tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post7781385947734074534..comments2024-02-21T01:37:44.813-08:00Comments on Trevor Herriot's Grass Notes: Saskatchewan Parks—are we taking care of the land or taking care of business?Trevor Herriothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129533251670929001noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-62736777760262934482016-09-09T08:55:18.890-07:002016-09-09T08:55:18.890-07:00Thanks Kathleen for joining the conversation. You ...Thanks Kathleen for joining the conversation. You are right--inside and outside of our parks we need to start a more rigorous planning process to protect the landscapes and places we value before we love them to death.Trevor Herriothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11129533251670929001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-38821681404286918332016-09-08T16:04:08.305-07:002016-09-08T16:04:08.305-07:00Thanks Trevor for the excellent article. I'm a...Thanks Trevor for the excellent article. I'm a Last Mountain Lake 'lifer'. My family had one of the first cottages in a development just south of Rowan's Ravine Provincial Park. My father was an early shore-line advocate. Your descriptions of development also apply to what I have seen on Last Mountain Lake. I think it's time that we place limits and regulations on development. In the case of Regina Beach it appears that mother nature is taking things in hand---literally. Anyway...very rich and thoughtful blog. Would value being part of the conversation. Best! Kathleen (Kathy) HunterAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01705416285095391439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-58321084577731945192016-09-06T19:19:49.851-07:002016-09-06T19:19:49.851-07:00Thanks for the comment--though it goes without say...Thanks for the comment--though it goes without saying that like any group of people RV owners area varied bunch. I did say "I have nothing against RV camping but it is, like hunting or fishing, a high-impact use of public land and likewise requires some limits and strict regulation." That is my primary point. We need to figure out what the carrying capacity is for this kind of high impact use of park land and then regulate it accordingly.Trevor Herriothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11129533251670929001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-23730428052618822342016-09-06T18:17:33.387-07:002016-09-06T18:17:33.387-07:00Hi Trevor, I don't disagree with you but I wa...Hi Trevor, I don't disagree with you but I wanted to clarify that not all people with RVs have the 40 foot luxury level fifth wheels or motorhomes. Technically my husband and I are RVers but we deliberately chose a 25 foot trailer with no slide-outs, no AC, no microwave and no TV. We like to go to parks with smaller sites and no services but with lots of nature. At 60+years old our tenting days are long behind us but we tried to compromise between comfort and extravagance and we think we have done so. We just spent 2 weeks out in the Rockies and didn't once plug in except to our solar panels. As an aside, most BC Provincial Parks have no serviced sites and they seem to have no lack of customers.gypsysmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06811729931082569096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-10886265296937353992016-08-26T14:11:08.986-07:002016-08-26T14:11:08.986-07:00Thanks Mike--that stuff is helpful for sure. I was...Thanks Mike--that stuff is helpful for sure. I was last at Duck Mntn in the winter a couple of years ago; and my last summer trip was in the early 2000s when I was surprised at the number of large homes now in the park. I agree that the park still maintains a pretty good balance and is one of our best. (As you know that six week period in the summer is pretty crucial for loons, herons, and red-necked grebes.) But the comments from a reader that I posted were backed up by others who sent me private messages, and I have heard disturbing rumours about proposed developments. Duck Mntn is a gem--let's keep it that way and do more to improve habitat and protection. People I know who go to that park feel it is reaching its carrying capacity and more development would upset that balance you mention. Thanks for joining the discussion and offering your perspective.Trevor Herriothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11129533251670929001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-49853232114339949402016-08-26T12:33:29.841-07:002016-08-26T12:33:29.841-07:00Loon nesting protection zones, increased inspectio...Loon nesting protection zones, increased inspection and enforcement of fishing regulations and increased education about how to protect and enhance biodiversity utilizing the park interpretive programs and planned activities are three examples.<br /><br />I'm not certain when you were last here, your reply to my post says recently but in your August 23rd post you say you have not been here for many years???<br /><br />Nevertheless come see for yourself what is happening currently rather than accepting other people's posts as fact. <br /><br />Duck Mountain certainly faces challenges around privatization and recreational pressure primarily in the six week period following July 1st each year. However, in my opinion the park is arguably provides the best blend of biodiversity and recreational opportunity of any of the parks in the southern half of the province. Our challenge is to ensure that an appropriate balance is maintained as we move forward.<br /><br />Mike Carlsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-33642696062601826712016-08-25T17:54:30.919-07:002016-08-25T17:54:30.919-07:00Fair comment Mike but I have seen Duck Mountain my...Fair comment Mike but I have seen Duck Mountain myself recently and in the past--in fact I had a very small cabin at one of the old subdivisions for a couple of years back<br />in the '80. It is still a great park with a lot of natural areas but the recreation pressures on the main lake are affecting some bird populations. I too noticed the decline in the state of the rental units from the '80s onward. Having said that, fill me in--what is "actually happening at Duck Mountain"? What positive trends are you seeing that protect the biodiversity of the park in general and the lake in particular?Trevor Herriothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11129533251670929001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-69993649882558948022016-08-25T16:34:06.257-07:002016-08-25T16:34:06.257-07:00Hi Trevor
I am surprised that you use your platfor...Hi Trevor<br />I am surprised that you use your platform to publish viewpoints that you have not taken the time to verify. The problem with doing this is that a reader might assume them to be true. If you want to see what is actually happening at Duck Mountain I suggest you get out and see for yourself and form your own opinions, otherwise you own other people's bias's and destroy your credibility to comment on issues like these.Mike Carlsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-42990561337548265422016-08-23T16:12:00.290-07:002016-08-23T16:12:00.290-07:00thanks for confirming that report. I have not been...thanks for confirming that report. I have not been to Duck Mountain for many years now but it was once my favourite forest park. Motorhomes are everywhere these days to be sure. Perhaps some readers will suggest campgrounds that are still pretty quiet . . . .Trevor Herriothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11129533251670929001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-72445572712391998482016-08-23T15:57:25.800-07:002016-08-23T15:57:25.800-07:00Everything the person you quoted said is true.
I ...Everything the person you quoted said is true. <br />I was at Duck Mountain this summer for the first time in a while and I’ll probably never go back. The trails are unusable, the beach is filthy, and you can’t even get milk at the camp store. I also saw some terrible behaviour, like people cutting off branches that were in the way of their RV extensions. Do you know of any parks in the province where it's still possible to camp without being surrounded by motorhomes?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com