Castle Wildland Provincial Park
Castle Wildland Provincial Park | |
---|---|
wilderness area)[1] | |
Location | Alberta Canada |
Nearest city | Crowsnest Pass, Pincher Creek |
Coordinates | 49°15′N 114°15′W / 49.25°N 114.25°W |
Area | 79,678 ha (307.64 sq mi)[2] |
Established | 16 February 2017[3] |
Governing body | Alberta Parks[4] |
Castle Wildland Provincial Park is a
Location
The park is located within the Municipal District of Pincher Creek west of the town of Pincher Creek. It shares a northern boundary with the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, a southwestern boundary with the province of British Columbia, a southeastern boundary with Waterton Lakes National Park and a northeastern boundary with Castle Provincial Park.[2][8]
History
The Castle area has a long history of traditional, recreational, and commercial activity. First Nations groups have made practical and ceremonial use of the area long before the European settlement of Canada. Nations such as "Blackfoot, Piegan, and Blood tribes have long hunted, fished, and gathered foods and medicinal plants throughout [the] territory".[9]
In 1895, the area was included in the newly created Waterton Dominion Park. In 1921, the area was removed from the Dominion Park and transferred to the Alberta Government to become a Provincial Game Reserve. In 1954, the Provincial Game Reserve status was removed. Logging, mining, and oil and gas extraction were conducted resulting in a network of roads spread through the area. In 1974, the Alberta Government recommended a park be established in the headwaters of the Castle River. The government intended to place the West and South Castle watersheds into a protected area. In 1977, the Eastern Slopes Policy created areas of "Prime Protection, Critical Wildlife, and General Recreation in the Castle area".[6]: 19
In 1992, an Access Management Plan was developed to address the increased use of off-highway vehicles in the Castle River area. In 1993, the Special Places 2000 Committee recommended the sites identified for protection, including the Castle area, be established by the end of 1994. In September 2014, the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan was adopted which included the plans for establishment of Castle Provincial and Wildland Parks.[6]: 19–20
Ecology
The two parks are part of the unique Crown of the Continent ecosystem that is internationally recognized for its biodiversity and landscapes.[10] They encompasses headwaters that supply one third of the water in the Oldman River drainage basin.[6]: vii
The park's natural history themes are in the
Geology
The park is located within the
Climate
The Köppen climate classification of the park is Continental, Subarctic (Dfc) characterized by long, cold, dry winters, and short, cool, summers.[14] Using the data from nearby weather station, Castle Auto, for 1991 to 2020, the average daily temperatures exceeds 10 °C (50 °F) only for June, July, August, and September while average daily temperatures are less than 0 °C (32 °F) for November through March. At Castle Auto station, the long-run average precipitation from 1991 to 2020 is variable throughout the year from 40 to 100 mm (1.6 to 3.9 in) per month.[15]
Activities
Front country and
References
- ^ UNEP-WCMC (2015). "Protected Area Profile for Castle Wildland Provincial Park from the World Database on Protected Areas". ProtectedPlanet.net. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
- ^ a b c Plan Showing Castle Wildland Provincial Park (PDF) (Map). 1:275,000. Alberta Environment and Parks. 17 January 2017.
- ^ a b "O.C. 23/2017". Government of Alberta. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Castle Wildland Provincial Park". Alberta Parks.
- ^ a b "Castle Wildland Provincial Park: Parks Research and Management". Alberta Parks. 7 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Castle Management Plan (PDF). Alberta Environment and Parks. May 2018.
- ^ "Exploring Alberta's Wildland Provincial Parks: Castle". Wild Albertan. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Castle – Provincial Park and Wildland". Alberta Parks. 11 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
- ^ Weaver, John L (July 2013). Protecting and Connecting Headwater Havens: Vital Landscapes for Vulnerable Fish and Wildlife, Southern Canadian Rockies of Alberta (Report). Toronto: Wildlife Conservation Society Canada. WCS Conservation Report No. 7.
- ^ "Castle Provincial Park & Castle Wildland Provincial Park | Alberta, Canada". Crown of the Continent. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Terrestrial Ecodistricts of Canada". Government of Canada.
- ISBN 978-0-660-24501-0. Catalogue no. 12-607-X.
- ^ Noss, Reed. "Northern Rockies Conifer Forests". OneEarth.org.
- ^ Atlas of Canada: Climatic Regions (PDF) (Map). Government of Canada. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Climate Normals for Alberta". Government of Alberta. 2020.
- ^ "Castle Provincial Park & Wildland Provincial Park Designated Summer Trails 2023" (PDF). Alberta Parks. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Castle Provincial Park & Wildland Provincial Park Designated Winter Trails 2022/23" (PDF). Alberta Parks. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
External links
- Wildland Provincial Parks on YouTube