Livingstone-Porcupine Management Plans available for Public Comment until April 26

Alberta Environment and Parks is inviting public comment on the draft Livingstone-Porcupine Hills Land Footprint and Recreation Management Plans until April 26th.

More information about the plans and how to submit comments is available on AEP's website here:

https://talkaep.alberta.ca/livingstone-porcupine-hills-footprint-and-recreation-planning

Links to the plans and related documents are also available through the link above.

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS in some areas of SW Alberta

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for some parts of the MD of Pincher Creek, Cardston County, and the Blood Reserve.  For more information, refer to the Alberta Emergency Alerts here: http://www.emergencyalert.alberta.ca

MANDATORY EVACUATION of WATERTON

A mandatory evacuation of Waterton Lakes National Park and townsite has been ordered.  For more information, see the Parks Canada website on the Kenow Fire here: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/waterton/securite-safety/feu-fire-kenow 

September 8, 2017, 13:15

Pursuant to Section 36(1) of the National Parks General Regulations of the Canada National Parks Act an Evacuation Order has been issued by order of the Superintendent due to a temporary danger to persons caused by the ongoing wildfire in the park. Members of the RCMP and Parks Canada staff will be expediting this action. Persons deemed essential to the firefighting operation are exempt from this order.

The Evacuation Order is in effect for the following areas:

• All areas in Waterton Lakes National Park, including the Waterton Park townsite and all front-country and back-country trails, facilities and areas except for Highways 5 and 6 and the Chief Mountain border crossing.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:

• You must leave the area immediately;
• Follow the travel route provided on the map (see below);
• If you need transportation assistance to leave Waterton, please (a) advise the individual providing you with this in-person notice, (b) go to Waterton Park Community Centre or (c) call 403-859-5109 if you cannot do (a) or (b);
• Close all windows and doors;
• Shut off all gas and electrical appliances, other than refrigerators and freezers;
• Close gates (latch) but do not lock;
• Gather your family: take a neighbour or someone who needs help;
• Take critical items (medicine, purse, wallet, important documents, and keys) only if they are immediately available;
• Take pets in pet kennels or on leash;
• Do not use the telephone unless you need emergency service;
• Emergency personnel will check all houses and locations and mark them when cleared;
• Travel will only be permitted out of the park. Admittance at the Waterton Lakes National Park gate will be limited to emergency vehicles.
• All evacuees are strongly recommended to register at the Reception and Evacuation Centre located in Pincher Creek at the Vertical Church (1200 Ken Thornton Blvd., located just south of Co-Op and Vista Village), even if you do not require assistance. Registering will provide a record that you were evacuated and enable authorities to contact you with any new information. You can register by email to mdinfo@mdpinchercreek.ab.ca (put in subject line: "Evac Registration") or by phoning 403-904-0021. Please provide name, number in party and contact phone number.

YOU MUST LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY

Parks Canada seeks public input on design of new Waterton visitor centre

Parks Canada is inviting Canadians from across the country to share their views on three design options for the new visitor centre in Waterton Lakes National Park. Canadians can provide their input from April 3rd to May 12th, 2017, to help shape the look, feel, and function of the new facility, both inside and out.

For more information and the link to Parks Canada's public comment site, cick here.

Castle Parks to get nearly $20 million from Budget 2017

Highway paving and new water pipelines are part of nearly $20 million in infrastructure investment for the Castle Provincial Park and neighbouring communities.  Six million dollars from Budget 2017 will go towards paving an 11-kilometre gravel section of Highway 774 (the roadway to Castle Mountain Resort) within the newly established park. Another $9 million is earmarked to help the Municipal District of Pincher Creek construct a water line that ties Castle Mountain Resort to the Hamlet of Beaver Mines. The water line will also serve the Castle Provincial Park.  It builds on $4.7-million in grants from the province and the federal government to construct a water line between Beaver Mines and the Village of Cowley. All three pieces of infrastructure support local tourism in and around the Castle parks.

Read the whole story in the Pincher Creek Voice here.