Protest targets logging near watershed

Several people took part in a protest outside Tolko’s Vernon head office today, concerned about proposed logging near the Duteau Creek watershed.

Kieran Grandbois of Earth Strike Vernon says Tolko’s plans to clear cut an area 500 metres upslope from the watershed could have devastating impacts on the water supply.

“In reading the RDNO (Regional District of North Okanagan) report on the subject, the results could be catastrophic, as they say. It could trigger a large scale landslide into Duteau Creek which could either damage the infrastructure, flood the region or eliminate the creek as a water source. Duteau Creek provides 60 per cent of the water for the agricultural sector of Vernon,” Grandbois told Vernon Matters.

Grandbois said the protestors included students and “everyday citizens of Vernon who are concerned about the subject.”

Grandbois said while the province issues the permits to allow the logging, they decided to target Tolko.

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“The Ministry of Forests issues the permits, but at the end of the day it’s Tolko that is logging. It’s not the Ministry of Forests that’s going up there and logging the trees out.”

Tolko said in a statement, the area of concern is still in the planning stage, and several assessments must still occur, adding they welcome members of the protest to take part in their consultation process.

Here is the statement the company provided to Vernon Matters:

“We all depend on the Duteau Creek Watershed for our water supply. This is why Tolko has worked hard to develop a good relationship with the Duteau Creek Watershed Technical Advisory Committee and the Regional District.

The proposed harvest block is located within the Timber Harvesting Landbase (THLB). The Chief Forester of BC uses the THLB to determine annual harvest levels. Tolko’s staff Geoscientist has field reviewed the site and is currently finalizing his professional evaluation and report. The block of concern is still in the planning stage, and several planning assessments must still occur. If our completed assessments support Tolko moving forward, we will be requesting harvest authority from the government in the Spring of 2020 at the earliest. The block is not currently scheduled for harvest.

Tolko has a consultation process, and we welcome any of the members of today’s protest to participate as planning continues.” (end of statement)

The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee earlier decided to write to the Forests Ministry, demanding Victoria allow local government to have input on where logging is allowed near community watersheds.