Dear editor:
Why has the Prentice government forgotten about common sense when it comes to flood mitigation?
I went to a presentation March 16 in Cochrane, where former superintendent of Banff National Park Kevin Van Tighem laid out a realistic headwater approach. The obvious problem is fast runoff from the eastern side of the Rockies that runs downstream causing flooding.
It is bizarre to think that the government is not enforcing irresponsible actions on our slopes upstream.
The problem is three-fold. First, why is the forestry industry allowed to clearcut in areas that cause abnormal erosion? It doesn’t take an engineer to figure out that if you clearcut a large area, water won’t have the chance to soak in.
Second, why do these logging companies get a free pass in regards to reclamation of the site? The oil industry is regulated very closely in this manner and the forestry industry should be too.
Thirdly, with increases in severe weather events, shouldn’t new guidelines be drawn up for forestry practices? Just because something has been done a certain way for years doesn’t mean it should be “business as usual.”
Instead of planning dry dams that only contain water for a mere 24-48 hours, natural drainage of the land should be utilized and wetlands should be protected.
The government needs to step in and stop allowing clear-cutting on our eastern slopes. This is why I support a moratorium on Ghost Valley logging operations. It is only commonsensical to be water sensible.
Susan Cooper Parker
