Managing Minnewanka: Parks Canada embarks on area plan

Parks Canada wants to get ahead of what's coming for the Lake Minnewanka area — as it faces increased visitor popularity and continues to be a key piece of habitat for grizzly bears, rocky mountain sheep, elk, and aquatic species. 

This area nestled in Banff National Park has seen visitation increase 50 per cent over the past decade and sees about 1 million people flock to its various attractions to recreate. Whether that's taking a dip in Two Jack Lake, picnicking at Cascade Ponds, camping in the backcountry, or boating on Minnewanka Lake itself.

"We're always governed by our mandate, and our mandate, you know, says that ecological integrity is our first priority," said Banff National Park Superintendent Sal Rasheed. "The plan will have elements of managing visitor use and how we do that is to be determined … the art of it is doing it in such a way that it contributes to visitor experience and it isn't seen as being restrictive."

The Banff National Park Management Plan included a target to develop a Lake Minnewanka Area Plan and Strategic Environmental Assessment by 2024. 

This week mayors, provincial officials, tourism officials, conservation stakeholders, and Indigenous leaders met for Banff National Park's 23rd annual planning forum to give Parks Canada feedback and ideas as it begins work on the plan that will shape the future of this region. 

This plan will be a balancing act. Parks Canada outlined to stakeholders that the story of Minnewanka is one of history for Indigenous peoples and the park. It's also a place with boundless recreational opportunities, but it is also a place where visitor safety can be a concern, with easy access to alpine features and challenges with wildlife coexistence. 

"The fact that there continues to be wildlife populations there, human use, coexistence, yes, there are always instances throughout our park system where you have negative interactions, but in general wildlife and aquatics and vegetation continue to be robust at that site," Rasheed said.

Several Indigenous rights-holders were around the table and stressed before any plans are made, protocols need to be followed.

Minnewanka got its name from the Stoney people. Minn-waki means Lake of the Spirits. Access and integrity of the land and water in this area are essential for Indigenous peoples.

Restoring traditional Indigenous uses, some said, could be regenerating. 

The wildlife corridor and the health of the waters in the Lake Minnewanka area are a concern to Mike Oka, who is the consultation coordinator for the Blood Tribe. 

"How do we, how do we mitigate that?" Oka said. "Do we displace the wildlife or do we find an alternate route for the people? So that's the question right now."

Oka said in terms of the health of the water, and keeping it clear from whirling disease, that's a question, too. 

In broad strokes, Rasheed said this plan will lay out how to maintain ecological integrity and commemorative integrity, while managing visitors, education, and mass transportation. 

"I'll start by saying every place is different, what we've done at Moraine Lake doesn't necessarily need to be what happens at Lake Minnewanka," Rasheed said. "There has been some expression of interest in doing something similar there, but we're in the early days with Lake Minnewanka and we're going to have to flesh out sort of the scope of it first before we get into tactics." 

He stressed that this process is in its early days, and nothing has been decided yet, so all of Parks Canada's visitor management tools are at his disposal. 

Around the table during the planning forum, stakeholders in tourism and recreation voiced concerns that closing Moraine Lake to private vehicles might leave Minnewanka vulnerable to impacts. 

Some worry about impacts to Moraine access changes

"There are always unintended impacts," said Debbie Harsken with the Association of Mountain Park Protection and Enjoyment (AMPPE). "You close Moraine, they will go somewhere else. So with increasing demand and less space available, the places that are available, we have to be very worried that they're going to receive even a heavier impact." 

Many user groups and tourism organisations want to see visitor access maintained through better planning and infrastructure improvements. 

Some seek out this area as a place to photograph the northern lights late at night, or strap on cross-country skis for a midnight loop — the hope is through better management, these types of experiences can stay available for visitors to Minnewanka. 

"If people don't connect with nature, they don't learn how to protect nature," Harsken said. "It's come up with the discussions over the last few days that these places are beyond special. They speak to a place deep within people."

This year, the Lake Minnewanka Area Plan is just starting. The next steps include drafting a plan and stakeholder engagement. Then, in 2024 a draft will be shared with the public, and Parks Canada will seek input at that time from Canadians. Finally, in 2025, the plan should be ready for implementation.