The province is making changes to the draft management plan for the Castle wilderness area.

Environment Minister Shannon Phillips says for off highway vehicle operators, there'll be no changes to trail access this year.

"We will be focusing on the illegal trails," she says. "We will work with the OHV groups on planning and ensuring the existing planning is moved or maintained as the years go on."
She says they will also explore differences between summer and winter use with the Alberta Snowmobile Association and their chief scientists and make sure trail planning continues accordingly.

Phillips says based on feedback already received the plan will also look at allowing hunters to gain access to recover game through limited use of the trail network, anglers will see fish populations protected through fish recovery strategies, including the Bull Trout and Westslope Cutthroat Trout, and enforcement of regulations, already increased last year will see further increases.

Alberta ranchers will see grazing permits managed by rangelands staff. The province will continue to work with permit holders on a formalized agreement.

Livingstone MacLeod MLA Pat Stier says it's nice to see the government's extended the period for public feedback on the changes to the area, but he'd like to see a 60 day extension rather than 30 days.

“Even with 30 more days, the timeline for concerned Albertans to provide their feedback is far too short for adequate consultation to be done.
 
“A 120-day period for public feedback is the bare minimum length required for legitimate public consultation on this. Also, any expanded timeframe must be accompanied by a series of public town halls, so the people can truly be heard.

The deadline is now April 19, 2017.