Cell towers also going into park

Parks Canada is embarking on what it expects will be a long-term wildlife crossing program for Kootenay National Park (KNP).

Trevor Kinley, Parks Canada’s Wildlife Crossing Project manager Feb. 26 announced to District of Invermere council that the Wildlife Crossing Project is scheduled to begin in spring 2013 near Dolly Varden in KNP.

The purpose of the program, which will involve fencing similar to what is along Highway 1 in Banff National Park, as well as wildlife crossing underpasses, is to try and cut down on wildlife mortality – with an estimated 50 larger animals being struck and killed by vehicles a year on Highway 93 between the Alberta border and Radium Hot Springs.

Kinley said the reported number likely does not reflect the actual number of animals killed.

With a $4 million budget to work with for this year, it is anticipated that three to four kilometres of wildlife exclusion fencing and a minimum of one underpass will be built. The Dolly Varden straightaway was selected as the starting point because “it is an area of the park with the highest kill rate,” Kinley said.

The project, which aims to cover the majority of the parkway, will “probably take decades” to complete, he said.

Construction of the underpass, expected to begin after the snow is gone, will result in some traffic delays, Kinley warned.

Maximum 10-minute delays will be expected, he said, but noted work will be halted for long weekends.

There will also be the removal of some beetle-killed trees along the fence line, Kinley said, adding fencing will feature periodic gates for people and vehicles.

While fencing will be noticeable and may be considered impactful on the traditional viewscape, Kinley said the safety benefits for wildlife and drivers “override” that concern.

“It will be noticeable, especially the first year, but they (fences) do fade over time,” he suggested.

Kinley also updated council on Parks Canada conducting preliminary discussions with Telus to provide cell phone towers for continuous or near continuous cell phone coverage through Kootenay National Park.

Up to six towers, from 40 metres to 60 metres in height, are proposed thus far.

“It’s in the very early stage at this point,” Kinley said, adding not locations have been selected and if anything happens it won’t be until 2014.

Invermere Mayor Gerry Taft said continuous cell phone coverage would be welcome news by Invermere Fire-Rescue members, who are first responders to the many accidents that take place in KNP each year.

“They have felt the crucialness of cell coverage,” he said. “We all know the dangers in the park and on that road.”

For more on the project go to:

https://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/kootenay/plan/passage-93s-crossing/faq.aspx .

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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