A resident of Kersley filed a complaint that wind-thrown Crown timber and excessive undergrowth have damaged her fence and allowed cattle to trespass on her land. The construction of the Hill Lake Forest Service Road (Hill Lake FSR) has also removed natural range barriers and is contributing to the problem.
The investigation uses the Baker Creek watershed as a test case to examine the effect of the mountain pine beetle epidemic on stream flows. Baker Creek, west of Quesnel, is a tributary to the Fraser River, where 75 per cent of the pine trees have suffered from mountain pine beetle infestation. The board used a computer model to examine the pine beetle effect. Using a 40-year record of streamflows in Baker Creek, the model simulates expected changes in stream flow following the beetle attack and salvage harvesting.
The special investigation compared reforestation efforts in the Quesnel, Nadina and Vanderhoof forest districts with the other forest districts in the Interior of B.C. The reforestation of areas most heavily affected by B.C.’s mountain pine beetle infestation is as prompt, or quicker, than in areas not affected, or affected to a lesser degree. An increase in mixed species planting, as opposed to pure pine plantations were reported along with good reforestation efforts in the three mountain pine beetle districts in these areas.
Bear Valley Ranch complained that West Fraser Mills Ltd.’s use of cut-to-length timber processing and disc trenching unreasonably interfered with its cattle grazing in cutblocks. The complainant is concerned that the accelerated harvesting and the resulting condition of the harvested sites have damaged high quality range area.
1515C&C Wood Products Ltd.’s operations in the East Narcosli area of the Quesnel Forest District, west of the Fraser River; and Lakeland’s operation in both the Prince George and Vanderhoof Forest Districts complied with forest practices legislation. In response to the mountain pine beetle epidemic, both companies are focusing the majority of their harvesting activities on the salvage of beetle-infested stands.
