An operational fuel treatment will be undertaken in various treatment units amounting to a 7.83 hectare area in Cheakamus Canyon up Paradise Valley Rd, through the community of Cheekye. This area is recognized as a priority wildfire risk reduction area by the Sea to Sky Natural Resource District. This fuel management treatment is intended to reduce the threat of wildfire to the community of Paradise Valley and the Paradise Valley Road transportation corridor.
The treatment includes a thinning-from-below approach (which consists of removing smaller diameter tree stems to favour the healthiest and most vigorous dominant and co-dominant trees) and removing excess ground fuels (smaller diameter tree branches on the ground) and ladder fuels by pruning tree branches of a certain height. The intent of this treatment is to reduce wildfire occurrence, severity and spread, prevent wildfire from spreading into the tops of trees, and permit better access for crews responding to wildfire in this area. The works include thinning (of smaller coniferous stems less than 17.5 cm diameter at breast height), pruning some tree branches and removing small dried up branches on the ground for wildfire prevention. This treatment is also intended to reduce the risk of potential ignitions from recreational users. Biodiversity and forest health considerations have been included in the treatments to maintain and enhance ecosystem values.
The end result of this treatment will be to create a shaded fuel break to help protect residents and their infrastructure along Paradise Valley Road and to prevent fire from moving towards the BC Hydro transmission line.
Workers will remove heavy undergrowth and prune lower branches on retained trees up to 3 metres and widen spacing between the trees where possible by removing smaller stemmed conifers smaller than 17.5 cm diameter at breast height. Remaining material will be placed in piles no larger than 2 meters tall and 3 meters wide, in locations that will not result in an increased fire risk. These piles will be burnt to reduce smoke impacts as per the Ministry of Environment Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation when conditions permit in the fall or spring.
Download or read the flyer below for a map and more information on this project.
For more information about this project, contact:
Sara Barker, A/Stewardship Officer
Sea to Sky District Office
101-42000 Loggers Lane in Squamish, BC
Email: FLNRO.SeaToSkyDistrict@gov.bc.ca or Telephone: 604-898-2100