FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stakeholders Call for Pause on Incomappleux Road Deactivation,

Launch Public Petition for Legislative Action

INCOMAPPLEUX VALLEY, BC — UPDATED April 6, 2026 — Residents, recreation organizations, and regional stakeholders are calling on the Province of British Columbia to immediately pause planned deactivation work on the Incomappleux Forest Service Road (FSR) and removal of bridge infrastructure until meaningful engagement and a collaborative review process can take place.

The Incomappleux stakeholder group consists of property owners representing 150 privately owned properties in the affected area, and dozens of organizations representing thousands of recreationalists that have been using this backcountry access for decades. ATVBC has been hosting meetings for the stakeholders that include representatives with BC Wildlife Federation, 4Wheel Drive Association of BC, Local ATV and Snowmobile Clubs, Hunters & Trappers Association members, the Association of Mineral Exploration and local residents and area business owners.

To support this request, stakeholders have launched a public petition to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, calling on government to halt deactivation and work with stakeholders to maintain viable access for residents, recreation, stewardship, and emergency response.

The petition is open for signatures until the end of April 2026. Community members across BC are encouraged to sign and share the petition to ensure their voices are heard.

SIGN PETITION HERE

The Incomappleux corridor provides essential access for residents, emergency response, environmental stewardship, and responsible recreation. While the road has been closed to vehicle traffic since 2021 to address safety risks, stakeholders question why permanent infrastructure removal is proceeding when access is already restricted.

Residents and stakeholder organizations submitted detailed concerns in early 2025 outlining impacts to access, safety, emergency response, and community use. The Government of BC did not respond to these submissions.

When stakeholders requested an update to their submitted concerns in October 2025, they were directed to apply for a road permit while being informed that deactivation would proceed regardless. They say this approach would eliminate existing infrastructure, require costly rebuilding by permit holders, transfer liability to private parties and discourage collaborative solutions. The Incomappleux corridor provides essential access for residents, emergency response, environmental stewardship, and responsible recreation. While the road has been closed to vehicle traffic since 2021 to address safety risks, stakeholders question why permanent infrastructure removal is proceeding when access is already restricted.

“We are not asking to bypass safety or environmental responsibilities,” said local resident Kim Hubert, a member of the Incomappleux stakeholder group. “We are asking for transparency, engagement, and the opportunity to work together on solutions that protect both public safety and responsible access. Responsible access supports environmental stewardship, and if access is eliminated, it becomes harder to monitor and care for this landscape.”

Community members have also raised concerns that eliminating access could limit environmental monitoring and cleanup oversight related to historic mining impacts.

Furthermore, stakeholders warn that permanent access removal could limit wildfire response capabilities, restrict evacuation routes, and impact search and rescue operations. They are calling for consultation with emergency response agencies before irreversible decisions are made.

Overall stakeholders are requesting:

✔ Immediate pause on deactivation and bridge removal
✔ Meaningful consultation with affected parties
✔ Transparency on safety assessments
✔ Evaluation of collaborative access solutions
✔ Consultation with emergency response agencies
✔ Clarity on environmental monitoring responsibilities