March 2012 (PDF) - Townsite of Redwood Meadows

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Bragg Creek logging discussion rife with misinformation
To the Editor:
The proposed Spray Lakes Sawmills' (SLS) timber
harvest plan for west Bragg Creek in Kananaskis
Country has generated much discussion; however,
misinformation is circulating regarding the role of
the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association (GBCTA)
in the development of this proposed timber harvest
plan.
This misinformation indicates that the GBCTA had
input into, and helped design the timber harvest
plan, and that our association has endorsed these
documents with a written agreement with Alberta
Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) and SLS.
This is not correct.
To set the facts straight, the GBCTA negotiated and
signed several agreements with SRD and SLS in 2011,
but these agreements were related to new trail development
and maintenance in West Bragg Creek, and
have not specifically addressed the SLS logging plan.
measures should protect the trails through various
methods such as cutblock design, location, visual
modelling, rehabilitation, and the use of buffers to
minimize negative impacts on trails and maintain the
aesthetics of the trails for users.
Our association provided written mitigation
measures to SLS on Jan 10, 2011, and SLS has called a
meeting for late Feb 2012 to discuss our requested
mitigation measures.
The GBCTA does support the concept of FireSmart
planning for Bragg Creek, and we believe that it can
be done while recognizing all stakeholder rights, including
tourism, trails, and economic development.
The GBCTA recognizes there are many views on the
proposed logging, and believes that there should be
further, facilitated public input into the timber harvest
plan. The large turnout at the SLS Jan. 26, 2012
open house, and the many letters and animated discussions
over recent months show that Albertans believe
they have a right to be consulted and that their
views should be incorporated into forest land use
plans in a meaningful manner.
In late fall 2011, SLS presented the GBCTA with their
draft Final Harvest Plan. It should be clearly noted
that the GBCTA has not had input into the design of
the Final Harvest Plan, and that we are simply in negotiations
to minimize the impact the logging will
have on the trails and trail users.
Our association and many of our members are not
opposed to the logging, but believe mitigation
More information can be found at
www.braggcreekski.org.
Sincerely
Bruce Barker
GBCTA Vice President
Bragg Creek, Alberta
www.braggcreekski.org
CHATTER IN THE WOODS, March 2012 3