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January 23, 2022 - 10:25 AM
Off-road vehicles should still be allowed in areas closed for wildlife recovery, according to a letter from the Shuswap Backcountry Riders.
The letter was sent to the regional manager of B.C. Recreational Fisheries and Wildlife Programs, and it got the blessing of the District of Sicamous at last week’s regular council meeting, Jan. 12. The riders are requesting an exemption for the area along the Owlhead Creek forest service road between the 7.5 and 14.5 kilometre marks.
The area was closed in October, 2021 to allow wildlife habitats affected by the Two Mile Creek wildfire to have time to recover. "he closures are intended to be in place while recovery efforts are planned and initiated. It is unknown how long the closures will remain in effect," according to the province. Other Thompson Okanagan backcountry roads were also closed to aid wildlife recovery.
“This road is very popular not only with ATV users, but average citizens and tourists in their family vehicles as well,” according to the riders letter. “The Owlhead mountain area is every bit a part of the attraction to the Sicamous area.”
The letter asks if the road was closed because of specific evidence on the ground, or if it was because its close proximity to the Two Mile Fire.
“We believe the latter, as our club members inspected the Owlhead Creek forest service road in September and noted that there were only two minor instances of the fire even having reached the forest service road, with negligible impact on the forest adjacent to the road.”
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The Shuswap Backcountry Riders asked that the road stay open to the public for year-round motorized travel.
“We would like to recommend removal of the restriction as the best option, though we are prepared to apply for an exemption. We would submit that the closure of the Owlhead Creek forest service road to motorized travel between 7.5 km and 14.5 km is unnecessary to achieving your department’s objectives.”
The letter also invites the manager from Fisheries and Wildlife on a tour of the road.
“Working with concerned stakeholders such as the Shuswap Backcountry Riders Society would be beneficial to achieving public support for whatever decision is made going forward.”
Sicamous Coun. Gord Bushell, who brought the motion forward, said leaders from the local snowmobile and quad clubs both established that “this fire was this fire is hardly even noticeably from the first service road trailhead.”
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Since an exemption was made for the snowmobile club, he believes one should be made for ATVs as well, and said it will create a bit of economy.
“We think quads, dirt bikes and all that should be able to go up there soon,“ Bushell said.
The motion to send the letter to the Ministry of Forests passed unanimously.
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