Rally in K-Country to protest clearcut logging by Spray Lakes Sawmills

CALGARY – Concern from some residents of Kananaskis Country, over land they say needs to be protected.

A group from across Alberta came together for a rally Saturday morning against logging of the Ghost Valley watershed and now it wants the new Notley government to step in.

The crowd that gathered for the protest were feeling more tricked than treated this Halloween weekend.

“This is one of the last watersheds in Canada. What don’t they get,” said Connie Beaton, a concerned resident.

“Twenty years of clear cutting in two years? This is criminal.”

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At the rally, held 20 kilometres from the land they’re trying desperately to protect, worries have grown that clear cutting of the Ghost Valley watershed is a decision that will haunt generations to come.

“Just no protection, go cut down everything, for what,” Beaton said.

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“It’s the watersheds for our drinking water,our life, our agriculture and if you don’t protect those watersheds then we have a much larger problem than strictly economics, said Harry Chase.

Spray Lake Sawmills began operations in the area in 2007.

Concerns quickly grew when harvest plans that were supposed to span a 20-year time period became a two year job, specifically when it comes to flood magnitude and frequency.

“If you pour water on your table it would simply run off, it wouldn’t be absorbed by the wood on the table. The land does the same thing, once it hardens it simply allows the water to run off very quickly,” said rally organizer Hugh Pepper.

It’s not just the logging company the group is taking to task.

“It’s not the forestry industries fault as much as a lack of legislation,” said Chase.

In a statement, the minister of agriculture Oneil Carlier said the following about the concern;

“We are working proactively with residents and the company to address some of these concerns, including adjusting the harvest plans. We are closely monitoring the activity to ensure that forestry best practices are being followed and that there is no increased risk of flooding. Our government is committed to supporting good forestry jobs while also protecting the environment.”

The minister says it is working with residents and the company to address concerns and adjust harvesting plans and that it is ensuring that there is no increased risk of flooding as a result.

But that statement is not good enough for the group of protesters, they want a complete halt to operations now.

“We need a moratorium on logging. We need that moratorium for the damages that are occurring now and the ones that can be predicted,” said Pepper.

Global News tried to contact Spray Lake Sawmills Saturday but they said nobody was available to speak until Monday.