The Forestry Sector
Chapter 8
Prepared by Brad Stelfox, Bob Wynes, Frank Oberle, and Tim Barker
Contributors Paul Folkman Joerg Goetsch Steve Luchkow Peter Murphy Harold Nicholson Darryl Price Tim Vinge Summary Points • During the last century, the forest sector has changed from a landuse based on small family-based operations intended for subsistence purposes and local economies to one characterized by large scale operations conducted by companies who adopt advanced woodland and mill technologies. • Small local logging operations prior to the 1960’s generally relied on diameter-limit harvest strategies intended to remove the largest most desirable trees from cutovers. • Harvest of softwood (conifer) trees has slowly grown from 200,000 m 3 in the early 1960’s to 1,200,000 m 3 in recent years. Hardwood harvest, essentially absent prior to 1993 now stands at ~1,600,000 m 3. Since 1966, ~23 million m 3 of softwood volume and 9 million m 3 of hardwood volume has been logged in northwest Alberta. • Whereas softwood harvest dominated logging operations in northwest Alberta during the last century, the harvest of hardwoods (primarily aspen) has grown rapidly during the last decade. Since the late 1980’s, the proportional contribution of softwood fiber to total volume harvest has steadily declined. • During recent decades, large forest companies have relied on 2-pass (occasionally 3-pass) clearcutting for both softwood and hardwood harvest. Some companies have begun exploring the use of structured cutblocks that allow for retention of residual green trees within cutblocks. • Cutblock frequency in northwest Alberta has varied from 300 to 600 cutblocks annually during the last several years. Annual variation in cutblock size is partially explained by annual frequency of fire and the number of attendant large salvage cutblocks. • Logging is a highly seasonal activity in northwest Alberta. Both cutblock frequency and area harvested generally increase from June through March, with minimal activity occurring during the period from April through July, when ground conditions are not conducive to harvest or trucking. Seedling planting on cutblocks occurs during the summer months. • Cutblock sizes are generally larger for hardwood than softwood cutblocks, presumably because of differing ground rules or regulations affecting harvest and regeneration strategies. • The prevailing approach to post-harvest regeneration of hardwood cutblocks is a “leave for natural” strategy where regeneration occurs through suckering or coppicing of aspen. More invasive silvicultural approaches are generally used for softwood species, particularly white spruce, to encourage an improved seedling substrate. These strategies for white spruce cutblocks generally involve different types of blades, plows, or mounders. The most common approach to establishing spruce on cutblocks is to plant seedlings following the site preparation phase.
The Forestry Sector 8-1
Table of Contents Summary Points...... 1 Table of Contents...... 2 List of Tables...... 3 List of Figures...... 4 Introduction ...... 7 A History of Logging in the Fairview Region...... 7 Administrative Forestry Boundaries...... 10 Locations of Pulp and Lumber Mills ...... 14 Summary of Logging in Northwest Alberta ...... 17 Longterm Trends in Provincial and Regional Harvest...... 17 Annual Harvest Volumes...... 18 Harvest Patterns of Individual Forest Companies...... 21 The Softwood to Hardwood Trend ...... 31 Annual Cutblock Frequency and Area...... 31 Cutblock Size...... 31 Seasonality of Logging ...... 31 Current Forest Companies and their harvest volumes ...... 31 Harvest Strategies ...... 31 Cutblock Size in different Forest Type...... 31 Geographic Distribution of Cutblocks...... 41 Site Preparation Strategies in the P1 and P2 FMUs...... 47 Introduction ...... 47 Stage 1. The Beginning: 1960 - 1975 ...... 47 Stage 2. The Swedish Influence: 1975 - 1980 ...... 47 Stage 3. Local Solutions: 1980 - 1990...... 48 Stage 4. Mounding Techniques: 1990 – Present...... 48 Regeneration Strategies used by PRPD and CanFor...... 53 General References on Forestry...... 57
The Forestry Sector 8-2 List of Tables Table 1. Starting year and end (where appropriate) year of selected sawmills, peeler mills, and pulp mills in northwest Alberta°. Data Source: Government of Alberta, Lands and Forest Service...... 14 Table 2. Annual scaled log volumes (m 3) in Alberta and northwest Alberta (1930–1995). Data Source: Provincial logging summary prepared by Peter Murphy for Alberta Lands and Forest Service...... 17 Table 3. Annual cutblock frequency by forest companies in northwest Alberta between 1966 and 1996. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 21 Table 4. Softwood volumes (m 3) harvested by selected forest companies in northwest Alberta between 1966 and 1996. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 23 Table 5. Hardwood volumes (m 3) harvested by selected forest companies in northwest Alberta between 1966 and 1996. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 24 Table 6. Total tree volumes (m 3) harvested by forest companies in northwest Alberta between 1966 and 1996. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 25 Table 7. Annual patterns in harvest of softwood and hardwood tree volumes (m 3) in northwest Alberta between 1966 and 1996. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 32 Table 8. Annual cutblock frequency and area (ha) harvested for PRPD (Peace River) and CanFor (Hines Creek). Data Sources: Woodlands Divisions of PRPD and Canadian Forest Products Ltd...... 33 Table 9. Average annual cutblock size (ha) for PRPD (Peace River) and CanFor (Hines Creek Data Sources: Woodlands Divisions of PRPD and Canadian Forest Products Ltd...... 35 Table 10. Lumber/pulp companies operating in northwest Alberta, including data on current product type and volume. Data Source: Land and Forest Service...... 39 Table 11. Frequency and area of harvest strategies (clearcut, partial cut) used by PRPD and CanFor (Hines Creek) during 1980–1995. Data Source: PRPD and CanFor Woodlands Departments...... 39 Table 12. Average cutblock size in hardwood and softwood forest types during 1989–1996. Data Source: PRPD and CanFor Woodlands Departments...... 41 Table 13. Number of cutblocks harvested by PRPD and CanFor from 1989–1996. Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Dept...... 45 Table 14. Number of townships in northwest Alberta containing different levels of cutblock harvest area (ha). Data Source: DMI GIS Library...... 46 Table 15. Number of PRPD cutblocks for different stand types (hardwood, mixedwood, softwood) treated with different regeneration strategies (1989–1996). Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department...... 53 Table 16. Area (ha) harvested by PRPD cutblocks treated with different regeneration strategies (1989-1996). Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department...... 54 Table 17. Number and area (ha) of CanFor cutblocks treated with different regeneration strategies (1966–1997). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Department...... 55 Table 18. Frequency and area treated for different general class of cutblock treatment types for CanFor (1966– 1997). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Department...... 56
The Forestry Sector 8-3 List of Figures Figure 1. Area (ha) of forest management units (FMUs) found within or partially within the boundaries of northwest Alberta (56-60°N, 114–120°W). Area values for FMU units transected by the study area boundary are for the entire FMU and not only for that portion within northwest Alberta. Data Source: DMI GIS Library...... 10 Figure 2. Boundaries of the P1 and P2 forest management units (FMU). Data Source: DMI GIS Library...... 11 Figure 3. Boundaries of FMUs in the PRPD FMA. Data Source: DMI GIS Library...... 11 Figure 4. Boundaries of FMUs in northwest Alberta. Data Source: DMI GIS Library...... 12 Figure 5. Location of the Peace River Pulp Division (PRPD) FMA and the High Level Forest Products (HLFP) FMA in northwest Alberta. Data Source: DMI GIS Library...... 13 Figure 6. Locations of lumber and pulp mills in the P1 and P2 FMU’s of northwest Alberta. Data Source: DMI GIS Library...... 15 Figure 7. Location of lumber and pulp mills in the PRPD FMA of northwest Alberta. Data Source: DMI GIS Library...... 15 Figure 8. Location of lumber and pulp mills in northwest Alberta. Data Source: DMI GIS Library...... 16 Figure 9. Annual trends in logging activity in Alberta and northwest Alberta (1930–1996); data from 1930– 1965 are mill production values, whereas data from 1966–present are scaled log volumes (m 3). Data Source: P. Murphy and D. Price of Alberta Lands and Forest Service...... 17 Figure 10. Annual cutblock frequency in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 18 Figure 11. Annual harvest (m 3) of softwood trees in northwest Alberta (1966–1996). Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 19 Figure 12. Annual harvest (m 3) of hardwood trees in northwest Alberta (1966–1996). Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 19 Figure 13. Annual harvest (m 3) of trees in northwest Alberta (1966–1996). Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 19 Figure 14. Cumulative harvest (m 3) of softwood trees in northwest Alberta (1966–1996). Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 20 Figure 15. Cumulative harvest (m 3) of hardwood trees in northwest Alberta (1966–1996). Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 20 Figure 16. Cumulative harvest (m 3) of total tree volume in northwest Alberta (1966–1996). Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 20 Figure 17. Total softwood, hardwood, and tree volume (m 3) harvested by different mills in northwest Alberta between 1966 and 1996. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 22 Figure 18. Comparison of softwood, hardwood, and total harvest volumes (m 3) in 1996 of different mills in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 22 Figure 19. Hardwood volume (m 3) purchases by Peace River Pulp Division from private land between 1989 and 1997. Data Source: Woodlands Department, Peace River Pulp Division...... 26 Figure 20. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Boucher in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 26 Figure 21. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Brewster in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 27 Figure 22. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Buchanan in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 27 Figure 23. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of CanFor (Hines Creek) in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 27 Figure 24. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of High Level Forest Products in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 28 Figure 25. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Little Red in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 28
The Forestry Sector 8-4 Figure 26. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Manning in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 28 Figure 27. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Peace River Pulp Division in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 29 Figure 28. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Vanderwell in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 29 Figure 29. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Wallach in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 29 Figure 30. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Zama Mills in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 30 Figure 31. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Zavisha in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 30 Figure 32. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Zeigler in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta...... 30 Figure 33. Trends in proportional volume of softwood and hardwood harvested between 1966 and 1996...... 32 Figure 34. Annual cutblock frequency for PRPD (Peace River) and CanFor (Hines Creek). Data Sources: Woodlands Divisions of PRPD and Canadian Forest Products Ltd...... 34 Figure 35. Annual harvest area (ha) for PRPD (Peace River) and CanFor (Hines Creek). Data Sources: Woodlands Divisions of PRPD and Canadian Forest Products Ltd...... 34 Figure 36. Annual average cutblock size (ha) for PRPD (Peace River) and CanFor (Hines Creek) between 1965–1996. Data Sources: Data Sources: Woodlands Divisions of PRPD and Canadian Forest Products Ltd...... 36 Figure 37. Cutblock size distribution for PRPD (Peace River) and CanFor (Hines Creek) between 1965–1996. Data Sources: Woodlands Divisions of PRPD and Canadian Forest Products Ltd...... 36 Figure 38. Monthly variation in cutblock frequency for PRPD (1989-1996). Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department...... 37 Figure 39. Monthly variation in cutblock area (ha) for PRPD (1989-1996). Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Dept...... 37 Figure 40. Monthly variation in average cutblock size (ha) for PRPD (1989-1996). Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department...... 37 Figure 41. Monthly variation in cutblock frequency for CanFor (1980–1995). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Dept...... 38 Figure 42. Monthly variation in harvested area (ha) for CanFor (1980–1995). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Dept...... 38 Figure 43. Monthly variation in average cutblock size (ha) for CanFor (1980–1995). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Dept...... 38 Figure 44. Frequency of harvest strategies by PRPD and CanFor (1965–1996). Data Source: PRPD and CanFor Woodlands Departments...... 40 Figure 45. Area harvested using clearcut and partial cut strategies by PRPD and CanFor (1965–1996). Data Source: PRPD and CanFor Woodlands Departments...... 40 Figure 46. Average cutblock size (ha) in hardwood and softwood systems harvested by PRPD (1989-1996). Data Source: PRPD and CanFor Woodlands Departments...... 41 Figure 47. Distribution of cutblocks in P1 and P2 FMUs as of 1995. Cutblocks illustrated in yellow are those of PRPD since their inception, those of CanFor (Hines Creek) for P2 and P10, and those of some softwood quota holders. Data Source: DMI GIS Library...... 42 Figure 48. Distribution of cutblocks in FMA. Cutblocks illustrated in yellow are those of PRPD since their inception, those of CanFor (Hines Creek) for P2 and P10, and those of some softwood quota holders. Data Source: DMI GIS Library...... 42 Figure 49. Density (ha/township) of logging in the P1 and P2 FMUs. Data Source: DMI GIS Library...... 43 Figure 50. Density (ha/township) of logging in the PRPD FMA. Data Source: DMI GIS Library...... 43 Figure 51. Density (ha/township) of logging in northwest Alberta. Data Source: DMI GIS Library...... 44
The Forestry Sector 8-5 Figure 52. Number of cutblocks harvested by CanFor and PRPD in each FMU from 1989–1996. Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department...... 45 Figure 53. Area harvested (ha) by CanFor and PRPD from 1989–1996. Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department...... 45 Figure 54. Frequency of area logged (50 ha intervals) since 1960 in the townships of northwest Alberta...... 46 Figure 55. Example of bladed trails used as a site preparation strategy. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek...... 48 Figure 56. Disc trencher being used for site preparation. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek...... 49 Figure 57. Example of ripper furrows used for site preparation. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek....49 Figure 58. Example of favorable spruce regeneration results on mesic site following site ploughing. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek...... 50 Figure 59. Example of poor spruce regeneration results on wet site following site ploughing. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek...... 50 Figure 60. Illustration of mounding. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek...... 51 Figure 61. Mounding on a wet site. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek...... 51 Figure 62. Example of an excavator being used for site preparation. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek...... 52 Figure 63. Dual path mounder being used for site preparation. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek. ....52 Figure 64. Proportional frequency of PRPD cutblocks treated with different regeneration strategies (1989-1996). Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department...... 53 Figure 65. Proportional area of PRPD cutblocks treated with different regeneration strategies (1989-1996). Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department...... 54 Figure 66. Number (left) and area (ha; right) of CanFor cutblocks treated with different regeneration strategies (1966–1997). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Department...... 55 Figure 67. Percent of frequency of different general class of cutblock treatment types for CanFor (1966–1997). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Department...... 56 Figure 68. Percent area treated for different general class of cutblock treatment types for CanFor (1966–1997). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Department...... 56
The Forestry Sector 8-6 Introduction There exists a long history of logging in northwest Alberta, undoubtedly beginning with aboriginal people harvesting trees for subsistence purposes such as lodging materials and heating. In addition, aboriginal peoples often used prescribed fire as an effective tool for creating forest clearings that provided forage for the hoofed mammals they hunted. The arrival of the first Euro-Canadians, and the subsequent development of a fur trapping industry, lead to increased levels of logging to clear trails and road networks, for fuel wood, and to build residences and forts. The recognition in the early 1900’s that the “Peace Country” had fertile soils lead to a large influx of home-steaders who deforested large tracts of boreal forests along the Peace River Valley for purposes of grain cultivation, hay crops, and livestock production (see Chapter 7). The subsequent development of towns in northwest Alberta created a growing demand for the timber and dimension lumber needed to build residential and commercial buildings. This regional demand for lumber was met by several local sawtimber mills run by families or small businesses. Large national and multi-national companies first arrived in northwest Alberta in the 1960’s. This new scale of forestry, and the significant levels of infrastructure, capital, and workforce required, as well as the large volumes of sawtimber and pulp produced, would require a structured and regulated approach to forestry based on the principles of sustainable forestry. These principles are described in Forest Management Agreements (FMA) signed between the forest company and the provincial government. As part of an economic development strategy for the boreal regions of Alberta, the Government of Alberta made several large allocations of fiber or signed forest management agreements (FMA) in the 1970’s, 1980’s, and 1990’s for the purpose of allocating an AAC (Annual Allowable Cut) that fully utilizes the available forest growth increment in a sustainable manner. Today, the forest sector is an important employer in the workforce (1,720 jobs in 1991, see Chapter 6) and contributes significantly to regional economies. This chapter describes the history of the forest sector and documents spatial and temporal trends in the industry. Attention is paid to current administrative units, the locations of existing pulp and lumber mills, and a suite of descriptors of forestry including harvest volumes, private land wood purchase, trends in harvest of tree species, cutblock size, cutblock frequency, and harvest and regeneration strategies. The various silvicultural practices used in northwest Alberta, and the eras in which they were used, are described.
A History of Logging in the Fairview Region Extracted from Heart of Gold , published by local historian and long-time logger Harold Nicholson and the Fairview Town Council, 1978. At one time, the areas north of Fairview to within a distance of three to five miles of the town were heavily wooded lands. One would not guess as much now when this district is traveled and one gazes off over lush fields of grain and grasses, little realizing the sweat and labor required to carve the fields out of the virgin forests. In the early days it was to this district that homesteaders went to get their saw logs and have them made into lumber by the early pioneer lumbermen. Many of these men threshed grain during the fall and when the first signs of winter came, off the old steam engine went to the bush to furnish power for the sawmills that dotted the district. Some of the early sawmillers and threshing men were well known throughout the district for their many other activities as well – such men as Walter Hemstock, Charlie Chalmers, the Englund outfit, and to the east, Arnel Peterson, Mercier’s sawmill, and the Cook Bros from which many boards came to build the new town of Fairview. These men pioneered a new industry in the district, vital to the building of any new district. They furnished a labor market, that although not all that lucrative by today’s standard, at least brought home a few dollars or much needed boards for the new homestead buildings that were rapidly going up. A note of interest might be added in the fact, that although they may not have been too conservation-minded in those far off days, they did use most of the trees that were felled. The slabs and edgings from the mill, being free for the taking, were utilized by many of the homesteaders in building fences and in some cases where the slabs were of exceptional quality, they were even used to construct some of the farmstead buildings.
The Forestry Sector 8-7 Another commodity from the northern forests was the firewood that was hauled to Fairview, which in the early thirties at least brought many welcome dollars to the seller and a welcome fire to the buyer. This wood sold for $1.00 a cord or 50¢ for a grain boxful, which they figured was about a half a cord. Another saleable item was fence posts and rails required by the early stockmen. Although scarce, the tamarack make the best rails and posts and if not confused with the swamp spruce, which was in abundance, a farmer was fortunate indeed to have his place surrounded with tamarack posts that would last for years. In 1943, the Department of Munitions and Supplies were calling for cordwood and would pay $1.00 per cord if the wood was delivered in a stockpile at railhead by June 30 th of 1943. This seems to have led to interest in the shipping of pulpwood as Mrs. Grace Pawluk tells me that her husband shipped a number of train car loads to the U.S.A. Mike received $16.00 per cord for his dry pulpwood landed on cars in Fairview but, by the time that the freight was paid and other expenses taken off, he found himself with a net of $8.00 per cord. Earl Watchorn and Sons also shipped pulpwood from Bluesky during the period of 1946- 48. Earl was buying for some firm in the United States and, although Mel and Merv took out a large quantity of pulp, Earl bought from other producers as well and during his time shipped 600 cords of drywood ranging in price of a net of $8.00 per cord to $16.00. Small as these items may seem in this day and age, they certainly added to the economy of this area during the years when any item of trade and commerce was a blessing indeed. Perhaps the first industry of any consequence to start right in the town of Fairview itself, was the HRN’s Lumber Co. This firm had originally started out as Hemstock and Robertson Sawmills under the partnership of Walter Hemstock, who at that time was operating a grocery store, and Archie Robertson who handled the Massey Ferguson agency. As the lumber market looked good after the war, they decided that the area could handle a good-sized sawmill. The first venture started out from a timber berth in the Many Islands area and the sawmill itself was built at Green Island on the Nicholson Flat. The idea was to float the logs down river in booms pulled by Harry Taylor’s boat. This was in 1946, long before the building of the Bennett dam and the erratic rise and fall of the water of the Peace were far from being conducive for such an operation. The operation continued for the summer of that year, but when fall came around it was plain to see that the more conventional method of logging would have to be used if the firm was to survive. With this in mind a timber stand was found north of the Deer Hill country and that winter the firm built a sawmill on the sight of the berth and operated it as northern Alberta lumbermen had been operating their mills for years. The sawn lumber was hauled to Fairview where it was loaded in cars and shipped in the rough to various points in Canada and the U.S.A. It was soon seen that a planing mill would be to an advantage, not only for the export market, but because of the local demand for finished lumber. In 1948, Ken and Harold Nicholson, logging contractors from the Fort St. John district, were taken in as partners and the firm’s name was changed to HR & N Lumber Co. Ltd. A planer was purchased and the only site that could be obtained was on the west side of Fairview. The planer itself was set up on railroad property for easy access to the many box cars that this firm was to require down through the years. Land was purchased from Jack Smart for office and garage space, as well as space for dry piling the lumber that came in during the winter months. For many years the company operated without a shaving burner as much of the waste was utilized by the local farmers who used the shavings for bedding purposes. The balance was burned in an open pit. In 1960, after nearly burning down the entire town, due to a strong west wind and flying shavings, a shaving burner was installed much to the sorrow of many of the nearby housewives, who objected to the fly ash on their Monday’s wash. The firm employed from fifty to sixty people in the winter time and when they went to summer shipment of lumber from their dry piles, eight men were employed at the planer itself. Approximately half their production of over two million feet was shipped to various points in the U.S.A. and Canada and the other half was sold locally or throughout the Peace River country. To keep some of their men working during the summer months the company also acquired farmland in the Dell district, as well as some homestead land south of Worsley. They also ran a small digging and land clearing operation to utilized some of the equipment that was used in the bush during the winter months. In 1965 due to the difficulty to get men to stay in the bush for the winter and the need for more automation to operate even a small mill, the company decided to move their entire milling operation to Fairview. This
The Forestry Sector 8-8 necessitated the buying of more land as the trees were now to be trucked out in full length and bucked into saw logs in town. Another 30 some acres was purchased from Mr. Smart for this purpose. A medium sized sawmill was set up and automated as much as such a sawmill could be automated on restricted finances and timber supplies, which the company seemed to be unable to secure at that time from the provincial government. The company operated this complex until 1969, but it could plainly be seen that new government restrictions requiring the utilization of more of the tree would require more sophisticated equipment than they were prepared to buy with limited amount of timber reserves that they had. With this in mind and with the opportunity to sell their milling equipment and timber berths, the company sold all their lumbering assets to CanFor in Grande Prairie. Hence ended another era in the lumbering industry in the North Peace. During their nearly 25 years of operation, HRN’s Lumber had shipped and planed lumber for other operators in their area, such as Spofford and Sons, John Kozack, and had worked in close harmony with Glen Dawson, who also operated a sawmill near them, berth hauling his lumber to Bluesky where it was planed. They also did a considerable amount of custom planing for local farmers, who were allowed to take out so much lumber per year on a farmer’s permit. They had witnessed the good years and the bad, with other small operators in the Hines Creek, Worsley, and Chinook Valley areas, creating work for a number of men during the years when jobs were not all that plentiful. Men, who are perhaps not directly connected with this district but do deserve mention as they too were finally to sell their holdings to CanFor, such as the Grant Brothers, Dave Shaw (although he had retired before the big transfer), the Smiths of Chinook Valley, Ken Fisher and Ken Mitchell of Manning -– all were eventually to follow the path of HRN’s Lumber and sell their timber holdings to the CanFor complex. When the first sale was negotiated, CanFor had planned on setting up their large milling complex on the quarter across the road from the airport. They had purchased the land and made plans to put in their mill. But on discovering the large amounts of rights of way they would have to obtain between the mill and woods, crossing the many farms in between, they decided to settle closer to the woods. It was at this time that they acquired land a few miles east of Hines Creek and built their large milling complex there. On the surface, one would think that Hines Creek’s gain was Fairview’s loss, but upon closely examining the situation, the economics of the move do not appear to be as drastic as one might think. Many of the company’s men live in the town of Fairview, commuting some 20 miles to the mill site. A considerable amount of the service done to the thousands of dollars worth of equipment required to run an operation the size of the CanFor complex is done in the town of Fairview. There is little doubt the forestry industry, from the early days of delivering firewood in the town of Fairview and the shipping of pulpwood up until the acquisition of most of the wooded lands north to the Notikewin and Doig Rivers by the CanFor firm, have added greatly to the economy of the Fairview area. Operating on a sustained yield basis and under strict government regulations requiring the reforestation of the area harvested, it would seem that this economy will continue for a good many years to come.
The Forestry Sector 8-9 Administrative Forestry Boundaries The public forests of Alberta are divided into distinct administrative units called Forest Management Units (FMUs). The size and location of these FMUs in northwest Alberta are described in Figure 1 – Figure 4. Area of FMUs vary from large (F10: 1,231,477 ha) to small (G8: 5,932 ha). As of 1999, the FMUs that comprise the Peace River Pulp Division (PRPD) FMA include P2, P3N, P4, P5, P10, P15, F1, S10 and S15. The FMUs that comprise the High Level Forest Product (HLFP) FMA include F2, F5, F7, F13, F15, F21, F22 and P7. The locations of the PRPD and the HLFP FMAs are illustrated in Figure 5. Although FMUs are all comprised of public forest lands, some occur within the Green Zone while others occur within the White Zone.
F10 1,251,477 F5 302,969
F21 991,499 P9 298,132 879,179 F20 F4 296,507 P03 799,028 P6 294,489 F22 665,383 P10 286,294 PO2 496,356 F7 276,489 F01 483,021 F15 268,063 S15 443,349 P1 246,071 S10 408,207 P3 184,850 F2 398,569
F13 397,945 M1 174,733
P4 387,071 P01 167,231
F1 383,720 S9 164,031
P7 367,981 G03 147,408
363,707 S14 S8 142,651 F6 359,991 P1 101,484 P5 354,383 P10 39,858 P8 346,612 P3 34,944 S11 332,050 S9 28,450 F5 331,562 G8C 28,105 P2 322,971 M3 15,758 F12 314,917 14,880 F11 314,733 P11
F14 309,969 G8 5,932
0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 Size (ha) Size (ha)
Figure 1. Area (ha) of forest management units (FMUs) found within or partially within the boundaries of northwest Alberta (56-60°N, 114–120°W). Area values for FMU units transected by the study area boundary are for the entire FMU and not only for that portion within northwest Alberta. Data Source: DMI GIS Library.
The Forestry Sector 8-10 P7
P6 P03
P1N Manning
P2
P1S Worsley
P02
G8 Hines Creek G03 Grimshaw
Figure 2. Boundaries of the P1 and P2 forest management units (FMU). Data Source: DMI GIS Library.
F11 F01 P9 M1 Keg River
P8 P10 F1 F2 F3
P7 S14 P6 P5 S15 Manning P1N
P2 P4 Red Earth P1S P03 Worsley P02 S11 S10 Peace P3N River S9 S8 G03 P01
Figure 3. Boundaries of FMUs in the PRPD FMA. Data Source: DMI GIS Library.
The Forestry Sector 8-11 60° N –
Wood Buffalo National Park F20
F10 F21
F22
F7 F6 F15 F14 F12 F11 F01 High Level F01 Fort Vermilion F11 F13 F01 F4 F01 F11 F01 F5 58° N –
P9 M1 F11
Keg P8 River F3 F1 F2 P10
P7 P6 P5 S14
S15 Manning P1N
P2 P4 Red Earth P03 P1S S10 S11
G8 Grimshaw P3N P02 Peace River S9D Fairview S9 S8 G03 P01 56° N – G03 P3S M3 | | | 120° W 117° W 114° W FMU Boundaries Major Roads Water
Figure 4. Boundaries of FMUs in northwest Alberta. Data Source: DMI GIS Library.
The Forestry Sector 8-12
60° –
Peace River Pulp FM A High Level FM A
F21 F22
F14 F15 F7 F6 P7 High Level F13 F11 F4 F5 58° – P9 P8 F3 P10 F1 F2
P7 P6 P5 Red S15 Earth P1N S14 P2 P4 P1S P03 S10
Peace River P3N P02 P01 56° – 120° 117° 114°
Figure 5. Location of the Peace River Pulp Division (PRPD) FMA and the High Level Forest Products (HLFP) FMA in northwest Alberta. Data Source: DMI GIS Library.
The Forestry Sector 8-13 Locations of Pulp and Lumber Mills Numerous small, medium, and large sized forest companies have operated in northwest Alberta since the 1960’s (Table 1, Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8). It is clear that many small family-based operators were logging in the region throughout the first half of the century (see text of Harold Nicholson), but records of their production levels are unavailable. Communities that currently have a sawmill, peeler mill, or pulp mill in their vicinity include Chateh, High Level, High Prairie, Hines Creek, Manning, Nampa, Peace River, Red Earth Creek, Slave Lake, and Smith. Mills currently operating in northwest Alberta include Boucher Brothers Lumber Ltd., Brewster Construction Ltd., Buchanan Lumber, Canadian Forest Products Ltd., High Level Forest Products, Little Red River Cree Nation, Manning Diversified Forest Prod. Ltd., Vanderwell Contractors, Zeidler Forest Industries Ltd., Wallach, Zama Mills, Zavisha Sawmills Ltd., Zeidler Forest Industries Ltd., and Peace River Pulp Division Ltd.
Table 1. Starting year and end (where appropriate) year of selected sawmills, peeler mills, and pulp mills in northwest Alberta°. Data Source: Government of Alberta, Lands and Forest Service. Operation Start Year End Year Mill Location Type of Mill Bigstone Forest Prod. 1975 1986 Wabasca Sawmill Bissel Brothers 1966 1986 Enilda Sawmill Bissell Brothers 1969 1992 Enilda Sawmill Boucher Brothers Lumber Ltd.* 1979 Ongoing Nampa Sawmill Brewster Construction Ltd.* 1983 Ongoing Red Earth Creek Sawmill Brewster Construction Ltd.* 1989 Ongoing Red Earth Creek Sawmill Brewster Construction Ltd.* 1989 Ongoing Red Earth Creek Sawmill Buchanan Lumber 1995 Ongoing High Prairie Sawmill Buchanan Lumber * 1966 Ongoing High Prairie Sawmill Buchanan Lumber * 1969 Ongoing High Prairie Sawmill Canadian Forest Products Ltd.* 1968 Ongoing Hines Creek Sawmill Canadian Forest Products Ltd.* 1968 Ongoing Hines Creek Sawmill Canadian Forest Products Ltd.* 1990 Ongoing Hines Creek Sawmill Collins Fischer 1966 1968 St. Albert Sawmill Collins Fischer 1966 1968 St. Albert Sawmill Federated Co-op 1966 1972 Slave Lake Sawmill High Level Forest Products* 1966 Ongoing High Level Sawmill High Level Forest Products* 1966 Ongoing High Level Sawmill High Level Forest Products* 1966 Ongoing High Level Sawmill High Level Forest Products* 1966 Ongoing High Level Sawmill High Level Forest Products* 1966 Ongoing High Level Sawmill High Level Forest Products* 1966 Ongoing High Level Sawmill High Level Forest Products* 1966 Ongoing High Level Sawmill High Level Forest Products* 1967 Ongoing High Level Sawmill Jean Noel Audy 1966 1995 Nampa Sawmill Little Red River Cree Nation* 1970 Ongoing High Level Sawmill Manning Diversified Forest Prod. Ltd 1993 Ongoing Manning Sawmill Nelson Lumber 1969 1983 Red Earth Creek Sawmill Peace River Pulp Division Ltd 1989 Ongoing Peace River Pulp Mill Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd. 1986 Ongoing Slave Lake Sawmill Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd. 1986 Ongoing Slave Lake Sawmill Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd. 1987 1989 Slave Lake Sawmill Wallach* 1966 Ongoing Smith Sawmill Weldwood of Canada Ltd. 1966 1969 Zama Mills* 1972 Ongoing Chateh Sawmill Zavisha Sawmills Ltd.* 1966 Ongoing Hines Creek Sawmill Zeidler Forest Industries Ltd. 1968 1987 Slave Lake Peeler Mill Zeidler Forest Industries Ltd. 1972 Ongoing Slave Lake Peeler Mill Zeidler Forest Industries Ltd.* 1992 Ongoing Slave Lake Peeler Mill Note: Start year refers to the year that each company started in these quotas or when the quota started ° denotes current mill owner of quota
The Forestry Sector 8-14 Mill Locations Major Roads FMA Boundary Water
Manning
Worsley
Hines Creek
Grimshaw
Figure 6. Locations of lumber and pulp mills in the P1 and P2 FMU’s of northwest Alberta. Data Source: DMI GIS Library.
Figure 7. Location of lumber and pulp mills in the PRPD FMA of northwest Alberta. Data Source: DMI GIS Library.
The Forestry Sector 8-15 60Q N Š
High Level
Fort Vermilion
58Q N Š
Keg River
Red Earth
Peace River Fairview Grimshaw 56Q N Š | | 120Q W | 114Q W 117Q W
Mill Locations Major Roads Water
Figure 8. Location of lumber and pulp mills in northwest Alberta. Data Source: DMI GIS Library.
The Forestry Sector 8-16 Summary of Logging in Northwest Alberta Longterm Trends in Provincial and Regional Harvest Records of provincial logging volumes were compiled by Peter Murphy for the Lands and Forest Service for the period 1930–1960. These data indicate a clear provincial trend of moderately increasing allocation and harvest level during the period 1930-1975, followed by a period (1975-1996) of rapid increase (Table 2, Figure 9). Harvest volume data specific to northwest Alberta were unavailable for the period 1930-1964, but existing data indicate a period of relatively constant harvest (1966-1981), a period of slow increase (1982-1988), followed by an abrupt increase in allocation and harvest levels during 1989-1992 (Table 2, Figure 9). The significant increase in logging activity in northwest Alberta in the late 1980’s can be attributed to new technologies that enabled the cost-effective pulping of hardwood tree species – a development that lead to the construction of a pulp mill by Peace River Pulp Division. Table 2. Annual scaled log volumes (m 3) in Alberta and northwest Alberta (1930–1995). Data Source: Provincial logging summary prepared by Peter Murphy for Alberta Lands and Forest Service.
Yr Alberta Yr Alberta NW Alta Yr Alberta NW Alta Yr Alberta NW Alta 30 110,815 50 2,258,087 70 3,418,000 489,704 90 11,645,000 2,122,224 31 243,536 51 2,446,749 71 3,204,000 469,072 91 11,894,000 2,464,911 32 369,616 52 2,330,214 72 3,925,000 491,258 92 13,675,000 2,789,836 33 498,013 53 2,118,661 73 4,996,000 501,640 93 13,094,000 2,478,843 34 610,981 54 2,213,648 74 4,151,000 516,492 94 15,123,000 2,873,978 35 839,143 55 2,315,050 75 4,056,000 516,654 95 16,600,000 2,993,613 36 784,553 56 2,708,603 76 4,430,000 514,347 96 20,030,774 2,397,843 37 1,117,670 57 2,423,768 77 4,838,000 530,092 97 38 872,891 58 2,658,378 78 4,672,000 495,968 98 39 839,119 59 2,909,622 79 5,765,000 504,953 99 40 1,121,571 60 2,416,000 80 5,453,000 489,860 41 1,612,611 61 2,416,000 81 5,564,000 515,161 42 1,518,613 62 1,800,000 82 5,560,000 580,280 43 1,298,173 63 3,174,000 83 7,314,000 649,070 44 2,300,158 64 2,976,000 84 6,600,000 692,945 45 1,751,505 65 2,878,000 85 6,958,000 752,611 46 2,116,009 66 2,966,000 194,387 86 8,230,000 970,702 47 2,465,814 67 2,582,000 378,409 87 8,334,000 1,143,180 48 2,140,381 68 3,268,000 436,807 88 9,645,000 1,150,412 49 1,589,734 69 3,537,000 468,282 89 8,828,000 1,393,407
25,000,000 Alberta Northwest Alberta 20,000,000
15,000,000 Production (m3/year) 10,000,000
5,000,000
0 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 Year Figure 9. Annual trends in logging activity in Alberta and northwest Alberta (1930–1996); data from 1930–1965 are mill production values, whereas data from 1966–present are scaled log volumes (m 3). Data Source: P. Murphy and D. Price of Alberta Lands and Forest Service.
The Forestry Sector 8-17 Annual Harvest Volumes The following summaries relating to forestry in northwest Alberta were based on data retrieved from the Silvicultural Records Maintenance System (SRMS) dataset housed at DMI (Peace River) and CanFor (Hines Creek). These data pertain to logging activities of both companies from 1965 to 1996 in northwest Alberta (56–60°N, 114– 120° W). No data relating to cutblock attributes could be assembled for High Level Forest Products, Brewster Construction Limited, or other smaller quota holders. These data were used to reconstruct logging histories for forest companies operating in northwest Alberta, including cutblock frequencies (Table 3, Figure 10), softwood volumes ( Table 4), hardwood volumes (Table 5), and total harvest volume (Table 6). The considerable variation in annual cutblock frequency (low of 23, high of 649) is likely explained by a general increase in AAC over the period 1966– 1996, changing preferences in cutblocks sizes, and the large amount of fire salvage harvest occurring during the period 1981–1982 when cutblock size was not constrained. During the period 1966–1996, the harvest of softwood volume generally increased from ~200,000 to 1,400,000 m 3 (Figure 11). Unlike softwood volumes, the harvest of hardwood trees (primarily aspen) did not occur to any significant extent until the late 1980’s and thereafter grew quickly to ~1,700,000 m 3 by 1996 (Figure 12). In combining softwood and hardwood volume data, a clear trend of a slow increase in harvest volumes occurred between 1966 and 1984, followed by a period of rapid increase (1984–1992) (Figure 13). Harvest volumes in recent years has been relatively stable (~2,750,000 m 3). Cumulative harvest volumes for softwoods, hardwoods, and total tree volumes, are presented in Figure 14, Figure 15, Figure 16, respectively. During the period 1966–1996, a total of ~24,000,000 m 3, 10,000,000 m 3, and 34,000,000 m 3 of softwood, hardwood, and total tree volumes, respectively, were harvested.
800
600
# of Cutblocks 400
200
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 Figure 10. Annual cutblock frequency in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
The Forestry Sector 8-18 2,000,000 Softwood Logging Volume 1,600,000
1,200,000 m3 800,000
400,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 Figure 11. Annual harvest (m 3) of softwood trees in northwest Alberta (1966–1996). Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta. 2,000,000 Hardwood Logging Volume 1,600,000
1,200,000
m3 800,000
400,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Figure 12. Annual harvest (m 3) of hardwood trees in northwest Alberta (1966–1996). Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
4,000,000 Total Logging Volume 3,000,000
m3 2,000,000
1,000,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Figure 13. Annual harvest (m 3) of trees in northwest Alberta (1966–1996). Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
The Forestry Sector 8-19 25,000,000 Softwood Logging Volume 20,000,000
15,000,000 m3
10,000,000
5,000,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 Figure 14. Cumulative harvest (m 3) of softwood trees in northwest Alberta (1966–1996). Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta. 15,000,000 Hardwood Logging Volume 12,000,000
9,000,000 m3 6,000,000
3,000,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 Figure 15. Cumulative harvest (m 3) of hardwood trees in northwest Alberta (1966–1996). Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
40,000,000 Total Logging Volume 30,000,000
3 m 20,000,000
10,000,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 Figure 16. Cumulative harvest (m 3) of total tree volume in northwest Alberta (1966–1996). Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
The Forestry Sector 8-20 Harvest Patterns of Individual Forest Companies From 1966 to 1996, the largest harvester of softwood in northwest Alberta was High Level Forest Products, followed, in order of decreasing volume, by Canadian Forest Products, Zeidler, Brewster, Little Red, Buchanan, Zama Mills, Vanderwell, Boucher, Manning, Wallach, and Zavisha (Table 3, Table 4, Figure 17). During the same period, the largest harvester of hardwood volume was Peace River Pulp Division, followed in order by Canadian Forest Products, Brewster, High Level Forest Products, and Buchanan (Table 3, Table 5, Figure 17). Other operators cut small or no amounts of hardwoods. In terms of total harvest volumes from 1966 to 1996, the largest operator was High Level Forest Products, followed by Peace River Pulp Division, Canadian Forest Products, Brewsters, Zeidler, Buchanan, Little Red, Zama Mills, Vanderwell, Boucher, Manning, Wallach, and Zavisha (Table 3, Table 6, Figure 17). A more recent description of comparative harvest is illustrated in Figure 18 showing data from 1996 (the most recent year with complete data). It is clear that Peace River Pulp Division is the single largest operator for hardwood and total tree volume, whereas High Level Forest Products is the largest harvester of softwood volume. Not all of PRPD hardwood volume comes from public forest lands, however, and Figure 19 illustrates annual variation in private land purchase of aspen between 1989 and 1997. Temporal trends in harvest volumes for individual companies are illustrated in Figure 20 – Figure 32. The low reported tree volumes harvested during the early to mid 1980’s are presumably related to the significant amount of fire salvage harvest that occurred. These salvage volumes are not currently included in government harvest records. A transformation of the forest sector occurred in northwest Alberta in the late 1980’s when emerging technologies allowed for the harvest and processing of hardwood species (primarily aspen) into pulp products. Whereas hardwoods were an insignificant contributor to harvest volumes prior to 1989, they now account for over half of the total volume harvested. Table 3. Annual cutblock frequency by forest companies in northwest Alberta between 1966 and 1996. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta. Year Boucher Brewster Buchanan CanFor HLFP Little Manning P.R.P.D. Vander- Wallach Zama Zavisha Zeidler Total Red well Mills 1966 0 0 0 50 78 0 no 0 7 10 0 0 14 159 1967 0 0 0 16 60 0 data 0 0 3 0 3 10 92 1968 0 0 2 52 65 0 0 8 0 3 4 14 148 1969 0 0 24 57 84 0 0 0 0 6 0 25 196 1970 0 0 22 50 146 0 0 0 3 10 1 36 268 1971 0 0 8 83 172 13 0 2 5 4 1 75 363 1972 0 0 14 71 208 1 0 0 6 9 1 20 330 1973 0 0 15 61 213 0 0 1 4 3 1 25 323 1974 0 0 1 102 0 0 0 3 0 0 12 118 1975 0 0 0 49 123 0 0 30 3 0 1 82 288 1976 0 0 13 37 179 0 0 19 3 37 3 7 298 1977 0 0 31 35 121 0 0 0 63 0 5 53 308 1978 0 0 40 23 68 5 0 0 0 0 0 39 175 1979 5 5 0 42 78 0 0 1 2 0 1 51 194 1980 6 6 11 13 121 0 0 0 0 0 0 39 190 1981 0 0 1 4 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 25 1982 0 0 8 14 11 0 0 0 0 1 4 23 61 1983 0 11 0 21 149 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 184 1984 11 12 0 28 51 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 112 1985 0 25 17 11 81 0 0 20 2 0 9 29 194 1986 0 18 10 40 178 12 0 0 12 15 0 57 342 1987 22 41 35 168 10 0 0 0 22 0 53 351 1988 13 64 11 19 228 41 0 11 0 36 0 6 429 1989 20 49 67 36 267 61 0 11 0 14 0 1 526 1990 19 70 59 98 242 62 0 0 0 25 3 42 620 1991 5 100 26 82 281 39 0 14 8 20 6 39 620 1992 24 37 46 84 265 54 0 23 14 24 0 78 649 1993 21 47 5 69 262 62 0 0 0 29 7 43 545 1994 0 158 8 74 151 34 0 0 0 26 3 25 479 1995 0 95 9 72 187 26 0 24 0 18 0 85 516 1996 22 50 31 33 80 27 0 0 0 22 0 40 305 Total 168 788 514 567 4431 455 0 171 141 324 53 1036 9408
The Forestry Sector 8-21 High Level F.P. Peace River P.D.
Canfor
Brewster Total Hardwood Zeidler Softwood Buchanan
Little Red
Zama Mills
Vanderwell Boucher
Manning
Wallach Zavisha
0 3,000,000 6,000,000 9,000,000 12,000,000 15,000,000 cubic meters
Figure 17. Total softwood, hardwood, and tree volume (m 3) harvested by different mills in northwest Alberta between 1966 and 1996. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
Peace River P.D.
High Level F.P.
Canfor Total Brewster Hardwood Softwood Zeidler Zama Mills Buchanan
Manning Little Red
Vanderwell Boucher Wallach
Zavisha
0 400,000 800,000 1,200,000 1,600,000 cubic meters
Figure 18. Comparison of softwood, hardwood, and total harvest volumes (m 3) in 1996 of different mills in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
The Forestry Sector 8-22 Table 4. Softwood volumes (m 3) harvested by selected forest companies in northwest Alberta between 1966 and 1996. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta. Year Boucher Brewster Buch- CanFor HLFP Little Manning P.R.P.D Vander- Wallach Zama Zavisha Zeidler Total anan Red well Mills
1966 0 0 254 41,485 108,644 0 0 0 4,509 3,807 0 2,384 33,304 194,387
1967 0 0 6,668 71,734 234,001 0 0 0 6,764 5,710 0 3,577 49,955 378,409
1968 0 0 9,812 71,734 286,553 0 0 0 6,764 5,710 2,702 3,577 49,955 436,807
1969 0 6,649 15,355 71,734 304,486 0 0 0 6,764 5,710 4,052 3,577 49,955 468,282
1970 0 22,563 18,162 71,734 304,486 2,701 0 0 6,764 5,710 4,052 3,577 49,955 489,704
1971 0 22,563 18,163 77,901 276,351 4,052 0 0 5,840 5,426 4,052 2,162 52,562 469,072
1972 0 22,563 15,515 92,554 284,837 4,052 0 0 5,378 5,285 4,052 1,455 55,567 491,258
1973 0 22,563 14,182 92,554 297,288 4,052 0 0 5,378 5,285 2,465 1,455 56,418 501,640
1974 0 23,047 17,010 92,554 306,621 4,052 0 0 5,378 8,285 1,672 1,455 56,418 516,492
1975 0 20,576 18,425 92,554 306,621 5,202 0 0 8,446 5,285 1,672 1,455 56,418 516,654
1976 0 24,203 18,425 94,058 291,282 5,777 0 0 10,690 4,686 1,672 1,769 61,785 514,347
1977 0 24,203 22,982 108,352 285,281 5,777 0 0 11,044 4,386 1,672 1,926 64,469 530,092
1978 0 24,203 25,261 108,352 247,880 5,777 0 0 11,044 4,386 2,670 1,926 64,469 495,968
1979 5,080 24,079 17,354 108,352 259,317 5,777 0 0 11,044 4,386 3,169 1,926 64,469 504,953
1980 8,709 8,060 13,399 108,352 259,317 6,360 0 0 11,713 4,386 3,169 1,926 64,469 489,860
1981 8,709 92 13,378 87,707 327,818 6,651 0 0 10,251 4,210 3,169 3,419 49,757 515,161
1982 7,629 92 5,188 88,439 400,582 6,651 0 0 9,352 4,122 3,169 4,165 50,891 580,280
1983 8,102 92 1,099 88,439 442,503 6,651 0 0 9,352 4,122 29,408 4,165 55,137 649,070
1984 8,102 92 636 88,439 473,821 6,651 0 0 9,252 4,122 42,528 4,165 55,137 692,945
1985 8,102 15,780 404 88,439 473,821 46,069 0 0 14,044 4,122 42,528 4,165 55,137 752,611
1986 20,670 96,097 63,704 89,210 497,640 65,779 0 0 19,798 5,078 37,992 3,517 71,217 970,702
1987 30,804 149,309 95,354 102,396 559,061 65,779 0 0 21,501 5,556 35,723 3,194 74,503 1,143,180
1988 30,804 149,309 95,354 102,396 568,669 65,779 0 0 21,501 5,556 35,723 3,194 72,127 1,150,412
1989 30,804 149,309 95,354 102,396 568,669 65,779 0 0 21,501 5,556 35,723 3,194 72,127 1,150,412
1990 30,804 149,309 95,354 162,548 568,699 104,898 0 0 21,501 5,556 35,723 3,194 72,127 1,249,713
1991 23,250 139,762 70,043 184,458 578,302 124,458 0 0 22,751 6,130 53,579 3,811 72,377 1,278,921
1992 22,255 154,273 57,389 204,611 613,919 124,458 0 0 23,375 6,417 62,506 4,119 72,502 1,345,824
1993 22,255 154,273 57,389 204,611 613,919 124,458 29,171 0 23,375 6,417 62,506 4,119 72,502 1,374,995
1994 22,255 154,273 57,389 204,611 613,919 124,458 43,756 0 23,375 6,417 62,506 4,119 72,502 1,389,580
1995 22,255 154,273 57,389 204,611 613,919 41,486 43,756 0 23,375 6,417 62,506 4,119 72,502 1,306,608
1996 7,418 51,425 19,129 68,204 539,940 43,756 0 7,791 2,139 20,835 1,373 24,167 786,177
Total 318,007 1,763,032 1,015,520 3,375,519 12,508,166 1,033,584 160,439 0 399,615 160,380 663,195 92,179 1,844,880 23,334,516
The Forestry Sector 8-23 Table 5. Hardwood volumes (m 3) harvested by selected forest companies in northwest Alberta between 1966 and 1996. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta. Year Boucher Brewster Buch- CanFor HLFP Little Manning P.R.P.D Vander- Wallach Zama Zavisha Zeidler Total anan Red well Mills
1966 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1967 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1968 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1969 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1970 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1971 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1972 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1973 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1974 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1975 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1976 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1977 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1978 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1979 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1980 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1981 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1982 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1983 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1984 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1985 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1986 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1987 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1988 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1989 0 0 0 3,487 0 0 0 239,508 0 0 0 0 3,487
1990 0 0 2,437 21,662 0 0 0 845,546 0 0 0 2,866 0 26,965
1991 8,517 0 18,638 55,691 0 0 0 1,095,499 0 0 0 7,645 0 90,491
1992 6,914 0 36,364 15,355 80 0 0 1,385,228 0 0 0 71 0 58,784
1993 3,842 41,806 20,431 23,809 0 0 48 1,013,912 0 0 0 0 0 89,936
1994 202 21,494 0 0 12,734 0 50,029 1,395,238 0 0 0 0 4,701 88,756
1995 0 42,816 2,073 10,848 69,208 0 0 1,524,367 0 0 0 0 37,693 162,638
1996 16,110 41,655 25,199 79,400 47,918 0 0 1,381,129 0 0 0 0 20,255 230,537
Total 35,585 147,771 105,142 210,252 129,940 0 50,077 8,880,427 0 0 0 10,582 62,649 751,594
The Forestry Sector 8-24 Table 6. Total tree volumes (m 3) harvested by forest companies in northwest Alberta between 1966 and 1996. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta. Year Boucher Brewster Buchanan CanFor HLFP Little Manning P.R.P.D. Vander- Wallach Zama Zavisha Zeidler Total Red well Mills
1966 0 0 254 41,485 108,644 0 0 0 4,509 3,807 0 2,384 33,304 196,353
1967 0 0 6,668 71,734 234,001 0 0 0 6,764 5,710 0 3,577 49,955 380,376
1968 0 0 9,812 71,734 286,553 0 0 0 6,764 5,710 2,702 3,577 49,955 438,775
1969 0 6,649 15,355 71,734 304,486 0 0 0 6,764 5,710 4,052 3,577 49,955 470,251
1970 0 22,563 18,162 71,734 304,486 2,701 0 0 6,764 5,710 4,052 3,577 49,955 491,674
1971 0 22,563 18,163 77,901 276,351 4,052 0 0 5,840 5,426 4,052 2,162 52,562 471,043
1972 0 22,563 15,515 92,554 284,837 4,052 0 0 5,378 5,285 4,052 1,455 55,567 493,230
1973 0 22,563 14,182 92,554 297,288 4,052 0 0 5,378 5,285 2,465 1,455 56,418 503,613
1974 0 23,047 17,010 92,554 306,621 4,052 0 0 5,378 8,285 1,672 1,455 56,418 518,466
1975 0 20,576 18,425 92,554 306,621 5,202 0 0 8,446 5,285 1,672 1,455 56,418 518,629
1976 0 24,203 18,425 94,058 291,282 5,777 0 0 10,690 4,686 1,672 1,769 61,785 516,323
1977 0 24,203 22,982 108,352 285,281 5,777 0 0 11,044 4,386 1,672 1,926 64,469 532,069
1978 0 24,203 25,261 108,352 247,880 5,777 0 0 11,044 4,386 2,670 1,926 64,469 497,946
1979 5,080 24,079 17,354 108,352 259,317 5,777 0 0 11,044 4,386 3,169 1,926 64,469 506,932
1980 8,709 8,060 13,399 108,352 259,317 6,360 0 0 11,713 4,386 3,169 1,926 64,469 491,840
1981 8,709 92 13,378 87,707 327,818 6,651 0 0 10,251 4,210 3,169 3,419 49,757 517,142
1982 7,629 92 5,188 88,439 400,582 6,651 0 0 9,352 4,122 3,169 4,165 50,891 582,262
1983 8,102 92 1,099 88,439 442,503 6,651 0 0 9,352 4,122 29,408 4,165 55,137 651,053
1984 8,102 92 636 88,439 473,821 6,651 0 0 9,252 4,122 42,528 4,165 55,137 694,929
1985 8,102 15,780 404 88,439 473,821 46,069 0 0 14,044 4,122 42,528 4,165 55,137 754,596
1986 20,670 96,097 63,704 89,210 497,640 65,779 0 0 19,798 5,078 37,992 3,517 71,217 972,688
1987 30,804 149,309 95,354 102,396 559,061 65,779 0 0 21,501 5,556 35,723 3,194 74,503 1,145,167
1988 30,804 149,309 95,354 102,396 568,669 65,779 0 0 21,501 5,556 35,723 3,194 72,127 1,152,400
1989 30,804 149,309 95,354 105,883 568,669 65,779 0 239,508 21,501 5,556 35,723 3,194 72,127 1,395,396
1990 30,804 149,309 97,791 184,210 568,699 104,898 0 845,546 21,501 5,556 35,723 6,060 72,127 2,124,214
1991 31,767 139,762 88,681 240,149 578,302 124,458 0 1,095,499 22,751 6,130 53,579 11,456 72,377 2,466,902
1992 29,169 154,273 93,753 219,966 613,999 124,458 0 1,385,228 23,375 6,417 62,506 4,190 72,502 2,791,828
1993 26,097 196,079 77,820 228,420 613,919 124,458 29,219 1,013,912 23,375 6,417 62,506 4,119 72,502 2,480,836
1994 22,053 175,767 57,389 204,611 626,653 124,458 93,785 1,395,238 23,375 6,417 62,506 4,119 77,203 2,875,568
1995 22,255 197,089 59,462 215,459 683,127 41,486 43,756 1,524,367 23,375 6,417 62,506 4,119 110,195 2,995,608
1996 23,528 93,080 44,328 147,604 587,858 0 43,756 1,381,129 7,791 2,139 20,835 1,373 44,422 2,399,839
Total 353,188 1,910,803 1,120,662 3,585,771 12,638,106 1,033,584 210,516 8,880,427 399,615 160,380 663,195 102,761 1,907,529 32,966,537
The Forestry Sector 8-25
500,000
400,000 378,000 338,831
300,000
3 m 211,913 200,000
104,628 114,272 87,905 100,000 68,176 28,909 5,782 0 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
Figure 19. Hardwood volume (m 3) purchases by Peace River Pulp Division from private land between 1989 and 1997. Data Source: Woodlands Department, Peace River Pulp Division.
40,000 Boucher 30,000
m3 20,000
10,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Figure 20. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Boucher in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
The Forestry Sector 8-26 250,000 Brewster 200,000
150,000 m3 100,000
50,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Figure 21. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Brewster in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
120,000 Buchanan 100,000
80,000
m3 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 1966 1969 1972 1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996
Figure 22. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Buchanan in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
250,000 CanFor (Hines Creek) 200,000
150,000 m3 100,000
50,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Figure 23. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of CanFor (Hines Creek) in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
The Forestry Sector 8-27 1,000,000 High Level Forest Products 800,000
600,000 m3 400,000
200,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Figure 24. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of High Level Forest Products in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
150,000 Little Red 120,000
90,000 m3 60,000
30,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Figure 25. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Little Red in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
100,000 Manning 80,000
60,000 m3 40,000
20,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Figure 26. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Manning in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
The Forestry Sector 8-28 2,000,000 Peace River Pulp Division 1,600,000
1,200,000 m3 800,000
400,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Figure 27. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Peace River Pulp Division in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
25,000 Vanderwell 20,000
15,000 m3 10,000
5,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Figure 28. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Vanderwell in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
10,000 Wallach 8,000
6,000 m3 4,000
2,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Figure 29. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Wallach in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
The Forestry Sector 8-29 80,000 Zama Mills
60,000
40,000 m3
20,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Figure 30. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Zama Mills in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
15,000 Zavisha 12,000
9,000 m3 6,000
3,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Figure 31. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Zavisha in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
120,000 Zeigler 100,000 80,000
60,000 m3 40,000
20,000
0 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Figure 32. Annual harvest volume (m 3) of Zeigler in northwest Alberta. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta.
The Forestry Sector 8-30 The Softwood to Hardwood Trend Whereas softwood (conifer) harvest has dominated logging operations in northwest Alberta during the last century, the harvest of hardwoods (primarily aspen) has grown rapidly during the last decade (Table 7, Figure 33). Since the late 1980’s, the contribution of softwood fiber to total volume harvest has steadily declined, and is now less than the volume of hardwood harvested annually.
Annual Cutblock Frequency and Area The CanFor logging dataset begins in 1965 and shows considerable variation in annual cutblock frequency (9–159) and area harvested (27–1557 ha) (Table 8, Figure 34, Figure 35). In recent years CanFor has logged, on average, ~80 cutblocks and an annual area of ~1,550 ha. Although PRPD began logging in 1989, cutblock data on the SRMS does not appear until 1991. In recent years PRPD has logged, on average, 140 cutblocks on a combined area of 3,000 ha (Table 8, Figure 34, Figure 35). Collectively, PRPD and CanFor are now logging 200–230 blocks annually on a combined annual area exceeding 5,000 ha.
Cutblock Size CanFor’s cutblocks exhibited cyclic change in average size from 1961–1995 (Table 9, Figure 36), with smaller blocks occurring in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, larger cutblocks occurring in late 1970’s and early 1980’s, and smaller cutblocks occurring in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. These temporal trends are related to large post-fire salvage logging occurring in the early 1980’s and varying AFS ground rules relating to cutblock sizes. Average PRPD cutblock sizes were ~28 ha and exhibited minimal annual variation. The relative difference in size of PRPD and CanFor cutblocks (Figure 37) reflects their relative use of hardwood and softwood tree species and the regulatory requirement for smaller cutblocks when harvesting spruce.
Seasonality of Logging Logging does not occur at a constant monthly rate, but is significantly seasonal (Figure 38–Figure 43). For PRPD and CanFor, logging activity is highest during the coldest winter months (January–March), intermediate during the late summer, fall and early winter months, and very low during the spring and early summer. The primary constraint to logging during spring and early summer is wet soil and poor road conditions caused by the spring thaw. Some level of variation in monthly cutblock size is apparent for both PRPD and CanFor, but the cause of this variation is unclear.
Current Forest Companies and their harvest volumes Table 10 describes in detail the wood product type, wood volume, and wood source for each of the forest companies and quota holders currently operating in northwest Alberta.
Harvest Strategies For both of the major forest companies (PRPD and CanFor) operating in the PRPD FMA, clear-cutting is the near- exclusive strategy used to harvest timber (Table 11, Figure 44, Figure 45), with various forms of partial cutting being used rarely.
Cutblock Size in different Forest Type Cutblock sizes are generally small in northwest Alberta and have relatively small amounts of variance (Table 12, Figure 46). The size of cutblocks was significantly smaller for softwood cutblocks than for hardwood cutblocks.
The Forestry Sector 8-31 Table 7. Annual patterns in harvest of softwood and hardwood tree volumes (m 3) in northwest Alberta between 1966 and 1996. Data Source: Land and Forest Service, Government of Alberta. Year Softwood (m 3) Hardwood (m 3) Total (m 3) 1966 194,387 0 194,387 1967 378,409 0 378,409 1968 436,807 0 436,807 1969 468,282 0 468,282 1970 489,704 0 489,704 1971 469,072 0 469,072 1972 491,258 0 491,258 1973 501,640 0 501,640 1974 516,492 0 516,492 1975 516,654 0 516,654 1976 514,347 0 514,347 1977 530,092 0 530,092 1978 495,968 0 495,968 1979 504,953 0 504,953 1980 489,860 0 489,860 1981 515,161 0 515,161 1982 580,280 0 580,280 1983 649,070 0 649,070 1984 692,945 0 692,945 1985 752,611 0 752,611 1986 970,702 0 970,702 1987 1,143,180 0 1,143,180 1988 1,150,412 0 1,150,412 1989 1,150,412 242,995 1,393,407 1990 1,249,713 872,511 2,122,224 1991 1,278,921 1,185,990 2,464,911 1992 1,345,824 1,444,012 2,789,836 1993 1,374,995 1,103,848 2,478,843 1994 1,389,580 1,484,398 2,873,978 1995 1,306,608 1,687,005 2,993,613 1996 786,177 1,611,666 2,397,843
Softwood Hardwood 100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0% 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996
Figure 33. Trends in proportional volume of softwood and hardwood harvested between 1966 and 1996.
The Forestry Sector 8-32
Table 8. Annual cutblock frequency and area (ha) harvested for PRPD (Peace River) and CanFor (Hines Creek). Data Sources: Woodlands Divisions of PRPD and Canadian Forest Products Ltd. Cutblock Frequency Cutblock Area (ha) Year of Harvest PRPD CanFor Total PRPD CanFor Total Area 1965 0 9 9 0 26.8 26.8 1966 0 52 52 0 633.7 633.7 1967 0 49 49 0 506.9 506.9 1968 0 123 123 0 920.8 920.8 1969 0 54 54 0 655.9 655.9 1970 0 101 101 0 906.4 906.4 1971 0 151 151 0 1396 1396 1972 0 159 159 0 1,186.2 1,186.2 1973 0 109 109 0 937.4 937.4 1974 0 30 30 0 230.4 230.4 1975 0 60 60 0 785.1 785.1 1976 0 40 40 0 577.2 577.2 1977 0 28 28 0 651.9 651.9 1978 0 40 40 0 1,001.8 1,001.8 1979 0 87 87 0 787.1 787.1 1980 0 44 44 0 770.2 770.2 1981 0 10 10 0 348.3 348.3 1982 0 24 24 0 680.7 680.7 1983 0 23 23 0 1,094.1 1,094.1 1984 0 49 49 0 1,135.4 1,135.4 1985 0 52 52 0 864.9 864.9 1986 0 22 22 0 506.2 506.2 1987 0 33 33 0 561.6 561.6 1988 0 39 39 0 570.0 570.0 1989 0 53 53 0 629.4 629.4 1990 0 84 84 0 910.6 910.6 1991 42 92 134 1,326.2 1,375.9 2,702.1 1992 127 88 215 3,063.4 1,504.2 4,567.6 1993 88 74 162 2,107.2 1,256.7 3,363.9 1994 129 71 200 3,282.3 1,075.1 4,357.4 1995 142 93 235 3,809.6 1,556.8 5,366.4 1996 73 74 147 1,821.0 1,362.2 3,183.2 (incompleteTotal 601 2,017 2,618 15,409.7 27,405.9 42,815.6
The Forestry Sector 8-33 200
PRPD 150 CanFor # of Cutblocks 100
50
0 65 67 69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 Year
Figure 34. Annual cutblock frequency for PRPD (Peace River) and CanFor (Hines Creek). Data Sources: Woodlands Divisions of PRPD and Canadian Forest Products Ltd.
4,000
3,500 PRPD 3,000 CanFor
2,500
ha 2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0 65 67 69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 Year
Figure 35. Annual harvest area (ha) for PRPD (Peace River) and CanFor (Hines Creek). Data Sources: Woodlands Divisions of PRPD and Canadian Forest Products Ltd.
The Forestry Sector 8-34 Table 9. Average annual cutblock size (ha) for PRPD (Peace River) and CanFor (Hines Creek Data Sources: Woodlands Divisions of PRPD and Canadian Forest Products Ltd. Year of Harvest PRPD CanFor (Hines Cr.) Both PRPD and CanFor 1965 no harvest 2.98 2.98 1966 no harvest 12.19 12.19 1967 no harvest 10.34 10.34 1968 no harvest 7.49 7.49 1969 no harvest 12.15 12.15 1970 no harvest 8.97 8.97 1971 no harvest 9.25 9.25 1972 no harvest 7.46 7.46 1973 no harvest 8.60 8.60 1974 no harvest 7.68 7.68 1975 no harvest 13.09 13.09 1976 no harvest 14.43 14.43 1977 no harvest 23.28 23.28 1978 no harvest 25.05 25.05 1979 no harvest 9.05 9.05 1980 no harvest 17.50 17.50 1981 no harvest 34.83 34.83 1982 no harvest 28.36 28.36 1983 no harvest 47.57 47.57 1984 no harvest 23.17 23.17 1985 no harvest 16.63 16.63 1986 no harvest 23.01 23.01 1987 no harvest 17.02 17.02 1988 no harvest 14.62 14.62 1989 20.65 11.88 12.19 1990 32.53 10.84 16.54 1991 31.58 14.96 20.16 1992 24.12 17.09 21.24 1993 23.95 16.98 20.76 1994 25.44 15.14 21.79 1995 26.83 16.74 22.84 1996 24.95 18.41 21.65 Total 25.64 13.59 16.35
The Forestry Sector 8-35 50
40 PRPD CanFor 30 ha 20
10
0 65 67 69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 Year
Figure 36. Annual average cutblock size (ha) for PRPD (Peace River) and CanFor (Hines Creek) between 1965– 1996. Data Sources: Data Sources: Woodlands Divisions of PRPD and Canadian Forest Products Ltd.
0.25
0.2 PRPD CanFor 0.15 Percent 0.1
0.05
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Cutblock Size (ha)
Figure 37. Cutblock size distribution for PRPD (Peace River) and CanFor (Hines Creek) between 1965–1996. Data Sources: Woodlands Divisions of PRPD and Canadian Forest Products Ltd.
The Forestry Sector 8-36 150 130 117 120 97 # 90 Cutblocks 61 64 60 51 33 33 30 7 7 0 1 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Figure 38. Monthly variation in cutblock frequency for PRPD (1989-1996). Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department.
4,000
3,085 2,914 3,000 2,611 Area Harvested (ha) 2,000 1,590 1,439 1,524
953 1,000 844
235 198 0 17 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Figure 39. Monthly variation in cutblock area (ha) for PRPD (1989-1996). Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Dept.
40 33.6
30 28.2 28.9 28.2 26.9 25.6 23.7 24.9 25.0 24.8 Average Cutblock 20 17.3 Size (ha)
10
0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Figure 40. Monthly variation in average cutblock size (ha) for PRPD (1989-1996). Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department.
The Forestry Sector 8-37 250 199 200 155 163 # 150 Cutblocks 92 100 81
50 22 2 1 1 0 2 3 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Figure 41. Monthly variation in cutblock frequency for CanFor (1980–1995). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Dept.
4,000
2,982 3,000 2,717 Area 2,482 harvested 2,113 (ha) 2,000 1,340
1,000 424 46 46 17 0 41 40 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Figure 42. Monthly variation in harvested area (ha) for CanFor (1980–1995). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Dept.
60
46.1
40 Average Cutblock Size (ha) 20.5 17.5 17.2 19.3 20 15.0 13.4 14.6 15.2
0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Figure 43. Monthly variation in average cutblock size (ha) for CanFor (1980–1995). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Dept.
The Forestry Sector 8-38
Table 10. Lumber/pulp companies operating in northwest Alberta, including data on current product type and volume. Data Source: Land and Forest Service. Company name Product Volume Annual Wood / Fibre Supply Source Volume (m 3) Form Apen Point Dimension hardwood lumber Bisson, Karen Dimension softwood lumber Salvage 300 Roundwood Boucher Bros. Lumber Ltd. Dimension softwood lumber 30 Purchased 106,867 Roundwood Quota 21,888 Roundwood Brewster Construction Ltd. Dimension softwood lumber 60 FMA 290,000 Roundwood A Subsidiary Of DMI Salvage 5000 Roundwood Canadian Forest Products Ltd. Softwood studs, dimension lumber 78 Quota 240,000 Roundwood Hines Creek Sawmill Boards and shorts Private land 60,000 Roundwood Other's 20,000 Roundwood Crestview Sawmills Ltd. Dimension softwood lumber Dimsdale, Dave Dimension softwood lumber 5 CTP 25,000 Roundwood Double Z Forest Products Ltd. Dimension softwood lumber 4.3 CTP 12,000 Roundwood Dell Loggers Dimension softwood lumber Emslie, Cliff Dimension softwood lumber Evergreen Lumber Inc. Dimension softwood lumber 3.5 CTP & private 15,000 Roundwood Feduschak, Don Dimension softwood lumber 30,000 FGP Forest Products Dimension softwood lumber Gordey, Lyle Dimension softwood lumber 30,000 High Level Forest Products Ltd. DMI Dimension softwood lumber 250 Quota 657,857 Roundwood Other's Quota 174,597 Roundwood Other 125,643 Roundwood Jaske, John Dimension softwood lumber Klein, Keith Dimension softwood lumber 250,000 CTP N/a Roundwo od Lawrence, Gula Ties, rough lumber 1 Lundgard, Laverne Dimension softwood lumber 233,000 Manning Diversified Forest Products Dimension softwood lumber 65 Quota 265,000 Roundwood Marcoux, Robert Dimension softwood lumber Me rrick Mill Conifer and deciduous lumber MTU 350 McGregor, Gerald Dimension softwood lumber 30,000 Miller, David Dimension softwood lumber 200,000 Mosure And Son Dimension Softwood Lumber 300,000 Mueller / Lund Sawmills Dimension softwood lumber Novak, Ron Dimension softwood lumber Paul's Sawmill & Planer Dimension softwood lumber 500,000 LTP 750 Roundwood Planks, timbers and boards Private Land 100 Roundwood Pauluski, Ed Dimension softwood & hardwood 30,000 Patton, Joe Dimension softwood lumber Peace Country Wood Products Conifer and deciduous lumber Peace River Pulp Division Northern bleached hardwood kraft 390,000 FMA & other 220,000 bdt Chips DMI Northern bleached softwood kraft 1,80 0,000 Roundwood Poplar Mills Ltd. Dimension hardwood lumber Precision Lumber Conifer and deciduous lumber Rhodes, Rodney Dimension softwood lumber 50,000 Ridgeview Mills Dimension hardwood lumber Schur, Ross Dimension hardwood lumb er Shumik, William Dimension softwood lumber Stephenson, Jim Dimension softwood lumber Torose Enterprises Dimension softwood lumber 300,000 Whitetail Lumber Ltd. Dimension softwood lumber 8 Young, Ted Dimension softwood lu mber Zacherias, Johan Dimension softwood lumber 120,000 Zacherias, Julius Dimension softwood lumber Zavishas Mills Ltd. Dimension softwood lumber 20 Other's ctp/ltp 17,500 Roundwood Portable Mill Private Land 4,100 Roundwood Quota 4,000 Roundwood Zipper Lumber Dimension softwood lumber LTP’s 350 Roundwood
Table 11. Frequency and area of harvest strategies (clearcut, partial cut) used by PRPD and CanFor (Hines Creek) during 1980–1995. Data Source: PRPD and CanFor Woodlands Departments.
The Forestry Sector 8-39 Company Cutblock Frequency Area Harvested (ha) Clearcut Partial Cut Total Clearcut Partial Cut Total PRPD 591 10 601 14,988.7 421.0 15,409.7 CanFor 2,006 11 2,017 27,130.1 275.8 27,405.9 Total 2,597 21 2,618 42,118.8 696.8 42,815.6
3,000 2,597 2,618
2,006 PRPD 2,017 2,000 CanFor # of Total Cutblocks
1,000 591 601
10 11 21 0 Clearcut Partial Cut Total Harvest Strategy
Figure 44. Frequency of harvest strategies by PRPD and CanFor (1965–1996). Data Source: PRPD and CanFor Woodlands Departments.
60,000
42,119 42,816 PRPD 40,000 CanFor Area Total Harvested 27,130 27,406 (ha) 20,000 14,989 15,410
421 276 697 0 Clearcut Partial Cut Total Harvest Strategy
Figure 45. Area harvested using clearcut and partial cut strategies by PRPD and CanFor (1965–1996). Data Source: PRPD and CanFor Woodlands Departments.
The Forestry Sector 8-40 Table 12. Average cutblock size in hardwood and softwood forest types during 1989–1996. Data Source: PRPD and CanFor Woodlands Departments. Forest Type Ave Cutblock Size 2 x Standard Error # of Cutblocks Hardwood 27.09 1.40 537 Softwood 17.79 2.32 62
30
25
20 Average Cutblock 15 Size (ha) 10
5
0 Hardwood Softwood Forest Type
Figure 46. Average cutblock size (ha) in hardwood and softwood systems harvested by PRPD (1989-1996). Data Source: PRPD and CanFor Woodlands Departments.
Geographic Distribution of Cutblocks The geographic distribution of logging activity in northwest Alberta since the early 1960’s was examined using SRMS and Phase III datasets. It is understood that these datasets do not contain data on logging activity prior to the 1960’s. For each township between 56–60° north and 114–120° west, the area logged was calculated. The spatial distribution of cutblocks identified on aerial photography is illustrated for the P1/P2 FMUs and the PRPD FMA in Figure 47 and Figure 48, respectively. Regions of highest cutblock density (ha/township) in northwest Alberta occur in areas west and north of Worsley, northeast of Hines Creek, north of Grimshaw, west of Driftwood, northwest of Manning, along a north-south band east of the Peace River mainstem in the Cadotte River drainage, southwest and northwest of Red Earth, southeast of Keg River, and in the vicinity of the Tall Cree Indian Reserve (Figure 49, Figure 50, Figure 51). For the PRPD FMA, highest levels of logging have occurred in P2, S10, P053, and P6 FMUs (Table 13, Figure 52, Figure 53). For CanFor, highest levels of logging have occurred in P2, P6, and P1 FMUs (Table 13, Figure 52, Figure 53). Of the 1,563 townships comprising northwest Alberta, 945 (60%) had experienced some level of logging activity. The most frequent level of logging area in townships was 0–50 ha, although some townships had experienced in excess of 1,500 ha (Table 14, Figure 54). The highest level of logging in any township to date is 2000 ha. Explanations as to why townships have relatively low proportions of their total areas (10,000 ha) logged include: 1) These data are conservative in that some historic cutblocks have not been counted, 2) Only a portion of the township contains merchantable or operable wood, and 3) Industrial level forestry in northwest Alberta is still young and the merchantable wood has not yet been scheduled for harvest.
The Forestry Sector 8-41 Cutblocks FMA Boundary Water
Figure 47. Distribution of cutblocks in P1 and P2 FMUs as of 1995. Cutblocks illustrated in yellow are those of PRPD since their inception, those of CanFor (Hines Creek) for P2 and P10, and those of some softwood quota holders. Data Source: DMI GIS Library.
Cutblocks FMA Boundary Water
Figure 48. Distribution of cutblocks in FMA. Cutblocks illustrated in yellow are those of PRPD since their inception, those of CanFor (Hines Creek) for P2 and P10, and those of some softwood quota holders. Data Source: DMI GIS Library.
The Forestry Sector 8-42 1– 400 ha 401 – 800 ha 801 – 1600 ha 1600+ ha Major Roads Water
Manning
Worsley
Hines Creek
Grimshaw
Figure 49. Density (ha/township) of logging in the P1 and P2 FMUs. Data Source: DMI GIS Library.
1– 400 ha 401 – 800 ha 801 – 1600 ha 1600+ ha Keg River
Major Roads Water
Manning
Red Earth
Worsley
Peace River
Figure 50. Density (ha/township) of logging in the PRPD FMA. Data Source: DMI GIS Library.
The Forestry Sector 8-43 60° N –
High Level
Fort Vermilion
58° N –
Keg River
Manning
Red Earth
Peace River Fairview Grimshaw 56° N – | | | 120° W 117° W 114° W
1– 400 ha 401 – 800 ha Major Roads 801 – 1600 ha Water 1600+ ha
Figure 51. Density (ha/township) of logging in northwest Alberta. Data Source: DMI GIS Library.
The Forestry Sector 8-44 Table 13. Number of cutblocks harvested by PRPD and CanFor from 1989–1996. Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Dept. FMU Cutblock Frequency Area Harvested PRPD CanFor Total PRPD CanFor Total P052 (White Zone) 42 0 42 1,061.1 0 1,061.1 P053 (White Zone) 81 35 116 2,363.0 315.3 2,678.3 P1 11 532 543 138.0 8725.3 8,863.3 P10 0 9 9 0 110.8 110.8 P11 0 43 4 0 745.2 745.2 P11C 0 20 20 0 586.9 586.9 P2 244 776 1,020 6,158.3 10,685.1 16,843.4 P3 23 0 23 653.4 0 653.4 P4 15 0 15 446.0 0 446.0 P6 89 602 691 2,575.3 6,237.3 8,812.6 P6/P7 (DTA) 23 0 23 666.3 0 666.3 S10 115 0 115 2,713.6 0 2,713.6 Total 643 2,017 2,660 16,775.0 27,405.9 44,180.9
1000
PRPD 776 CanFor 750 # of 602 Cutblocks 532 500
244 250 115 89 81 35 43 42 11 0 0 023 0 23 0 0 20 15 0 0 9 0 P2 P6 P1 P053 S10 P11 P052 P3 P6/P7 P11C P4 P10 Figure 52. Number of cutblocks harvested by CanFor and PRPD in each FMU from 1989–1996. Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department.
12000 10685.1 PRPD 8725.3 CanFor 9000 ha 6,158 6237.3 6000
2713.6 3000 2575.3 2363
1061.1 745.2 666.3 653.4 315.3 586.9 446 138 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0110.8 0 P2 P1 P6 S10 P053 P052 P11 P6/P7 P3 P11C P4 P10 Figure 53. Area harvested (ha) by CanFor and PRPD from 1989–1996. Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department.
The Forestry Sector 8-45
Table 14. Number of townships in northwest Alberta containing different levels of cutblock harvest area (ha). Data Source: DMI GIS Library. Area Harvested (ha) # of townships Area Harvested (ha) # of townships 0-50 998 1,000 4 50 102 1,050 9 100 55 1,100 1 150 46 1,150 4 200 37 1,200 3 250 34 1,250 3 300 28 1,300 5 350 31 1,350 5 400 23 1,400 3 450 18 1,450 2 500 17 1,500 2 550 20 1,550 2 600 18 1,600 0 650 15 1,650 4 700 4 1,700 2 750 12 1,750 5 800 15 1,800 2 850 8 1,850 0 900 12 1,900 1 950 7 1,950 2 2,000 2
1200
900 Number of Townships 600
300
0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 Area harvested in township (ha)
Figure 54. Frequency of area logged (50 ha intervals) since 1960 in the townships of northwest Alberta.
The Forestry Sector 8-46 Site Preparation Strategies in the P1 and P2 FMUs Prepared by Tim Vinge
Introduction Site preparation (siteprep) of cutblocks in the P1 and P2 FMUs has changed dramatically since 1960, progressing through four distinctive stages: 1. The beginning stage 2. Swedish influence 3. Local solutions 4. New innovative applications Changes in siteprep equipment have also been influenced by a number of factors including: • Access problems • New technology • Past reforestation successes and failures • Costs of siteprep The most important factor influencing siteprep techniques has been the new ”free to grow” legislation. Previous legislation focused on tree establishment. New free to grow legislation focuses on growth as well as establishment. The following is a detailed history of site preparation.
Stage 1. The Beginning: 1960 - 1975 During this stage siteprep and reforestation was in its infancy in Alberta. The majority of the cut blocks were left for natural for 5 years, and then the resulting regeneration was surveyed. The portions of the blocks that contained insufficient conifer densities were then treated. Blade scarification (Figure 55) and straight planting were the tools of choice. There are several reasons why these techniques were used: • Equipment (caterpillar tractors) were available and on site during the harvest operations. • Equipment worked well on frozen ground. • Access to blocks was frozen and available. • It was noted that many previous roads and landings contained conifer germinates as mineral soil was thought to be conductive to germination. Blade site preparation worked fairly well for the trees that were planted along the edges of the stripping piles, whereas stocking in the middle of the bladed strips was poor. The large stripping piles covered 30-40% of the block area. During this period aspen was not harvested, so the piles were large and visually undesirable. The piles also interrupted water flow across the site. Blading worked well on mesic sites where soils were shallow but failed on hygric (wet) sites. On wet sites flooding and grass re-growth often became limiting to tree re-establishment and growth. Fill planting on on-site prepared blocks did not work well. Many of these blocks had 5 years of re-growth on them. This advanced competition, along with cold soils and poor planting stocks, led to poor regeneration of conifers. Natural ingress has improved stocking levels in these blocks over the years.
Stage 2. The Swedish Influence: 1975 - 1980 During this phase new siteprep equipment from Scandinavia was utilized. This new equipment included disc trenches (Figure 56) and bracke scarifiers. These techniques produced a level to depressed planting spot. The results of these techniques were poor. These techniques did not deal well with site limiting factors. In many cases they accentuated the problems. Cold soils and competition from grass and aspen was still a problem.
The Forestry Sector 8-47 In many cases these techniques were applied to older cutblocks where competition from grass and aspen was well established. New techniques would have to be developed that could deal with these site limiting factors.
Stage 3. Local Solutions: 1980 - 1990 During this phase the past frustration from dealing with other techniques led to the development of local solutions. An effort was made to develop siteprep equipment that would improve over previous methods. Pull behind ploughs and ripper ploughs were developed. These ploughs produced a lineal furrow (Figure 57). Planting was done on the top on the interface of the furrow. Ploughs worked well on mesic sites (Figure 58) but again worked poorly (Figure 59) on hygic sites (wet). These siteprep techniques caused problems with the site hydrology and were seen to be intrusive by the public. A new technique was needed that would produce the raised site but would be less intrusive on the site.
Stage 4. Mounding Techniques: 1990 – Present During this phase it was recognized that raised sites created from ploughing yielded good results for tree establishment and growth (Figure 60, Figure 61). But these benefits were negated by the visual aspects of the furrows. A technique was needed that would produce a raised site for planting but would be less intrusive on the site. Mounding was chosen to accomplish this. Mounding produces a localized, raised planting site and does not disturb the site hydrology. The mound is composed of inverted mineral soil over organic material. Planting occurs on the top of the mound. This techniques improves all of the previously listed limiting factors. The first technology used was excavators with special mounding attachments (Figure 62). The excavators produced good mounds and were extremely versatile but the costs of using this technique were high. The excavators were too slow, and thus very expensive. New technology was developed by CanFor in Hines Creek to automate the mounding process. The dual path mounder (Figure 63) was developed to accomplish this. The dual path mounder creates mounds at a much reduced cost compared to excavators.
Figure 55. Example of bladed trails used as a site preparation strategy. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek.
The Forestry Sector 8-48
Figure 56. Disc trencher being used for site preparation. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek.
Figure 57. Example of ripper furrows used for site preparation. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek.
The Forestry Sector 8-49
Figure 58. Example of favorable spruce regeneration results on mesic site following site ploughing. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek.
Figure 59. Example of poor spruce regeneration results on wet site following site ploughing. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek.
The Forestry Sector 8-50
Figure 60. Illustration of mounding. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek.
Figure 61. Mounding on a wet site. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek.
The Forestry Sector 8-51
Figure 62. Example of an excavator being used for site preparation. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek.
Figure 63. Dual path mounder being used for site preparation. Photo Source: Tim Vinge, CanFor, Hines Creek.
The Forestry Sector 8-52 Regeneration Strategies used by PRPD and CanFor The preferred and adopted regeneration strategy by PRPD when harvesting aspen-dominated stands is “leave for natural” (Table 15, Table 16, Figure 64, Figure 65). This strategy is based on the principle that the physical removal of the aspen canopy will elicit a suckering response from below-ground stems and create a new cohort of aspens suckers. When logging in softwood-dominated stands, the most frequently employed site preparation strategy is “ripper plow”, and less frequently, “excavator/mounder”. Unlike PRPD whose harvest focuses on aspen, CanFor harvests primarily softwood-dominated forests, and therefore exploits a diverse set of site preparation strategies to encourage conifer regeneration following logging (Table 17, Table 18, Figure 66, Figure 67, Figure 68). Some of the more commonly employed techniques include Straight Blade, Excavator Mounder, Deep V-blade Plow, Brake Plow, Modified Ripper Plow, V-Blade Plow, Ripper Plow (see text by Tim Vinge on site preparation strategies above for descriptions).
Table 15. Number of PRPD cutblocks for different stand types (hardwood, mixedwood, softwood) treated with different regeneration strategies (1989–1996). Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department. Regeneration Strategy Hardwood Mixedwood Softwood Total Leave for Natural 530 0 0 530 Dragging 0 0 0 0 Ripper Plow 0 0 56 56 Excavator/Mounder 1 2 6 9 V-Blade/Plowed 6 0 0 6 Disk Trenching 0 0 0 0 Total 537 2 62 601
100%
80% Disk Trencher
60% Dragging
40% V-blade/Plowed Excavator/Mounder 20% Ripper Plow 0% Hardwood Mixedwood Softwood Total Leave for Natural
Figure 64. Proportional frequency of PRPD cutblocks treated with different regeneration strategies (1989-1996). Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department.
The Forestry Sector 8-53 Table 16. Area (ha) harvested by PRPD cutblocks treated with different regeneration strategies (1989-1996). Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department. Regeneration Strategy Hardwood Mixedwood Softwood Total Leave for Natural 13,938.0 0 0 13,937.7 Dragging 0 0 0 0.0 Ripper Plow 0 0 992.6 992.6 Excavator/Mounder 36.2 56.8 110.1 203.1 V-Blade/Plowed 276.3 0 0 276.3 Disk Trenching 0 0 0 0.0 Total 14,250.0 56.8 1,102.7 15,409.7
100%
80% Disk Trencher
60% Dragging V-blade/Plowed 40% Excavator/Mounder 20% Ripper Plow
0% Leave for Natural Hardwood Mixedwood Softwood Total
Figure 65. Proportional area of PRPD cutblocks treated with different regeneration strategies (1989-1996). Data Source: PRPD Woodlands Department.
The Forestry Sector 8-54
Table 17. Number and area (ha) of CanFor cutblocks treated with different regeneration strategies (1966–1997). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Department. Technique # of Cutblocks Area Treated (ha) Straight blade 281 3,166.0 Excavator Mounder 248 2,939.7 Deep V-Blade Plow 162 2,163.5 Brake Plow 159 1,728.8 Modified Ripper Plow 121 2,019.9 V-Blade Plow 121 1,859.9 Ripper Plow 88 1,357.1 Dual Path Mounder 63 517.0 Drag (heavy) 59 817.4 Disk Trencher 54 542.7 Excavator 33 413.8 Unknown 17 203.7 Dika Plow 16 262.9 Leave for Natural 3 6,602.0 Drag (light) 1 51.0
Straight Blade Plow 281 Straight Blade Plow 3,166
Excavator Excavator 248 2,940 Mounder Mounder Deep V-blade Deep V-blade 162 2,164 Plow Plow
Brake Plow 159 Brake Plow 1,729
V-blade Plow 121 V-blade Plow 1,860
Modified Ripper Modified Ripper 121 2,020 Plow Plow
Ripper Plow 88 Ripper Plow 1,357
Dual Path 63 517 Mounder Dual Path Mounder
Drag (heavy) 59 Drag (heavy) 817
Disk Trencher 54 Disk Trencher 543
Excavator 33 Excavator 414
Unknown 17 Unknown 204
Dika Plow 16 Dika Plow 263
Leave for Natural 3 Leave for Natural 6,602
Drag (light) 1 Drag (light) 51
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 Frequency Area (ha) Treated
Figure 66. Number (left) and area (ha; right) of CanFor cutblocks treated with different regeneration strategies (1966–1997). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Department.
The Forestry Sector 8-55
Table 18. Frequency and area treated for different general class of cutblock treatment types for CanFor (1966– 1997). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Department. Treatment Type # of Cutblocks Area (ha) Treated Disk Trencher 176 1,957.9 Dragging 50 659.4 Excavator/Mounder 332 3,823.3 Leave for Natural 260 3,947.0 V-Blade/Plowed 454 6,320.7 Total 1,359 17,838.6
Disk Trencher 14% Dragging V-Blade/Plowed 4% 36%
Excavator/Mounder 26%
Leave for Natural 20% Figure 67. Percent of frequency of different general class of cutblock treatment types for CanFor (1966–1997). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Department.
Disk Trencher 12% Dragging 4% V-Blade/Plowed 37%
Excavator/Mounder 23%
Leave for Natural 24%
Figure 68. Percent area treated for different general class of cutblock treatment types for CanFor (1966–1997). Data Source: CanFor Woodlands Department.
The Forestry Sector 8-56 General References on Forestry Alberta Fish and Wildlife. 1978. Environmental effects of forestry operations in Alberta. Fish and Wildlife Division Concerns and Recommendations. Alberta Fish and Wildlife Division, Edmonton. Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife, Forest Service. 1988. Forest landscape management strategies for Alberta. Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife, Forest Service Pub. No. T/125. Anonymous. 1988e. Selection, modification and testing of an insect and disease model for forest yield prediction in the boreal forests of Alberta. Prepared for Canadian Forestry Service by Monenco Consultants Limited, Calgary, Alberta. Anonymous. 1995. Relationships between stand age, stand structure and biodiversity in aspen mixedwood forests in Alberta. Edmonton, Canadian Forest Service, Alberta Land & Forest Services, Vegreville, AB. Alberta Environmental Centre, 1995. Xxiv, 308 P. Apps, M.J., D.T. Price and J. Wisniewski. Special issue. Boreal forests and global change: Peer-reviewed manuscripts selected from the International Boreal Forest Research Association Conference, held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, September 25-30, 1994. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution. 1995, 82: 1-2. Arno, S.F., G.E. Gruell, J.G. Mundinger and W.C. Schmidt. 1986. Developing silvicultural prescriptions to provide both deer winter habitat and timber. West. Wildlands; 12(4):19-24. 1986. Wr 205. Bailian, L.I. 1995. Aspen improvement strategies for western Canada - Alberta and Saskatchewan. Forestry Chronicle. 1995, 71: 6, 720-724. Baker, K.A. 1990. Forests as an ecological monitoring tool for catastrophic events Hull, Que. Canadian Environmental Assessment Research Council, 1990. V, 50p. Baltgailis, K., B. Allard, G. Jones and R. Gustavsen. Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Canada. Environment Canada. 1993. A new leaf real sustainability for the boreal forest. Edmonton. Western Canada Wilderness Committee, 1993 1 Videocassette (55 Min.) : Sd., Col.; 1/2 In. + 1 Teacher's Guide. Bamsey, C.R. 1995. Proceedings: Innovative silviculture systems in boreal forests, a symposium held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, October 2-8, 1994. Edmonton, Clear Lake Ltd., 1995. Bernier, P.Y. 1990. Wind speed and snow evaporation in a stand of juvenile lodgepole pine in Alberta. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 1990, 20: 3, 309-314. Berry, G.J. and R.L. Rothwell. 1992. Snow ablation in small forest openings in southwest Alberta. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 22(9): 1326-1331. Bertrand, L., L. Belanger and R.L. Beauregard. 1992. Growth of boreal stands of balsam fir originating from harvesting with protection of regeneration. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 22(11): 1701-1711. Blenis, P.V., M.S. Mugala, Y. Hiratsuka. 1989. Soil affects armillaria root rot of lodgepole pine. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 1989. 19: 12, 1638-1641. Borden, J.H., G. Gries, L.J. Chong, R.A. Werner, E.H. Holsten, H. Wieser, E.A. Dixon and H.F. Cerezke. 1996. Regionally-specific bioactivity of two new pheromones for Dendroctonus rufipennis (Kirby) (Col., Scolytidae). Journal of Applied Entomology 120(6): 321-326. Brace, L., J. Stelfox, B. Udell and B. Dancik. 1990. Forest management in Alberta. Report of the expert review panel. Alberta Energy/Forestry, Lands and Wildlife, Edmonton, Alberta. 128 pp. Brissette, J.C. 1993. Proceedings of the Seventh Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference. Mobile, Alabama, November 17-19, 1992. General Technical Report, Southern Forest Experiment Station, USDA Forest Service. 1993, No. So-93, Ix + 665 pp. Carlson, C.E., D.G. Fellin and W.G. Schmidt. 1983. The western spruce budworm in northern Rocky Mountain forests: A review of ecology, insecticidal treatments, and silvicultural practices. In: O'Loughlin, J. and R.D. Pfister. Eds. Management of second-growth forests: The state of knowledge and research needs. Proceedings of a symposium; [Dates Unknown]; [Location Unknown]. Missoula, Mt. Montana Forestry and Conservation Association, University of Montana. 76-103. Cerezke, H.F. 1977. Variation in shoot and needle growth patterns on 46-cm branch tips of healthy white spruce bi- monthly research notes. 1977; 33: 18-19; Issn: 3.
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