A group of White Lake residents has come together to fight back after learning of plans to log the area around their community.
The residents do not want to completely stop the proposed logging, but are angered by what they say is a lack of communication between British Columbia Timber Sales (BCTS) and the locals.
More than 70 people attended an information meeting at White Lake Community Hall on July 30, an event organized by residents who had hoped to spread the word on planned clear-cut logging.
Resident Hal Dyke found out about the logging plans almost accidentally, he says, after questioning surveyors he found on his property.
Dyke initially learned that timber from the 24.3 hectares was to be sold sometime in February 2013. That date has since been pushed ahead, he says, with the timber sale scheduled to take place in the fall of 2012 and logging to commence March 2013.
Dyke says there has been little to no communication with any of the residents.
Colin Johnston, BCTS project manager for the White Lake area, says the community has been given more than enough time and information, noting the area was originally proposed for logging back in 1996 and was approved in 1997. This has given the residents more than 10 years’ notification, he says.
Jim Cooperman, president of the Shuswap Environmental Action Society (SEAS), attended the July 30 meeting and says he was shocked to find out that BCTS had made no effort to contact the community regarding the logging plans.
“I think the commentary has been very sad,” said Cooperman.
Johnston, however, says BCTS representatives have met with residents on many occasions, including two separate meetings with representatives of the White Lake residents. They have also provided a four-page question and answer sheet addressing the concerns that have been brought forward to them.
Johnston says residents can call him any time with questions they might have and that BCTS will do what it can to address them.
Residents in the area have already expressed a number of concerns.
Brian Morris Sr., of Big Valley Consulting Service and a concerned resident, said at the community meeting that he is worried about the unstable, steep topography. He explained that previous clear cuts above those planned resulted in water erosion, flooding, debris and landslides.
“Problems after logging remain and become someone else’s problem,” says Morris.
Johnston says he does not think the cut-blocks will pose a threat.
“The slopes in the area are fairly gentle,” he said, adding the climate in the area is dry.
Dyke expressed his fear of surface wells becoming contaminated due to the logging on the slope, as well as how his property value may see a decline.
In an information sheet provided by Jim Wright, BCTS Planning states: “We primarily manage water quality by establishing reserve and management zones along streams and specifying the minimum distance machinery must stay away from streams. In this area, we hired qualified professionals to review terrain stability and hydrological conditions and impacts of our proposed harvesting, then incorporated their recommendations into our plans.”
Other concerns of residents include the impact on the rare flora and fauna in the area, including the painted turtle and the rubber boa snake.
Wright says BCTS is going to take steps to ensure the safety of the species, and has already conducted an evaluation of the animals and plants in the area.
Some residents, as well as SEAS, worry that tourism in the area may be negatively impacted, as there are a number of resorts in the area. Phil McIntyre-Paul, project manager with the Shuswap Trail Alliance, says the trails are some of the most popular in the area.
Many of the residents acknowledge that the forest is categorized as a working forest and understand that some logging must occur. However, the communication issue has sparked a petition that residents hope will not completely stop, but delay logging.
Johnston is aware of the petition but says BCTS will not approve a delay in logging simply for the sake of it.
“There needs to be a reason,” says Johnston.
Cooperman, however, says what he views as a lack of communication is reason enough for a delay.
“Two meetings have been held with a few community residents and the BCTS which allowed concerns to be expressed. However, no effort has been made to alter the plan regarding these concerns.
“Before any logging should be allowed to proceed, we believe that the BCTS needs to undertake a legitimate planning process with the community that will adequately address their concerns,” states Cooperman in a press release.
“At the very least, there should be a delay of at least one year before any contracts are signed to allow time for proper consultation, to inform all the residents of White Lake, and to do impact studies to address the concerns of residents,” said Steve Corrie, chair of the White Lake Residents Association (WLRA).
Cooperman thinks there could be an easy solution the would make everyone happy. When logging began in Blind Bay, it was very controversial, he says.
“We went through and created an intensive local use plan, and it was very successful.”
Johnston says this process was done years ago when the plans for logging the area were developed. BCTS listened to the concerns of the residents in the area, he said, and altered plans to address them. The company sat down with the Shuswap Trail Alliance and other groups to make the logging as painless as possible.
Johnston says the consultation now is something they do not need to do, but are doing to see if there are any new concerns that have not been brought up in the past.
“There have been some new things brought up,” says Johnston, “ but most of the concerns have remained the same.
“BCTS has held open houses, field trips and participated in working groups and community meetings for over a decade to develop an understanding of the issues,” stated Wright in an information package.
There was a logging plan established years ago, but this was recently changed, explains Cooperman.
“They changed the plans without telling anyone. People weren’t even really aware about it to begin with, but no one knew about the changes,” he says.
While the initial logging plan has changed, McIntyre-Paul is not too worried about what may happen to the trails.
“BCTS will sit down with us. We will discuss from the trail side of things and they will talk about what their plans are and we will proceed from there.”
He said he is looking forward to meeting with BCTS.
“They are really great to work with.”