Residents concerned with the impact clear-cut logging will have on Peachland鈥檚 watershed and wildlife have ramped up an information campaign in an attempt to deal with issues they say could be caused by logging in the area.
The newly-formed Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance has raised issues about logging in the area around Peachland, where four companies are planning work in the area: Ntityix Resources (Westbank First Nation), Crown corporation BC Timber Sales, Gorman Brothers Logging and Tolko Industries Ltd.
鈥淥ur creeks are getting more and more muddied and one of the reasons could be runoff and sedimentation due to clear-cut logging,鈥� said public relations officer with the Peachland alliance Taryn Skalbania.
鈥淲e鈥檝e noticed since the 鈥�70s runoff has been dirtier, there鈥檚 been an increase in boil water bans, flooding has been increasing鈥� we鈥檙e just wondering if there鈥檚 a tie.鈥�
The District of Peachland follows Interior Health鈥檚 guidelines to regulate water turbidity levels, said Peachland director of operations Joe Mitchell.
The drinking water objectives from Interior Health came in 2006, but before then, the district is unable to count the number of water advisories and notices issued, he said. However, the main determining factor that contributes to the advisories is weather, said Mitchell.
A few weeks ago, on the recreational trails to Spring Lake in order to discuss their logging plans.
According to Westbank First Nation communications officer Mandi Carroll, 鈥淭he plan is to work together with interested groups including Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance to ensure projects are met with satisfaction. The clear cuts will be restricted to pine stands only and a max size of three hectares, and we will selectively harvest the Douglas-fir stands. All areas harvested will be reforested. The plan is to submit an application for a cutting permit in 2018 and harvest in 2020.鈥�
Skalbania said Gormon Brothers Logging and the WFN have been accommodating in addressing the residents鈥� concerns, but she said they don鈥檛 have the knowledge to ensure the companies are true to their word.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just asking the province to take a look at it,鈥� she said.
In June, a presentation was made to Peachland city council from the four companies and the Natural Resource District for the Okanagan Shuswap regional executive director Ray Crampton.
The resource district is responsible for the authorization of cutting permits, stewardship plans and road permits that stakeholders apply for in order to harvest, he said.
Crampton said there are several checks licensees have to perform before being able to log which include hiring a hydrologist to ensure logging doesn鈥檛 impact nearby creeks and streams.
鈥淪o when major licenses like Gorman Brothers or Tolko want to log, they have a professional hydrologist assess the cutting plans against that information to ensure that any road or cut block will not cause problems,鈥� said Crampton.
Licensees also must abide by Peachland鈥檚 Watershed Assessment Plan which was created by hydrologists who determined the appropriate harvest levels for trees and vulnerability of streams, as well as the Forest Range Practices Act which governs logging.
鈥淒epending on the size of the lake or stream there are appropriate setbacks and harvesting methods to protect the functioning methods of the channel and also vegetation protection and of course fish,鈥� said Crampton.
Licensees must also receive forest certification and are audited by the provincial government.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the industries鈥� ways to assure the public they are being audited,鈥� said Crampton, adding the provincial government also has a compliance and enforcement arm which does audits and inspections.
鈥淭he misinformation we want to address is 鈥榯hey鈥檙e doing what they want, they鈥檙e causing unacceptable damage and the government isn鈥檛 doing anything.鈥� (This) is not the case,鈥� he said.
Crampton said for the most part, licensees do a good job ensuring protocols are followed. He noted although there is some level of self-governance done by the licensees, overall logging companies are meeting watershed and provincial requirements.
According to Peachland Mayor Cindy Fortin, the question concerning the watershed and logging came about after a massive landslide in January.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anyone is anti-logging, they just want to know what鈥檚 going on up there,鈥� said Fortin.
Fortin said the companies did a good job at addressing concerns from council, but she still has questions.
鈥淲e really appreciate the fact that they came down and they faced not only council but a gallery of people who followed them out,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey understand our concerns, a lot of them live here too.鈥�
City council also forwarded a resolution to the Union of BC Municipalities in 2016 requesting for municipalities to have a broader say on health and protection in their watersheds.
Manager of BC Timber Sales for the Okanagan Columbia region Colin Johnston said the company readily addresses public concerns and he attended the Peachland council meeting in June.
鈥淥ur approach it to invite the public whenever they have an issue, to engage us and have that discussion,鈥� he said.
The logging company is currently going through the planning process and logging will commence after 2020.
Gorman Brothers Logging declined to comment on this story while Tolko Industries Ltd. did not return phone calls by press deadline Thursday.
