A change in the West Bragg Creek logging plan has left residents frustrated.
Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (AESRD) approved a logging proposal in November. The deal gave Spray Lakes Sawmills to right to harvest more than 1,600 acres of trees.
Residents say the plan was altered in December to allow logging on the east side of Block 13 in an area the AESRD admitted wasn’t needed for fire protection.
“I am very disappointed,” said Shaun Peter, president of Bragg Creek & Kananaskis Outdoor Recreation. “It makes me question the consultation process.”
Peter was part of a group of Bragg Creek residents that was involved in mitigation talks with AESRD representatives regarding the controversial logging plan, which has been in the works for about six years, according to Duncan MacDonnell, AESRD spokesman.
MacDonnell said the plan was never finalized for Block 13.
“Block 13 was not resolved at that time,” he said.
“The concern was that the west side is essential for the firesmart plan, the east side not so much. The parties were talking about how we could put a road on the east side of the block so we can harvest. It was that road configuration that was up for discussion.”
MacDonnell said the discussion went on for several weeks.
According to MacDonnell, the logging on the east side of Block 13 will be the minimum needed and will only be visible from one spot on West Bragg Creek Road.
Peter said Diana McQueen, the minister of environmental and sustainable resource development, requested residents come forward to discuss the plan in October, after it proved controversial.
“Ninety-seven per cent of people were against (the plan),” said Peter, explaining that Block 13 proved to be a sticking point because of its visibility to West Bragg Creek Road and three popular trails: Long Distance, Demi-Tel and Hostel Loop.
During subsequent meetings, AESRD admitted logging the east side of Block 13 was unnecessary for fire protection, according to the Greater Bragg Creek Fire Containment Strategy, a document that discusses the plan, including Block 13, in detail.
The document went on to say that both sides, however, agreed that minimal logging would be necessary to allow workers to remove the timber harvested from the west side.
“We left with the understanding there would be very minimal logging for decking areas and skidding roads and haul roads,” said Peter.
“We left feeling good, it was a win for us.”
Peter contends the most recent proposal goes against what the subcommittee agreed on and includes more logging than needed in Block 13.
“It shows the government doesn’t care and that consultation is just to have the public show,” he said, adding repeated attempts to contact the government department in protest of the recent alteration to the plan have gone unanswered.
Peter said he is not optimistic about resolving the issue.
“They came at us first with pine beetles, now firesmarting, they are constantly throwing up these smokescreens to log the old growth forests in the area,” he said.
Peter said he would like to see the area designated as protected, to not allow any logging to take place.
“For a small area of forest, right next to 1.2 million people, tourism is far more profitable than forestry,” he said.
Harvesting in the area began in November. According to MacDonnell, most of the planned logging will be done by the end of 2013.
