Critics give land plan failing grade

CALGARY — A long awaited land-use plan that will guide future decisions on development, recreation and conservation in southern Alberta fails to protect critical headwaters and misses the mark when it comes to preserving the Castle wilderness area, according to several conservation groups.

The 200-page document was developed with a 50-year outlook in mind and covers an 83,764-square-kilometre area from the Rockies to the Saskatchewan border.

After a draft version of the plan was released in the fall, more than 7,500 Albertans provided feedback.

The South Saskatchewan Regional Plan creates eight new or expanded conservation areas, two new and six expanded provincial parks and recreation areas, and 12 new primitive recreation areas for camping and trail access.

The new conservation areas include a 546-square -kilometre area designated as Castle Wildland Provincial Park.

But conservationists say they’re disappointed the plan only protects half of the critical Castle area landscape, which spans 1,020 square kilometres, and argue the area being protected is mainly rock and ice.

“We’ve made it clear that protecting the full Castle is the litmus test for the success of this plan and that test has failed, unfortunately,” said Wendy Francis, program director at the Canmore-based Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative.