More than 800 people have signed a petition calling on the City of Kelowna and the provincial government to cancel a pilot wildfire mitigation project that would see cattle grazing a popular trail access site located above Gallagher害羞草研究所檚 Canyon.

The 害羞草研究所榯argeted grazing害羞草研究所� program would see 50 cows deployed to Crown land above Field Road and Gallagher害羞草研究所檚 Canyon in Southeast Kelowna to have them eat grasses and other tinder to mitigate fire risk.

With some trees and other natural fuel starters in the area already cleared, the cows are scheduled to arrive sometime in May or June to spend three weeks grazing the grass on the 60-hectare parcel. Partially barbed wire fencing, spring-loaded gates and cattle guards are also planned for the KLO Creek-Myra Canyon area to manage and contain the cattle.

害羞草研究所淭he cows are only going to be at the site for about three weeks in the spring every year, and that害羞草研究所檚 it. We have these spring-loaded gates that害羞草研究所檒l be in place for when the cattle are there, and when the cattle leave, we害羞草研究所檒l take the gates off,害羞草研究所� said Andrew Hunsberger, the urban forestry supervisor at the City of Kelowna.

Organizers of the petition are concerned that the project will impact the area害羞草研究所檚 access to the trails and have detrimental effects on the environment.

Daphne Richard, the vice president of Friends of the South Slopes (FOSS), said that she understands concerns raised in the petition.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e about talking about permanent fencing here. We害羞草研究所檙e concerned that some of the trails will have some access around,害羞草研究所� said Richard. 害羞草研究所淏ut one of the maps that shows where the fencing is going, it害羞草研究所檚 very close to private property and virtually not enough area to create other trails around.害羞草研究所�

FOSS maintains trails surrounding the area, and Richard said that the area is a key link to connecting trail users from KLO Creek Regional Park to Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park.

害羞草研究所淥ur opinion is that it害羞草研究所檚 just maybe the wrong site. Our goal 害羞草研究所� and what we害羞草研究所檝e been working towards in terms of the south slopes 害羞草研究所� we害羞草研究所檇 love to have this area become part of KLO Creek Regional Park,害羞草研究所� she said.

Hunsberger said trail-users can open the gates during the three-week period that they害羞草研究所檙e there. However, he reiterated that the fencing won害羞草研究所檛 impact access to the trails.

害羞草研究所淭here will be opportunities to walk on the outside of this fenced area,害羞草研究所� said Hunsberger. 害羞草研究所淲e left trails around the outside of the fenced area to walk through. You can walk around, or you can walk through.害羞草研究所�

The petition is hoping to raise 1,000 signatures before May 10 to close the opportunity to erect a fence.

害羞草研究所淯ltimately, we would like to see them find another site and do this experiment. We would really like to retain this area as it is today, with trails for the public,害羞草研究所� said Richard.

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aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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