In September 2025, West Fraser Timber Company presented a Forestry Management Plan (FMP) that describes its proposal to remove timber over the next decade from public lands along the eastern slopes, from Kaninaskis Country in the north to the Castle Parks in the south. The proposed annual cut is 32% greater than the previous plan in the region.
The eastern slopes in Alberta are the source of most of the water that flows across the province and offers important habitat for wildlife and flora, including many species-at-risk. The South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (SSRP), which sets the management priorities for the region, clearly states that “Watershed management and headwaters protection is the priority. Forests will be managed with this as the highest priority (including water storage, recharge and release functions).”
In protest, the Land Lovers group organized a six-week defence (October and November 2025) of the headwaters at Strawberry Camp to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and restoring our eastern slopes from logging plans without public consultation.
Forests protect the downstream environment from both flooding and from drought. By slowing down the melting of the snow pack in the spring, the rivers are not as likely to flood. It also allows more water to be absorbed by the soil and become groundwater which feeds streams and rivers through the summer. Cool water flowing year round supports healthy ecosystems and sustains biodiversity.
SAGE recommends a comprehensive cumulative effects and risk management study to:
– preserve watersheds, the source aquatic ecosystem health,
– preserves wetlands that store water for late-summer river flow,
– preserve biodiversity,
– protects species-at-risk habitat including the grizzly bear andone-third of extant native trout habitat, and
– limits the linear footprint, a science-based measure of fragmentation and ecological impact.
Until then, SAGE recommends that the logging cut level should be maintained at traditional volumes.
What can you do? Communicate your concerns about maintaining forest health by reducing logging cut levels and better regulating forestry practices that protect water sources, absorb water that may be slowly released over the summer, and establish restoration practices that ensure the long-term regeneration of forests in a warming climate.
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Fitch, L., Coombs, M., Hunter, C., & Narváez-Torres, P. (2026). A Review of Timber Harvest in the Oldman Headwaters, with Observations on Species at Risk Trout Habitat. (https://www.albertawilderness.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260401-AWA-Logging-Report-Upper-Oldman-Watershed.pdf)
Executive Summary
We conducted a review of timber harvest practices in selected watersheds of the Oldman headwaters. Our findings indicate widescale issues in watersheds containing species at risk trout.
Populations and habitat quality for native Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Bull Trout have declined significantly, resulting in their designation as Threatened. We inspected and assessed a total of 496 survey points— 284 in the Livingstone River watershed and 212 in the Racehorse Creek watershed.
Across these sites, we documented a total of 667 issues affecting species at risk trout habitat. We observed numerous instances where vegetated riparian buffers intended to separate streams from logging effects were either cut over or were not wide enough to meet either provincial guidelines or federal legislation. These issues occurred across multiple cutblocks and stream reaches visited. Additionally, erosion controls intended to minimize sediment reaching critical trout habitat were either missing, ineffective, or lacked even basic maintenance, affecting 87 percent of the stream crossings assessed.
Our review highlights issues with adherence to provincial timber harvest operating ground rules and the provisions of both the federal Fisheries Act, and the Species at Risk Act. These findings indicate that timber harvest practices often do not meet provincial and federal legislative requirements and guidelines, increasing risks to already imperilled native trout and their habitats.
Observations from this review raise serious concerns about whether the forest industry is meeting even the minimal provisions of the operating ground rules. There appears to be an inability to adequately plan logging activities to avoid harm to species at risk, along with concerns regarding compliance with legislation and guidelines during logging operations. Questions also arise about the extent and rigour of regulatory oversight and enforcement by the Government of Alberta and Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). Additionally, of particular concern is DFO’s decision to issue permits allowing the destruction of critical habitat, in apparent contradiction of federal legislation, coupled with mitigation measures that appear insufficient to prevent habitat degradation.
The issues identified are multifaceted and raise questions about the commitment of the timber industry, the provincial government, and the federal government to the protection and recovery of native trout species.