A recent study from a conservation group warns that endangered trout in Kananaskis Country are under threat following the federal government’s approval of a controversial bridge reconstruction for a logging project. Fisheries and Oceans Canada has given the green light to West Fraser Timber to rebuild a bridge over the Highwood River and construct 14 temporary river crossings in the Loomis Creek area of the Upper Highwood region.
The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) study highlighted the significance of this habitat for bull trout, a species at risk under the federal Species At Risk Act. The westslope cutthroat trout, also found in the Highwood River, shares the same designation.
According to Josh Killeen, CPAWS’ conservation science and programs manager, the proposed logging activities pose a significant threat to the native trout species in the area. Despite the at-risk status of bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout under Alberta’s Wildlife Act, a comprehensive study in 2023 confirmed the presence of a significant bull trout population in the Loomis Creek watershed.
Killeen expressed concerns that the modifications made by West Fraser are insufficient to mitigate the risks to the bull trout population, particularly due to barriers preventing the trout from moving between Loomis Creek and the Highwood River.
The logging plans encompass about 1,000 hectares in the Upper Highwood area, with West Fraser aiming to commence logging operations as early as fall, extending beyond Loomis Creek tentatively in 2026. Joyce Wagenaar, director of communications for West Fraser, stated that the company continues to engage with stakeholders and Indigenous communities to incorporate feedback into their harvest plans.
In response to the logging threat, the activist group Defenders of the Eastern Slopes erected a blockade to prevent the construction of the bridge. Michael Sawyer, an organizer, emphasized the critical habitat designation of the streams and the need to protect these threatened trout species.
Madison Galloway, another activist, expressed hope that the blockade would deter logging activities and emphasized the importance of citizen involvement in protecting the environment.
Despite the potential impacts on the trout population, West Fraser stated that they consider environmental factors in their forest management practices and are monitoring conditions before and after harvesting to ensure responsible stewardship.
CPAWS’ Killeen highlighted the risk of erosion and sedimentation entering streams due to forest removal, which could harm the trout habitat. Although West Fraser implemented a riparian buffer, Killeen remains skeptical about its effectiveness in protecting the trout habitat in the long run.
Overall, conservationists, activists, and stakeholders are closely monitoring the logging project’s potential impact on the endangered trout species in Kananaskis Country.