New project being assessed by Parks Canada – Public comments invited from May 27 to June 26, 2024

May 27, 2024- Parks Canada must decide whether the proposed project, Olive, Kaufmann, and Talc Lakes Aquatics Restoration, located in Kootenay National Park, is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. Parks Canada will be assessing this project using a Detailed Impact Assessment.

To help inform this decision, Parks Canada is issuing this notice of intent to make a determination and inviting comments from the public on the project's potential effects on the environment. All comments received will be considered public. For more information on the public nature of your comments, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

In order to submit comments or request a copy of the draft Detailed Impact Assessment report, contact:

Kootenay National Park
P.O. Box 220
Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia V0A 1M0
Email: noelle.summers@pc.gc.ca

Comments must be submitted by June 26, 2024.

Project Summary: Parks Canada proposes to remove non-native fish species from Olive, Kaufmann and Talc Lakes in Kootenay National Park and to reintroduce Westslope cutthroat trout to Olive Lake where they were historically present. This proposal considers fish translocation from source populations and long-term monitoring to ensure a self-sustaining population is established in Olive Lake. This aquatics restoration program will occur over a period of six years (2024 to 2030).  

Scope: The Detailed Impact Assessment will assess the impacts of removing non-native fish and reintroduction of native Westslope cutthroat trout on the Park's ecological integrity, cultural resources, species at risk, and visitor experience values. The valued components to be assessed include: water quality, fish and fish habitat, aquatic invertebrates and fauna, wildlife, cultural resources, vegetation, and visitor experience. Through engagement, it will additionally assess the implications of the proposal on values of importance to Indigenous peoples.