Public and Indigenous Engagement

Phase 2 Engagement

Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in our second phase of engagement. All of the input we received will inform our next steps in this work, and will help us get to better project outcomes.

In this phase of engagement, we invited input to help us confirm preliminary vision and direction for each of the 12 reaches within the River Valley and how the Land Management Classifications are applied. We also invited feedback on how decisions are made regarding project proposals in the River Valley. Engagement opportunities included stakeholder and public workshops, an online survey, a discussion guide and an interactive portal/map.

For a summary of Phase 2 engagement and the input that was shared, see the Phase 2 What We Heard Report.

Public and Indigenous Engagement Approach

Help shape the future of Edmonton’s River Valley. Your participation will help create strategic planning guidance for the future of the River Valley and inform how decisions are made for this integral piece of Edmonton’s landscape.

Community input is critical to the success of this project. Through conversations with Edmontonians, Indigenous Nations and Communities, community groups and other municipalities in the region, we will build a shared vision for the future of our River Valley and a clear approach to decision-making over the long term.

Public and Indigenous engagement will be delivered in parallel, connected streams, and there will be opportunities for input in each phase of the project. Participants will be invited to share their lived experience of the River Valley, their knowledge, and the challenges and opportunities they see for the future.

Learn more about our approach to engagement for this work.

Phase 1 Engagement

Phase 1 engagement opportunities were provided through remote and online platforms, as well as a printable discussion guide.
Phase 1 What We Heard Report

Ribbon of Green + Mountain Biking FAQ

There has been a lot of interest and some concern about the Ribbon of Green project and potential implications for planning and management of single-track trails in the future. Specifically, concerns have been expressed that mountain biking will be banned or prohibited in large portions of the River Valley and ravines, which is not the case. We want participants to know that the feedback we have received on the definition of Preservation areas has been heard, and while we will address some of these concerns and perceptions directly below, the process of engagement means that we will take the feedback and consider changes to what was shared during the sessions and online and make adjustments.

Is the City banning mountain biking or closing trails?

No, the City is not banning or prohibiting mountain biking in the River Valley, and no trails are being closed at this time. That doesn’t mean that, at some time in the future, if a trail is found to be causing too much disturbance in a natural area it won’t be closed or re-routed, but for the foreseeable future, no trails are being closed.

We understand and appreciate how important mountain biking and other forms of recreation are for users of the River Valley. The City will continue to work with user groups to ensure they have access to places where they can engage in their favourite activities, while also protecting the most sensitive areas. It may be that most of the current trails will be allowed to stay open, or it may be that several have to close or be realigned, but we will make those decisions in discussion with stakeholders based on research and on-the-ground assessment.

Note: Trail construction in the River Valley without authorization from the City is not permitted. The City’s Parkland Bylaw prohibits the cutting and removal of vegetation, and the removal of soil, on City parkland except where a permit to do so has been obtained.

Your map shows that a lot of the river valley is Preservation land. The Land Management Classification (LMC) tables say that only foot-based traffic is a compatible use within Preservation areas. Does that mean that mountain biking will be banned?

While it is correct that only foot-based travel is permitted in Preservation areas, existing single-track trails currently falling within Preservation areas may be reclassified to Conservation (which includes biking as a compatible use) once additional planning work has been completed.

There is no plan to close/remove trails in advance of further work. In the meantime, the City will continue to work with EMBA, members of the mountain biking community and other stakeholders to identify ways to allow for sustainable use of single track trails in Preservation areas. We have a lot of feedback from the engagement done so far, and will consider and incorporate changes where it makes sense.

A detailed recreational trail plan is needed and is a finer level of detail than will be undertaken in the Ribbon of Green. We will look for an opportunity to create a trails master plan after the policy work done for this project is complete.

What does the Preservation designation mean?

Preservation areas represent the most ecologically sensitive areas in the River Valley. Designating an area for Preservation means we need to take extra care in the decisions we make about what activities are permitted there. Policy will be drafted to provide guidance for this decision-making, and will be shared for discussion in Phase 3 of the project. That policy will be informed by all of the feedback gathered in Phase 2 of engagement.

In addition to being a beloved area for recreation, the River Valley is Edmonton’s most important biodiversity area and wildlife corridor. Growing demand for recreation and other uses, together with the increasing impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, creates real pressure on these natural systems. The City is committed to working with stakeholders, including EMBA, conservation organizations and Indigenous Nations and Communities, to identify an appropriate approach - one that addresses the most significant concerns about impacts to the unique ecology of our river valley while also providing opportunities to meet demand for recreational trail use.

Doesn't research show that biking and hiking have similar environmental impacts?

Our initial review of recent, peer-reviewed research indicates that there are a number of variables that influence the impact of mountain biking or single-track trails, including riding style, trail design, trail density, and trail management and maintenance practices. We need to do more research. Under some conditions, mountain biking has similar impacts to hiking, but in some situations, it can have greater impacts. Such impacts can include habitat fragmentation, stress on wildlife, and soil erosion.

Given these different variables, and a lack of assessments specific to the geography of our river valley, it is too early to make firm conclusions about what kinds of impacts the existing user-generated single-track trail network in Edmonton’s River Valley is having or which management and maintenance practices are best. Further research and on-the-ground assessments are needed to help us understand which trails should become part of the City’s permanent trails inventory, and what kind of maintenance and management practices should be undertaken (including by the mountain biking community) to make sure that ecological impacts of those trails are minimized.

What trails are currently shown in the Land Management Classification mapping?

The Land Management Classification mapping reflects the high-level, City-built and maintained network of trails, which provide access from adjacent neighbourhoods, and connectivity through the River Valley and ravines.

It does not reflect the detailed network of recreational trails (either existing single-track trails or future trails), which will be mapped in the future.

When will a recreational trail strategy be ready?

Detailed planning of mountain bike trails would take place in future work after the Ribbon of Green is complete.

City Administration will advance this item for consideration by City Council in the fall of 2022 as part of deliberations for the next budget cycle.

Why doesn’t the City just include all single-track trails in the plan?

Most of the single-track trail network was built by trail users and the City has not had oversight of the construction of these trails, some of which are found in sensitive areas, so we don't know the ecological impact they have had.

We need time to do studies and on-the-ground assessment that take into account our local context and environment, and to understand the risk implications associated with some of the trails and structures within the network. The City of Edmonton has a responsibility to steward the environment and ensure we limit negative impacts, whether from cycling, hiking, horseback riding or other activities.

A detailed trail strategy is needed to allow for further site-specific assessment and review of existing trails, so that we can move towards a trail system that meets recreational demand without compromising ecological function.

Where do we go from here?

The Ribbon of Green will lay the foundation for a sustainable trail network that can be used and enjoyed by many recreational and active transportation users. While it will not include a detailed recreational trail network, it will guide the City and its partners in decisions about what types of trails are appropriate and where.

We are in Phase 2 of the River Valley Planning Modernization project, which includes four phases. Decisions have not been finalized. We are providing opportunities for stakeholders and the public to share their input, and that input, along with technical assessments and guiding City policies, will inform our decisions and shape the policy that is forthcoming in Phase 3 and 4 of the project.

We are also engaging with Indigenous Nations and Communities. We have heard and listened to the mountain biking community, conservation organizations and other River Valley users. Our decisions will be made after listening to all groups and they will be made in a way that respects the demand for different recreation activities and the need to preserve the River Valley.

We are grateful for the input we have received, and continue to receive, on this project. There is incredible knowledge and passion within our community, and we are committed to working together to get this right.

Public and Indigenous Engagement

Phase 2 Engagement

Workshop Presentation

Part 1: Project Overview

Part 2: Land Management Classifications

Part 3: Decision-Making