Logging West Bragg Creek 2012 | Information & Issues | Kananaskis Outdoors Forum

Spray Lakes Saw Mills is claiming that their logging program planned for the West Bragg Creek are in 2012 is aimed at fire protection. Clear Cut “logging blocks” are not a Fire Break

Does Spray Lakes really think the public is that Naïve?

There would absolutely be value in a Fire Break to provide some protection for the Bragg Creek Area – so let’s see a plan for a maintained fire break – not a one-time logging operation!

The West Bragg Creek area is the closest recreationally developed forest reserve lands to Calgary – a city of over a million people. The current clear cut logging plan threatens significant portions of the recreational trails in the area. If this current plan goes ahead It will be more than two generations before the cut blocks can re-grow to their current state of maturity. The recreational value of this area to Albertans over more than two generations is worth far more than the one time benefit to Albertans as a result of clear cut logging it!

Then there’s the whole issue of value of the watershed. Beyond local water quality concerns the Elbow watershed supplies approximately one half of Calgary’s water.

But let’s not point the finger at Spray Lakes Saw Mills – they are just a corporation trying to make a dollar. Corporations don’t have a conscience – it’s up to the public to hold them accountable to the values of our society. What we should really be concerned about is that our Alberta government is considering allowing this to happen. The government is supposed to be representing our interests – let them know what you think!

Contact your MLA http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/…..p=mla_home

My brother is on the Slave lake town council. According to him (and firefighters in that area) firebreaks are useless when there is a large fire+high winds+tinder dry conditions. In the case of Slave lake the fire jumped (more like flew) over the highway south of town which is much wider then any firebreak. Hot cinders were being carried many km by high winds. No firebreak of any size would have saved their town. If towns like Bragg creek, Canmore and Banff wanted to be entirely safe from fire all the trees for many km around would have to be removed. Unfortunately if you build in an area which is surrounded by coniferous trees you are at much higher risk of having a catastrophic fire destroy everything. Any firebreaks would provide a false sense of security. Their excuse for clearcutting to provide a firebreak is completely useless.