Chilliwack Forest District

Questions and Answers

Sts’Ailes Natural Resources Inc. Forest Licence A63986
2003-2006 Forest Development Plan – Echo Island and Stokke Creek Area

2. What does the plan call for?

The forest development plan is a planning document for the licenced area. Under the terms of this licence the proponent must demonstrate innovative forest management expressly because other resource values – like visual quality -- take precedence.

The plan sets out the areas where harvesting is planned – there are three blocks on Echo Island and five in the Stokke Creek area. The cutblocks shown in the plan are areas within which harvesting is proposed to take place – not the actual cutblocks that have yet to be engineered. The plan calls for all harvesting to be done by helicopter, so no roads are required. Loggers will use the partial cutting method – which means selected trees will be cut, and others will be left within each cutblock.

There are nine proposed water helicopter drop areas located around Echo Island and six along the shore at Stokke Creek. Land and Water B.C. has authority over these sites and has granted a permit for the drops, a 200-metre stretch of foreshore and lakebed (for log storage and handling area) under the Land Act. The licensee has not yet applied for permits for the Stokke Creek area.

3. What are the benefits of this plan?

The requirement to conduct innovative forestry activities will contribute to our knowledge base on sustainable forestry.

As well, the harvesting will support both forestry and manufacturing jobs. About 30 people will be employed in the harvesting phase, and support a further 8 milling jobs.

4. Might there be more logging in the future not shown on this plan?

If the licensee decides to conduct harvesting in addition to that identified in this plan, it will have to prepare an amendment. In that case, there would be another public review and comment period, and another review and approval by the Ministry of Forests.

5. Why was the plan approved in the face of public opposition?

Echo Island is not a park or a protected area. It is part of the timber harvesting land base and therefore is available for integrated use.

Under the law, the district manager must approve a forest development plan or amendment if it meets two conditions:
1) The plan was prepared and submitted in accordance with the Forest Practices Code, regulations and standards; and
2) If the district manager is satisfied the amendment will adequately manage and conserve the forest resources of the area.
The statutory decision maker – in this case, the district manager -- was satisfied that this amendment met both these criteria, based on all the information gathered and input provided.

6. What will happen next?

It is anticipated that the licensee will continue to do planning work, which will involve engineering of the actual cutblocks. As part of this process, wildlife areas will be identified, and terrain stability and windthrow assessments will be conducted. As well, archaeological impact assessments will be conducted to locate any First Nations sites that have not yet been identified.

When this work is done, the proponent must apply for a cutting permit. The timing is up to the licensee, although we understand that the licensee has committed to timing helicopter yarding activies outside of the high use summer months.

7. Was the public consulted?

The public had a 90-day period in which to review and comment on the proposed plan, from May 2 to August 1, 2003, a month more than is required by law. The proponent agreed to a 30-day extension in response to a request by the Fraser Valley Regional District. As well, there were public meetings in Harrison Memorial Hall – which attracted eight people -- and at the Harrison village council. The proponent received nine written submissions from the public, in addition to those from municipal authorities.

Following this period, the licensee made revisions to its plan based on comments received. In the Ministry’s review of the plan, all input from individuals, agencies and stakeholders was reviewed and considered to ensure concerns were adequately addressed.

8. Were First Nations consulted?

Area First Nations were specifically invited to provide input as part of the public review and comment period by letter by both the proponent and the Ministry. The Cheam Indian Band made several comments that were addressed by the proponent.

Forest Values:

9. How will this impact visual qualities?

Safeguarding the visual quality of Echo Island is an imperative under the conditions of this licence. The licensee has developed visual design models from numerous viewpoints, including Harrison Hot Springs and Rockwell Drive in the District of Kent.

The plan complies with recommended Visual Quality Objectives set by the district, to limit the impact of logging on visual quality.

Harvest plans call for partial harvesting systems for Echo Island cutblocks. In the areas that are visible from Harrison and Kent, logging will be restricted to single tree and small groups that will be distributed and therefore not be visually evident. Note that the Island has naturally occurring rock outcrops, open patches and deciduous trees.

10. How will this impact tourism?

Forestry and tourism have co-existed in the area since the first settlers came to the area. Due consideration was given to tourism issues throughout the plan. Active logging is proposed to take about 3 months, outside of the high use summer months to minimize the impact on area users.

As for boaters, the logging company must follow strict guidelines set by Transport Canada, which includes approved heli-flight paths. Containment booms will be used and all debris will be regularly collected and removed.

There are no designated hiking trails on Echo, and none of the harvesting is intended for the island’s highest elevation. Within the cutblocks, a variety of densities of standing timber will be left.

11. How will this impact residents?

There are a number of private properties on Echo Island and possible impacts from harvesting have been considered in the plan. For example, there will be buffers along property lines, and various assessments will be completed before harvesting begins, including hydrology assessment, windthrow and terrain stability in response to concerns expressed.

While noise may be inconvenient, the use of helicopters will shorten the duration of the operation compared to other systems. Not all operations will be near these properties.

Any wood debris created by helicopter drops will be collected on a regular basis and removed. As well, containment booms will be used.

12. Will logging pose any fire risks?

The licensee is legally required to have a fire preparedness plan. After harvesting, the licensee will conduct a fire hazard assessment and take appropriate measures to reduce possible risks.

13. How will this impact First Nations values?

None of the proposed harvesting areas are near any of the identified sites of significance for First Nations in either Echo Island or the Stokke Creek area. Archaeological impact assessments will be conducted to find out if there are any objects, sites or locations of traditional use that have not yet been identified.

14. How will this impact the green power plant for Stokke Creek?

We understand there is a proposal for an energy power plant on Stokke Creek. The only potential conflict is a transmission line route through one of the blocks. The proponent has stated it will co-ordinate with the plant proponents to avoid any problems.

15. Why does the plan call for double the timber limit to be harvested?

The plan has identified a total harvestable volume of some 78,000 cubic metres, about double the permissible volume. However, this number simply measures the merchantable timber within the proposed harvesting areas. It is only when the actual cutblocks are engineered to take into account issues like visuals, that the actual volume will be known. In no case will the harvest be more than the maximum of 40,000 cubic metres.

16. One of the cutblocks is larger than the allowed 40 hectares for the Coast. Why?

The 40 hectare maximum applies only to clearcuts. Since the proponent will use partial cutting methods only, there is no maximum.

17. Why allow the Island to be logged again?

Echo last saw some logging 50 to 60 years ago. Areas that had been harvested now show abundant growth, with trees 40 to 80 years old. There is no evidence that past harvesting has degraded the forests.

18. How will this impact old growth?

Through the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, four old growth management areas are being considered for Echo Island. These are not located within the proposed harvesting areas.

19. How will this impact the spotted owl?

We carefully considered any potential impact on the spotted owl. Stokke Creek area is included within a Special Management Resource Zone (SMRZ) under the province’s spotted owl strategy. This means all activities must be guided by this policy for such areas. For example 67% of the original basal area must be left in each cutblock..

There are no spotted owl detection sites within the proposed harvest areas.

20. How will this impact the rare freshwater seal?

It doesn’t appear that there is such a creature. Harrison Lake seals are harbour seals that follow salmon up the rivers into the lake.

21. How will this impact deer and goats?

Deer hunting is a long-time practice on Echo Island. Logging will use the partial cutting method, which will enhance biodiversity for plant species. By opening up the canopy, deer forage will be increased.

In the Stokke Creek area, the proponent has stated that activities will reflect the need to protect mountain goat winter ranges as set out in a draft Fraser Timber Supply Area Mountain Goat Winter Range Plan, October 2002.

22. What is the landslide risk?

For Echo Island, logging will occur in areas that mostly have less than a 60% slope. The proponent will conduct terrain stability assessments in all areas that are steeper, or that may be potentially unstable – this is required under the Code. An assessment will also be conducted where proposed harvesting is upslope of private properties.

Stokke: A 1989 report states there is a risk of a rockslide on Mount Breakenridge. As required by the Code, the proponent will conduct assessments before logging begins.

These assessments will be conducted by a qualified registered professional.

23. What about riparian areas and drinking water?

The proponent will identify all riparian areas within the cutblocks so steps can be taken to protect and maintain critical areas. Such steps include the falling and yarding away from streams where possible and the seeding of exposed mineral soil following forest operations.

Stokke: None of the logging for the Stokke Creek area will take place within riparian areas.

Harrison River: The proponent has indicated that logs may be towed down the river. This activity is permitted by and regulated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Drinking water: Harrison’s drinking water intake is nearly 3 km away from the southern tip of Echo Island. And Land and Water B.C., in authorizing the log drops, considered that all requirements needed to maintain water quality had been met.

END

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