SUNDAY October 15, 1995 8 Business. cd @ Classifieds....................34 Comics... 24 ; CrosgTord. cece 40 @ Entertainment.........27 | Horoscopes... econsssnseneee eb @ Inquiring Reporter..12 a Mailbox. 7 ; GN. Shore Alert..............8 . 8 Talking Personals...36 fa: :) Sc A) BTV Listings...............28 “a Vintage Years............20 Bl Woddings........22 : fashion ‘Events spark breast cancer awareness: 15 Wi Weekly fashion , events calendar: 16 opinion ® Collins — No wizards in Oz: @ Lotters — Trustee vents frustration: “AAIDLAND WALWYN SLUE CHIP THINKING™ 925-9210 “West Vancouver Office cae ucu tests Aa High 14°C, low 9°C. Weather _ Monday: Mainly cloudy \ (Cn re ce =| | session held at the News on Wednesday. For coverage, see e page 3. THE GREATER Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) water committee considered a proposal Friday to log in the Seymour, Capilano and Coquitlam watersheds. By Michael Becker News Editor The plan of action is outlined in a manage- ment strategy integrating the findings of a 1994 report by Oikos Ecofogical Consultants. GVRD staff recommended that the water committee consider harvesting proposals for cight cutblocks mi total during 1996-97. The committee decided to receive the infor- mation, asked for another report and autho- tized staff to enter into discussion with the province with respect to alternative approaches to reducing the identified fire hazards, A 1.5 hectare block in the Seymour water- shed is identified as having blowdown (wind- toppled trees) in an old-growth stand creating a potentially high fire hazard. Cable logging of old growth is proposed for the site. A second block of about one hectare of blowdown in old- growth forest is also proposed for logging. Alternative approaches in the old-growth area could see a prescribed burn or remaining Fire hazards seen in old growth and 2nd growth forest standing trees lefC in place. with potential fire fuel from fallen uees chipped. An 11.2 heetare cuthlock in the Capilano watershed is described in the Oikos report as a “young stand with bigh snag density and potentially high fire hazard.” Partial logging of the site by helicopter is recommended. The cutblock is primarily a 60-year-old stand of westerm hemlock with some ced cedar and Douglas fir. About three hectares were lost in total due to 1) watershed fires in 1990 in what the GVRD terms one of the worst local lightning storms in recent history. Meanwhile, a provincial environment min- istry official wants to increase to at Jeast 43 hectares the area of Seymour watershed to be logged. He recommended an expanded cut to allow the study of the northern ying squirre} and bushy-tailed woodrats. The research is to assist wildlife managers and foresters in the management of the northera spotted owl with in B.C. ~~ Meet the press NEWS photo Terry Peters _ PREMIER MIKE Harcourt fields a question from News Managing Editor Timothy Renshaw during a question and answer But in a letter to water committee members North Vancouver-based Friends of The Watershed spokesinan Ross Muirhead ‘urged “that no salvaging of downed logs, nor rensain- ing standing trees in blowdown areas be approved.” He also asked the committee to advise its staff that “it wil] not review any more cutblock proposals until the full ecological inventory is completed, including public input, The GVRD is preparing ecological invento- ries of its watersheds to assess risks 1 water quality, Inventories for the Seymour: and Coquitlam watersheds have yet to be complet- ed. The process is to include public consulta- tion next year and a comprehensive watershed management plan by [997, Said Muirhead, “The inventory on, the Seymour has not been approved by either the water committee or the GVRD board, nor has this 200-year management plan undergone a public review. To vote on logging plans at this time is breaking due process.” SPEC (Society Promoting Environmental Conservation) asked that the proposal be either rejected outright or deferred for public review. : SPEC president Paul Hundal said that old- growth areas identified for cutting due to blow- down are all located next to areds that have already been logged.