Logging in the Castle - A Historic Industry

John MacGarva, Letter to the Editor

I have been following the controversy surrounding the recent logging operations in the Castle with much dismay; mainly with the inaccurate information being presented. The fact is, the Castle area has been logged for around 100 years. At one time numerous sawmills dotted this landscape. But like the farms on every quarter section, being replaced by larger farms, the small mills have been replaced by larger sawmills. Even the sawmill, west of Coleman, I worked at (Revelstoke, Atlas) for 25 years as Woodlands Manager, is now closed. This is just the evolution of the industry.


But the process is the same. A tree is sawn off the stump, transported to a sawmill, and made into lumber. The forest continues to be a renewable resource. Even when small local mills “high-graded” the timber and practiced little reforestation nature restored the land on its own. Now the industry must reforest to stringent reforestation standards. It amazes me when the “anti-logging” group still sends out information that no reclamation or reforestation will occur? This is simply not true! Now, for sure, logging is one of the most “visual consumers of the landscape”. A hillside certainly looks “different” after logging. To some, the “aesthetics” of the hillside are poor. But we should not judge the health of the environment on “aesthetics” alone?  Let me give you a good reason for why you should be comfortable with the logging continuing in the Castle. I had the pleasure, in my career, to work with a great bunch of guys who planned, logged, and reforested the 1980’s beetle salvage in the Castle Falls, Beaver Mines Lake and the South Castle Valley. I ask you to look at those areas now. They are young vibrant new forests contributing to the bio-diversity of the area. The resource (timber) was utilized, providing jobs, and now regrows for the future. What is wrong with this?

There is also thoughts presented that the Castle is a “Wilderness Area” Thanks goodness it is not and it has not been for many years. People actually can earn a living in the area. Oil and Gas production, a ski-hill, cattle grazing, trapping, roads, campgrounds, and timber harvesting exist. People can recreate in the area, in a motorized or non-motorized fashion. Many of these things will cease if the area is declared a “Wilderness Area”

All the industrial activity (including logging) in the Castle is well regulated. The motorized recreation is as well. The Castle area is just fine under the present management. Water quality, a concern for us all, is fine as well. The small footprint logging will put on the area will not affect water quality or quantity.

Of interest to folks should be Sustainable Resource Developments website. This website presents the facts, both on this year’s logging and that in the future. The C5 Management Plan is the overview “Plan” and was developed with much thought and public input. The logging going on now was outlined years ago, especially in the C5 Open Houses.

    So from a guy with 35 years in the area, and the willingness to show you the reforestation from previous cut areas, let us be comfortable with this 100 year old industry continuing, knowing the Castle we all love, and would like to continue to enjoy, will fare just fine.

Submitted by John MacGarva, Registered Professional Forest Technician