The MD of Bighorn is about to butt heads with the Town of Canmore over the Dead Man’s Flats area structure plan and wildlife corridor experts worry connectivity for wildlife in the Bow Valley could become plugged up in what they are calling a “vital” area.
The long-awaited inter-municipal dispute merit hearing over the Dead Man’s Flats Area Structure Plan (ASP) begins on Monday (June 20) in Calgary.
The Municipal Government Board (MGB) will oversee the hearing as the unbiased third party.
The major controversy that surrounds the ASP is about what currently goes through the land.
Wildlife that use an underpass in the east of Dead Man’s Flats (DMF) and a recognized wildlife corridor have been established for over a decade in the area.
However, the wildlife habitat patch has never been recognized as such by the MD.
Members of Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, a leader in protecting wildlife habit and biodiversity, have stated should the ASP be approved and the east area developed, it would cause the functionality of the underpass to “essentially cork” wildlife to one side of the Wind Valley corridor.
With wildlife, such as grizzly bears using the underpass, it’s a vitally critical part of the entire Y2Y region,” said Stephen Legault, Y2Y program director. “Keeping this corridor open is critical to the connectivity of the entire region.”
He added the area is a “hot spot” for wildlife connectivity, which also results in wildlife versus vehicle collisions “even with a functioning underpass.”
This includes three grizzly bear cub deaths since 2014, with the most recent being a young of year cub hit and killed on the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) May 20, east of DMF.
“There’s a good reason why that underpass is where it is,” said Legault.
“This is an opportunity for the MD to demonstrate to the Bow Valley community that it wants to support wildlife. We’re hoping they’ll do that.”
The MD has argued that fencing, such as what lines the TCH, would be used to successfully steer wildlife away from future development.
Jodi Hilty, Y2Y president and chief scientist, in a May 2016 interview with the Outlook, said the “best solution” would be to avoid developing near an established underpass.
“What we don’t want to see happen is an increased in human/wildlife conflict, so funneling animals (with fencing) right into a development area is never a good idea,” said Hilty.
Legault and Hilty both said they hope a decision occurs that is satisfactory to the MD. In the past, the MD has attempted to swap the land subject to the ASP for a former quarry parcel in the provincial park. However, the land exchange between the two never been completed.
Five days are scheduled for the hearing, but it may conclude sooner.
Since January the MGB has seen a build up of appeals, submissions, rebuttals, and affected party status’ being questioned, which all circles the east area of the ASP, which would see future light-commercial development.
The MGB had to be called in following Canmore’s appeal in December 2015 regarding the Dead Man’s Flats ASP.
MD council passed third and final reading of the controversial ASP in November 2015.
The ASP would see development of 29 hectares in the north and east areas of the hamlet (recreation and light-commercial), which is anticipated to result in an economic boost for the municipality.
The MD declined mediation with Canmore over its ASP concerns, which included financial and social impacts and the functionality of the wildlife underpass, prior to approving final reading.
Canmore’s appeal halts any MD plans to move forward with the ASP until it’s been dealt with.
The Stoney Nations, Three Sisters Mountain Village and Thunderstone Quarries Limited Partnership also filed and then received “affected status” parties in the dispute.
