|
|
|
 |
|
 |
 | ||
 |
|
 |
Proposed Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness AreaLoons, lakes, and moose at Halifax's doorstepOn April 21st, 2009, this area was officially protected under “forever wild” legislation. Click here for more info. Size & LocationThe Proposed Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area is approximately 1,750 hectares (4,300 acres) and lies about 10 km west of downtown Halifax, behind the Bayers Lake Industrial Park. It is bounded roughly by Highway 102, Route 3, and the Kingswood subdivision. Motorists travelling outbound on Highway 102 would recognize the site as the vast undeveloped forest on the west side of the highway just after the Price Club/Costco.
Natural Description
Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes boasts a striking and rugged terrain with a large system of undeveloped lakes. Many visitors note a remarkable similarity to the wilderness of the Canadian Shield in northern Ontario and Quebec. White granite bedrock has been extensively carved by glaciers and in some places cracked to form deep fissures. There are many wetlands and some old forest sites. The site has been identified as a potential provincial park candidate by the Department of Natural Resources since 1989. The 500' "summit" atop Blue Mountain rises above nearly 20 square kilometres of publicly-owned Crown land on the outskirts of Halifax. The mountain overlooks a landscape of rolling hills, forests, undeveloped lakes, and barrens - home to moose, beavers, owls, and loons. Outstanding Natural Features
Cultural Significance
One of Halifax's unique qualities is that it is still largely bordered by wilderness. Stunning natural surroundings make Halifax a great place to live, work, and raise families. But only a small proportion of these natural areas are legally protected. Most will gradually disappear as the city continues to grow. Halifax should not repeat the mistakes of other cities that lost their chance to retain wilderness a long time ago, and now face only marginal (and often expensive) opportunities to establish regional parks. Protecting Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes, while we still have the chance, will leave a spectacular wilderness and outdoor recreation legacy for the Halifax region. Recreational Opportunities
The Proposed Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area is a perfect spot to be discovered by hikers, canoeists, or anyone looking for a wilderness adventure within minutes of Atlantic Canada's largest urban centre.
ThreatsTime may be quickly running out for this wilderness gem. The provincial government is seriously considering the construction of a $30 million four-lane freeway directly through the heart of this proposed wilderness area. The purpose is to save a whopping 8-minutes of driving time for commuters traveling between Highways 102 and 103. If built, this ill-conceived highway would do little to ease traffic congestion on nearby Kearney Lake and Hammonds Plains Roads. The proposed road, tenitivly called Highway 113, would forever destroy the wild character and ecological integrity of Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes by carving the wilderness into two small pieces. Wetlands and old forest stands would be lost or degraded, and the area's outstanding aesthetic and wilderness qualities would become history. 
In May 2001 the provincial Environment Department rejected the Department of Transportation's environmental assessment registration document for the Highway 113 project. They have asked Transportation for more information. The Minister's decision included concerns about the highway's impact on the proposed Wilderness Area. The Minister also questioned the Transportation Department's claim that the highway would function as "an effective block" to further residential development. Other imminent threats include clearcutting and urban sprawl. Protection would ensure that the Province does not dispose of any more public land in the area to private developers, as was done a few years ago when several hundred metres of shoreline on the Birch Cove Lakes fell into private hands. Ironically, the area's natural beauty makes it prime real estate for subdivision development. The Department of Transportation is expected to file a new application for this highway project sometime in 2004.
Take action to help save this important wilderness area!
Public Lands |
Endangered Spaces |
News |
Issues
© Nova Scotia Public Lands Coalition, Ecology Action Centre, 2006 |
 |
 |
|
 |
