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 含羞草研究社� the site of a 2017 wildfire 含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淪ome residents have said they含羞草研究社檙e concerned about how the logging is influencing the springs that give water to their well system,含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檛 spread further down into the valley and people含羞草研究社檚 homes.

含羞草研究社淲e are creating small openings to reduce fire risk,含羞草研究社� Tolko communications advisor Chris Downey said.

含羞草研究社淐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.含羞草研究社�

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

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

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e concerned含羞草研究社� 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.含羞草研究社�

Kendrick echoed what Volk said about watershed concerns as well.

含羞草研究社淭he water from Okanagan Lake goes to Mission Creek. It含羞草研究社檚 not just our issue here at Joe Rich; we all share this beautiful valley.

含羞草研究社淲e all are concerned about our water,含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檛 access them unless they went to a Tolko office to read them there.

Residents said while it含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檛 necessarily against logging in the area, but they want companies to do it safely and with better communication.

含羞草研究社淪lope stability can be studied again and again, but the logging companies need to react sensibly to manage it,含羞草研究社� 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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