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Answers:

The Ministry of Forests approved a Forest Development Plan submitted by Cattermole Timber Ltd. in July 2003. This plan outlines commercial forest activities for the partial cut harvesting of 110 hectares of the approximate 1,200 hectare watershed area – that is about 10 per cent of the entire area.

About 40,000 cubic metres of second growth timber will be harvested, using selective helicopter logging methods. The plan includes extensive reserves to conserve forest values including wildlife and stream areas. Veteran trees are not being logged, although some may be felled to ensure worker safety.

When active forestry activities are complete, the area will be accessible for recreational and tourism use as usual.

The Elk Creek watershed is part of the provincial timber harvesting land base. As such, it is subject to periodic harvesting. When a licensee proposes a forest development plan, the statutory decision maker must review the plan based on criteria set out in forestry statutes. It is not within the power of the decision maker to exempt the area from the harvesting land base.

Although beautiful, Elk Creek is not unique. Overall, the Lower Mainland has more parks than many other areas of the province – about 22% of the land base is parkland.

The Ministry of Sustainable Resource Development is conducting land use planning in the area, including the Chilliwack Forest District. This level of planning, known as the Landscape Unit planning, will include the identification of Old Growth Management Areas.

The forest development plan meets the requirements of the Forest Practices Code, which ensures that habitat for most of the species that may potentially live in the area is adequately managed and conserved. In some cases, the plan exceeds the Code’s standards by creating larger reserve areas than that required under the Code. For example, extensive riparian areas have been set aside from harvesting.

Government surveys have not found any spotted owls in Elk Creek and the area has not been indicated as a priority area by the spotted owl recovery team. Government has an approved plan, currently being reviewed, that deals with spotted owls and designated management areas for them.

Although the Elk Creek drainage was not identified as a Special Resource Management Zone under the province’s spotted owl strategy, the 300-metre spur road and helicopter log landing site (approved in February 2004) will be built in accordance with construction practices in place for those zones.

Logging is approved in an area of second growth forest with scattered veteran trees. The plan calls for less than half of the second growth stand to be harvested by partial cutting, while preserving most of the veteran trees. Many of the veteran trees are within reserve areas that will not be harvested.

Elk Creek does not supply any water to Chillwack, nor is it considered a back-up supply by the City of Chilliwack because its volume is too small, and does not meet drinking water standards.

7. Will logging cause landslides?
There are no absolute guarantees anywhere that landslides will not occur. However, as required under the Forest Practices Code, the licensee carried out terrain stability assessments to recognise and minimize any landslide risks.

In the case of the road amendment, there is no evidence of ground instability or sensitive areas within the area. According to the consultant’s report, the risk for terrain stability is expected to be low. As well, Cattermole will ensure road work techniques minimize the amount of sediment generated.

The opportunity for public input exceeded that required by the Forest Practices Code. While the Code requires a 60-day public review and comment period, in the case of Elk Creek amendment approved in July 2003, the public review and comment period was over one year. Public comments and the results of First Nations’ discussions were considered as part of the determination.

All commercial forestry activities must be conducted in accordance with forestry legislation and regulations. These practices are monitored by Ministry of Forests Compliance and Enforcement team and conservation officers of the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. These officers investigate any contraventions and make recommendations for penalties and/or remedial action.