In the last few years, the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) has been harvesting timber lots up in the Skimikin Valley. This area was also directly in line of the path of destruction from Adam’s Lake Complex wildfire, which crossed the river, candled up Squilax mountain and travelled into the Skimikin valley. This combined with private logging along the Chase-Falkland Rd. means that the overall loss of wildlife habitat and natural carbon sink has deeply impacted. Now the BCTS is proposing another cut block without taking into consideration the forest loss from the recent fires, or the logging done by other parties in the area.
Under the area proposed for logging is a rare pseudocarst subterranean water system. It is made up of a delicate alluvial fan made of clay, and is active all year ‘round, providing water directly to those living below, as well as draining into the Chum Creek watershed and eventually down to the S. Thompson near Chase. The heavy machinery would undoubtedly damage this fragile watershed, causing water problems for our neighbours who have the water licenses downstream.
Perhaps even more concerning is that once the BCTS intervenes on a forest, they plan to continue to “manage” it with seral stage harvesting. This entails continual intermittent harvesting of the replanted, mono-culture forest in order to mitigate the changes in the water table that is disrupted by the removal of the established forest.
These areas are occupied by long-time residents who moved there to be in the natural beauty, and wilderness. The forests are habitat for moose and coyote, as well as several animals on the endangered species list, including: American Badger – Red Listed, Fisher – Red Listed, Long-tailed Weasel – Red Listed, Flammulated Owl – Blue Listed, Western Painted Turtle – Blue Listed. As residents, we are also the guardians of these forests, as we know and love it best.
We are deeply concerned about the possible impact of this project on soil erosion, harbour watersheds, and the loss of the carbon sink, and wildlife habitat the forest provides. We have organized under the name of “Watershed Protectors” and are securing the services of a lawyer to try to halt the progress of the block going up for bid, which is slated for the end of this month. Our belief is the lawyer can both put some muscle behind our fight, and buy us more time to petition the Provincial Government for an appeal to this project proposal.