AltaLink Banff to Lake Louise powerline through Hillsdale Meadows along the Bow Valley Parkway in ~2017 prior to reconstruction and right-of-way maintenance (Photo by Avens Consulting) and 2025 after nearly a decade of modified vegetation management (CW Photo). The right-of-way in this area could be managed to restore natural meadows and glades. The Sawback prescribed burn is in the background.
From 2010 to 2015 Parks Canada and AltaLink had protracted negotiations on the future of the power line through Banff National Park’s Bow Valley. Recognizing the scenic sensitivity of the valley, park’s staff request that wherever possible the line should be buried, but for cost reasons this was clearly not feasible. The compromise reached was that the line clearing would be restricted to a 30M right-of-way, except for removing “danger trees” outside this area that might reach the line. None of the documents describing Parks Canada direction, AltaLink’s proposal, or the environmental assessment of the powerline describe that existing and ongoing increases in forest biomass will likely seriously damage the powerline. Surprisingly, the documents also do not reference how the powerline right-of-way was managed within the Sawback prescribed burn (in the background), or in the Carrot Creek fuelbreak or Fairholme prescribed fire.
This region of Bow Valley was once dominated by meadows and shrublands, and to the east of the parkway prescribed fire is routinely used to maintain these conditions. Parks Canada could consider an innovative cooperative agreement with AltaLink to fall and burn not just existing “danger trees” but other stems that will soon overtop the line. This glading could then be followed by prescribed fire that would restore open, and less flammable native vegetation cover. This could be a “win-win” for both maintaining ecological integrity and the powerline infrastructure.
References
Avens Consulting. 2015. Maintenance rebuild of the AltaLink 551L transmission line between Banff and Lake Louise: Environmental Impact Analysis APPENDICES A-P.