As heavy machinery has moved into the Ghost/Waiparous region (south B9 harvest area), some area residents and members of the informal group ‘Stop Ghost Clearcut’ (SGC) continue to express their concerns over the slated harvesting (clearcut logging) of the ‘B9 quota’ by Cochrane-based logging company Spray Lake Sawmills (SLS).
The machinery has begun to carve out around 1.5 km of preliminary road for the coming year (around 1.0 km so far according to the province); while some trees would be harvested for this purpose, timber harvesting for the 2015-16 is likely to begin ‘later in the season’ (likely fall) and would span two to three months of ‘continuous activities’.
Harvesting of the B9 Quota (around 900 hectares of trees) is likely to take place over the next two to three seasons, according to SLS woodlands manager Ed Kulcsar, who maintains that SLS is following operating ground rules and has all approvals in place to move forward with the logging of the B9.
Many residents in the area have reached out to the Eagle in strong opposition to the clearcut operations.
“It’s essential to place a moratorium on all recreational (OHV) and logging (clearcut) activities in this watershed,” said 40-year resident and former MD of Bighorn councillor Hugh Pepper.
“The area has been ravaged by recreational overuse and clearcut logging…do we want to turn our Foothills into a playground for OHV users or an industrial zone?” said Pepper, emphasizing that the disruption of the ecosystem would inevitably impact everyone living downstream of the watershed — Cochrane, Calgary and further south.
Pepper asserts that scientific research in the form of baseline environmental assessments is a must — that there are unmapped springs saturated throughout the area and that everything is tied to an essential hydrological network that once disrupted could have serious consequences on the entire ecosystem.
The long-time area resident emphasized that pressures on the watershed have contributed to three floods over the last 12 years — including the epic June 2013 flood, which rang in at over $8B.
The SGC group shares Pepper’s concerns.
Gord MacMahon is a part-time resident for nine years on a 40-acre parcel that borders the Stoney Nakoda First Nation land on the Ghost River and is a spokesperson for the SGC group.
The group has launched an informal petition at change.org to advocate for a moratorium on all (logging) activities in the Ghost/Waiparous watershed; this area includes the headwaters of the Ghost River and Waiparous Creek.
The petition can be located at change.org/p/jim-prentice-honourable-call-for-an-immediate-moratorium-on-logging-in-the-ghost-watershed.
Other concerns expressed by the group include an alleged absence of ‘ground truthing’ (to back up aerial mapping techniques; Kulcsar maintains that SLS has carried out ‘extensive ground truthing’), as well as grave concerns over the potential impacts on native wildlife (including what has been described as sensitive grizzly bear habitat).
This watershed is estimated to contribute around 20 per cent to the volume of the Bow River as it passes through Calgary.
“We are calling on Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (AESRD) to take a step and make some bold decisions,” said MacMahon, who has criticized the province for operating more as ‘facilitators’ and less like regulators.
According to Duncan MacDonnell, AESRD spokesperson, SLS is currently following their detailed ‘Alberta Forest Management Planning Standard’ (the provincial guidelines for timber harvesting options).
“During and following timber harvest, the company’s on-the-ground performance is measured by Alberta’s Forest Operations Monitoring Program, an ISO 9001 accredited review that holds companies accountable for meeting sustainable forest management objectives.”
MacDonnell added that the provincial standard holds companies responsible for ‘addressing resident concerns’ and that by law, “Alberta requires forest companies operating in this province to conduct their activities in ways that minimize impacts on the environmental and social values.”
As per operating ground rules, this dictates such restrictions as water setbacks (buffer zones) — a bone of contention for residents in the area, who are concerned about the (lack of) buffer zones around sensitive areas, as well as blow back on private property (as per recommended setbacks by biologists).
Banff-Cochrane PC MLA Ron Casey has attended a number of community meetings and has spoken with concerned residents along the watershed.
Casey said he has relayed all concerns to the ministry and feels the province could certainly do more with buffer zones.
He questioned whether the existing setbacks are realistic and that perhaps moving forward there may be opportunities to sit down and take a more serious look at the timber harvesting methods (operating ground rules) throughout the Eastern Slopes.
Wildrose MLA candidate Scott Wagner is also familiar with the concerns around the watershed — attending an event held at Beaupre Hall on March 23 to listen to community concerns.
“I was relieved to hear that everyone at the meeting understands that we need lumber, but I want to ensure that habitats such as the Ghost Valley are not irreparably damaged,” said Wagner, who is concerned over the condensing of what was originally a 25-year timber harvesting plan into a 2-3 year time frame.
Kulcsar said that SLS is ‘encouraging the community to get involved and voice their concerns’.
Although exact dates could not be confirmed, he did say that the next series of open houses are scheduled for this May.
To learn more about the SGC group, visit stopghostclearcut.com for more info.
