Banff National Park

The Banff Bow Valley Study

Background

Banff is Canada's oldest national park and forms a part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Banff Bow Valley plays vital roles in the protection of portions of limited and ecologically important montane ecoregion and in fulfilling the tourism and economic objectives of the Region.

Parks Canada's fundamental mandate for national parks is "to maintain national parks unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." Concerns have been raised regarding the impact of human activity on the montane ecoregion, the ecological integrity of the valley, the viability of sectors of the tourism industry and the role of the valley as a national transportation corridor.

The valley is the most developed part of the park. In total, over 8,000 people reside permanently in the Bow Valley inside the park's boundaries.

Various sections of the valley are bisected by the Trans-Canada Highway, the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Bow Valley Parkway, the Icefields Parkway, and the Banff-Radium Highway. In addition, the valley's developments include three peripheral ski hills, one golf course, the resort town of Banff, the resort hamlet of Lake Louise, over 3,600 hotel rooms, over 2500 campsites, 125 restaurants and 220 retail outlets.

Purpose of the Study

The Banff Bow Valley Study will be a comprehensive analysis of the state of the Bow River watershed in Banff National Park. The study will provide a baseline for understanding the implications of existing and future development and human use, and the impact of such on the heritage resources. It will integrate environmental, social, and economic factors in order to develop management and land use strategies that are sustainable and meet the objectives of the National Parks Act.

Scope

The study area will include Banff National Park's Bow Valley watershed from Bow Lake to the Banff East Gate.

Study objectives

Three broad objectives have been established for the study:

1. to develop goals and a vision for the Bow Valley in Banff National Park that bring together ecological, social, and economic values;
2. to complete a comprehensive analysis of existing information and to provide direction for the future collection and analysis of data required to achieve the goals; and
3. to provide direction on the management of human use and development in a manner which will maintain the ecological integrity of the Banff Bow Valley and provide for sustainable tourism.

Expectations

An improved understanding of:

• the role of the Banff Bow Valley in maintaining and contributing to the ecological, social and economic goals of the area
• the state of knowledge of the Banff Bow Valley and associated natural and human influences
• the cumulative environmental effects of past, present and reasonable foreseeable future land uses

Recommend strategies for the Valley that:

• recognize areas where types and levels of existing land uses are appropriate, areas where development and use have exceeded the ecological or social capacity of the area and areas where additional activities are possible
• maintain or enhance the area's tourism potential consistent with the Park's ecological integrity objectives
• fill critical information gaps
• provide key indicators useful for assessing changes in the ecological, social, and economic conditions
• reduce existing detrimental environmental effects and prevent or reduce adverse effects of future development, park operations and other land use activities

The Task Force

The Banff Bow Valley Study is directed by a task force of five experts independent of Parks Canada. The task force is supported by a four-person Secretariat that will coordinate the necessary administrative and professional support required by the study.

Term

The Task Force will provide the Minister of Canadian Heritage with a final report of their recommendations in June, 1996.