Log plan brings on fish fears PLANS TO LOG a watershed halfway between here and Prince Rupert bother angling guides and natives who tradi- tionally use the area, Earlier this spring International Forest Products Ltd, (In- terfor) announced its plan to Jog 424ha of the Khtada watershed, on the south side of the Skeena river, near to the Gitnadoix watershed, ‘Khtada Lake is very unique since it is home to trophy Size rainbow trout, that average between five and ten pounds, says angling guide Trevor Pearce, He’s been flying clients into the lake for over 30 years. ‘‘Of all the lakes I’ve been too, I've never found fish like this anywhere else,”’ says Pearce, Most of the lakes in the area are too acidic to produce large rainbow trout, In addition to the superb fishing — which Pearce says is catch and release — he says his clients enjoy the pristine beauty of the area, a relatively short plane ride away from Prince Rupert. Six other guides also use the arca, though Pearce is the only one with a land lease. _ _ Right now float plane is the only practical way to the ; lake, though a few people have made the rough hike up the steep country. _ Logging plans for the area were released as an addition ' to Interfor’s five-year plan. Tree cutting wouldn’t start » there until after that five-year period. “We knew this was a contentious area,”’ said Jnterfor area engineer Drew Mackay. ‘‘So we wanted people to be " aware of our intentions,”’ The predicted 424ha will likely shrink once the forests ministry assesses the plan, says Mackay. Interfor plans to build a road from the Scotia River dry sort (where Interfor is now), underneath power lines that + Tun alongside the Skeena River and then come around the + upstream side of the Khtada drainage. The road would end at Khtada Lake, Right now Interfor is proposing to cut 279ha conven- tionally from the main access road and another 145ha by helicopter. Helicopters would carry the trees out of clearcuts and » then drop the logs into a certain zone on the lake. Under the forest practices code, logging probably wouldn’t came closer than 30 metres from the shore. The Khtada watershed is over 15,000ha, but much of the area is very steep and inaccessible. Pearce is worried what cffect logging will have on the rainbow trout, and the viability of guiding clients into the area when logging in ongoing. _ “I'm not a tree hugger,’ says Pearce. ‘‘But let’s look seriously at this before we log it and put roads in.’” Environment ministry technician Sig Hatlevik agrees ihe lake deserves a closer look. “Obviously the lake has some unique characteristic about it,’’ be says, referring to the size of the rainbow trout. “It’s a bit of a puzzler since by and large the lake is unproductive. Perhaps .jt’s a, genetic characie fish.” Oe as aa He’s worried that putting a road into the lake will make tistic of the PRINCE RUPERT ANGLER Mallory Burton holds a rainbow trout caught in Khtada Lake. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, July 17, 1996 - A3 : é Plans by Intenational Forest Products to log the area are causing worries for angling guides and natives who fear the activity wil ultimately affect the fish population. Government officials have promised to closely scrutinize the logging plans for potential envircnmental and other impacts, the fish vulnerable to being fished out, even if the road is on the south side of the Skeena. The lake isn’t classified, he says, so’s there's no limit to the number of guides who could use it. Right now the anglers flying in respect the lake for what it is, he says, and primarily use the catch and release meth- od, He doesn't want to sce any logging around the lake, or a road put into the lake. Even fishing by loggers might strip the lake, he says. But Interfor’s Mackay says loggers won’t have the time or energy to go fishing. And if the environment ministry asks them not to fish, the loggers will respect that, he adds, Dionys deLeeuw, a senior habitat protection biologist with the environment ministry, says the ministry will be reviewing the logging plans. “It becomes a trade off between public intercsts and ecological interests and forestry interests,’” he says, _At’s algo valuable as ‘‘a remote wildemess area. very cldse to‘home,’" he adds. Ajoteta! a . Pata is “yy or. jax tania a2 Tsimshian also have an interest in the watershed, thitah pe ele file antec aoe re n particular the Gitwilgoats tribe has rights to a trapline in the area, although it hasn't been used for many years. James Bryant, bead of the allied tribes, says: the area is good for martin and beaver. But due to a decline in the value of furs, il hasn't been trapped lately. “Our local people are gradually getting back into it,” says Bryant. “If the market comes back it’s going to be a big issue again.”’ But Bryant was most concerned about the impact logging will have on fish habitat, “Silt in the run-off is going to do quite a bit of damage,” says Bryant. He says he has confidence in the new Forest Practices Code, but wants to make sure that il is followed, and no silt enters the river or lakes. And if it appears silt will be a problem, Bryant says the tribe will take actions. But Interfor claims run-off will not be an issue in the Khtada. Mackenzie says logging, roads will be built with shot Tock, and culverts will be put in, Veta os says, News In Brief ~ Forum on transport A TASK FORCE on im- proving northerm transporta- tion and economic spin-offs will hold a public forum here July 30, The Northwest Trans- portation Corridor task force will mect here at 7 p.m. that night at the Coast Inn of the West. The forums got un- derway July 16 in Queen Charlotte City, The northwest transporta- tion corridor is defined as Stretching across northern B.C. into the prairies, The federal task force will examine ibe norihwest’s pocket cruise industry, rail- ways and road systems. IVil aim at boosting economic development and tourism and passenger traffic. An action plan is to be presented tu federal trans- port minister David Ander- son by December. Anyone who can’t make it to the community forums can still submit written briefs to the task force of- fice, Call 681-3758 for info. Horse shows off THE VIRUS which has af- fected horse populations throughout the north has also shut down two local horse shows in the Terrace area this month. One of the biggest shows of the summer —- the Totem Saddle Club's Timberland show on July 27-28 — has been cancelled. Also can- celed is a gymbkhana planned for July 20-21. So far plans for the Skeena Valley Fall Fair and the 4-H horse show which also takes place then, are still on. However, the horse- show and the livestock por- tion of the fall fair could still be cancelled, pending ce --Tecommendations front £éd- “T don’t-think these techhiques will catse'siltation,” he a; eral’ - and’- ~ provincial veterinarians. SWEET SAVINGS July 18 - July 20th All Mens, Ladies and Childrens Shorts & ¢0-OP Store © TERRACE CO-OP Department Elevate your moncy ta new heights with our High Time Primer. The rate paid is set at prime less 1%, and if the prime rale increases, so will the rate you carn. 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