Regional district wants review of timber sales
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Updated: September 14, 2009 3:49 PM
The Fraser Valley Regional District is stepping into the B.C. government’s controversial plan to open up more of the Chilliwack River Valley to logging.
And Glen Thompson, a spokesman for the Friends of the Chilliwack River Valley, said he believes the regional district’s expertise will convince forest ministry officials to do the right thing for area residents.
“We’re very pleased,” he said, calling the FVRD staff and directors he saw dealing with BC Timber Sales officials at an electoral area services committee meeting Wednesday “the best I’ve ever seen.”
He said the directors “were really trying to reach out” to BCTS officials and make available a wealth of detailed studies the FVRD has done over the years identifying flood and slide-prone areas in the valley.
A creek-by-creek review by the regional district of all proposed timber sales in the area is among the recommendations the EAS committee approved Wednesday.
The FVRD wants to review forestry plans for issues like slope stability and peak water flows of streams draining into the Chilliwack River.
Visual values along the river are also a “critical concern” for the economy of the region, according to an FVRD report.
“We’re not against logging, but it has to be done in a responsible manner,” Director Dick Bogstie, chairman of the EAS committee, said after the meeting.
He suggested the government’s “new approach” to timber sales is too vague, and while indicating logging might occur somewhere in the area, it asks the public to submit specific creek-by-creek objections.
The FVRD has also asked for an extension of the public commenting period on the Chilliwack River Valley proposal to Nov. 1.
Dave Lamson, the area’s FVRD representative, said a “balance” is needed between logging and the concerns of residents for the floods and mudslides that regularly threaten homes in the valley.
“Trees do act as a sponge to mitigate the heavy rains that come in November and January of each year,” he said.
MLA Barry Penner couldn’t be reached directly, but left a voice message Friday at The Progress saying he’s been told by forestry officials that the “re-arrangement” of how logging sales are done won’t result in an actual increase in harvesting.
“I’ve been told there won’t be a significant change to what’s actually taking place on the ground,” he said.
rfreeman@theprogress.com
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