Posted June 7, 2011
Wapiti Corridor Planning Society
The Wapiti Corrider Planning Society (WCPS) was formed to create a land use plan for the Wapiti Corridor that accomodates, protects, and balanaces both current and future needs of the area from Pipestone Creek to the Smoky River. It includes the dunes ecosystem to the southeast of Grande Prairie and the river valley lands to top of bank along this portion of the Wapiti River.
Over the winter we complied the stakeholder input that was collected over the summer and fall, analysing in depth four key areas: interests, issues, approaches, and expectations. The outcome indicates that stakeholders want to play, live and work (in that order) in the corridor; they are concerned about all of the improper behaviour in the corridor with motor vehicle (mostly OHV) abuses at the top of the list; that stakeholders envision a variety of approaches to resolving issues and that a coherent overall resoluction is somewhat preferred. This overall resolution would include a guide to land use in the corridor that incorporates
- definition, separation, and designation of uses;
- stakeholder dialogue;
- control methods (deterrents and enforecement);
- some thought about future uses; and
- improvements to corridor useability and safety
In Addition, stakeholders expect to see an overall resolution that corrects the improper behaviour in the corridor that incorporates some vision for the area without challenging existing rights
So for the preparation of a preliminary plan we have focused on
- land use zoning in combination with multiple control methods,
- trail definition with education, signage
- staging areas with facilities, segregated by type of use, enhancement to corridor usability and safety, and
- maintenance of existing rights
We have developed land use zones for the corridor that build on existing natural features, accommodate existing uses, and incorporate stakeholder input. With this preliminary plan, we started a third phase of public input in April, approaching targeted stakeholder groups for their input. We hope to have the public provide input into the plan at summer’s end.
Further details, including a map showing the boundaries of the Wapiti Corridor, are available on the website: www.wapiticorridor.ca
For additional information:
780-513-3950(office) – 780-539-7686(fax) – wcps@wapiticorridor.ca