Clear logging of popular Bragg Creek area imminent, opponents say

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The clear-cutting of a heavily used recreational area west of Bragg Creek will happen unless a public outcry forces the province to cancel it, opponents of the plan say.

Starting in fall 2026, logging company West Fraser plans to log nearly 2,000 acres of forest in the West Bragg Creek and Moose Mountain areas, which are packed with hiking, biking and ski trails and are considered an outdoor mecca free short distance for Calgarians. .

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Conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts say maps provided by West Fraser showing overlapping logging areas on numerous trails signal the final phase in the run-up to logging that will devastate the area’s viability as a recreational gem.

“This particularly small area is incredibly important for other reasons (besides logging) and none of that is improved by removing tree cover,” said Jeff Woodgate of the GROW Kananaskis group.

He questioned why the provincial government would be investing so much money in recreational infrastructure like parking lots and trails in the area and then allow logging.

Woodgate also noted that logging contradicts the province’s plan to double tourism in the province by 2035.

“Recreational use has increased 10-fold, there are plans to expand all parking and it’s pretty clear when you look at these maps, (West Fraser) plan to just remove trees to maximize revenue,” Woodgate said, adding a $90 parking fee. Kananaskis loses value with logging.

“The value to society has changed enormously (towards recreation)…”

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A PowerPoint presentation provided by the company sets out a timeline for public consultation, planning and, from October 2026 to April the following year, “construction of road and waterway crossings, logging, logging and transportation of logs”, followed by reforestation.

That logging will begin then, said West Fraser spokeswoman Joyce Wagenaar.after perfecting our plans to incorporate the contributions obtained through these (planning and public consultation) processes.”

Woodgate said the company’s local predecessor, Spray Lake Sawmills, was no stranger to logging in the region, having already cut in the Sibbald Flats-Pine Top area and in 2012 approached the next logging of 2026.

Woodgate, who is an avid mountain biker, said logging onto a trail in the area known as Snakes and Ladders provides a vivid illustration of the consequences.

“The snake part is delicious, but then it appears towards the side of the stairs, which is a clear and brutal one,” he said.

West Fraser will host an open house about the plan at 3pm on May 8 at Cochrane Ranche House.

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Woodgate said it is imperative that clear opponents make their voices heard, particularly by the provincial government, “as this is not going to change West Fraser’s mind.

“We are not against sustainable logging on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, but a stronger people’s voice is needed to protect this area,” he added.

The forest management plan for the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains region was approved in 2021 with the understanding that timber from the Bragg Creek area will be harvested over the next 10 years, as part of a two-decade agreement based on the age of the trees, the company says.

Last May, a spokesperson for West Fraser’s predecessor, Spray Lake Sawmills, said previous timber harvesting in West Bragg Creek has not disrupted trail use, which has increased since the activity.

The cut areas, he said, are not recognizable 30 years after logging.

Critics say forestry legislation heavily favors industrial activity and that qualifications in sustainable practices are meaningless because they are poorly measured.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Wagenaar said consultations with stakeholder groups on the wood blocks began almost a year ago.

“We will continue to provide opportunities to meet with local groups who are interested in sharing information about forestry operations in the region,” Wagenaar said.

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X (Twitter) @BillKaufmannjrn

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