G.R.O.W.
Guardians of Recreational Opportunities in Wilderness
Bragg Creek, Alberta T0L 0K0

January 29, 2025

Honourable Todd Loewen
Minister of Forestry and Parks
Members of Executive Council
Executive Branch
323 Legislature Building
10800 – 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6

Dear Minister Loewen,

On behalf of GROW (Guardians of Recreational Opportunities in Wilderness), I would like to express our sincere gratitude for meeting with us on December 4th to discuss the critical issues surrounding the harvest plan and wildfire management in West Bragg Creek. This letter serves as a follow-up to request updates on the actions we discussed during that meeting.

We would appreciate your consideration of the following actions:

1. Host an open house in Bragg Creek to discuss the harvest plan.
2. Organize a Wildfire Workshop, involving wildfire experts and community stakeholders, to assess the potential impacts of the proposed harvest.
3. Launch an inquiry to determine why an emergency egress road has yet to be provided for the residents and visitors of West Bragg Creek.
4. Engage with flood and drought experts, along with community stakeholders, to ensure that the extensive harvesting in the Elbow Valley Headwaters will not pose unreasonable risks to Bragg Creek and other downstream communities.
5. Confirm that proper consultation regarding the proposed harvest has taken place with Tsuut’ina and Stoney Nakoda Nations, and that they are satisfied with the process.
6. Conduct a study to determine the potential economic impacts of forest harvesting in the Elbow Valley area on the Outdoor Recreation Economy.
7. Explore alternative, unallocated areas for West Fraser Timber Company (WFTC) to harvest, as a potential exchange for the West Bragg Creek / Moose Mountain area.

As we witness unprecedented wildfires across North America, combined with minimal snowfall and increasingly dry conditions, the likelihood of a severe wildfire season remains high. It is crucial that we take proactive measures, informed by unbiased scientific evidence, to protect our communities and natural landscapes. As discussed in our meeting, standard harvest practices do not always reduce wildfire risk—in fact, they may increase it both in the short and long term. According to the Effects of 2023 Wildfires in Alberta report by ABMI, during the worst wildfire season in Alberta’s history, the youngest, most recently harvested forests burned at a significantly higher rate than older forests.

During our meeting, you suggested we work with West Fraser Timber Company (WFTC) to find solutions to our concerns. However, WFTC is obliged to conduct harvesting under Alberta Forestry’s guidelines, which do not align with FireSmart harvesting practices. These guidelines include, but are not limited to:
• Not protecting stands of Aspen and other broadleaf, fire-resistant vegetation.
• Requiring thick monoculture regrowth of highly flammable coniferous pine trees, which are vulnerable to both fire and disease.
• Utilizing scarification or glyphosate spraying to inhibit or eliminate broadleaf, fire-resistant regrowth.
• Scattering fine fuels (branches, needles, etc.) across the surface of clearcuts, which serves as a fuel source for wildfires.

West Fraser Timber has expressed that, without your direction, they are obligated to follow the standard forestry practices and cannot address these concerns. The science is clear: the proposed harvest plan will not reduce wildfire hazard and, in fact, will likely increase it over the long term.

We would also like to remind you that the harvest conducted in 2012 was a FireSmart harvest initiated by the Government of Alberta. At that time, Minister of Forestry Diana McQueen visited Bragg Creek to discuss the harvest, and a wildfire assessment was carried out. A workshop was organized to foster collaboration between local stakeholders, wildfire experts, and forestry representatives. This was a crucial step in addressing wildfire risks. Following those meetings, the forest was harvested under FireSmart principles, including removing fine fuel, encouraging broadleaf regrowth, limiting coniferous regrowth, and employing other methods focused on wildfire hazard reduction. Given the evolving wildfire landscape, it is imperative to revisit and expand upon these efforts. Once this harvest is complete, there will be no opportunity to conduct a FireSmart harvest on the same landscape until the replanted trees reach maturity—potentially 100 years or more. The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires demand updated evaluations and strategies to mitigate potential risks effectively.

Finally, we request an update on the progress of establishing a secondary egress road for West Bragg Creek, as well as a revision to the harvest plan for Moose Mountain to include more selective logging. The need for an additional exit route was highlighted more than a decade ago, following the 2013 floods. It is vital for ensuring the safety and timely evacuation of residents and visitors in the event of a wildfire. Additionally, the Moose Mountain Bike Trail Society has raised concerns with West Fraser regarding the request for more selective logging in the plans, but it has not yet been addressed.

We appreciate your timely attention to these urgent matters and look forward to your response. Together, we can ensure the safety, sustainability, and recreational opportunities in West Bragg Creek.

Sincerely,
G.R.O.W. (Guardians of Recreational Opportunities in Wilderness)