Timber not the issue

Re: “Flood of ideas,” Editorial, Dec. 28.

The floods of 2013 were an extreme weather event and had nothing to do with timber harvesting. The Bow and Elbow headwaters are mainly in protected federal and provincial parks. Very little has occurred in the rest of the watersheds for many years.

On the Highwood River, calculations show 0.16 per cent of the watershed above High River has been harvested in the last 30 years. To link the floods to timber harvesting is ludicrous.

Science-based forest management that includes long- and short-term planning, careful water course protection, sensitive harvesting techniques followed by prompt reforestation and road reclamation provides for a renewable, sustainable resource.

Humans have been part of the management system on the east slopes for over 100 years. We have prevented forest fires, managed insects and disease, protected streams and also provided lumber. We have just as many trees today as back then and our water quality is very good.

Wildlife needs diversity of forest ages and locking up large areas will reduce habitat. That is why parks do controlled burns. Maybe it’s all right in a park, but what a wasteful, carbon-emitting, erosion-creating practice on a larger scale, let alone the high risk created to communities such as Bragg Creek and residential acreages.

Norm Denney, High River