern Slopes.
Lots of people were asking about the science used to make decisions about OHV use in the Castle and other regions.
"I asked repeatedly if the science was available for Albertans to review and to consider - not to challenge but to appreciate. When pressed further, he (staff) suggested I go to Google Scholar and there I could find all kinds of studies."
"The Chief Scientist (not in attendance) is reviewing all of the scientific documentation now."
There was a lot of discussion about how a few bad apples spoil it for the rest – most are responsible and respectful.
People recalled that when ATV registration first came to be in the 1970's, the funds were supposed to go to enforcement, education, and trail maintenance.
Many people spoke of managed trails.
They spoke of how OHV clubs have done a lot of work on trails and building bridges over the years.
People related OHV use to random camping and the greater family experience; describing how the number of people engaged in an OHV-centric activity is far greater than the number of registered OHVs.

Based on what we heard, we know that the AOHVA 4-Point Plan for Environmentally Responsible OHV Use is a viable solution. Read about the plan here.

GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA SURVEY HAS CHANGED

The Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park Draft Management Plan Survey has been changed.

If you have not yet completed the survey, please do so as soon as possible.

If you completed the survey before March 10, please return to the survey to respond to the new questions.

They survey can be found at this link: https://talkaep.alberta.ca/CastleManagementPlan?tool=survey_tool#tool_tab

RANDOM / OPEN CAMPING IN THE CASTLE AREA

Our group recognizes that open camping (random camping) is a form of recreational access that is undertaken by many OHV Users and their families, as well as many other outdoor enthusiasts. We are seeking to better understand the values, motivations and participation in open camping in the Castle Area through this short survey. Please take a moment to contribute to our understanding.

The survey can be found at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PNQCLQN

AOHVA HITS THE AIRWAVES

To reach a broader cross section of OHV users and their families, AOHVA will be running radio ads in Lethbridge,Calgary and Edmonton March 13 through March 31.

Listen to radio ad here

Be informed. Get engaged. TAKE ACTION!

WRITE THE MINISTER SIGN A PETITION COMPLETE THE SURVEY