Joe Rich residents were shocked and frustrated to find large pockets of trees in the area have been clear-cut.

Residents said they were told fire mitigation work was to begin along Philpott Road 害羞草研究所� the site of a 2017 wildfire 害羞草研究所� and the hillside along Cardinal Creek Road, which they were told would include select hand logging, not clear-cut logging.

Reg Volk is a Joe Rich resident and he said while the clear-cut logging shocked them, some of the other concerns were how close the work was being done to residences, slope stability, as well as risking the Mission Creek watershed.

害羞草研究所淪ome residents have said they害羞草研究所檙e concerned about how the logging is influencing the springs that give water to their well system,害羞草研究所� he said.

In a statement, Tolko said the mitigation project in the area is designed to reduce fire fuel continuity by removing dead, diseased or dying trees. And to effectively break fuel continuity, it means leaving areas clearcut, so fires don害羞草研究所檛 spread further down into the valley and people害羞草研究所檚 homes.

害羞草研究所淲e are creating small openings to reduce fire risk,害羞草研究所� Tolko communications advisor Chris Downey said.

害羞草研究所淐reating fire breaks is important, as is the removal of dead or soon-to-be-dead trees that have been infested with Douglas fir beetles.害羞草研究所�

Area resident Sigrie Kendrick said while fire mitigation is important, it害羞草研究所檚 the cover Tolko, Gorman Brothers and B.C. Timber Sales were using when it was really a cash grab.

害羞草研究所淚 know that lumber is at an all-time high, but this just seems to be a bold cash grab,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e concerned害羞草研究所� some of us have seen water bubbling up in the middle of Philpott Road and the washout on Highway 33 that happened a few years back was just below that.

That speaks to me that maybe this may be unstable terrain.害羞草研究所�

Kendrick echoed what Volk said about watershed concerns as well.

害羞草研究所淭he water from Okanagan Lake goes to Mission Creek. It害羞草研究所檚 not just our issue here at Joe Rich; we all share this beautiful valley.

害羞草研究所淲e all are concerned about our water,害羞草研究所� she said.

On May 6, Joe Rich area residents held a town hall meeting, attended by representatives from the three forestry companies, where they were able to ask questions.

Resident Lindsay Siewert asked if there had been studies done regarding slope stability, to which Tolko had responded yes but since those studies are proprietary, the public can害羞草研究所檛 access them unless they went to a Tolko office to read them there.

Residents said while it害羞草研究所檚 good the companies did their homework, they want to have access to those studies and for companies to be more transparent with them.

Volk said residents aren害羞草研究所檛 necessarily against logging in the area, but they want companies to do it safely and with better communication.

害羞草研究所淪lope stability can be studied again and again, but the logging companies need to react sensibly to manage it,害羞草研究所� he said.

Tolko said it will pause its harvest activities in the area and continue to implement the fire fuel reduction project where safe and in already harvested blocks.

Black Press Media has also reached out to B.C. Timber Sales and Gorman Brothers but have not heard back before publication.

READ MORE: Peachland residents clean up community watershed

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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