No rest for the wicked!  [Note: KTAG = Kananaskis Trails Advisory Group; TPR = Alberta Tourism Parks and Recreation]

1.  There might be another round of NTC funding. Maybe.  This fund is partially where Ridgeback came from, so it’s a good thing.

2.  TPR is looking for ideas on what trail maintenance tasks should be budgeted for 2012/2013. We are also following up to see what tasks were budgeted for last year but were not actually done.

3.  Alberta Government is looking for public input on a new South Saskatchewan Regional Plan.  TPR feels this is the best chance in a very long time to effect upper gov’t on land use policies.

4.  Premier Redford’s ministerial shakeup has TPR Conservation Officers now reporting to the Solicitor General. TPR will be filling in seasonal job positions with a new position called a Park Services Ranger. This person will do all the duties of a Conservation Officer except for the law enforcement part. They will not carry a gun. Look for these people in K-Country starting this spring/summer.

5.  The bottom of Razor’s Edge will be rerouted to Quaite Valley trail (instead of finishing at the edge of HW1) this summer. TPR will head the project, but it will depend on volunteer labor to be completed. This may involve BVMBA…

6.  TPR bought a mini-excavator, a 5 foot wide Yanmar. It should help with some of the bigger maintenance projects.

7.  TPR should have a new website up and running by April 2012. They will better integrate with social media to gather feedback and input from the public.

8.  TPR has a new Assistant Deputy Minister of Parks, Graham Statt.

9.  Regarding the proposed logging activity in the West Bragg Creek area, the Calgary Mountain Bike Alliance [CMBA] has been working with the Greater Bragg Creek Trail Association, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development [ASRD] and Spray Lakes Sawmills [SLS] to come to an agreement. To date, no agreement finalizing a logging plan has been signed by CMBA or GBCTA, as signoff on the logging plan is SRD’s responsibility. We have jointly submitted a 7-page letter of concerns and mitigating measures for the proposed logging plan to SLS and ASRD, and we look forward to discussing the matter with SLS and ASRD soon. In the interim, we continue to work with SLS as per the terms of the West Bragg Creek Land Users Agreement.

For all your questions and whatnot, post comments or email info@cmbalink.com.