BCT Logging Communication Bulletin
Bragg Creek Trails (BCT) would like to state its position and provide our first quarterly public update on the proposed logging scheduled for 2026 in the West Bragg Creek (WBC) area of Kananaskis Country.
Bragg Creek Trails (BCT) currently intends to present a neutral position on the proposed logging scheduled for 2026 in the West Bragg Creek (WBC) area of Kananaskis Country. The Forest Management Agreement (FMA) holder for this activity is West Fraser Timber Company Ltd (WFT), formerly Spray Lakes Sawmills.
The impacted area in question is part of the Public Land Use Zone (PLUZ) which has been designated by the Alberta Government as a multi-use area. Recreation is but one approved use for this land base, with BCT being the only trails organizations having a Cooperating Agreement with Alberta Forestry and Parks to build, operate and maintain the West Bragg Creek Trails network.
Industrial activities such as timber harvesting, oil and gas, and cattle grazing are also approved activities managed in the PLUZ by the Alberta Government. These are all vital economic drivers of our economy BCT works within the framework of the West Bragg Creek Land Users Agreement to collaborate and communicate on activities between land users. In reference to WFT and their proposed timber harvest scheduled for 2026, BCT will collaborate with all approved stakeholders, with BCT’s primary objective being to ensure mitigations that minimize the timber harvests negative impacts on WBC trails and trail users are implemented.
BCT strives towards full transparency with the public in our activities as stewards of these trails. BCT’s primary role is to advocate for the trail users to ensure that a meaningful trail experience can still be had on a changed environment.
BCT’s Action Items:
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- Continued collaboration with WFT to ensure mitigations that minimize logging impacts on WBC trails and trail users are implemented. Field trips to assess each impacted trail have been set up to begin in the Spring of 2024:
- These trails include: Fullerton Loop, Elbow, Snagmore, Sugar Mama, Sugar Daddy, Sugar Pony, Ranger Summit, Snakes and Ladders, and Bobcat.
- BCT will utilize our past experience and learnings from the area logging to influence decisions on possible mitigations.
- Continued collaboration with WFT to ensure mitigations that minimize logging impacts on WBC trails and trail users are implemented. Field trips to assess each impacted trail have been set up to begin in the Spring of 2024:
- BCT will continue to provide quarterly public updates on logging planning activities and decisions.
BCT response to public concerns suggests the following actions:
- Get engaged by:
- Attending open houses
- Contacting your MLA
- Contact the Government Ministries directly
- Alberta Forestry and Parks – Hon. Todd Loewen
- Alberta Tourism and Sport – Hon. Joseph Schow
- Alberta Environment and Protected Areas – Hon. Rebecca Schulz
- Sign up for BCT newsletters and correspondence
- For the full BCT Logging Communication Bulletin please go to Braggcreektrails.org.
- BCT intends on providing regular updates as our work progresses.
See you on the trails
Conrad Schiebel (BCT President)
