feedback needed by May 8 2026
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
Harvesting timber to address Spruce Budworm affected trees and mitigate elevated
wildfire risk of dead and dying trees. The impacted site is within Sasquatch Mountain
Resort’s Controlled Recreation Area (CRA).
A Forestry Licence to Cut issuance from Mountain Resorts Branch (MRB) will be required
for Cut and Removal of severely affected timber by means of ground-based heavy
machinery.
In collaboration with BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), the post-harvest plan is to apply a
Prescribed Fire to help reduce the fine fuel accumulations from the harvesting phase. This
treatment will be applied where it is safe to do so. A Burn Plan will be written to guide this
activity.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The purpose of the proposed activities is to reduce the risk of devastating wildfire to the
village, recreation infrastructure, and create defendable space for any potential wildfire
suppression efforts.
There is currently 30ha of severely impacted forest of which only 20.3ha are considered
operable. Douglas-fir is the primary host for the Spruce Budworm and has been the target
of the outbreak. The stand is second-growth timber (approx. 70 years old) comprised of
Douglas-fir (90%), Amabalis Fir (5%), Western Hemlock (4%), Western Red Cedar (1%). The
gross volume is estimated at an average if 230m3/ha
The trees scheduled for harvesting have been defoliated to the degree that they are dead,
dying, or will have significant “die-back” and breakage that will cause the increase of fuel
that leads to highly volatile wildfire conditions if left untreated.
There are five (5) blocks that make up the treatment area. Depending on the level of
defoliation and species mix, each block has a specified retention strategy. Blocks HR001A and HR001B will be considered clear-cuts with dispersed single tree
retention systems because they are primarily Douglas-fir stands that have been 100%
defoliated.
Blocks HR001C, HR001D, HR001E will be selective-cut systems because the have a mix of
species present that have not been severely impacted and will be retained from
harvesting.
Conventional ground-based harvest methods will be used (feller-bunchers, loaders, hand-
fallers, processers, loaders, etc.)
No new roads will be constructed. However, the existing road network will require
upgrading (widening, ditching, grading, surfacing).
Old, damaged culverts will be replaced. New culverts will be Wood Box Culverts (WBC) to
accommodate Oregon Spotted Frog and other amphibian species. Streams are not
considered fish-bearing.
Temporary access structures (trails) may be constructed when necessary and will be fully
rehabilitated concurrent with harvest activities, unless needed for prescribed burn, at
which point they will be rehabilitated post burn.
A Preliminary Field Reconnaissance (PFR) has been completed for area.
A Terrain Stability Assessment (TSA) has been completed for the area.
Since the primary objective is to establish a long-term fuel break and defendable space,
silviculture requirements are exempt. In addition, the blocks have been designed to align
with the Resort Master Plan and will contribute to future ski terrain for the resort.
Immediately after harvesting, the licensee, will complete the required Fire Hazard
Assessment and Abatement (FHAA). This will include pile and burn accumulations of
decay, waste and breakage post harvest.
Furthermore, Mountain Resorts Branch in collaboration with BCWS are planning to apply
prescribed fire to blocks HR001A and HR001B to further reduce the fine fuel load the
following year post-harvest.
Provincial approach: Single-agency decision
PROPONENT:
Western Canadian Timber Products (WCTP) will be the Licence Holder endorsed by
Sasquatch Mountain Resort.
LOCATION: Sasquatch Mountain Resort
• 20.3ha
• Spatial files attached: Sasquatch Mountain Bdry Lns & Rd Lns
BCGS Map Ref (1:20,000): 92H031 & 92H041
AGENCY CONTACT:
Graham Rohrmoser RFP, Land & Resource Coordinator (Mountain Resorts Branch, TACS)
Email:Graham.Rohrmoser@gov.bc.ca; cc: MountainResortsBranch@gov.bc.ca
Phone: 236-425-9245
RESPONSE TIME: Please respond by May 8, 2026
If you wish to respond to this letter, you are requested to review and respond as soon as
possible so that your comments can be considered in the decision making process. If no
response is received, statutory decisions associated with the projects will be made based
on the best available information.
We are interested in understanding the nature of potential impacts to the Hemlock Valley
residents or others concerns you may have about this project. Comments are requested by
May 8, 2026. Should you wish to meet and discuss this project, please contact Graham
Rohrmoser through the contact information provided above.
Yours truly,
Jennifer Riopelle, Procurement & Authorization Analyst
Mountain Resorts Branch
Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
Enc: Sasquatch Mountain Bdry Lns – Spatial Files
Sasquatch Mountain Rd Lns – Spatial File
