Backcountry roads to remain closed due to wildfire damage

May 17, 2022 | 11:30 AM

Some backcountry roads in the Thompson Okanagan region that were that were closed last October due to wildfires, will remain closed.

The closures were implemented by the Ministry of Forests under a section of the Wildlife Act and apply to backcountry roads across approximately 536,000 hectares.

The roads were closed to allow areas to recover from wildfire impacts including:

erosion of charred soils and impacts on fish habitat;
increased vulnerability of wildlife due to migration disruptions, habitat loss and loss of vegetation cover; and
increased open areas due to construction of approximately 2,900 kilometres of fire guards.

The closure applies to all motorized vehicles, including automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, motorhomes, electric bikes and all types of off-road recreational vehicles, wheeled or tracked, including snowmobiles.

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Hunting is permitted within the closure areas, provided access is by non-motorized means.

The closed areas can be accessed by non-motorized means (e.g. on foot, horseback or bicycle) for any recreational purpose.

Some thoroughfares remain open, and the closures do not impact residents or access for commercial activities. The closures will remain in place during Ministry of Forests recovery efforts.

“Although there is currently no end date for the closures, the intent is to repeal or replace these closures after approximately 18 months. Where appropriate, they will be replaced with site-specific requirements that consider fire severity, degree of recovery, and intent of recovery plans collaboratively developed with First Nations and informed by stakeholders,” a ministry news release stated.

The affected areas are: