Nine projects across the Kootenays will get a share of about $1.9 million from the provincial government for wildfire risk reduction projects.
The Kootenays are included in a broader $19 million funding program for 64 projects meant to reduce wildfire risk, enhance forest health and increase fibre supply for mills and energy producers.
“The projects I am announcing will remove almost 11,000 truckloads of flammable waste fibre from our forests,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests.
“We all have a role to play in reducing wildfire risk in B.C. This fibre that once would have been burned in slash piles will instead support workers and help keep communities safe.”
The funding comes through the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC), with projects across all of the province’s natural resource regions.
“After careful review, we are pleased to be able to support a portfolio of projects that will make forests more resilient and communities safer, while unlocking the value of wood waste generated through forest-management activities,” said Jason Fisher, FESBC executive director.
The FESBC says the projects cover 238 hectares of forest and planning for future wildfire risk reduction work in 319 hectares in the Kootenay-Boundary region.
Details on the local projects
Kaslo
Four of the funded projects will go ahead in the Kaslo area through the Kaslo Community Forest committee and will go toward creating a 20-hectare landscape-level fire break above Kaslo and Shutty Bench.
“This work will provide an access route for firefighters in the event of a wildfire,” said the FESBC.
“Wood fibre resulting from thinning understory trees will go to a pulp mill, where possible, as well as some pile burning.”
Two projects will be conducted by the Kaslo and District Community Forest Society as part of the Kaslo & Area Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan.
The work will involve manual treatments to thin and prune dense tree stands and reduce surface fuels, with mechanical treatment focusing on separating the forest canopy.
The other under this plan will deliver a fuel management plan and a fully laid-out fuel reduction treatment area for future work in areas north of the Kaslo.
Lastly, the Kaslo and District Community Forest Society will get funding to continue implementing a fuel management plan for three areas near Kaslo involving manual risk reduction work.
Creston
Funding will go toward a project led by the Creston Valley Forest Corporation to reduce fuel in the wildland urban interface area near the community and to develop a plan for future cultural and prescribed burns.
Nakusp
The Nakusp and Area Community Forest Society will use its grant to continue a landscape-level fuel break around Nakusp and Brouse.
This work will involve hand and mechanical thinking, pruning, piling, and possibly burning of the understory.
Harrop
Funding for the Harrop-Procter Community Co-operative will be used to pay for mechanical treatment of three areas near the community, manual treatment of one other area, and completing a fuel management plan.
“This work will be similar to previously funded fuel reduction treatments and is in high-priority wildland urban interface areas,” said the FESBC.
Slocan
The Slocan Integral Forestry Cooperative’s grant will pay for a project built on previous wildfire preparedness and fuel mitigation work in the central Slocan Valley.
The job will involve thinning the forest and post-harvest clean-up in high-priority fuel management locations.
Kimberley
The City of Kimberley will get funding for a project that targets six areas within a larger landscape-level fuel break along the west side of the community.
“The areas will be treated manually to remove all ladder fuels (low branches that can facilitate a fire moving from the ground up into the canopy), thin all dead-standing trees, and pile and burn wood waste,” said the FESBC.
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