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Outdoor Corner: Mile nine bush undergoes extensive clear cut
Gene Plihal
for Smoky River Express
The past three months has seen a dramatic change in the bush south and east of Reno. Thousands of board feet of spruce and pine and thousands of tons of deciduous trees have been taken out in the area often referred to as “Mile Nine” by local outdoor enthusiasts. And, its not done. According to one employee involved in the project and asking not to be identified, “It’s only the first year of five years of harvest planned in the area according to what I’ve heard.”
I’ll admit that I have known about this undertaking for some time. But, as one long time trapper in the area recently stated, “What can you do about it? Nothing but complain.” At the same time he stated, “They have gutted my trapline. There’s nothing left.”
The area, basically south and east of Frank Lake encompassing several square miles, has seen large tracts of old growth conifer and poplar harvested. The area, popular to quad and ski doo enthusiasts, has seen a huge change in the skyline for several kilometres on both sides of the “Powerline”. And, perhaps as a consequence a huge influx of wildlife into farm areas has occurred in recent weeks. While some attribute the movement of ungulates to the wolf population in the interior bush, others are quick to point out that habitat loss accounts for the reason why wildlife is seeking refuge in the farm areas.
One official whom I recently spoke to said that in the long run ruminants (ungulates such as deer and moose) will benefit from the timber harvest. His contention was that regeneration and regrowth would be more conducive to large numbers of moose and deer than old growth stands. That remains to be seen. Certainly along the Reno road where extensive timber harvest has occurred, moose numbers are scanty to say the least, possibly in part attributable to the new road going through and easier access for hunters.
Jim Himer, trapper in the recently harvested timber area told me, “I have asked them (the logging companies) to run their main access trail through the muskeg for the winter so that once break up occurs access will be limited. Hopefully this will be the case.”
Government restrictions do exist on how closely timber harvest may occur next to creeks and other water bodies. Anyway, a picture is worth a thousand words they say so the reader may look at the accompanying photos and maybe, on a Sunday afternoon, drop a quad off near the Himer camp and on Range Road 192 and take a ride.
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This clear cut approximately three kilometres southeast of Frank Lake is one of many now in the area. No information was immediately available regarding replanting plans, if any, for the area.
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