Note: This letter has been edited for length.
Editor:
The Kent/Harrison Joint Emergency Program has submitted to the province an application to build a road in Sasquatch Provincial Park and use it as an evacuation route. No public meeting has been held to ascertain the public’s thoughts on such an undertaking.
For the road to be viable, forest-stand treatments would have to be undertaken on both sides of the road. Furthermore, the treatments would be undertaken on the existing park roads, as listed in the Communities Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).
However, one must understand that the CWPP only covers the Area of Interest (AOI) as defined in the contract for developing the CWPP, which in this case is the District of Kent. It just happens that Sasquatch Provincial Park extends beyond the AOI.
If one then continues with such forest-stand treatments, still in the park but outside of the AOI (the District of Kent), which must be done to make the whole project worthwhile.
A combined total of 340 hectares of treatment will be modified. 340 hectares is 23 per cent of the area of Sasquatch Provincial Park.
I understand that the Deer Lake Trail will become a road. I understand that a spotted owl wildlife habitat area will be impacted. I understand that two old growth management areas will be impacted. I understand that blue-listed species could be impacted. And I understand that multiple fish species will be impacted.
But I do not understand that the public will not be given the opportunity to attend a public meeting with members of the program proposing this project and with B.C. Parks staff that will drawing up a decision paper to be presented to the legislative assembly of B.C. for a decision.
John Coles
Agassiz