| Mount
Nestor Prescribed Fire—
Spray Valley Provincial Park & Banff National Park—2009
October 1,
2009 Update :
Please note that burning operations in the Mount Nestor Prescribed
Fire area of Spray Valley Provincial Park and Banff National Park
have been suspended until further notice. The area closures on the
Spray West Road and the trail on the west side of Spray Lakes reservoir
extending south to the junction of Bryant Creek Trail have been
lifted until further notice. The area may still experience some
active ground fire with possible smoke rising from the area, but
the area is being monitored for any unexpected fire activity. Recreational
users should expect lingering smoke in the region, and are requested
to remain on designated trails and not to venture in burned areas.
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September
22, 2009 Update :
Crews will continue operations on the Mount Nestor prescribed fire
starting on Wednesday, September 23rd. Continued warm
and dry conditions have allowed for ongoing operations at this prescribed
fire. Last week, approximately 10 hectares were successfully burned
by fire crews. The Mount Nestor prescribed fire unit is located
approximately 20 kilometres south of the Town of Canmore. The area
around the prescribed fire (south of the Spray West campground to
just north of trail centre) will remain closed during burning operations.
For additional information, check the Wildfire Information Hotline
1-866-916-INFO (4636).
September
17, 2009 Update :
Alberta’s provincial crews conducted test burn on the Mount
Nestor prescribed fire unit on the afternoon of September 16. Approximately
5-10 hectares of the unit were burned. With the forecasted cooler,
more humid and unsettled weather over the coming days, operations
will be suspended until suitable conditions are again reached. The
Mount Nestor Prescribed Fire unit is located approximately 20 kilometres
south of the Town of Canmore. The area around the prescribed fire
(south of the Spray West campground to just north of trail centre)
will remain closed for the next 24-48 hours for safety reasons.
Fire managers will continue to monitor the area.
For additional information, check the Wildfire Information Hotline
1-866-916-INFO (4636).
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September
14, 2009 Update :
Please note that burning operations are scheduled to resume this
week in the Mount Nestor Prescribed Fire area of Spray Valley Provincial
Park and Banff National Park. Plans call for fire operations to
resume after noon Wednesday September 16th. Effective Tuesday afternoon
September 15th, the Spray West Road will be closed south of Spray
West Campground; also the trail on the west side of Spray Lakes
Reservoir extending south to the junction of the Bryant Creek Trail.
Spray Lakes West Campground and the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Road (Secondary
Highway #742) will remain open.
For additional information, check the Wildfire Information Hotline
1-866-916-INFO (4636).
September
3, 2009 Update :
What's happening?
If conditions are favourable, provincial crews will conduct test
fires on the southern portion of the unit in Spray Valley Provincial
Park as early as Wednesday, September 9th, 2009. If the vegetation
responds well to the test fires, provincial crews will continue
lighting the southern portion of the unit into the weekend as the
weather allows. This operation will not include the Bryant Creek
area and visitors are able, at this point, to book the Bryant Creek
shelter and campgrounds up to and including the night of September
12 (bookings through the Banff Information Centre at 403-762-1550).
Radio ads are in place to remind the broader public of the prescribed
fire and the potential to resume operations next week if the conditions
allow. As resuming ignition is highly weather-dependent, you will
receive an update just prior to lighting.
Why?
The Mount Nestor Prescribed Fire aims to:
- Restore historic vegetation patterns and improve wildlife habitat;
- Reduce the short- and long-term susceptibility of forest stands
to the spread of mountain pine beetle populations and;
- Reduce the threat of wildfire to communities in the lower Bow
Valley and surrounding area.
How might this affect you?
- For public safety reasons, a closure will be implemented prior
to ignition that includes the area south of the Spray West campground
to just north of trail centre.
- Smoke columns may be visible during ignition operations and
some smoke may settle into nearby valleys during overnight and
early morning periods.
A
map of the area affected can be found here.
To get more information:
1-866-916-INFO (4636) for recorded updates
403-762-1447: Banff Fire Communications Officer
www.pc.gc.ca/banff-fire
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June 10,
2009 Update :
The Province of Alberta and Parks Canada have suspended ignition
work at the Mount Nestor Prescribed Fire until further notice. Crews
will continue working in the area, however, to extinguish smouldering
"hotspots" near the fire perimeter and monitor weather
conditions to determine when further ignition will be possible.Fire
operations are being assisted by crews from Pukaskwa, Mount Revelstoke/Glacier
and Waterton national parks as well as a crew from Golden, BC.
The Mount Nestor Prescribed Fire aims to:
- Restore historic vegetation patterns and improve wildlife habitat;
- Reduce the short- and long-term susceptibility of forest stands
to the spread of mountain pine beetle populations and;
- Reduce the threat of wildfire to communities in the lower Bow
Valley and surrounding area.
Additional information and web updates will be issued prior to
the resumption of ignition operations in this area.
The area closures within Spray Valley Provincial Park involving
the Mount Nestor area have been lifted. The reopened areas involve
the west side of Spray Lake Reservoir including all trails and lands
south of the Spray West Campground plus all trails and lands north
of the Trail Centre junction at the south end of the Spray Lakes
Reservoir.
Much of the Mount Nestor Prescribed Fire Unit within Banff National
Park is still closed since it is part of the Spray River Valley
Sensitive Wildlife Area. Please see the Banff National Park website
at http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/index_e.asp
under the Important Bulletins section for more information on this
annual closure.
Further updates will be issued when the situation changes.
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June 2, 2009
Update :
Parks Canada and the Province of Alberta will continue work at
the Mount Nestor Prescribed Fire this week.
Parks Canada crews will work to fortify the northern guard by extinguishing
smouldering fire along the north line and igniting patches of unburned
vegetation within the guard if possible.
Alberta SRD crews are planning to burn areas along the northeastern
boundary of the main burn unit, in the Charlie Horse Pass area (west
of the north end of Spray Lakes Reservoir) on Wednesday, June 3,
2009.
Expect to see large smoke columns during ignition operations with
some smoke settling into the Bow Valley during overnight and early
morning periods.
Further updates will be issued when the situation changes.
Area closures will be continuing within Spray Valley Provincial
Park involving the Mount Nestor area on the west side of Spray Lakes
Reservoir including all trails & lands south of the Spray West
Campground. All trails and lands north of the Trail Centre junction
at the south end of Spray Lakes Reservoir will also remain closed.
This closure will remain in effect until it is lifted.
You can find out about operations day-to-day this week by calling
the Wildfire Information Hotline 1-866-916-INFO (4636).
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May 28, 2009
Update : Mount Nestor prescribed fire operations will be
commencing on Friday May 29, 2009 and may extend through to May
31, 2009 depending on weather conditions.
Initial operations will involve the use of test ignition fires to
determine vegetation moisture content and availability of fuels
for an efficient prescribed fire.
Broader operations may occur depending on the results of test ignitions.
Area closures within Spray Valley Provincial Park will involve the
Mount Nestor area on the west side of Spray Lakes Reservoir including
all trails & lands south of the Spray West Campground. All trails
and lands north of the Trail Centre junction at the south end of
Spray Lakes Reservoir will also be closed. This closure will remain
in effect until it is lifted.
Updates will be available through the Wildfire Information Hotline
at 1-866-916 INFO (4636).
Map
of the area closed here.
This closure is pursuant to section 17(d) of the Provincial
Parks Act
Project Description:
Location:
The Mount Nestor prescribed fire unit is situated at the south
end of the Goat Range on the boundary between Banff National Park
and Spray Valley Provincial Park near the towns of Canmore and
Banff in Alberta (map
here).
Dates:
This is an on-going project commenced in 2007. This year’s
prescribed fire will take
place in stages between May and October 2009. Exact dates of burning
will be
dependent on weather and forest fuel conditions.
Project Goal:
The primary goal of this prescribed fire is to restore fire in
subalpine forests to maintain ecological integrity and the diversity
and abundance of fire dependent species. Several specific ecological
objectives are tied to this goal as well as strategic land management
and research objectives.
Primary Objectives:
1. Restore diversity of vegetation ages,
structure and composition that is more representative of the
historical fire regime in subalpine forests.
2. Re-establish a wider array of habitats and improve wildlife
habitat quality with the aim of promoting overall increased
species richness and diversity.
3. Improve grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) habitat in
areas with low human use.
4. Restore open-grassland, bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis)
habitat at upper elevations that are being lost through forest
succession.
5. Provide suitable habitat for regeneration of whitebark pine
(Pinus albicaulis).
6. Reduce the short and long term susceptibility of forest
stands to mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae)
and other forest insects and pathogens.
7. Reduce the build-up and continuity of forest fuels to reduce
the threat of wildfire to communities within the lower Bow Valley
and surrounding area.
Trails Implications:
Public safety is the top priority for the consortium of agencies
who are working together to accomplish this prescribed fire. Trails
and areas within the working area may be closed at times in spring
or summer to ensure the safety of people. Please visit the website
for current information on trails or area closures.
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Supporting Documents
 |
Click
here to download the printable PDF version
of the Prescribed Burn Plan—4.65 MB—Please
allow some time for full download before reading through this
document. |
|
Click
here to download the printable PDF version
of the Environmental Review—2.65 MB—Please
allow some time for full download before reading through this
document. |
|
Click
here to download the printable PDF version
of the black and white letter-size handout with all the information
regarding Mount Nestor 2009 Prescribed Fire—1.10
MB—Please
allow some time for full download before reading through this
document. |
For more information, please
contact:
Alberta Tourism, Parks & Recreation Ministry | Parks Division
| Kananaskis Country Area Management
Telephone: (403) 678-5508
or
Kathy Burden
Fire Communications Specialist
Banff Field Unit
Banff National Park
Email:
Kathy.Burden@pc.gc.ca
Telephone: (403) 762-1447
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