Fiddler Creek plan on view IT’S A first in the Kalum Forest district, at least in terms of the amount of detail that went into prepar- ing the Fiddler Creek Total Resource Plan (T RP), The Fiddler Creck watershed lies east of Terrace and empties into the Skeena just upstream and on the opposite side of the river from Oliver Creek. Forest Service planner Kevin Kilpatrick said the 21,000ba. watershed is within one of Skeena Cel- lulose’s licences and it is also earmarked for future ministry Small Business program licences, The TRP, he explained, is what's called a “higher” plan meaning the operational plans put together for future logging will have to take its con- . tents into account, Kilpatrick noted a number of issues had to be tackled when drawing up the Fiddler Creek TRP — the visual impact of logging, traditional use by aboriginals, recreational values, fish and wildlife and the nature of the terrain, Terrain mapping had established where timber could be harvested while meeting Forest Practices Code requirements on slope stability and avoiding future erosion problems. More detailed than similar work carried out as part of last year’s Timber Supply Review for the South Kalum district, Kilpatrick said it showed more timber could be cut in the watershed than the review had suggested. That's because the TRP recognized changing log- ging methods — skylines and heli-logging — and improved road building techniques. Any road built in the arca would have to be approved by a geo- technician first, he added. Because the area had been used by Tsimpshian and Gitksan natives for hunting, fishing and berry picking, Kilpatrick said the Forest Service had con- sulted with both to identify tails and traditional Sites associated those activities, The natives also provided information on sig- nificant habitat for grizzly bear and goat. ‘Wildlife mapping was very important in this area,’ he pointed out. The same applied to fishery values — the Fiddler system carries populations of ali salmon species ex- FOREST SERVICE planner Kevin Kilpatrick points out the dark ribbon that marks out the Zone 1 designation for the banks of Fiddler Creek and one of iis tibutaries, That denotes critical habitat is present in those areas, 5 hae 3e cs eae cept chinook, plus steelhead and trout. Recreational use of the area for biking, backcountry camping and fishing, skiing and pine mushroom gathering was factored in when con- sidering the visual impact of logging. Four months lates, the completed plan has divided the watershed into four main zones: critical habitat (Zone 1), fish wildlife and special management (2), visually sensitive (3) and working forest (4). The plan calls for no logging for the next 20 years in both Zones 1 and 2 which account for 69 per cent of the land base. However, Kil- patrick noted that figure was misleading in the sense logging was con- sidered feasible in only four per cent of that area. Once logging does begin in those zones, there will be restrictions on the size of cutblocks (no greater than 10ha) and altemative harvesting systems such as selection logging will have to be used, ; In Zone 3 the size and shape of cutblocks will be govemed by the need to blend in with the landscape. For the same reason, there will be arcas where only selection logging will be pemnitted. In both Zones 1.and 3 there will be a 5m ‘‘green-up’’ stipulation. That means once a block is logged, adjacent blocks cannot be touched until the new growth on the logged one has reached a height of Sm. 26AX10BC *600-Lina Horizontal Roselution *MTS Staroo with Surround Sound «Comb Fitter & Wide Band Video Amp ‘Easy Guide OSD ‘Closed Caption Decoder ‘Channal Caption & Chil Lock ‘Video/Audio Inputs ‘Variable Audio Qutpul ‘5 culptured Cabinet PLAYOFF SPECIAL ON Kilpatrick said Zone 4 is sub-divided into da — few constraints from either aboriginal or wildlife values — and 4b where there are some wildlife and terrain concerns that have to be addressed in any logging plan for blocks there. ‘ Kilpatrick hoped to be able to draw up more TRPs for other water- sheds in the district, at the rate of two a year. However, with much of the information being gathered by consultants, whether it happened or not would depend on money being available to pay those consultants. As to why Fiddler had been selected ta be the first, Kilpatrick ex- plained Skeena Cellulose had wanted to begin logging in the area, Rick Brouwer of SCI confinmed plans call for road construction and logging 46ha, including finishing off an old cutblock, this year. There’s _ also the possibility of another SCha being logged over the winter. However, he pointed out this will all take place on Bonser Flats by the Skeena. Although it falls within the boundaries covered by the Fiddler Creek TRP, the area is outside the as-yet-unlogged watershed. The public has until July 16 to comment on the Total Resource Plan. The plan, with any changes resulting from those comments, will then be signed off by district manager Brian Downie. uy The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 31, 1995 - Ad News In Brief Keep calls coming in ANYONE WHO sees activity they think might be causing habitat damage is being encouraged to phone the Department of Fisheries and Oceans office. Earlier this spring local fisheries officer Scott Trent ficlded calls on two developments out at Lakelse Lake. Although fears of damage proved unfounded in those cases, he still wants to hear from people. Even if a development had not caused any damage at that particular point, there might be poten- tial for problems later, he explained. By visiting the site, Trent said, “We can set out guidelines to picvent impact (on habitat).”’ And, he added, developers often appreciated having the rules Spelled out because it could save them running into unwanted legal problenis later on, Northerner recognized JOHN BROCKLEY of Smithers has been named Conservationist of the Year by the B.C. Wildlife Federation. Ax avid saltwater and river angler, he isa member of the Skeena Watershed Coalition. Made up of sport, commercial and native fisheries representatives, that body last ycar reached consensus on a new management plan intended to assure the sustainability Skeena River fishery, He also served as chairman of the Sport Fish Advisory Board. Mike O’Neil, president of the Federation’s Skeena region, said Brockley “richly deserves regognition for his accomplishments and is a worthy recipient of this prestigious award.” Educators meet here MORE THAN 140 college and university union reps from across the province were here Jast week for the annual convention of the College Institute Educators Association. Dealing with anticipated cuts to government grants were among the numerous workshop topics at the three-day conference. Victoria backs down on VLTs THE PROVINCE will not, after all, allow video lottery terminals to be introduced in B,C. The decision follows a prolonged opposition io the suggestion from both local government and the public. B.C. Reform Party - leader Jack Weisgerber says the government should now crack " down on any estabishments which are operating VLTs illegally. Tobacco sellers face sanctions THE PROVINCIAL government has introduced legislation ena- bling it to suspend the right of stores to sell tobacco should they Tepeatedly sel] to people under the age of 19. Tougher penalties are needed for the few retailers who continue selling tobacco to minors or refuse to comply with any other part of the law, and those penalties should affect the vendor’s ability to profit from tobacco sales,” says health minister Paul Ramsey. Last year, the province forbade the selling of tobacco to people under the age of 19, banned the sale of packages containing fewer than 20 cigarettes and required retailers to display health waming SIMS. eG 35 Inch Colour TV 35TX10BC *Uitra BLACK High Contrast Tuba *700-ine Horzontal Rascluticn *A) Fine Defindion Circuitry «Slim Genius Remote Control with Cursor Control + PIP with Quick Freeze * Easy Graphk Guide OS0 +3-D Surround Sound + 5-VHS [nau +3 Video/Audio Inputs (1Fron/2Rear) * Variable Audio Output * Sculplured Cabinol wilh Frant-Firing Speakers PLAYOFF SPECIAL ONS 50 Inch Projection TV 50EX10BG + 750-Lina Hergontat Resolution * *PIP wih Quick Freaze *Al Fine Defirtion System » Easy Guide OSD with Self Diagnosis * 24 Watt Dyvamic Super Bass Audio System "Slim Geniua Remote with Cursor Gentrol * Speaker Matrix Sumound Sound "High Tech Black Cabinet wih Component Storage PLAYOFF SPECIAL ONLY ‘26996 “Not Exactly as Showa From McEwan GM in Terrace * Dents and Rust repair not incuded tax extra, limited tinie offer _ Financing available O.A.C. 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