West Fraser (formerly Spray lake Sawmills) has submitted a plan to clear-cut log
738 hectares (~1,034 soccer fields)
on top of the Moose Mountain and Bragg Creek Recreation Areas, in 2026
738 hectares (~1,034 soccer fields)
on top of the Moose Mountain and Bragg Creek Recreation Areas, in 2026
West Bragg Creek / Moose Mountain Details:
- West Bragg Creek and Moose Mountain Consultation and Operational Plan Overview
- Current approval: General Development Plan
- Initial planning stage, field assessments scheduled for snow-free 2024 and 2025
- Scheduled for 2026/27 operations
- Logging Haul Roads Accessed from highway 66 and Moose Mountain Road
Bragg Creek Recreation Area Clear Cut
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Moose Mountain Recreation Area Clear Cut
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Highwood Area Details (located on Hwy 40 31km south of Highwood Pass)
- Highwood Logging Area Map
- Current approval: General Development Plan
- Field assessments completed in 2022.
- Scheduled in AOP for 2024/25 operations
- 11 blocks, 1206ha including contingency volume
- Largest Cutblock 508.7ha = 712 Soccer Fields
- Area partially operated in 2023/24 season
Our Concerns
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Aesthetic Value
The 2012 Harvest in West Bragg had all the slash (branches/tree tops/fine fuels) and stumps removed, while also protecting broadleaf vegetation. This was intended for fire hazard reduction and a more permanent fire break, but it also lead to a relatively quick transition to natural grassland with aspen and other broad leaf trees regenerating. The planned harvest will be a standard harvest with stumps left to decay for decades and slash left across the slope. The steeper the slope, the more slash is left behind. The proposed harvest has many steep slopes inside the planned cutblocks. |
2023 photo of slash pile from prior to 1959
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Trail Impact
- Putting cutblocks on top of, or next to trails, removes shade and wind protection.
- In the summer, the trail surface dries out rapidly creating a kitty litter type dirt with little traction.
- In the winter, you get snow drifting, and melt/freeze cycles making grooming difficult and trail conditions substandard.
- Increased wind across the landscape results in continuous blowdown and significantly increased trail maintenance
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This will not be a FireSmart harvest
In 2012, SLS harvested a significant portion of the West Bragg area with a focus on the wildfire threat to Bragg Creek. They removed all combustibles (slash/stumps) and harvested in a way that encouraged regrowth of grass, shrubs and fire resistant Aspen trees. This harvest will not be conducted under FireSmart principles, slash and stumps will be left behind and involve a scarification process to encourage a highly flammable coniferous regrowth. We explain this in further detail on the Wildfire Hazard page. |
Regrowth in Kananaskis is extremely slow
Unlike wetter and more moderate climates, it will take at least 100 years for this area to be mature enough to be sequenced for harvesting again. They have yet to harvest a replanted cutblock in this area. If it is logged in 2026, we will never see another forest like this again in our lifetimes.
Unlike wetter and more moderate climates, it will take at least 100 years for this area to be mature enough to be sequenced for harvesting again. They have yet to harvest a replanted cutblock in this area. If it is logged in 2026, we will never see another forest like this again in our lifetimes.
Flood/Drought Risk
Albertan Forest Management Planning - Section 5.9.5 - requires a 20 year default green-up period for adjacent cut blocks. New Guidelines have allowed West Fraser to bypass this requirement and this harvest will take place within 14yrs of the adjacent 2012/2014 harvests.
Since 1977, the government has identified watershed integrity as the highest priority use for Kananaskis, followed by public recreation and tourism. They also acknowledged that, “not all objectives will necessarily be achieved in all areas.” (Policy for Resource Management of the Eastern Slopes, introduced by Premier Lougheed). Despite this, traditional harvest guidelines are not being followed.
Having two adjacent harvests within twelve years of each other, combined with the extensive logging on the other side of the Elbow River in McLean Creek area, will leave the landscape prone to drought and flood.
Albertan Forest Management Planning - Section 5.9.5 - requires a 20 year default green-up period for adjacent cut blocks. New Guidelines have allowed West Fraser to bypass this requirement and this harvest will take place within 14yrs of the adjacent 2012/2014 harvests.
Since 1977, the government has identified watershed integrity as the highest priority use for Kananaskis, followed by public recreation and tourism. They also acknowledged that, “not all objectives will necessarily be achieved in all areas.” (Policy for Resource Management of the Eastern Slopes, introduced by Premier Lougheed). Despite this, traditional harvest guidelines are not being followed.
Having two adjacent harvests within twelve years of each other, combined with the extensive logging on the other side of the Elbow River in McLean Creek area, will leave the landscape prone to drought and flood.
Economy
The 738ha proposed to be logged is 0.16% of Western Frasers southern Alberta FMA's (area where they can log). This area will produce a one time source of income and jobs. The regrowth won't be mature enough to consider re-harvesting for over 100years. Removing this area would have a negligible effect on West Fraser.
On the other hand, there are over 1,000 visitors on an average day to Moose Mountain and West Bragg Recreation Areas (293,000 visitors in 2020 in West Bragg Creek alone). Bragg Creek Trails is one of three trails organizations building and maintaining trails within this area. Their annual budget that has surpassed $1 Million, providing significant jobs and funding every year. A very conservative estimate of the economic value this Recreation Area brings to the region, is over $10 Million dollars per year.
The 738ha proposed to be logged is 0.16% of Western Frasers southern Alberta FMA's (area where they can log). This area will produce a one time source of income and jobs. The regrowth won't be mature enough to consider re-harvesting for over 100years. Removing this area would have a negligible effect on West Fraser.
On the other hand, there are over 1,000 visitors on an average day to Moose Mountain and West Bragg Recreation Areas (293,000 visitors in 2020 in West Bragg Creek alone). Bragg Creek Trails is one of three trails organizations building and maintaining trails within this area. Their annual budget that has surpassed $1 Million, providing significant jobs and funding every year. A very conservative estimate of the economic value this Recreation Area brings to the region, is over $10 Million dollars per year.
According to a recent survey, visitors to the area responded with the following:
Q: "What's missing?" A: "55% - more trails in the area/region".(Recreation Use and Experience Survey Results: Elbow Valley Summer 2020 Published by Alberta Environment and Parks)
- Q: "What are the most desirable features in this area for your outdoor recreational activities?" A: Out of 24 possibilities, the 2nd most common response was "Beauty/Scenery/Views/Mountains/Trees".
- Q: "Why do you participate in outdoor recreation" A: "96.4% - connecting to nature"
Our fear is that the proposed harvest will have an irreversible, devastating effect on the Outdoor Recreation Industry in this region