Board raises concerns about logging near watershed
Local politicians want more say on where logging activities can take place in the area of community watersheds.
The Regional District of North Okanagan has concerns that Tolko plans to clear-cut a site just 500 metres upslope from the Duteau Creek intake.
Greater Vernon Advisory Committee (GVAC) Chair Akbal Mund said directors at their recent meeting approved writing to the Ministry of Forests to express their concerns about a lack of input.
“GVAC doesn’t have a problem with Tolko doing some logging within the watershed. The issue is right now we don’t have any control of where that logging can occur. So the justification for the letter is to send it to the province and say, ‘Look when you issue permits for companies to log within watersheds, you should talk to the local governance who run the area before you issue these permits,'” said Mund.