West Bragg Creek logging

Thanks to Steve Riggs for bringing this to our attention:

More about West Bragg-
Planned logging in 2012 will drastically affect the West Bragg ski trails, and also much of the new 40 km network of summer biking/hiking trails that were partially constructed last summer. Basically, this will deal a serious blow to the goal of having a year round recreation area within a 30 minute drive from Calgary.

West Bragg Creek(File photo from Jan 2011)

What can you do about it?
Start here-
http://www.sustaink.ca/

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Random act of kindness

Hi Bob,

Just wanted to put out a big thanks to the guys who turned in my GPS watch to the PLPP Visitor Centre on Jan. 2 .  I left it sitting on top of my car and headed out skiing. According to the lady at the Centre a group of exchange students turned it in. It’s nice to know there are great people out there looking out for fellow skiers.

Dave

It brightens everyone’s day to hear these stories, so don’t be shy, let us know if you have been a recipient of a good deed.

According to the Banff trail report, Redearth Creek was trackset today.

13 Comments:

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  1. if you want to stop the logging start protesting esc havesting they are the ones cutting the trees,just go take a look at the mud and ruts they put in the ground.you would think the forestry would be watching more but they make alot of money from logging.they are making a mess out on powderface trail and now they have moved to the highway and are destroying the most gorgeus pristine country,the deer are being pushed out,does everyone just want to talk about it?COME ON PEOPLE LETS GET THE HELL OFF OUR ASSES AND PROTEST MAKE THEM HEAR US,i will be doing something monday morning,PLEASE JOIN ME AT THE NEW LOGGING SITE,sincerly fed up.

  2. Surely cutting down all of the trees in the province will prevent fire but it will also change our climate. Why do you think that the the south is so dry?

    There are better methods for fire prevention than taking out all of the trees.

    Alberta is known worldwide for the destruction in the oilsands. Have you considered our reputation when it gets out that we are destroying this enormous forest for logging with the excuse of fire prevention?

    Perhaps the people in charge are NOT one of the thousands of people that enjoy this area for recreation.

    Terry

  3. Calgary City Water engineers estimated it would cost the city almost a Million dollars to add new equipment to remove the additional sediment in the water supply from the clear cut logging in Calgary’s watershed. If you add this cost to the highway repair bills from the usage by all the logging trucks, we the tax payers are subsidizing Spray Lakes Sawmill to the tune of millions of dollars!
    Once again we are about to embark on a project without doing a full cost/benefit analysis or public consultation. This is our recreational area!

  4. I’ve signed the petition. I hope the logging can be done away from the trails…. far far away!

    Courtney

  5. Hi Bob,
    Thanks for the heads up on the Spray Lakes Sawmills’ plans on the West Bragg Creek clear cutting. An on-line petition has been started by Sustain Kananaskis at http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Massive_Clear_Cut_Logging_by_Spray_Lake_Sawmills_in_West_Bragg_Creek_Alberta_Kananaskis_Country/

    Would you be interested in placing the link on the home page, so that your blog readers – I understand there are hundreds of us, could make an impact? It would be sad to see the West Bragg Creek park destroyed by the forest industry.

  6. Spray Lakes Saw Mills is claiming that the logging in WBC is part of a plan to provide fire protetion to the Bragg Creek area. 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 the government know what you think! Contact your MLA http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=mla_home

  7. I am a little surprised that such a shocking headline has garnered only 3 responses. Hopefully everyone will be writing to demand a public consultation process (go to sustaink.ca for addresses). I’m sure Spray Lakes Sawmills is relying on complacency to allow them to do their dirty work in K-Country – it will be too late once the trees are gone!!

  8. Yet another reason to despise Spray lakes sawmills! This company has a license to log most if not all of kananaskis country! If you’ve ever been to the Ghost valley or the slopes below Mount Baldy you can see the destruction they are capable of. Visit their website. They have maps of all the areas they plan on logging in the future. Truly a shame.

    (edited) Sorry, Peter I had to delete that last sentence. It would leave me susceptible to a lawsuit.

    I’ll admit that I don’t know much about this issue, but I’m guessing that Spray Lakes Sawmills is only doing what the government is allowing them to do. The people of Alberta need to speak up and let their MLA know how they feel about this. The possibility of losing votes is the only thing that will get any action. -Bob

  9. Hello Bob,

    We are looking for nicely groomed xc trails in the Canmore area. Can you give options with in a 50 mile radius as well as URL’s to check current grooming and conditions? Thanks!
    Sally & Nordi

    The Canmore Nordic Centre grooms the man-made snow almost every day, but I don’t know what condition it is in. I’m guessing somewhat icy. On my Trail Reports link, the Banff trail report will give you the conditions at Lake Louise, Redearth Creek, and Cascade Valley. I believe you’ll find all these trails to be in good condition.The trail report will indicate when they were last trackset, but not much information about present condition. Readers will leave comments periodically, so check my Trip Reports page as well.

    The Kananaskis trail report will give you the conditions in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. The south end trails which were recently groomed should be excellent.

    I expect Mt Shark(also on Kananaskis Trail Report) has lots of fresh snow covering last week’s tracksetting. -Bob

    • I don’t know if people realize how drastically this is going to affect the XC ski trails. Think of how poorly exposed areas hold snow and you can start to imagine how the trail system will be once half the trees are gone.

      This area is going to be ruined for XC skiing for at least a generation.

      • Probably ruin it for biking also. Why can’t they go 10 miles north or south. This is really the only easily accessible area that less than 1hr drive from Calgary. This is totally unnecessary!

        • Spray Lakes are going 10 miles south as well; their harvest plan includes areas of McLean Creek FLUZ and the lands just south of Highway 66 between Bragg Creek and McLean Creek Trail.

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