West Babine Sustainable Resource Management Plan

Xsu gwin lik’l’inswx: West Babine Sustainable Resource Management Plan
Four access management zones and seven access control points have been identified to manage
for grizzly bears and wilderness values (Map 12, page 77). One of the major factors causing
decline in grizzly bear populations are negative human-bear interactions that result in bear
mortality. Scientific evidence shows that mortality risk increases with increasing road density.
The Babine River area is of very high importance to local residents. Currently, the majority of
local residents access the river at the weir close to Nilkitkwa Lake. Access management in the
West Babine plan area does not restrict or impact current access patterns.
Brief descriptions of the access measures are as follows.
One zone (Sperry/Rosenthal) and an associated access control point has been identified to protect
significant grizzly bear habitat, especially in rich, avalanche chute areas. Two zones
(Shenismike-West and Big Slide) and associated access control points have been identified to
manage for significant grizzly bear habitat in addition to maintaining the wilderness values of the
Babine River Corridor Park and the associated Babine River Special Management Zone and
access to grizzly drop. The fourth zone (Shenismike-Shelagyote) has an access control point at
the Shelagyote River bridge crossing. This zone prevents motorized access from impacting the
wilderness experience on the river in the vicinity of the Shelagyote and maintains the single
access point into the Babine River Corridor Park. Two access control points (Thomlinson Road
and Shelagyote) have been established to maintain the integrity of the Babine River Special
Management Zone (no permanent roads permitted in SMZ) and hence the park. The seventh
access control point is located on the Nichyeskwa Connector to prevent the establishment of a
circle route which will increase traffic to the north side of the river, having a detrimental impact
on grizzly bear populations.
The West Babine SRMP is an ecosystem-based management plan and will be implemented
through adaptive management. Best available knowledge was used to create this plan and as
more information or better inventories become available, this plan may be modified as required.
The plan is intended to implement the objectives of the Kispiox Land and Resource Management
Plan and the Babine Interim Local Resource Use Plan within the area of the Kispiox Timber
Supply Area. The West Babine SRMP is a guide to land and resource use and provides long-term
sustainability of natural resources, jobs, and communities in the West Babine area.
March 2004 Page iii