Dec 21, 2009 - Logging Plans for Pine Creek
Logging is planned for early in the new year (2010) to address mountain pine beetle in the pine creek trail area. This year the harvesting will be focused on the east end of the trail system where it is too wet to harvest in the summer. It’s expected that trail closures will be minimal with no impact on access to the dog trails. A series of small openings is planned; the largest opening will be two hectares, and non pine species will be retained where ever possible to minimize the visual impact. To access and remove the timber there will be a skid trail crossing the pine creek trail which will result in a trail closure for 1-2 weeks. Once the logging is complete the trail will be re-opened for the remainder of the season. Please look for notices and signage starting in late January and respect any trail closures.
The Wetzin’kwa Community Forest Corporation is a joint venture of the Town of Smithers and the Village of Telkwa. In 2007, the corporation was awarded a tenure to operate in a defined area on Hudson Bay Mountain which encompasses the Bulkley Valley Nordic Centre. The community forest tenure is a unique forest tenure arrangement that transfers decision-making to communities that wish to more fully participate in the stewardship of local Crown forest resources. It gives communities exclusive rights to harvest timber, as well as the opportunity to manage forest resources such as timber and plant products, recreation, wildlife, water and scenic viewscapes. The ski club has developed a memorandum of understanding with Wetzinkwa to guide forestry operations in the vicinity of the Nordic Centre with the goal of minimizing the impact to the ski area and to skier experience.
More info about Wetzin’kwa from www.ValleyVision.ca