What we heard: Waterton Lakes powerboating review, 2024

Introduction

Powerboating is a long-standing activity on Middle and Upper Waterton lakes and is permitted in Waterton Lakes National Park through a superintendent’s order. In 2024, Parks Canada concluded public engagement regarding the state of powerboating in Waterton Lakes National Park to fulfill a target outlined in its 2022 Management Plan:

Powerboat use in Waterton Lakes National Park is an exceptional activity only permitted by Superintendent Order. A review and assessment of the activity that includes public engagement opportunities for all Canadians is completed by end of 2023.
- Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada Management Plan, 2022

Reviewed every 10 years, management plans are a requirement of the Canada National Parks Act and guide the management of national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas.

Throughout 2024, Waterton Lakes National Park engaged interested Indigenous partners and Canadians through a range of virtual and in-person meetings, public open houses and an online survey open to all Canadians. The expressed goal of these activities was to solicit feedback to help determine if recreational powerboating, in its current form, contributes to Canadians’ long-term vision for Waterton Lakes National Park.

This report summarizes what was heard through these engagement activities. Parks Canada will continue with an internal assessment of powerboating and determine the feasibility of any changes. Feedback collected through this engagement process will help inform these management decisions.

What we heard: summary of themes

The majority of public feedback received was supportive of powerboating continuing under the current Superintendent’s Order. Prevalent themes expressed by those in favour of continued use of powerboating included:

Legacy – Waterton Lakes has a long history of powerboat use. For many users, the activity is a critical part of their connection to the park.

Water safety – Many powerboat users reported instances of assisting non-motorized watercraft users and other visitors who’ve been in distress or in need of transport.

Accessibility – Many comments suggested powerboating offers accessibility for people with reduced mobility, or access to remote parts of the park along Upper and Middle Waterton lakes.

Minimal impacts – It was noted that the relatively small number of powerboats on the lake at any given time present minimal negative environmental impacts or noise pollution.

Efficacy of the existing quarantine program – Many powerboat users indicated they were satisfied with the current program, noting it provides a fair option to boaters while mitigating risk of aquatic invasive species (AIS) transmission.

Parks Canada also received feedback indicating support for modifications to the existing powerboating program or discontinuing powerboating entirely. Some respondents suggested measures that could enhance visitor experiences in the park while also contributing to conservation measures. Prevalent themes included:

Noise pollution – Powerboat noise is a concern for some users. It was noted that powerboating can disturb the natural tranquility of the park.

Transitioning to cleaner modes of propulsion – Some comments indicated support for gradually transitioning to permitting electric motors only or exploring other propulsion restrictions currently in place in other national parks. Banning older two-stroke motors, which are known to release more unspent fuel than four-stroke motors, received the highest level of support among potential changes listed in the public powerboating survey.

Season/timing – Feedback included support for exploring restrictions on the length the powerboat season, including from Indigenous partners supporting allowing time for lakes to “rest” without powerboat use.

Discontinuing powerboat use – Some comments stated powerboating does not have a place in a national park or does not support Parks Canada’s integrated mandate.

Spatial modifications – “No wake zones” or reducing the operating area of powerboats to allow for a quieter experience for water users was proposed.

Engagement activities

Indigenous perspectives

Parks Canada met with representatives from Kainai, Piikani and Siksika Nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy, as well as Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney First Nations of the Stoney Nakoda Nations to discuss powerboating, as well as broader visitor use management. The meetings included discussion around the current and historic state of powerboating, the reasons for undertaking the review, the ecological monitoring methods used by Parks Canada to monitor lake health and discussions about the future of powerboating.

Indigenous partners stressed to Parks Canada the critical importance of continuing to prioritize ecological integrity in the park and its water bodies. Waterton Lakes National Park will maintain an open dialogue with interested Indigenous partners as management direction is implemented. Parks Canada will ensure relationships remain relevant and meaningful, that treaty rights are protected and that Indigenous knowledge and perspectives are reflected in future management decisions around powerboating and lake use in general.

Open house engagement sessions

Parks Canada held three open houses in the spring and summer of 2024. At these events, Parks Canada staff answered questions and listened to attendees’ thoughts on powerboating in the park. Park staff also discussed and collected input on a Visitor Use Management (VUM) strategy, which along with the powerboating review, is a target under Objective 2.3 of the management plan.

Parks Canada advertised the events on social media and via stakeholder group email mailings. Approximately 150 people attended the sessions, generating more than 80 pieces of written or recorded feedback.

Open house attendees were provided with historical and current information about powerboating in Waterton Lakes National Parks and asked to consider if recreational powerboating should continue to be permitted activity in Waterton Lakes National Park.

Most written and verbal feedback received at the sessions indicated support for continuing the allowance of recreational powerboating in Waterton Lakes National Park.

Let’s Talk Mountain Parks online survey

From September 25 to October 30, the public was invited to take part in an online survey available at the Let’s Talk Mountain Parks website.

A total of 433 users completed the survey. Engagement data collected by the platform shows that 1,900 users visited the survey page over the five-week period. To dissuade users from responding multiple times, anonymous registration with postal code was required.

Survey results generally indicate support for powerboating continuing as is (approximately 70% support). In regards to any changes to powerboating restrictions, more respondents support (42.5%) than oppose (32.1%) prohibiting the use of two-stroke motors.

Demographically, almost all (98%) respondents indicated having visited Waterton Lakes within the past two years. Sixty-nine per cent of respondents indicated having participated in motorized boating in a privately-owned boat as well.

See Appendix A for full survey results

Written correspondence

Parks Canada has also received many letters and emails from members of the public offering input. Letters were addressed directly by the Park Superintendent as well as the Waterton Lakes External Relations office. Most of these communications expressed support for the continued allowance of powerboating in Waterton Lakes National Park.

Acknowledgement

Waterton Lakes National Park would like to thank all those who participated in this public review. The breadth of input received demonstrates that people care passionately about lake use in Waterton Lakes National Park. The views and opinions collected throughout this process will help inform the ongoing review and assessment of powerboating.

It’s important to note that feedback collected will help inform future management decisions and will be considered alongside Parks Canada Agency policy and priorities, quantitative environmental data and regional considerations, among other factors.

Parks Canada is committed to providing engagement and consultation opportunities to Canadians where possible. Canada’s national parks are for all Canadians.

Appendix A: Let’s Talk Mountain Parks survey results

Question 1

“Powerboating is a recreational activity I expect to see when visiting one of Canada’s mountain national parks”

Figure 1. Please indicate how you feel about this statement.

Strongly disagree - 82
Disagree - 24
Neither agree or disagree - 22
Agree - 57
Strongly agree - 246

70.3% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed powerboating is an activity they expect to see when visiting a national park.
24.6% of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed powerboating is an activity they expect to see when visiting a national park.
5.1% of respondents were neutral.

Question 2

Do you feel powerboating contributes positively or detracts from the experience of visiting Waterton Lakes National Park?

Figure 2. Please indicate how you feel about this statement.

Strongly detracts - 67
Detracts - 35
Neither contributes or detracts - 31
Contributes - 41
Strongly contributes - 258

69.2% of respondents believe powerboating contributes or strongly contributes to the experience of visiting Waterton Lakes National Park.
23.6% of respondents believe powerboating detracts or strongly detracts from the experience of visiting Waterton Lakes National Park.
7.2% of respondents were neutral.

Question 3

Do you feel that powerboating contributes to or detracts from Parks Canada's management of Waterton Lakes National Park based on its mandate? Mandate:
“On behalf of the people of Canada, we protect and present nationally significant examples of Canada's natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure the ecological and commemorative integrity of these places for present and future generations.”

Figure 3. Please indicate how you feel about this statement.

Strongly detracts - 54
Detracts - 46
Neither contributes or detracts - 44
Contributes - 75
Strongly contributes - 213

66.6% of respondents indicated powerboating contributes or strongly contributes to Parks Canada’s management of Waterton Lakes National Park.
23.2% of respondents indicated powerboating detracts or strongly detracts from Parks Canada’s management of Waterton Lakes National Park.
10.2% of respondents were neutral.

Question 4

If powerboating were to continue in Waterton Lakes, would you be in favour or opposed to the following options? Allowing four-stroke motors only and prohibiting two-stroke motors. Two-stroke motors have been shown to release up to 30% of their unspent fuel.
Note: in all cases, the 90-day quarantine program for powerboating would remain in effect.

Figure 4. Please indicate how you feel about this statement.

Strongly opposed - 109
Somewhat opposed - 38
Neutral - 101
Somewhat support - 73
Strongly support - 110

42.5% of respondents strongly support or somewhat support allowing four-stroke motors only and prohibiting two-stroke motors.
34.1% of respondents strongly oppose or somewhat oppose allowing four-stroke motors only and prohibiting two-stroke motors.
23.4% of respondents were neutral.

Question 5

Prohibiting fossil fuel engines and transitioning to allow electric motors only. There would be a grace period for previous permit holders to transition their boats.

Figure 5. Please indicate how you feel about this statement.

Strongly opposed - 254
Somewhat opposed - 41
Neutral - 30
Somewhat support - 44
Strongly support - 62

24.5% of respondents strongly support or somewhat support prohibiting fossil fuel engines and transitioning to allow electric motors only
68.5% of respondents strongly oppose or somewhat oppose prohibiting fossil fuel engines and transitioning to allow electric motors only
7% of respondents were neutral.

Question 6

Modify the powerboating season to a shorter time frame, allowing for quieter periods for other users.

Figure 6. Please indicate how you feel about this statement.

Strongly opposed - 268
Somewhat opposed - 45
Neutral - 40
Somewhat support - 29
Strongly support - 49

18.1% of respondents strongly support or somewhat support modifying the powerboating season.
72.6% of respondents strongly oppose or somewhat oppose modifying the powerboating season.
9.3% of respondents were neutral.

Question 7

Further restricting the area in which powerboats are permitted to operate to provide more quiet areas for other users.

Figure 7. Please indicate how you feel about this statement.

Strongly opposed - 260
Somewhat opposed - 48
Neutral - 26
Somewhat support - 31
Strongly support - 66

22.5% of respondents strongly support or somewhat support further restricting the area in which powerboats are permitted to operate.
71.5% of respondents strongly oppose or somewhat oppose further restricting the area in which powerboats are permitted to operate.
6% of respondents were neutral.

Question 8

Maintain powerboating in its current state, as permitted via Superintendent’s Order.

Figure 8. Please indicate how you feel about this statement.

Strongly opposed - 76
Somewhat opposed - 26
Neutral - 22
Somewhat support - 30
Strongly support - 277

71.2% of respondents strongly support or somewhat support maintaining powerboating in its current state.
23.7% of respondents strongly oppose or somewhat oppose maintaining powerboating in its current state.
5.1% of respondents were neutral.

Question 9 (optional/open comment)

Question 9 received 278 responses to the following question: Is there anything from the questions above you’d like to provide further feedback on?

Most responses indicated support for continued powerboating in Waterton Lakes National Park. Other comments supported modifying conditions around powerboating or discontinuing the activity entirely.

Survey Demographics

98% of respondents visited Waterton Lakes in the last two years
84% of respondents visited Waterton Lakes in the last two months
69% of respondents have participated in motorized boating in a privately-owned boat in Waterton Lakes
51.2% identified as a regional resident
38.2% as an interested member of the public
3% identified as member of an Indigenous community
8% describing themselves as members of tourism, hospitality and NGOs
Most survey respondents from Alberta, and the majority of those were from southwestern Alberta