LUF Phase 1 Summaries

[Hendrix13]

On behalf of the Government of Alberta, I’d like to advise you that the summaries from the information and input sessions held in the South Saskatchewan Region last November/December on the Land-use Framework and the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan have been posted on the Land-use Framework Website. These summaries reflect the results from the public and stakeholders sessions held and the results from an on line workbook. You can find the summaries by visiting http://www.landuse.alberta.ca/

If you’ve got any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Regards,

Dave Bartesko, RPFT
Senior Consultation Manager
Land Use Secretariat
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
9th Floor, 10035 -108 St.
Centre West Building
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3E1
Telephone: 780-422-4871
Fax: 780-644-1034
Cell: 780-918-9744
Email: dave.bartesko@gov.ab.ca
LUF Website: www.landuse.alberta.ca
LUF Email: LUF@gov.ab.ca

[trailguy]

Well in reading SSRP Public Information and Input Sessions - Summary of Public Input page #8, I think this is a positive for singletrack riding.

[Hendrix13]

There seems to be quite the contrast between those that support Recreational OHV use and those that think there should be NO OHV use.

"Good on you" for those that responded, atleast we were represented in the results.

[Zook]

Having scanned both the stakeholder and general public summaries, from first impression, I fear there's a "popular" sentiment brewing to limit access to Kananaskis and the Eastern Slopes.

I get the impression they're going to put up a really big fence and only allow people with the "special placards" to get in. I do understand the need to better monitor these areas. But they're HUGE:eek: and, aside from the painfully-obvious logging blight, aren't subject to nearly the "usage stress" some would lead us to believe. I'll state now that you stop clear-cutting in those areas, you have next-to-ZERO concern for water-quality issues.

But, for some reason (just follow the money), they are going to find a way to continue justifying clear-cut logging while limiting recreational access, all in the name of preserving water quality. All we need to do is turn that around -- ie. you severely limit clear-cut logging while maintaining an open and structured recreational-usage plan, all in the name of preserving water quality.

At some point, we're going to have to ask these government stewards: What's more important, money or water?

If they continue to allow clear-cut logging in Kananaskis and the Eastern Slopes while limiting recreational use, we'll know the answer.

[Hendrix13]

From: Pat McNulty
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 12:16 PM
To: _SRD
Subject: News Release: New forest management plan protects core natural values of Crowsnest Pass area

July 15, 2010

New forest management plan protects core natural values of Crowsnest Pass area

Edmonton... A new forest management plan for the Crowsnest Pass area is designed to support forest health in a region dominated by large stands of over-mature timber at risk of catastrophic wildfire and insect attack; protect water resources; and support Alberta’s Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan.

Under the plan, timber harvesting is limited to one-third of C5 and occurs each year on less than one per cent of the 114,000 hectares available for commercial forestry.

This plan was developed through stakeholder input, public consultation and scientific review of potential resource development impacts in the region. The new C5 Forest Management Plan meets the Canadian Standards Association’s internationally accepted standards for sustainable forest management, including conserving biological diversity, forest ecosystem condition and function and soil and water resources.

“This plan was prepared with input from stakeholders and residents, and updates the initial plan developed in 1986,” said Sustainable Resource Development Minister Mel Knight. “It incorporates a tremendous amount of hard work, community input and sound science, and I’m pleased to see it put into practice.”

Objectives of the C5 plan include sustainable management of timber resources while minimizing impacts on non-timber values, protecting water resources and addressing regional forest health issues. The plan also supports Alberta’s Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan – for example, resource roads must be decommissioned once access is no longer required.

The plan was developed from 2002 to 2006 but final government approval was deferred in 2007 pending completion of the Oldman Watershed Council’s State of the Watershed Report, released in April 2010.

The C5 plan covers a multiple-use zone that has seen commercial activity for over a century, including timber harvesting, oil and gas development and cattle grazing. The area includes 351,823 hectares – an area six times the size of the City of Edmonton – from the northern boundary of Waterton Lakes National Park to Pekisko Creek in southern Kananaskis Country.

Once it is complete, the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan, now under development, may require changes to the C5 Forest Management Plan.

- 30 -


Backgrounder: Overview of the C5 Forest Management Plan
Click here to view map

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Duncan MacDonnell
Public Affairs Officer
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
duncan.macdonnell@gov.ab.ca
780-427-8636

To call toll-free within Alberta dial 310-0000.

Backgrounder


July 15, 2010

C5 Forest Management Plan
C5
· C5 Forest Management Unit is in southwest Alberta, adjacent to the B.C. border. It extends north from Waterton Lakes National Park to roughly Pekisko Creek in southern Kananaskis Country.

1 Total area is 3,518 square kilometres (351,823 hectares) of public land, roughly six times the size of the City of Edmonton – primarily foothills, meadows and mountains.

2 Timber harvesting is permitted on 32.45 per cent of this land base, roughly 114,000 hectares.
3 C5 is a multiple-use zone (Castle Integrated Resource Plan [IRP] and Livingstone Oldman IRP) where timber harvesting has occurred since the late 1880s.

4 SRD is responsible for forest management planning for C5. The first 20-year forest management plan for C5 was accepted in 1986.

SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN REGIONAL PLAN

Government continues to make day-to-day decisions about the appropriate use of public land in the C5 area guided by current Government of Alberta policy, such as the Castle River Sub-regional Integrated Resource Plan.
The C5 area is within the Land-use Framework’s South Saskatchewan regional planning area.
In the terms of reference for the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan, government asked the Regional Advisory Council (RAC) to explore the balance between development and conservation.

C5 Forest Management Plan

Government manages C5 as a multiple-use zone. The area supports a wide range of activities, including timber harvesting, cattle grazing, oil and gas exploration and development and recreational opportunities.
The C5 plan was developed according to the Canadian Standards Association’s internationally recognized standard for sustainable forest management, which includes criteria for:
public consultation
conservation of biological diversity
forest ecosystem condition and function
conservation of soil and water resources
forest ecosystem contribution to global ecological cycles
multiple benefits of forests to society
accepting society’s responsibility for sustainable development
Objectives of the C5 forest management plan include but are not limited to:
managing the timber resources for sustainability while minimizing the impacts of forestry operations on non-timber resource values, land uses and human activities
ensuring that all forest industry practices are conducted in a manner that places priority on the protection of water resources
addressing the forest health issues associated with the threat of mountain pine beetle
Notable differences between the new plan and its predecessor include:
the coniferous net land base has been re-calculated
the annual allowable cut has been adjusted
new yield curves have been adopted
a green-up constraint of 30 years has been implemented
a spatial harvest sequence has been prepared and must be followed by forest tenure holders
the minimum age of harvest trees has been increased
harvesting sequences factor in their effects on water yield in watersheds
some areas are identified for partial or shelterwood harvest cutting systems.
special management areas are identified that will require additional access, line of sight and stand structure considerations
FireSmart harvest patterns are factored into the spatial harvest sequence
additional work on the spatial harvest sequence to consider the value of the Allison Chinook cross country ski area
the spatial harvest sequence is intended to create a more diverse age class of forest by removing pine stands that are considered highly susceptible to mountain pine beetle attack
The C5 region is dominated by large contiguous areas of over-mature timber susceptible to fire and insect attack. Timber harvesting is part of Alberta’s strategy to protect long-term forest health in the region.
limited harvesting will help reduce growing risks of mountain pine beetle infestations spreading through the region
limited harvesting will also help reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire in southwest Alberta

Public process and consultation

There was public consultation during development of the C5 Forest Management Plan. The Crowsnest Pass Public Advisory Committee met with Sustainable Resource Development on 22 occasions from January 2002 to March 2006.
As well, the department posted the draft C5 Forest Management Plan on the Sustainable Resource Development website for public viewing.
Government encourages all timber harvesting companies to provide opportunities for public consultation on their proposed annual operating plans.

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Duncan MacDonnell
Public Affairs Officer
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
duncan.macdonnell@gov.ab.ca
780-427-8636

To call toll-free within Alberta dial 310-0000.