Posted on
8/5/2016 11:03 AM
by
A final report from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural
Resources into a mud slide near Sugar Lake four years ago has been
finalized.
Logging practices taking place in the area have been blamed for causing the slide as local residents suspected.
It's something Cherryville Regional Director Hank Cameron has claimed all along.
"There are a number of infractions relating to drainage. It's a sensitive area and the area below it is terrain class 4, very steep and
unstable and that was the area where it actually let go."
Weyerhaeuser has been fined $14,500, while Tolko was given a $12,000 fine.
The investigator's report says Tolko's harvesting on steep ground
failed to maintain surface drainage which resulted in a landslide that
caused damage to crown timber, soils, water, biodiversity and endangered
the public."
Local regional district director Hank Cameron says he hopes logging practices in the area change now.
"I hope that we look at a longer term stewardship. You know the way
that this was done it didn't take into account the unique nature of that
site. It didn't taken into account the steep slope."
Cameron says better practices need to be taken now at Cherry Ridge next door where clear-cut logging is being proposed.
"Now where they are going into is a sweet bench up there. Some
beautiful wood up there, but it's the pace of what they want to do.
It's very industrial. I think when you are adjacent to the
neighbourhood you should have more respect for the community in how they
go about things."
Both Tolko and Weyerhaeuser are appealing the decision.
A hearing date has yet to be set.
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