The provincial government introduced new rules Wednesday to stop wild partying and off-roading in the Willow Creek area in the foothills of Southern Alberta after the area was trashed in May.

The area, which is about 120 kilometres southwest of Calgary, was a mess after the May long weekend. Sustainable Resource Development Minister Ted Morton toured the area after the weekend, and he says burnt-out cars and mountains of trash were left behind.

"There was a number of people who clearly were destroying important parts of the environment there, particularly the wetlands," Morton said Wednesday. "This isn't the first time. We decided it was time to step in and put an end to it."

He says the new rules should prevent that from happening again. They limit where people can camp, and ban large off-road vehicles from the area.

"The big focus is an end to random camping," Morton said. "Camping is going to have to be in the designated areas." New signs are being erected to mark the designated camping areas.

"The other point is the monster trucks, the big oversized tires," said Morton. "They're the ones that do the damage that, if it ever recovers, takes years and years."

Off-road vehicles heavier than 363 kilograms will not be permitted in the area.

However, not everyone thinks the new rules are fair.

Chris Pederson, a member of the Calgary Ground Pounders 4x4 Club, says off-road enthusiasts are being punished for others' stupidity.

"I do realize that there needed to be some drastic action taken, but they have taken action against the wrong people," said Pederson. "They have a party problem there. They do not have an off-road vehicle problem." 

Pedersen says the new rules will prevent responsible off-roaders from using the area but won't clamp down on long-weekend partying.

Morton says similar rules have worked to protect other Crown forests. The new rules take effect immediately and carry fines as high as $1,000.