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Salvage harvesting planned for wildfire-affected areas in North Shuswap

Harvesting to take place in damaged/destroyed areas above Celista, Scotch Creek
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The Bush Creek East wildfire photographed from Celista at 6 p.m. on Aug. 18, 2023. (Photo contributed)

Plans are in place to harvest forested areas of the North Shuswap areas affected by last year's wildfire. 

Canoe Forest Products Ltd. (CFP) has been accepting public input on an amendment to the  Gorman Group's Okanagan Shuswap Forest Stewardship Plan to proceed with salvage harvesting in areas above Scotch Creek and Celista damaged or destroyed by the Bush Creek East wildfire. 

"Harvesting in this area is planned to salvage fire-damaged timber before a significant reduction in the economic value of the timber occurs due to a deterioration in the quality…," reads a public notice issued by CFP. "Salvage harvesting will also address the expected increase in Douglas-fir beetle that will infest any remaining green Douglas-fir timber.

"As planned, the salvage cutblocks and access roads are designed to mitigate visual impacts to the extent practicable."

The review period was limited to 10 days "as this is an expedited major salvage of fire damaged timber." The amendment can be viewed between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the CFP office located at 8160 Trans-Canada Highway in Canoe, B.C. Written comments must be received by Monday, Aug. 26, and should be addressed to Ray Mills, RPF, Planning Forester, Canoe Forest Products Ltd., PO Box 70, Canoe, B.C., V0E1K0.

 



Lachlan Labere

About the Author: Lachlan Labere

Editor, Salmon Arm Observer
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