Albertans have until Sept. 16 to share feedback on draft terms of reference for a new management plan for Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, Alberta Forestry and Parks says.
The ministry said preliminary engagement opened Aug. 5 in partnership with the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation.
The engagement focuses on draft terms of reference for a new management plan. The terms will define the scope, objectives and development process for the plan, which is expected to guide operations and conservation for the next 20 years.
Albertans can complete an online survey, use an interactive mapping tool to flag issues and features, and register for “trailhead conversations” at the park. According to the government’s engagement page and a Rocky View County notice, those activities will remain open until 11:55 p.m. on Sept. 16.
The ministry said a draft management plan will be prepared in summer and fall 2025, with public feedback on that draft expected in late 2025. The final plan is scheduled for release in winter or spring 2026.
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park protects 1,314 hectares of land along the Bow River between Calgary and Cochrane. The Background Report says access is from Glenbow Road off Highway 1A, Haskayne Legacy Park in Calgary and trail links from Cochrane.
The Background Report said the site received about 99,000 visits in 2022–23. A Visitor Survey conducted in 2022–23 found that 96 per cent of visitors came from Alberta, with 60.3 per cent from Calgary, 21.2 per cent from Cochrane and 3.4 per cent from Airdrie.
The survey found most people visited on day trips, with hiking, sightseeing and wildlife viewing listed as the most popular activities.
The draft terms of reference describe Glenbow Ranch as an important example of the Foothills Parkland Subregion, which is underrepresented in Alberta’s parks system.
About 80 per cent of the park is native fescue grassland, which the province said is “one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world.”
Other habitats include aspen woodland, wetlands, springs, creeks and riparian areas along the Bow River.
The Background Report says the park also contains cultural sites, with archaeological evidence of thousands of years of Indigenous use, including stone circles and gathering places.
The same report notes the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway, built in 1883, runs through the park with an estimated 22 trains a day.
The Background Report also records the Glenbow sandstone quarry, which supplied stone for the Alberta Legislature Building and other early buildings, and the former Glenbow village site.
In its draft vision statement, the province says Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park is “a model of collaborative stewardship for Alberta’s ecologically sensitive Foothills Parkland Natural Subregion through the maintenance of biodiversity, native grassland, open landscapes, and riparian habitats. Diverse opportunities for visitors to learn about and experience Glenbow’s unique natural and cultural legacy are supported by partnerships and community connections.”
Guiding principles set out in the draft include environmental leadership, evidence-based decision making that incorporates Indigenous traditional knowledge, and an adaptive management approach.
They also include collaboration with the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation and neighbouring municipalities, inclusion of diverse users, and the delivery of a quality visitor experience.
The draft terms of reference identify several management issues.
They include risks to sensitive species and ecological communities, trail conflicts, litter, and the impact of climate change.
The document also cites pressures from residential development in surrounding municipalities.
The Background Report says Rocky View County’s Glenbow Ranch Area Structure Plan proposes residential communities for up to 15,000 people near the park.
Other plans in Cochrane and Calgary also propose new neighbourhoods and trail connections along the Bow River.
The Background Report notes the Rotary Club of Cochrane has been promoting a pedestrian bridge across the river that would link new developments to Glenbow Ranch and complete a section of the Trans Canada Trail.
The province says such changes could increase visitation. The Background Report cautions that neighbouring residents may be tempted to create their own trail connections, which “can damage native plant communities and disrupt wildlife movement.”
Within the park, year-round grazing occurs with approximately 200 cattle, administered through a grazing permit.
The Background Report says grazing helps manage vegetation and maintain the health of the grassland ecosystem by controlling weeds and brush encroachment.
However, cattle use can also lead to temporary trail closures, and the draft terms of reference say improved communication and detour planning will be required.
Eight areas have been closed by Ministerial Orders under the Provincial Parks Act to protect sensitive resources, including the quarry, Glenbow village, wetlands and research plots. Access is permitted only with a guide or permit.
The Background Report says threats include invasive species, off-trail cycling, erosion, and off-leash dogs.
It also identifies pollution risks such as noise and light from the railway and surrounding development.
The same report warns of natural system modifications including stormwater ponds tied to nearby subdivisions.
The Background Report records conservation concerns for species at risk within the park. They include the endangered little brown bat, the endangered limber pine, and the threatened Sprague’s pipit.
Other tracked or sensitive species such as barn swallow, western bumblebee and American badger are also present.
A management effectiveness evaluation conducted in March 2023 gave Glenbow Ranch a score of 64 per cent, described as “Basic Management.”
The report said the park faces staff and budget limitations, gaps in enforcement capacity, and inadequate facilities for operations.
It also noted weaknesses in public communication about Ministerial closures and encroachment on the south side of the river.
The evaluation said “the condition of conservation and human dimension values are mostly being protected but could be improved with monitoring” and that Indigenous values remain unknown due to lack of information.
According to the planning schedule, the current consultation is Phase 3 of a six-stage process.
- Phase 1, held from fall 2022 to winter/spring 2023, established the scope of the management plan.
- Phase 2, from spring 2023 to fall/winter 2024, gathered information to create the background report and draft the terms of reference.
- Phase 3, underway now, is gathering Indigenous, stakeholder and public input.
- Phase 4, planned for summer and fall 2025, will develop a draft management plan.
- Phase 5, set for fall and winter 2025, will collect feedback on the draft.
- Phase 6, scheduled for winter or spring 2026, will release the final Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park management plan.
Alberta Forestry and Parks said more information, including the draft terms of reference, background report, survey and mapping tools, is available on the government website.
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