Wildfire Editor: CONTENTS Ian Urquhart APRIL 2016 • VOL

APRIL 2016

Wildfire Editor: CONTENTS Ian Urquhart APRIL 2016 • VOL. 24, NO. 2 Graphic Design: Doug Wournell B Des, ANSCAD Printing: Features Association News Colour printing and process by Topline Printing 4 Wildfire: Nature, Government, 25 Bob Blaxley – Great Gray Owl Choice Award Winner 2015 11 Alberta on Fire: A History of Cultural Burning 25 On the Nature-Mindedness of Children 14 What is FireSmart? 18 Nordegg’s FireSmart Experience: Wilderness Watch Printed on FSC A Commentary Certiﬁed Paper 20 National Parks: Time to Burn (for 26 Updates Ecological Integrity’s Sake) Departments 23 Wildfire Damage: Towards a ALBERTA WILDERNESS Broader Definition ASSOCIATION 29 Reader‘s Corner “Defending Wild Alberta through Events Awareness and Action” Alberta Wilderness Association is 30 Spring/Summer Events a charitable non-government organization dedicated to the completion of a protected areas Cover Photo donation, call 403-283-2025 or contribute online at Crown Fire in the Boreal Forest AlbertaWilderness.ca. PHOTO: “Northwest Crown Fire Wild Lands Advocate is published bi- Experiment, Northwest Territories” monthly, 6 times a year, by Alberta by USDA Forest Service is licensed Wilderness Association. The opinions under CC Attribution 2.5 Generic. expressed by the authors in this publication are not necessarily those of AWA. The editor reserves the right to edit, reject or withdraw articles and letters submitted. Please direct questions and comments to: 403-283-2025 • [email protected] Subscriptions to the WLA are $30 per year. To subscribe, call 403-283-2025 Featured Artist: or see AlbertaWilderness.ca. In this issue we feature public art, specifically the murals painted in the stairwell of the Calgary Tower to mark this year’s Run and Climb for Wilderness. The Association for Public Art calls public art “a reflection of how we see the world – the artist’s response to our time and place combined with our own sense of who we are.” The examples from this year’s mural competition speak well to the accuracy of that statement. All of the mural photos appearing here are courtesy of K. Mihalcheon

455-12 ST NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1Y9 403-283-2025 Toll-free 1-866-313-0713 www.AlbertaWilderness.ca [email protected] AWA respects the privacy of members. Lists are not sold or traded in any manner. AWA is a federally registered charity and functions through member and donor support. Tax-deductible donations may be made to AWA at 455-12 ST NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1Y9. Ph: 403-283-2025 Fax: 403-270-2743 E-mail: [email protected] www.AlbertaWilderness.ca ISSN 1192-6287 The Times They Are A-Changin’

Smoke. I can never remember so much of My article offers you some details about should do – strengthen the protection of it hanging in the air for so long. The curtain wildfire’s presence on the landscape, ex- communities from wildfire. Again though, hid nearby landmarks; you tasted it during planations for that pattern, government’s there’s considerable room to improve the every waking moment; air quality alerts, response, and some of the hard choices we on-the-ground implementation of the alerts we normally seldom – if ever – re- need to debate. FireSmart program. It’s a very valuable received, became fixtures of daily life. Todd Kristensen and Ashley Reid take minder of the need to better ensure that No, these aren’t reflections about the an important look into one aspect of the public lands designations and policies are Horse Lake/Fort McMurray wildfire. history of fire in Alberta – its use by First coherent and that they respect the ambi- Thankfully I’ve been far away from that Nations. The peoples of the plains and the tions of residents. tragedy. My memories are of last summer in boreal made fire an important tool in their Our penultimate fire feature comes cour- southeastern B.C. Last year was the worst efforts to secure good livelihoods and Todd tesy of Andrea Johancsik. Our national fire season in Washington State history; and Ashley will help to familiarize many of parks are protected areas where a history the previous worst season had been 2014. us with that aspect of our history. of fire suppression has changed profoundly The Okanogan Complex and Stickpin fires FireSmart represents one response of the ecological constitution of those lands. were primarily responsible for those cir- non-profits and governments to wildfire’s Andrea’s article examines the need for and cumstances. emergence as an issue they should take se- the challenges accompanying efforts to use So too was the Rock Creek wildfire that riously and address. Joanna Skrajny offers fire in national parks as a tool to restore erupted along the banks of the Kettle River, you the first of two critical, constructive the natural processes we’ve suppressed for normally a 90-minute drive from Kelowna. appraisals of what FireSmart has delivered. more than a century. That fire engulfed dozens of homes and Joanna doesn’t dispute the value of efforts Our last fire article is by Esther Bogorov. closed Highway 3, the only southern route to make communities located in the midst Esther advocates the embrace of a wider, to the coast. of our forests more resilient and resistant more ecologically-sensitive understanding This issue’s features are a product of what to wildfire. She suggests though that com- of wildfire damage. last summer underlined emphatically for mercial forestry interests have coopted Finally, on behalf of the Board and staff me. Wildfire is elbowing its way to a prom- FireSmart as part of their efforts to improve of AWA, I’d like to extend AWA’s heartfelt inence on the landscape we haven’t seen for their bottom lines. Clearcuts and FireSmart support to our fellow citizens from Fort generations. My money says it’s going to be don’t go together in her assessment. McMurray. No one should have to expe- the most immediate and pressing example Jane Drummond focuses your attention rience what they have endured. May the of the adaptive challenges climate change on what she believes FireSmart has deliv- future treat them well. presents to Alberta. ered to the community of Nordegg. Again, -Ian Urquhart, Editor there’s no dispute with what FireSmart

PHOTO CREDIT: DarrenRD - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index. php?curid=48553129 Wildfire: Nature, Government, Choice

By Ian Urquhart

lave Lake, Kelowna, Barriere, La average of land burned by wildfires stood Territories; in 2015, 1.78 million hectares Loche, now Fort McMurray. The at just over two million hectares. As the of Saskatchewan’s boreal forest went up in S wildfires that devastated lives in University of Alberta’s Dr. Mike Flannigan flames. these communities testify to the likelihood, told the CBC program Sunday Edition in Wildfire in Alberta is an important con- if not certainty, that we’ve crossed a thresh- 2013, this was twice the average amount tributor to this story. The May 2016 Horse old. The world of wildfire in twenty-first of territory wildfires consumed in the ear- River/Fort McMurray Wildfire and very century Canada promises to be a very dif- ly 1970s. Flannigan’s observation affirmed high to extreme fire danger forecasts across ferent and more challenging world than and extended the conclusion from research most of Alberta’s boreal forest in early to it was a generation ago. Here’s a look at from the mid-1990s indicating that wildfire mid-May suggest that Alberta could lead the presence of wildfire on the Canadian/ in the boreal forest in the 1980s and ear- Canada into its fourth active fire year in a Albertan landscapes, explanations for this ly 1990s burned significantly more of the row. “To have four in a row,” as Professor pattern, how government is addressing land than was the case in the 1950s, 1960s, Flannigan told me, “there is no historical wildfire, and the hard choices we need to and early 1970s. analogue that we have.” debate. Chart 1 illustrates this moving average is The recent history of forest land burned again on the upswing. Now at 2.65 million in Alberta generally mimics the Canadian Wildfire on the Landscape: hectares this moving average has increased pattern. A 1999 study prepared for Dai- More Now Than We Have since 2012 due to the very active fire years showa-Marubeni observed that, in north- Ever Seen Before we experienced in 2013, 2014, and 2015. west Alberta, large fires already occurred Wildfires burn, on average, much more of In 2013, 1.87 million hectares of forests more frequently and burned more territory Canada’s forests today than they did 40 to burned in Québec; in 2014, wildfire spread there in the 1980-1995 period than they 60 years ago. In 2012 the 10-year running over 3.4 million hectares of the Northwest did in the 1960s and 1970s. Chart 2 presents a provincial overview of the average Chart 1: Canada, Total Forest Land Burned, in Millions of territorial scope of wildfires over time. On Hectares, -‐ 10 year averages from -‐ 1970 79 to -‐ 2006 15 average, three times as much of the land was burned by wildfire in the first decade 4 of this century than was burned in the 3.5 1970s; in the first six years of the current 3 decade the annual average of area burned

2.5 stands at 301,331 hectares – nearly seven times the decadal average for the 1970s. 2 What the decadal averages hide is the fact 1.5 that annual area burned totals over the me- 1 dium to long term generally resemble a roll- 0.5 er coaster ride. There may be tremendous variation in area burned from year to year. 0 Reviewing the past 45 years of Alberta’s fire history you will find years when hundreds Source: Averages calculated from Canada, Natural Resources Canada, National Forestry of thousands of hectares burned; you will Database find other years which saw little wildfire on

44 WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES the Horse River/Fort McMurray wildfire was estimated to be more than 500,000 hectares in size. By the time you read this it will be larger than that. No previous decade has seen wildfire burn as much of the province as the decade we are in now. Ironically, past successes in putting out fires makes today’s challenges for wildfire managers more daunting.; they’ve increased the risks of catastrophic wildfires. The Flat Top Complex Wildfire Review Committee (2012), struck after the May 2011 Slave Lake fire, made this point. Successful fire suppression turns a forest inventory’s age structure on its head over time. This is emphatically the case for Al- berta’s boreal forest. In 2011, mature and overmature trees in the boreal constituted more than 60 percent of the forest inventory. In the late 1950s and early 1970s they The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite recorded these temperature anomalies for the week of April 26 to May 3, 2016. Red areas were hotter than the 2000-2010 constituted less than 10 percent of that in- averages for this same one-week period. CREDIT: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) ventory. Wildfire suppression in the boreal, the Committee concluded, was “beginning the landscape. In 1995 Alberta experienced hectares, more than one-quarter of the total to increase the risk of large and potentially an active fire year when more than 336,000 territory burned in Alberta in 1981, went costly catastrophic wildfires.” hectares of the province burned; but in up in smoke. The recent fire record is a humbling one. 1996 wildfire consumed less than 2,000 These variations continue to mark Alber- Canada is a global leader on the wildfire hectares. In 1981 two fires, over a period ta’s annual wildfire pattern in this decade. fighting front. Moreover, our fire suppres- of just eight days, set ablaze nearly one mil- However, this decade already can be dis- sion capabilities have become more im- lion hectares of the boreal forest. They were tinguished from its predecessors by the fre- pressive over time. When ignitions are de- the major contributors to making 1981 quency of years where very large amounts tected initial attack crews are sent, usually the worst year for area burned in Alberta of territory burn. Three of the first six years by helicopter, to extinguish or control the (1.37 million hectares). One analysis of the of this decade recorded annual area burned blaze before it starts to grow. Fire managers 1980 and 1981 fire seasons called August totals of more than 300,000 hectares. This now have a variety of sophisticated predic- 27, 1981 “Black Thursday” – in less than year will make it four years of the first sev- tive models and indices they can use to try seven hours on that day roughly 376,000 en since, as of the Victoria Day weekend, to anticipate where wildfires may start. This allows them to place initial attack crews, Chart 2: Alberta, Total Forest Land Burned, in Hectares, helicopters, water bombers, and heavy ma- selected averages chinery in close proximity to areas where 350000 they believe the chances of wildfire ignition 300000 and spread are greatest. This is especially 250000 important when, as was the case in mid- 200000 May, firefighters had less than 15 minutes

150000 to prevent a wildfire in the northeastern boreal from growing to two hectares in size 100000 after ignition. But, wildfire trends don’t 50000 suggest that our impressive capabilities 0 are reducing wildfire’s impact on the land- 1970-‐79 1980-‐89 1990-‐99 2000-‐09 2010-‐15 scape. Fire suppression may be successful Source: Averages calculated from Canada, Natural Resources Canada, National Forestry Database in reducing the amount of our forests that taste wildfires but that doesn’t necessari-

WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES A5 ly mean we will see reductions in the to- “You look at Alberta,” he says, “and…other sive interfaces automatically translate into tal areas burned over time. If you want to than National Parks, there’s a lot of activ- greater risks but I think it’s fair to suggest view fighting wildfires as a war, wildfire is a ity on the landscape and where you have they may increase the potential for greater powerful adversary that is in no danger of people you have fire.” Lynn Johnston, one human-caused wildfire risks. surrendering. of Flannigan’s graduate students, studies Climate change, in addition to fire weath- wildlands/human interfaces. Her interface er (precipitation, relative humidity, tem- Wildfire on the Landscape: maps for wildfire may be used to support perature, and wind direction/speed), also Likely Even More in the Flannigan’s observation and make import- increases the probabilities of wildfire igni- Future ant distinctions between types of interfac- tion, growth, and speed of growth. For a In Alberta our future is very likely one es and their prevalence. People who want quarter-century now Mike Flannigan has where the risks of wildfires starting are to live in the forests, some of whom live been studying what effects climate change greater than recently. Also, the potential in communities such as Bragg Creek or are likely to have on wildfire. His research for wildfires to grow quickly and dramat- Nordegg, are part of the wildland-urban and that of his collaborators has long ar- ically likely is greater as well. For Mike interface detailed in map b. Alberta stands gued that climate change will increase both Flannigan our escalating needs and desires out as a western Canadian province char- the severity of wildfires and the amount of to work, live, and play in the forests well- acterized by many wildlands/industrial area burned. In a 2004 paper Flannigan away from large urban centres is important and wildlands/infrastructure interfaces. and his three co-authors explicitly demon- to understanding increased wildfire risks. Johnston wouldn’t suggest that such exten- strated that human emissions of green-

Interface Maps for Wildﬁre in Canada b) a) Composite of maps b, c, and d b) Wildland-urban interface c) Wildland-industrial interface d) Infrastructure interface a)

Wildland-Urban Interface, Wildland-Industrial Interface, Infrastructure Interface. Producer: Lynn Johnston / Natural Resources Canada (Sault Ste. Marie, ON), University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB). Date: May 2016 Email: [email protected] Coordinate system: Canada Lambert Conformal Conic Datum: North American 1983 Software version: ArcMap 10.3. Note: Contains data derived from information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Disclaimer: This data is provided as is. It is the user's responsibility to determine proper uses for the data. The data provider holds no liability for adverse outcomes associated with use of this data and cannot guarantee the data is free of errors or omissions.

CREDIT: Johnston, Lynn M. (in preparation). Mapping and analysis of Canadian wildland fire interface areas (Master’s thesis). University of Alberta, Department of Renewable Resources.

6 WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES house gases and sulfate contributed to the dioxide were obliterated. “The federal warming in wildfire-prone areas of Cana- This year’s Horse River/Fort McMurray da; moreover, they demonstrated that the fire, although minuscule when compared government would human contribution to climate change had to what regularly takes place in Indone- a significant impact on the area burned in sia, has journalists asking fire and climate rather spend millions Canada. Three years later another of Flan- change experts about the global warming of dollars on evacuating nigan’s co-authored contributions to un- contributions of fires in the boreal. While derstanding wildfire looked ahead, instead the experts don’t agree yet on how much communities and of to the recent past. That research suggest- carbon this Alberta fire has sent into the recovery after the ed that doubling carbon dioxide levels in atmosphere no one disputes that it’s mil- the atmosphere from pre-industrial levels lions and millions of tons; it’s a significant fire than spending a (roughly from 280 parts per million to 560 percentage of Canada’s “normal” annual few dollars up front ppm) would increase the amount of Alber- GHG emissions. And, as in Indonesia, ev- ta’s boreal forest burned by wildfire by 12.9 ery hectare of forest burned in northern to reduce the risk percent (the carbon dioxide concentration Alberta is one less hectare of forest able to recorded at the Mauna Loa Observatory sequester carbon. and help mitigate the on May 19, 2016 was 407.82 ppm). Triple Another similarity between the Indone- results of a disaster.” the carbon dioxide concentration and that sian fires and boreal forest fires such as the Kelly O’Shea, paper predicted that wildfires will burn an Horse River/Fort McMurray fire warrants Executive Director, FireSmart Canada (2013) additional 29.4 percent of Alberta’s boreal. mention and consideration. Both areas are As greenhouse gas emissions and tempera- rich in peat, partially decomposed plant Strategy (2005), essentially hadn’t put any tures rise we can expect to see more wild- matter. So when Indonesian forests are set money into the strategy. This comment fires and larger hectares-burned totals on ablaze this organic, very rich in carbon, confirmed what an update on the strategy those areas of the boreal that do not receive material burns as well. The amount of peat for 2008/2009 suggested: the actual federal significant increases in precipitation due to in our northern forests, as Mike Flannigan commitment for 2005-2008 was $4.8 mil- climate change. points out, “dwarfs” the amount of peat lion, a light year away from the $328.9 mil- Positive feedbacks are one of the most found in tropical forests. Preventing peat lion federal proposed funding requirement haunting or unnerving possibilities associ- fires, fires that are very hard to distinguish for those years. ated with climate change. These feedbacks and may burn or smolder for months, then FireSmart Canada, in the aftermath of the occur when the consequences of a warming becomes a more pressing policy concern in Flat Top Complex/Slave Lake fire, request- global climate amplify, in turn, the process- a warmer future. ed one million dollars from Public Safety es that generate warming. The catastrophic Canada to help the non-profit organization fires that ravaged Indonesia last year gen- Does Ottawa Care Enough? develop a national standard for wildfire erated such feedback. The vast majority of Governments face a range of hard choic- prevention planning for municipalities and those fires were set deliberately, often as es when it comes to the subject of wildfire. rural homeowners. The federal govern- part of deforestation plans designed to re- These choices will require resources, both ment rejected the request. The organization place rainforest with palm oil plantations. financial and human, and the federal and then lobbied Conservative MPs and asked These fires released tremendous amounts Alberta governments’ actions on this front Minister Toews to reconsider shutting the of carbon into the atmosphere. The World in recent years don’t inspire a great deal of door on this preventative proposal. Otta- Resources Institute reported that on many confidence that they are taking the chal- wa still refused. You can taste the frustra- days last fall the greenhouse gas emissions lenges of wildfire seriously enough. In the tion in FireSmart Canada’s Kelly O’Shea’s from these fires were greater than the aver- 2013 Sunday Edition program mentioned words from several years ago about federal age daily emissions of the total US economy. above Brian Stocks, a retired research sci- government priorities. “The federal gov- By last December the cumulative emissions entist from the Canadian Forest Service ernment would rather spend millions of from just the Indonesian fires were great- who continues to specialize in wildfire dollars on evacuating communities and er than the annual emissions of the United behaviour today from the University of recovery after the fire than spending a few Kingdom, or Canada, or Germany, or Ja- Toronto, noted that governments weren’t dollars up front to reduce the risk and pan. Not only do these fires release carbon doing enough to try to understand wildfire help mitigate the results of a disaster.” Tom into the atmosphere but, by destroying the and mitigate the risks it poses to Canadi- Burton, Secretary of Partners in Protection rainforest, they also destroy carbon sinks. ans. The federal government, although a (the creator of the FireSmart brand) and a Forests that absorbed atmospheric carbon signatory to the Canadian Wildland Fire member of the Flat Top Complex Wildfire

WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES A7 The Western Partnership for Wildland Fire Science: Understanding and Improving Wildfire Management Canada’s fire management agencies long have been of scientists and practitioners who will wrestle with the among the world’s leaders when it comes to managing challenges of managing wildfire in Canada and abroad. wildfire. But, as Professor Mike Flannigan, the Director The original science plan for the Partnership estab- of the Western Partnership for Wildland Fire Science, lished three research priorities: fire resilient landscapes, told me recently: “it’s a challenging job and it’s becoming fire danger rating systems, and fire weather and climate more challenging in Alberta.” In other words, there’s an change. Here Flannigan sees research such as that on ongoing need to understand wildfire better and to im- rating systems and fire weather as work building on an prove our efforts to manage wildfire appropriately. This already impressive Canadian pedigree. The Canadian need is at the core of the mandate of the Western Partner- Fire Weather Index, for example, is the de facto glob- ship for Wildland Fire Science. al standard when it comes to estimating the effects fuel Centred at the University of Alberta, the Partnership moisture and wind will have on the behaviour of fire. established a collaborative network in 2009 between The new modeling that researchers are developing, and three institutions: the university’s Department of Renew- students/future forestry managers are learning about, re- able Resources, Alberta’s Department of Agriculture and fines and improves on the insights of past generations. Forestry, and the Canadian Forest Service. Dedicated to The prize here is greater predictability, less uncertainty. research and education it’s not surprising to hear Profes- But make no mistake when it comes to prediction and sor Flannigan point to more than 20 graduate students uncertainty - there’s no hubris in the orientation of Flan- who have developed an expertise in wildfire through the nigan and his research colleagues. Uncertainty will al- training they’ve received through faculty involved in the ways be a part of wildfire management. The goal of the Partnership. The university registration system suggests Partnership’s research and education program is to re- that Renewable Resources plans to offer one undergrad- duce that uncertainty and better prepare the current and uate and three graduate courses explicitly focused on future generations of wildfire managers to face the chal- wildfire in the 2016-17 year. The Partnership is making lenges a warming world presents. an important contribution to training the next generation

Review Committee, noted in an interview claimed that, when he started his fire re- and this research suffered from cuts to gov- that, before the Horse River/Fort McMurray search work with the federal government ernment laboratories. The path we’ve been fire, the federal government had increased roughly forty years ago, the federal re- on for forty years, one where we’ve moved the importance of wildfire in its rankings of search capacity in terms of personnel was away from government-based basic scien- disasters. His initial sense of Public Safety at its peak. About 50 staff, with adequate tific research, seriously hinders our chances Canada Minister Ralph Goodale’s position, budgets, were engaged in basic scientif- of adapting to a world with more wildfires in the aftermath of the tragic Fort McMur- ic research on fire. This research capacity on most landscapes. ray fire, was that Ottawa now may take a suffered debilitating cuts over the subse- more serious view of the need for the feder- quent forty years. By 2013, the federal fire And What About Alberta? al government to increase its commitment research capabilities were less than half of The provincial government owns the vast to managing wildfire. what they had been. He asserted that fewer majority of Alberta’s natural resources and With respect to wildfire research, the sto- than 24 people, with “a hugely inadequate arguably has the primary responsibility for ry Stocks told to the CBC about the history budget,” were engaged in fire research in responding to wildfire. What does Alberta’s of federal cuts to basic science in Natural 2013. He went on to say that so many of recent wildfire management record look Resources Canada painted the federal gov- the wildfire challenges we face require ba- like? One place to begin is with the annual ernment with the brush of neglect. Stocks sic scientific research to underpin policy base amounts budgeted for managing wild-

8 WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES fire. As a base budget, this total generally previous year. Still, she suggested, her think so. Slave Lake in 2011 and Fort Mc- will be less and sometimes far less than department was ready for the 2016 sea- Murray in 2016 should make it clear that what the province actually spends on fight- son. Premier Notley defended her gov- this measure for protecting the public and ing wildfires. Supplementary estimates will ernment’s approach to wildfire by saying environment is flawed. The government be relied on in active or bad fire years to en- that, if the fire season warranted it, Alberta needs to reconsider how it measures wild- sure the province fights all dangerous fires. would “add if necessary” to the base bud- fire management performance. For example, Alberta Sustainable Re- get. This philosophy is no different from “Alberta Agriculture and Forestry,” ac- source Development’s 2011/2012 budget that taken by the Progressive Conservative cording to the department, “responds dedicated $107.4 million “to cover wildfire governments she succeeded. to every wildfire reported in the Forest prevention and detection and to retain (on- Protection Area (approximately 60% of call) the necessary manpower, equipment Performance Measures and the province’s landbase).” The province’s and aircraft for immediate mobilization.” Priorities: Do They Need to five priorities in deciding how to allocate The Flat Top Complex/Slave Lake and Change? wildfire fighting resources are: human life, Richardson Backcountry wildfires were Do climatological and weather circum- communities, watershed and sensitive largely responsible for Alberta spending an stances justify this continuation in wildfire soils, natural resources, and infrastructure. additional $250 million in wildfire emer- management policy? If Alberta truly wants With respect to these priorities, should the gency funding during that fiscal year. The to take the “proactive approach to con- province devote resources to protect com- lower figure, $107.4 million, is a better es- trolling wildfires” that Minister Carlier sub- mercial timber values at the same time as it timate of the permanent resources Alberta scribed to in his November 2015 commit- tries to subdue a fire on the doorstep of a devoted that year to managing wildfire. tee testimony then perhaps Alberta should community? From the 2004/2005 fiscal year to the be investing in more wildfire research, In the aftermath of the Horse Lake/Fort 2014/2015 fiscal year there was very slim knowledge, equipment, and personnel. McMurray fire this is a hard question our growth in this measure of Alberta’s com- This suspicion arises from the belief that political leaders should be asked to wrestle mitment to managing wildfire. Two per- the challenges and risks associated with with. On April 30, 2016, one day before cent annually, that’s how little the base or wildfire today are more serious than they the Horse Lake/Fort McMurray fire was dis- pre-season Alberta wildfire management were one or two generations ago. One of covered, a wildfire erupted approximately budget grew in constant, inflation-adjust- the first things these challenges demand is a 45 kilometres northwest of Red Earth on a ed dollars. The Flat Top Complex Wildfire serious reconsideration of how government landscape marked by clearcuts, well sites, Review Committee noted that the increas- measures and reports wildfire management and merchantable timber. Communities ing costs of a wide range of firefighting success. Containment and suppression is a were not threatened by this rapidly grow- resources was a “key pressure” on the gov- longstanding measure of how well Alber- ing, out of control wildfire. But the Otter ernment’s ability to prepare for wildfires. ta is performing its wildfire management Lakes wildfire did threaten timber values. I’m skeptical that such a slim real increase role; what percentage of wildfires are con- So, helicopters, airtankers, and dozens of in the base budget has been able to keep tained by 10am of the day following their firefighters attacked the wildfire. Thanks pace with the current costs and needs of discovery? Alberta’s performance is stellar to the hard work of the firefighters and the wildfire management. according to this measure. In 2011, the use of aircraft and heavy equipment they In November 2015, at the end of an ac- government could report that 96.1 per- were able to slow the growth of this fire in tive fire year where wildfires burned near- cent of all wildfires were contained with- an unpopulated area. By Saturday May 7th ly 500,000 hectares of Alberta, Agriculture in this timeframe. But…this was the year the fire had grown to nearly 2,000 hectares and Forestry Minister Oneil Carlier told Slave Lake burned; this also was the year of but it was 50 percent contained. The next members of a legislative committee that the Richardson backcountry fire – a mam- day the province announced that the fire a review had started of the personnel and moth 600,000 hectares fire that burned for was held – it was not expected to grow any equipment his department would need to months. And, to return to an observation larger. be prepared well for the 2016 fire season. from the Flat Top Complex Review Com- With no communities at risk should the Apparently that review didn’t convince the mittee report, successful suppression ac- province have hit the Otter Lakes wildfire provincial government to increase mark- tually is beginning to increase the risks of as hard as it did? Might not some of the air- edly Alberta’s base wildfire management catastrophic wildfires. craft and firefighters used there to defend budget. In April 2016 Deputy Minister Hypothetically, would we be comfortable timber values, perhaps even all of those re- Bev Yee told the Standing Committee on in arguing at the end of the current fire year sources, have been better deployed on the Alberta’s Economic Future that the wild- that it was a success because we met a con- next day or on May 2nd 200 kilometres to fire base budget was slightly less than the tainment target of 97.8 percent? I wouldn’t the east fighting the fire that engulfed the

WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES A9 southern section of Fort McMurray? Surely have treated wildfire seriously enough. yes to this question – what about the con- the province must convene a review of how If they decide they haven’t then what tributions that wildfires in the boreal and the Horse River/Fort McMurray fire was should they do? Some options strike me its peatlands may make to climate change? tackled. I hope such a committee will take as easier than others. An easy option, in And, finally, what responsibilities do we a hard look at what sort of balance is being my mind, would be to invest much more have as individuals? I’ve heard one respect- struck between priorities when it comes to in understanding, preventing, and fighting ed voice suggest that perhaps governments allocating wildfire management and fight- catastrophic wildfire. should limit the ability of individuals to live ing resources. More difficult, more controversial, options as they please in those lovely, forested lo- revolve around the importance we give to cales far from the city many people dream It All Comes Down to Hard different values. They are suggested above about. If we choose to live with others in Choices in thinking about the balance between nature then do we have a duty to sacrifice Challenges, risks, hard choices between community protection and commercial in- some of our aesthetic wants for the safe- values, and shared responsibilities are terests when it comes to fighting wildfire. ty of others. When I return to the legacy among the constants I see when it comes to Here you could add forest health to the mix my parents left me on Kootenay Lake later efforts to manage wildfire. Since I started to of values. The boreal is a disturbance forest this year should I be thinking of defensi- consider the subject of wildfire last year I’ve and wildfire is vital to its renewal. Should ble space as I sit under the pines, of what come to appreciate the range of hard choic- fires in the boreal that threaten forestry I should do to make our structures, as well es that lie ahead of us. Governments need tenures or petroleum well sites but don’t as my neighbours’, more resilient to wild- to decide if, given our need to adapt on a threaten communities be allowed to burn fire. Hard choices, but ones we need to de- landscape being shaped by climate change in order to restore health and ecological bate and make. and a history of wildfire suppression, they balance to the boreal? If you want to say

“Girl Pondering/Calgary Tower” by Elizabeth and Alexandra Jeffries “The Song is Over, But the Melody Lingers On” by Thanks for all the Fish (Creed, Zane McKechern Hunt and mother Laura)

10 WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES Alberta on Fire: A History of Cultural Burning

By Todd Kristensen (Archaeological Survey of Alberta) and Ashley Reid (University of Alberta)

ire science in Alberta has come a anthropogenic burning refers to human cre- challenging but new techniques and novel long way but the growing practice ation of fires to maintain preferred stages of data sources are helping to untangle Cana- F of prescribed burning is actually a ecological succession. These types of con- da’s fire history. The prairie provinces have a step back to the past. Archaeologists and pa- trolled burns began in the province millennia number of stable sand dune fields that were laeoecologists are discovering that Western ago and continue in our modern forests and more active in the past. Sediment cores and Canada has burned at the hands of people for grasslands. Alberta has a rich history of fire a technique called optically stimulated lu- thousands of years. Henry Lewis, a founding use – the recognition of it has implications for minescence (which dates the time that has father of First Nations fire research, stated modern conservation and land management. elapsed since sand grains were exposed to that much of what was thought to be wilder- sunlight) have revealed that fires periodically ness in Alberta when Europeans arrived was Ancient Fires wiped out dune vegetation, which activat- likely a mosaic of manipulated landscapes Distinguishing cultural from natural burned the migration of entire dune fields. Peri- influenced by controlled burns. Cultural or ing patterns over the past thousand years is ods of particularly high dune mobility over

The various purposes of First Nations’ burning practices in Alberta (by Todd Kristensen). The map and graph at the bottom depict the number of hectares that have been consumed by wildfires across Alberta since these statistics were recorded. CREDIT: statistics and spatial data are provided by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry’s Wildfire website).

WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES 11A the last 4000 years are linked to the arrival her cores will offer centimetre by centimetre tions burned grasslands in spring and fall to of pre-contact cultures and their presumed glimpses of changing conditions. maintain pastures. Fire on the prairies was burning practices. also used as a warfare tactic: in several battle Researchers are also tabulating fire history Why Did First Nations Burn? accounts, war parties employed fire to drive patterns in the Rocky Mountains using repeat Based on oral history and early observa- out enemies or drive bison herds away from photography and the analysis of tree rings tions, fires were frequently lit by First Nations enemy territory. dating back to the 1700s while others are de- for many reasons. On the prairies, fires ignit- Anthropogenic burning played a different tecting burnt carbon from fires in the phyto- ed in spring, fall, or early winter encouraged role in northern forests. The Dene and Cree liths of prairie grasses preserved in sediment quicker re-growth of lush grass that attract- burned forest meadows to maintain grazing profiles. International teams are teasing out ed bison. Fires were lit months in advance areas for bison and elk. Surveyors and trad- global fire patterns by analysing ‘pyro-proxies’ around major communal bison hunting ar- ers like George Dawson and Henry Moberly in Greenland ice cores like microscopic coal eas, like southern Alberta’s Head-Smashed-In in the late 1800s were convinced that Alber- or levels of atmospheric substances related to Buffalo Jump, to attract big herds. ta’s First Nations were responsible for large fires (e.g., levoglucosan and ammonium). Early Europeans recorded traditional uses of swathes of grass otherwise surrounded by Cores are also being excavated for py- fire by the Blackfoot to drive bison and flush forests like Grande Prairie, High Prairie, and ro-proxies in Alberta’s lakes and bogs. Chris- out game. A medicine dance described in the Fort Vermilion. These prairies were particu- tina Poletto is a Master’s student at the Uni- 1830s mimicked bison drives: women played larly rich hunting grounds and would require versity of Alberta who will soon extract long the role of bison and danced until the scent of maintenance to prevent encroaching forests. tubes of lake mud from Clear Lake near Fort smoke from a ceremonial fire sent them rush- Some of the most influential research on McMurray to analyse changing layers of char- ing to a lodge pursued by male dancers. The First Nations fire use is that of the late Lew- coal and pollen deposited over thousands of Blackfoot and other First Nations lit fires to is Henry with Alberta’s Dene. According to years. This information provides a baseline of control herd movement, which likely became Henry, Dene bands used fire to “establish and natural fire history that she hopes to compare more important as bison numbers dwindled maintain plant communities, and the animals to cultural landscapes surrounding archaeo- in the 1800s. According to legend, the Black- found there, at preferred stages of ecological logical sites. “I want to learn how First Na- foot were first introduced to fire as a hunting succession.” Small patches or ‘yards’ were tions used their knowledge of forest succes- tool by culture hero Napi who wore a pair of burned in spring and visited over several years sion, not only to respond to fires but to know flaming leggings to ignite bushes and drive when berries and medicinal plants were ripe. how and when to light them to encourage the out game such as antelope, elk, and deer. Hunters would later return to harvest moose return of berries, other plants, and game an- Plains First Nations also burned the under- that targeted burns for willow re-growth. imals.” story of large groves in spring to protect them Spring fires along wetlands, rivers, and Airborne pollen settles into lake muds and from dangerous summer fires. Patches of meadow fringes maintained trails in places serves as a proxy indicator of burning, veg- mature trees on the prairies were significant like Fort McMurray, Lac La Biche, and Less- etation change, and forest succession. Other resources and became favoured camp sites er Slave Lake. So important were fires for researchers have applied this approach to that could be protected from dangerous fires human movement that, when burning was understand long term changes through the through the use of controlled burns, not un- outlawed, many bands could no longer ac- Holocene but a very high resolution record like the intent of modern FireSmart programs cess traditional territories. Robert Campbell, is needed to understand how Alberta’s for- in Alberta communities. the Federal Director of Forestry, felt it so im- ests have responded to fires on the scale of When horses were introduced, First Na- portant to prohibit First Nation burning that decades and centuries. Poletto is hoping that he translated fire notices (which outlined the $200 fine for burning outside of one’s property) into Cree and Chipewyan syllabics in 1908. Traditional trails and small waterways became choked with vegetation. Anthropol- ogist Marc Stevenson suggests that fire suppression pushed several Alberta Dene groups from semi-nomadic to sedentary lifestyles, which significantly changed their economies, social structure, and health. Like the Blackfoot, the Dene and Cree adapted fire use into historic times. When

A grassland fire being lit by members of the Blackfoot in 1918. The Blackfoot have legends and special ceremo- the fur trade swept west, trap lines and trails nies associated with cultural burning. PHOTO CREDIT: Image P138 courtesy of the Provincial Archives of were regularly burned in spring for ease of Alberta access and to encourage grasses that attract-

12 WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES ed rodents and, eventually, their fur-bearing of litter layers, prescribed burns run a high Anthropological work on cultural burning predators. Wetland meadows were burned to risk of spreading outside anticipated areas also corrects a mistaken notion that First provide food for beaver and muskrat. if not managed properly. Land planners are Nations were passive ecological agents. An- The key elements of Indigenous fire use re-learning a complex knowledge base re- thropogenic burning involved a library of across Alberta, regardless of purpose, includ- quired for controlled burns. information to apply fire in different contexts ed monitoring conditions like snow cover, and then adapt fire to suit historical needs, ground moisture, and fuel loads to keep fires The Value of Fire like to maintain horse pastures and support manageable. The high frequency of fires, both Paleoecology and History trapping. People have been successfully ma- natural and cultural, decreased fire loads Ecologists are no strangers to the danger of nipulating landscapes across Alberta for thou- and maintained fire barriers, which likely public misconceptions: effective programs sands of years: fire can continue to play a pos- decreased the overall severity and extent of can be marred if significant gaps exist be- itive role in Alberta’s ecosystems. burns. tween science and public understanding. Dr. Jeanine Rhemtulla, who studies the historical Todd Kristensen is a PhD student in Modern Burning and Fire ecology of forests at the University of British the Department of Anthropology at the Landscapes Columbia, stresses that there are often mis- University of Alberta and a Regional Fires were once common and small but understandings of landscape stability: “We Archaeologist with the Historic Re- have since become less frequent and large. tend not to manage for change, we manage sources Management Branch of Alber- Fire suppression in the early 1900s resulted for consistency, but landscapes are so dynam- ta Culture and Tourism. Ashley Reid in the replacement of many patchwork land- ic - we need to acknowledge that landscapes currently attends the University of Al- scapes with dense forests. In mountain parks, change and then manage for resiliency.” His- berta and is working on a Bachelor of land managers have re-introduced prescribed torical research reminds us of the positive and Arts degree in Anthropology. burning to help re-establish mosaic land- dynamic roles of fire in the province. scapes and the diverse animal/plant communities that they support. Prescribing burning is balanced with the need to maintain areas with mature forest cover that are favoured by species like woodland caribou. Fire is more commonly being used across Alberta during certain seasons to decrease the risk of large, out-of-control fires that threaten infrastructure and consume merchantable timber. Larger scale prescribed burns tend to occur in Alberta’s national and provincial parks. A combination of torches and air drop com- bustibles are used to create different fire types that mimic natural burns. Years of planning and months of waiting are often necessary until the right moisture and weather regimes are conducive to safe burning. Colton Reilly with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has been fighting wildfires in West- ern Canada for over three years and he spe- cializes in prescribed, preventative burns. “We have to try to burn everything deep in the soil, but it’s hard to find a good time to do that. We have to worry about finding the right drought codes (a numbered scale to as- sess dryness of surface fuels and litter layers to about 10 cm deep), and once we have those, we have to worry about fires starting close The canopies of many river valleys in mountain parks have closed in due to fire suppression. In some instances, this has decreased floral and faunal diversity while creating problematic fire loads adjacent to infrastructure. to people’s homes.” Burning deeply into the PHOTO CREDIT: Images courtesy of the Mountain Legacy Project, 2016. Image identification numbers soil reduces fuel that can be used by future listed clockwise from top left are d20c0d6c-7116-11e2-a556-c82a14fffed2; cd99b202-7116-11e2-a556- wildfires, but due to the historical build-up c82a14fffed2; 50e1ebac-7059-11e2-a556-c82a14fffed2; 54e49646-7059-11e2-a556-c82a14fffed.

WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES 13A What is FireSmart?

By Joanna Skrajny, AWA Conservation Specialist

ires are smart. should build in the forest and who should have been co-opted by the Forest Service. In the beginning, Alberta’s bear the risk if we build there, we try to The original intent of making a commu- F forests grew in harmony with engineer a solution to the problem. We nity’s buildings more fire resistant has fire. Fires were wild and unpredictable, have tolerated, if not promoted, more and changed into extending the program into equally likely to burn in forests of all ages. more human settlement in forests over the the surrounding forests. The effectiveness Caused by lightning, often these fires were past 50 years, at greater risk to the people of this change is dubious and it possibly small and inconsequential. Drier condi- in those communities. may have benefited industry operators. A tions would result in large and irregular Alberta’s FireSmart Program was intro- quick look at FRIAA’s membership leads to fires that significantly impacted the land- duced in 1999 by Partners in Production, questions about who Firesmart really ben- scape. Fire was a natural and essential an Alberta-based non-profit dedicated to efits. Spray Lake Sawmills, Sundre Forest disturbance to the landscape that recycled providing information to reduce the risk Products, and Weyerhauser Company Ltd. nutrients, regulated succession of plants, of wildfire losses. It was later adopted by are listed as members in FRIAA’s 2015 An- maintained diversity, and controlled in- the Alberta Government. The Forest Re- nual Report. As the focus of the FireSmart sects and disease. source Improvement Association of Alberta Program moved away from reducing home Over the course of a hundred years, we (FRIAA) is responsible for administering ignitability to managing forest vegetation, have ransacked and pillaged our forests. and delivering the FireSmart Initiative Pro- some Albertans began to voice their con- We have sliced up the forest with cut lines, gram. The FireSmart program historically cerns that clearcut logging was occurring seismic lines, roads, trails, pipelines, and received $2 million annually until funding and being justified under the auspices of homes, carving a once unimaginable ex- ended in 2010. After the catastrophic Slave FireSmarting. panse of forest into smaller and smaller Lake fire in 2011 resulted in over $700 portions. At the same time, we have ex- million in damages and $290 million spent Case studies pected the forest to provide us with its on the disaster, the Alberta government Problems surfaced in the community of goods and services: unlimited sustained renewed its support of the Firesmart pro- Bragg Creek in 2012 when FireSmart ac- timber yield, clean water, clean air, wild- gram, allocating $20 million. This amount tivities were announced in order to create life. How can we expect the forest to con- was cut to $7 million in 2013, increased a “fuel break” for the community. Just a tinuously supply us with resources and to $10 million in 2014, and cut again to year after the Slave Lake fire the possibili- ecosystem services when we have altered $3.5 million for the 2015 season. Alberta ty of catastrophic fire was still fresh in the it to such a degree that it struggles to re- has funneled a sizeable amount of money minds of residents. However, there was a generate itself? into the FireSmart Program. massive public outcry when it was discov- The original intent of the FireSmart Pro- ered that the logging would occur on an What is the problem? gram was to address research findings extensive patch of trail networks and for- The crux of our problem lies in the fact regarding home ignitability, namely that ests that many Bragg Creek and Calgary that our society wants all activities and home ignitability rather than wildland fu- residents hold dear. Throughout a heated amenities to be easily available, every- els is the principal cause of home losses public consultation process, many par- where, all the time. We want to live in during fire events. The 2003 FireSmart ticipants opposed the plan since the pro- adorable homes nestled within the beau- manual highlights this with a focus on re- posed logging would not retain any trees tiful forests beyond our urban centres. moving fuel from the urban-wildland in- around recreational trails and only ad- Alberta’s incredible urban sprawl is testa- terface. But, over the years, the meaning hered slightly to true FireSmart practices. ment to this. Rather than question if we of “FireSmart” and the allocation of funds Although visual buffers were eventually

14 WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES added around recreational trails, logging have to bear to fight an extreme wildfire ined the proposed logging plans from a plans were approved and went ahead in in the area.” FireSmart perspective. October 2012. Dr. Ralph Cartar, ecologist and member The approved plan, outlined in the map The Minister of Environment and Sus- of the Bragg Creek Environmental Coali- of approved FireSmart logging plans, had tainable Resources at the time issued a tion, had serious reservations about the three logging phases: the purple and yel- public release stating that the “FireSmart touted ability of these clearcuts to provide low areas designated blocks planned to be Plan will create a series of firebreaks on a fire break to the residents of Bragg Creek. cut in consecutive years and then replant- forested Crown land west of Bragg Creek “The way in which the logging would re- ed, the orange area was a permanent fire by harvesting timber” and that the plan duce fire risk was never explained,” he break. What is not seen on this map are “respects government’s obligation to man- told me. Turning to the research that has the plethora of past clearcuts interspersed age the costs all Alberta taxpayers would been done on fire behaviour, he exam- between each of these proposed cuts. The young forests will effectively transmit any fire and reduce the value of any short-term (10 year) reduction in fire risk that results from logging the discontinuous patches of old growth forest shown. It’s clear from the maps that these pur- ported “fire breaks” are patchy and do not provide a solid line of defence to the residents. Why is this the case? Half of the forests surrounding Bragg Creek have already been logged and therefore are composed of immature lodgepole pine. Does that mean that the remaining immature lodgepole pine stands are less of a fire risk? The answer is a resounding no. A study done in Kananaskis determined that young forests have the same fire risk and are as sus- ceptible to burning as old forests (John- son & Larsen, Ecology 1991). The forest patches that were left are as prone to fire as regenerating clearcuts for which no logging is planned. The myth of increased fire risk with forest age is deep-rooted though and appears often in justifications of logging by the Forest Service, politicians, and logging companies. So the Bragg Creek community now has a patchy network of clearcuts, the majority of which will be replanted. For how long will these clearcuts provide a fire break? Since forests are returning to these stands, the benefits that the logging will provide is at best a temporary firebreak for 10-15 years, until the young forests – as prone to burning as older-aged forests – are re-established. Dr. Cartar concluded “the proposed ‘FireSmart’ logging was simply not scientifically supportable.” He added: Map of Approved FireSmart Logging Plans in the Bragg Creek area. The community of Bragg Creek is di- rectly east, flanking either side of the road (cut off in map). SOURCE: Government of Alberta (SRD, now “They only harvested mature stands of AEP). pine, and left immature pine simply be-

WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES 15A cause it was non-merchantable timber.” tion or justification. ticular, visual assessments have not In addition to questions raised about Unfortunately, this problem is not con- been conducted, and screening buf- the ‘science’ and the effectiveness of the fined to one region of Alberta. The Nor- fers, topography and residual mate- Bragg Creek FireSmart activities, questions degg Community Association (NCA) has rial have not been used to address have been raised about the reality that had serious concerns with the failures of visual concerns, as is required by Spray Lake Sawmills was to carry out the FireSmart logging in the R11 Forest Man- the R11 plan.” FireSmart logging. An online map of Spray agement Unit (FMU) located in Bighorn Regardless of the effectiveness of FireSmart Lake Sawmills’ 2012 Bragg Creek planned Backcountry (see Jane Drummond’s arti- logging, the NCA says it’s frustrating that timber harvest mirrors the SRD FireSmart- cle in this issue of WLA). The community important recreational trails could not ing map almost perfectly. Many residents cites a failure to follow R11 ground rules have at least had visual buffers. What is of Bragg Creek who question the purposes that require consideration of aesthetic val- especially frustrating for Jane Drummond, of FireSmart believe this was an attempt to ues and mitigation of visual impacts of a member of the NCA, is that “the North fulfill a contractual obligation made under Firesmart logging on tourism values. Saskatchewan Regional Plan is an excellent the local Forest Management Agreement, In a recent letter to the Government of opportunity to designate the Bighorn as a even though it was presented to the com- Alberta, the Nordegg Community Associ- Wildland Provincial Park, yet the ongoing munity as a FireSmart Plan. The FireSmart ation stated: and unnecessary FireSmart logging is un- solution that some residents of Bragg Creek “The Bighorn Backcountry in- dermining the region’s stated tourism and actually wanted was this: a permanent fire cludes no commercial forestry ten- economic development goals.” break which would be wide enough to slow ure, but government FireSmart Thankfully, it seems that the Alberta down a fire, allow for access by fire-fighting logging has been conducted in a government is becoming more respon- crews, and allow time for the community manner that is indistinguishable sive. Commitments have been made to to evacuate. Nonetheless, the logging plans from commercial clearcutting that include the NCA in future activities, to proposed by SRD and industry were ap- is completely inappropriate for a reclaim roads that were used in FireSmart proved and went ahead, without explana- tourism and recreation area. In par- activities, and to reduce motorized access

Black Canyon trail west of Fish Lake after FireSmart logging, once a popular biking and hiking trail. CREDIT: Nordegg Community Association

16 WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES into treated areas. An important next step acterized by clearcuts littered with woody safe practices for homeowner fire pits, and will be to ensure that future FireSmart debris, dried through exposure to sunlight implementing annual plans for reducing decisions are based on peer-reviewed sci- and wind, then frequented by weekend fuel loads within residential green spaces. ence and public input. The need to ap- recreationalists who enjoy campfires and In conjunction with these activities, the ply FireSmart clearcut logging treatments setting off the occasional explosive. And, Alberta government might consider per- must be re-evaluated entirely, particularly as Ghost Valley community member Gord manent and well-maintained fire breaks in view of their lack of support in the sci- MacMahon says, “We’ve seen that indus- in close proximity to the communities at entific literature. trial scale forestry opens up new areas to risk. This solution promises to be more OHV traffic. Reclamation of logging roads effective than clearcut logging in patches Looking into the future does little to keep OHVs out once clearcut and then replanting fuel. The battle with FireSmart logging is far forestry opens up an area.” Gord notes that Above all, FireSmart activities must be from over. In the Ghost Valley, residents the hot metal and sparks emitted from the truly fire smart. These activities must remain concerned about the FireSmart vehicles may be a source of human caused be done using the best available sci- plans for the Summer Village of Waipa- fires. “It’s important,” he says, “that we look ence and must be shaped by meaning- rous which still show up in timber harvest at the big picture and ask whether our ac- ful and timely public input. After all, documents for the area. Many residents tivities are really reducing wildfire risks, FireSmart was developed with the goal have voiced their belief that the plan as rather than increasing them.” of protecting the property of individual drawn would mostly serve to protect the Fortunately, solutions are within reach. Albertans, rather than as a strategy for forest from fires escaping the village, rath- Large intact forested areas that don’t pose finding additional areas for timber har- er than serving FireSmart’s original inten- dangers to communities in the event of vest. Returning FireSmart to its original tion – making residential areas more resis- wildfire must be left free to burn in order intent offers a promising path forward tant to fire dangers. that natural checks and balances might for Albertans seeking sustainability in Meanwhile, huge swaths of timber are take place. Where that is not possible, our land use practices. being clearcut from three adjacent com- forest communities must focus on making partments in Spray Lake Sawmills’ north their buildings, yards, fire pits and com- Thanks to the people cited in this Forest Management Agreement area. As munity green spaces fire resistant: choos- article for providing me with on-the- the foothills are cleared, residents wonder ing building materials carefully, remain- ground knowledge and for guiding me about the fire risks that go along with for- ing vigilant to cut new growth back from through the complexities of this issue. estry. The Ghost Valley is increasingly char- homes and outbuildings, committing to

“Alberta Bound” by Jessica and Angela Hauser

WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES 17A Nordegg’s FireSmart Experience: A Commentary

By Professor Jane Drummond, Facilitator, Nordegg Environment and Recreation Working Group

he residents and homeowners Regarding FireSmart inappropriate linear access to areas close in Nordegg are aware that the Logging in Nordegg to the community. These errors are incon- T policy, regulations and practic- Nordegg community members partic- sistent with the mandates of other govern- es of FireSmart are in place to protect us ipated in the R11 Charette – a weekend ment departments to promote and main- and our homes in the case of wildfire. planning exercise to develop objectives, tain tourism and recreation values. We live in Nordegg in order to create indicators and targets for the R11 (Big- We also firmly believe that the current businesses, homes, education, and leisure horn Backcountry) over a decade ago. The Public Land Use Zone (PLUZ) designation for our families. Our vision for Nordegg, plan recognized that limited mechanical of the Nordegg region is a deterrent to supported by Clearwater County, is that it treatments would be allowed to reduce two key outcomes. It does not encourage will become the tourism hub for the re- fire risk in areas not amenable to pre- tourism and sustainable growth of Nor- gion. To that end, we are supporting the scribed burning. degg as a gateway community to the Big- Bighorn Backcountry official designation The Government of Alberta clearly com- horn. It also seems it has not supported as a Wildland Park managed by Alber- mitted that treatments would include re- the implementation of quality government ta Parks. We also think that such a des- sidual material, be designed to minimize FireSmart practices. ignation will support more responsible visual and tourism impacts, protect ex- Over the past 18 months we alerted FireSmart practices by Alberta Agriculture isting trails and that treatment activities local Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and Forestry. would not create any new trails. There was personnel to our concerns. We met with We would first comment that the on- also a commitment to report back on the Rocky Mountain House management staff going, and in some cases unnecessary, achievement of these goals. Due to a lack in February 2016. This somewhat con- FireSmart logging in the Bighorn Back- of resources, this has not happened. tentious meeting was followed up with a country close to the community of Nor- The Bighorn Backcountry includes no March 2016 tour of the FireSmart logging degg is not meeting best practices that are commercial forestry tenure, but past areas around Nordegg. The response from acceptable in an area identified for tour- government FireSmart logging has been the frontline Agriculture and Forestry per- ism and is undermining the stated tour- conducted in a manner that is indistin- sonnel leading that tour was constructive. ism and economic development goals of guishable from commercial clearcutting. Promises were made: to pull back roads the region. Second, we are concerned that In addition there appears to have been that were built during previous FireSmart lack of FireSmart in public green spaces a lack of supervision of logging contrac- logging exercises; to place barriers and immediate to our residences poses a real tors or recognition that special rules and signage to stop access to FireSmart logged threat to their ignition should a fire close commitments were supposed to be met. areas; and to selectively reforest with pop- in on the community. We are concerned In particular, there have been no visual lar varieties for visual reasons and pro- that indiscriminate clearcutting where the assessments of mechanical treatments and tection of wetlands that have been dis- logs are then sold to commercial operators screening buffers; topography and resid- turbed. Promises were made to contact is being used instead of proper FireSmart- ual material have not been used to ad- the community at least annually to review ing – using single tree and deadfall remov- dress visual concerns, as is required by the concerns and to contact the communi- al. The former is a cost recovery practice R11 plan (http://aep.alberta.ca/lands-forty before any more FireSmart logging is and the latter practice requires investment ests/forest-management/forest-manage- planned. by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. ment-plans/documents/ForestManage- mentUnitR11/R11_part1.pdf). Another breach of the plan concerns the leaving of

18 WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES Regarding FireSmart mostly county, spaces close to homes. This and Recreation Working Group has con- in public spaces close to lack of action reduces homeowners’ en- cerns that past FireSmart logging has not residences thusiasm for clearing fuel from their own met the intent and commitments of the To its credit, Clearwater County de- property, as they rightly believe that lack R11 plan and has created both poor es- velopment regulations in Nordegg are of FireSmart public lands adjacent to their thetics in the area and unnecessary linear FireSmart. As such these regulations put homes is a peril equal to the fire risk on access to the treated areas. Because of the the county ahead of other jurisdictions. their own property. advocacy of the Nordegg Environment The residents of Nordegg are very aware of There are Alberta Agriculture and For- and Recreation Working Group, promis- their responsibility to reduce the wildland estry grants that could address this issue. es have been made to mitigate the worst fire fuel on their property. As with human We feel there is lack of logic involved in outcomes of these poor FireSmart prac- nature there is variation in compliance on having residents write grants to get funds tices. Finally, the lack of jurisdiction, by this responsibility. The county has twice from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry to Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, over the used the long weekend in August to pro- give to the county to carry out fuel re- public lands close to Nordegg homes has vide help transporting material to the local duction on public land close to homes created poor FireSmart conditions within burn pile. The community responded well when excessive FireSmart logging is being the community. The route to dealing with to these efforts but the service has been carried out just down the road. Notwith- that inconsistency seems convoluted and discontinued for financial considerations. standing we will engage in the established illogically involves community members A major FireSmart issue within Norde- process and see where it goes. writing grants to have work carried out on gg is the need to reduce fuel on public, In summary the Nordegg Environment public land.

“Nâtamâkêwin Pakwâci - Help The Wild – Caribou” by Tarana Sharma “Bees and Wildflowers” by Thomas and Dominique Jeffries

WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES 19A National Parks: Time to Burn (for Ecological Integrity’s Sake)

By Andrea Johancsik, AWA Conservation Specialist

tanding at the peak of the east end nities. In Alberta we saw the subsequent National Park this way in 1915. Eight de- of Rundle last month, my friends creation of Waterton Lakes National Park cades later, then- graduate student Jeanine S and I marveled at the sunny, spring in 1895, Elk Island National Park in 1906, Rhemtulla, Dr. Eric Higgs, and other mem- day we were fortunate enough to witness Jasper National Park in 1907, and Wood bers of the Mountain Legacy project pains- from 2,530m high. The hike gives vistas of Buffalo National Park in 1922. The high- takingly retook all 735 of Bridgland’s Jasper remote mountain peaks and forested slopes, ly popular and newly accessible mountain photos. They wanted to compare how the as well as the highly visible town of Can- parks became dominated by tourism and vegetation on the landscape had changed, more and the Spray Lakes dam. However, commercial development, roads, and re- if it had changed at all, over nearly a cen- arguably one of the biggest human-caused moval of keystone species like the plains tury. Their study found that vegetation has changes in the mountain national parks is bison. Many of the 3.6 million visitors who become less diverse and is now dominated much less obvious. Decades of fire suppres- passed through Banff National Park last year by closed-canopy coniferous forests; in 1915 sion have changed the landscape in a dra- probably didn’t realize they were looking at the landscape consisted of open coniferous matic way; had we been at the summit 80 a drastically different landscape from the one forest, grasslands, young forests and some years ago our view likely would have been of a century ago. deciduous stands. Their work quantified very different. It’s been decades, but fortunately we know the impacts of fire suppression in their study from photographs what the mountain na- area of Jasper National Park, but it’s obvious History tional parks looked like from the early days. just from a look at the photos the dramatic Banff National Park was the first national Morrison Parsons Bridgland was a surveyor change in vegetation that has occurred. park designated in Canada in 1885. Other and alpinist in the early 20th century and parks sprung up across Canada in the fol- used photogrammetry to systematically Early attitudes towards fire lowing decades to preserve natural resources map much of the central Canadian Rocky Fire was seen as an enemy by the Parks and wildlife and provide tourism opportu- Mountains by hand. He mapped Jasper agency in the early 20th Century. The Cana-

Looking north from Tunnel Mountain, 1888 and 2008. The conifer forest has spread extensively since James Joseph McArthur took his photo in 1888. CREDIT: These photos are courtesy of the Mountain Legacy Project (mountainlegacy.ca) and their use is governed according to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

20 WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES dian Pacific Railway was a rolling fire-start- fective and burned areas in the major, tour- historical levels. The impacts of fire suppres- er, every spark a potential cause of wildfire ism-oriented national parks were virtually sion are hurting the whitebark pine at the through the forested mountains. Fire threat- eliminated. For example, in Banff National same time as the white pine blister rust fun- ened life, property, expensive infrastructure, Park, the area burned per decade decreased gus, climate change, and an over-abundance and the “pristine” landscape that railway from 400 square kilometres down to five by of mountain pine beetle are threatening the tourism depended on. In 1909, just 14 years the 1950s. However, while there are fewer pine’s presence on the landscape. The spe- after the inception of Banff National Park, fires now, they burn more intensely. This is cies is now endangered and this promises the primary management objectives of the because without fire, potential fuel builds to harm the 110 species that (used to) con- Park Warden service were to protect forest up. When a fire finally occurs, it may be sume whitebark pine seeds in high-elevation and game. Fire wardens were employed to much larger and hotter than a fire which ecosystems. It’s burning the candle at both enforce the laws and regulations which au- may start in a more recently fire-disturbed ends, if you will – without the burning. Cli- thorized control and suppression of fires. area. That’s what studies in the U.S. pon- mate change, too, will add another element The agency’s early language about fire illus- derosa pine forests show. The WLA’s editor of risk. All of Alberta’s five national parks trates the mentality of fire as an enemy: fire recalls helicopter pilots who were fight- are predicted to experience an increased fre- was always “disastrous,” “dangerous,” and ing the Lost Creek fire in the Crowsnest in quency and intensity of fire, because of drier “devastating;” the fire warden engaged in a 2003 telling him that they had never seen summer conditions, and, in the mountain battle to “fight,“ “combat,” and “resist” fire. a fire that burned as hot as that one. The parks, increased fuel from stands infested by This language appears too in news headlines research on fire in pine forests doesn’t mean, mountain pine beetle. and everyday language, and accounts. You of course, that this is necessarily the case in find it too in a Parks Canada 1987 publica- all forests in all regions. Prescribed burns as tion, A History of Canada’s National Parks Ecological interactions are complicated; it restoration Vol.4, where author W.F. Lothian wrote that wasn’t until the 1970s and 1980s that more Fortunately, prescribed fire is bringing all fire was bad: sustained attention started to be paid to the back some of the natural processes caused “An ever-present threat to our na- detrimental effects of fire suppression. Today by fire. These projects can thank the Canada tional parks is forest fires, which, from we are still learning about fire disturbance National Parks Act which now directs Parks the earliest days of exploration, have and recovery in our forests. For instance, fire Canada to maintain and restore natural pro- ravaged these areas. Conflagrations has had a role in the complex interactions cesses, to value ecological integrity. In the which marred the landscape and de- between trembling aspens, humans, wolves, Act, ecological integrity means “a condition spoiled the habitat of native wildlife and elk. A 1998 paper by White et al. told that is determined to be characteristic of its have been attributed to various caus- this story: aspen has existed throughout all natural region and likely to persist, includes... whatever their origin, all fires in Rocky Mountain national parks in Canada ing abiotic components and the composi- national parks are of particular con- and the U.S. and its presence indicates bio- tion and abundance of native species and cern to the warden service.” diversity. Elk browsing keeps aspen from biological communities, rates of change and Attitudes towards fire, as Todd Kristensen dominating the forest, and wolves keep supporting processes.” and Ashley Reid point out elsewhere in this the elk population in check. Fire kills as- Ecological integrity wasn’t always the first issue, were very different for indigenous pen too, but it’s also one of the first plants official priority of national parks. Stephen peoples. Long before the arrival of Europe- to regenerate after a fire. This has been the Woodley, a leading expert in protected area an settlers, some First Nations of the prairies historical balance until increased human management, writes of four eras of man- and mountains knew fire could not be extin- land use displaced wolves, leading to higher agement in the Canadian Parks Service: guished in the long term, and instead used elk populations and fewer aspen stands. As protection, preservation, management, and fire to their advantage to improve forage op- Bridgland’s photos show clearly, open areas ecosystem management. Management ap- portunities. Just how much of an influence would have provided a more diverse choice proaches have changed through the decades indigenous peoples had on the fire regime of meadows for aspen to grow and for elk to with the realization that national parks were is up for debate in anthropological research. browse. Knowing this, prescribed fire can be no longer “natural” areas untouched and un- However, we do know that the First Nations a management tool that has cascading influ- regulated by the (European settler) human deliberately used fire to change the ecology ences. It’s not the only piece of the puzzle, hand. and recognized that fire is an inevitable and but it can assist in solving problems like an One of the biggest risks to ecological in- even beneficial process. overabundance of elk. tegrity in national parks is historical fire Whitebark pine and ponderosa pine are exclusion. To counter this, the national tar- The ecosystems react also species that thrive after a good scorch- get for Parks Canada is to burn 20 percent The fire suppression policy was very ef- ing and are not currently represented at of the historic fire cycle within an area. In

WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES 21A Looking west from Old Fort Point in Jasper National Park in 1998 a sea of conifer forest has transformed the landscape photographed by Morrison Bridgland in 1915. CREDIT: These photos are courtesy of the Mountain Legacy Project (mountainlegacy.ca) and their use is governed according to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

the mountain national parks, this target is manage some more. Ecological integrity works closely with the Alberta government. 50 percent. Jane Park, a fire and vegetation may be the official management priority, In one case, Alberta had done prescribed management specialist for Parks Canada in but the unwritten and no-brainer first pri- fires outside of Banff National Park so that Banff National Park, explains that prescribed ority is protecting human life and property. when a wildfire occurred in the Clearwater fires are conducted to fulfill high-level direc- Park describes how socio-economic and po- Valley, the Banff fire team could allow the fire tives and policies, as well as site-specific eco- litical factors also influence deciding where to grow and monitor conditions, rather than logical integrity objectives. and when a prescribed fire will take place. extinguishing it. Collaboration that results The planning process for a prescribed fire You won’t find many prescribed burns tak- in successful prescribed burns and wildfire might take one to two years from start to ing place during long weekends and peak management can be a model for what hap- finish and actual implementation depends summer visitation times! A prescribed fire pens throughout Alberta, resulting in repre- on conditions such as wind speed and fuel near the Rocky Mountain House National sentative and healthy ecosystems. moisture. The target is close to being met Historic Site conducted in early April, 2016 Fires are inevitable. There is no stopping in Banff; despite being behind on the long could be seen as a management tool used to fire in the long-term. The best we can do is to term goal, Park says Banff National Park has reduce wildfire risk to the historic site. Bo- try to manage the conditions in which it will reached 45 percent burned of historic fire nuses from such a prescribed burn listed on occur. A survey of residents in Banff in 2008 cycle through wildfire and prescribed fires. the Parks Canada website include “improv- suggests that the public can be brought on Banff has the added advantage of having im- ing the quality of forage for bison, and the board to using fire as a management tool. Al- plemented prescribed fires since the 1980s, removal of non-native vegetation.” though it found some gaps in the knowledge with areas even being able to be re-burned. of residents it identified general support and These former mature lodgepole pine forests Reaching the goal acceptance for fire in the park and general have reverted to the grassland habitat ungu- Ecological integrity is an important goal, knowledge about fire ecology. lates love. but there’s a long way to go before fire is “a Even if the best available science informs Ecological integrity is the objective, but fire condition that is determined to be charac- vegetation specialists about fire manage- teams in mountain parks must also delicate- teristic of its natural region and likely to per- ment, the public’s acceptance can still have ly balance public safety, restoration of spe- sist.” Prescribed fires are only conducted in a big influence on how policy is interpret- cies like whitebark pine, and protection of ways that are safe for people and that gain ed and implemented. Despite success and species like endangered woodland caribou. public acceptance, and the 5,777,108 visi- improvements in fire management, our fire This is a very complex task. For instance, last tors to Banff and Jasper National Parks com- debt still holds. How and when that debt will spring staff at Jasper National Park burned bined during the 2015-16 season is a huge be repaid is shaped to a large part by how we five square kilometres of forest in the Vine audience to educate. Landscapes and ecosys- choose to try to manage fire in our parks. Creek fire unit after eight years of prepara- tems seldom fit well with the jurisdictional Success hinges on understanding fire as an tion and waiting for the right conditions. boundaries of governments. So, while Parks integral part of the ecosystem, an unavoid- It’s somewhat ironic that to get back to Canada only conducts prescribed fire oper- able process that yes, may inconvenience us ecological integrity we need to manage and ations within park boundaries the Agency or worse, but is also necessary for life.

22 WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES Wildfire Damage: Towards a Broader Definition

By Esther Bogorov, AWA Conservation Specialist

ur wilderness is where we proach zero, with the aid of effective fire- bilities. We may even conclude that such play, heal, and thrive. Over proofing education and bylaws, knowl- lands are dead. O the last few centuries, our ur- edge of fire-watch tools that are publically We increasingly appreciate this isn’t the ban spaces have been coming closer and available, and quick and efficient distribu- case. Soon after fire the land begins to re- closer to the wild spaces, increasing the tion of event-specific information. vive, part of the cycle of rejuvenation. This wildland-urban interface. We have seen The other factor of total wildfire cost is is true both in grassland and forest. In the how this development can come with damage, which the authors of this study latter, when conifers are hit by fire, their tremendous danger and significant cost. identified as a vague variable without a needles and cones burn, the bark tears up, We have policies and procedures that try clear definition. “Damage” typically in- but the roots stay. As a carbon sink, these to keep us safe, including active fire sup- cludes, but is not limited to, perceived trees are still functional, locking whatever pression, in hopes of decreasing damage negative effects on timber, recreation, and didn’t escape into the atmosphere in place. and reducing the total cost. There is ample improvements (e.g. irrigation and roads). Fungus and insects, important biodiver- evidence that countless lives and property For the total cost of wildfires to decrease, sity representatives, eat up the carbon have been saved through the hard work the cost of this direct damage must de- stores, from the inside out and outside of firefighters and the forestry services in crease as well. But a broader definition in. Meanwhile, the grass grows, decidu- this way. of damage would also include the dam- ous plants shoot up, and conifer seedlings In 2006, Mariam Lankoande and Jon- age caused by suppression, starting with slowly and confidently start building their athan Yoder released a paper at Wash- the increased intensity of wildfire in for- forest story. ington State University titled “An Econo- ests that amassed excess fuel after years Grassland fires burn along the ground at metric Model of Wildfire Suppression of fighting. From the perspective of direct low intensity, lower than most fires in for- Productivity.” For nearly a century, wild- damage, the potential for the destruction ests. They prevent tree encroachment and fire studies have looked at the total cost of property in our communities is only in- maintain the characteristic openness of of wildfire as being the sum of cost and creasing. the land. Grasslands also burn more read- damage. If we minimize the cost of fire ily, where a single spark can spread from suppression and minimize the cost of Fire as an Ecological Process blade to blade in an instance. damage, the total amount we spend fi- Fires can destroy livelihoods, property, With this quick-to-burn tendency comes nancing wildfire suppression should, in and at worst, lives, which is all very real, a quick natural recovery strategy. A study this outdated theory, decrease. tangible damage. Damage also includes published in the Rangeland Ecology & The report came to more nuanced con- the psychological toll of fire, taking forms Management journal in 2011 concluded clusions by looking at data around the of apprehension and fear— natural re- that the effect of fire on total biomass of return on investment (ROI) for different actions to the potential uncontrollable grasses on site was minimal in the grow- stages of fire suppression. The researchers nature of wildfire. Together, these issues ing season following a burn. The authors concluded that the government was focus- have led us to avoid fire, seemingly at all explained that resources are taken up by ing too heavily on suppression activities costs. But some of the perceived damage surviving plants, many of which have spe- compared with pre-suppression initia- is simply based on the historic misunder- cific resilience traits, such as the produc- tives. The ROI in preparedness created a standing of the land we live on. Green for- tion of a below-ground store of buds and more substantial dent in the overall cost of ests and mature grasslands are beautiful, roots. Grasslands, after fire, are ready to wildfire management. Hypothetically, the but burned forests and charred grasslands grow back. cost of preparedness can eventually ap- offend our some of our aesthetic sensi- The “what” and “where” of forest and

WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES 23A What really meets the eye is life in the understory: the plants on the ground are finally getting a taste of the sun. PHOTO: © C. WEARMOUTH

grassland plants post-fire is dependent on Last Word: The Need for sion-makers, we can encourage resilience highly variable pre-fire conditions and un- Resilience in our communities, our forests, and our predictable subsequent events. If it rains, Policies and practices in Alberta do not grasslands. By working with the natural different plants will emerge and dominate yet reflect an intuitive understanding that processes that surround us, we can rede- than if it stays dry. If the fire was severe, works as well as it could with the com- sign, retrofit, and rebuild the environment much more of the carbon stored in the plexity of the land. Historically, we have we inhabit to react appropriately. plant matter will have escaped into the favoured a “one size fits all” approach to So, let’s pick our battles, knowing we atmosphere, and nutrient availability for dealing with wildfire, one we increasingly can’t win the war on fire. The land we plant recovery will decrease. If the slope recognize as not fitting a highly variable live on is dynamic — it grows, “dies,” and is steep, the fire might lead to more run- and inevitably uncertain ecosystem well. grows again. Understanding the system off immediately and over a longer period Gradually, we are compiling our knowl- and preparing for change might end up of time than if the fire passes through a edge by piecing together information being the best and cheapest solution to the flat valley. This complexity of causes and across the region and starting to under- challenge of wildfire. effects has resulted in variable study ap- stand what the ecological cycle looks like proaches and results. But in general, when on the ground. we zoom out to study a fire event from the Based on our studies and observations, habitat and landscape scale, we see that we have learned what ecological succes- the systems are not fighting off change, sion means in the forests and across the as suppression forces them to, but are in- prairies. By shifting our own perspectives stead highly resilient. as recreationists, homeowners, and deci-

24 WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | FEATURES Bob Blaxley – Great Gray Owl Award Winner 2015

Like great gray owls, AWA’s great gray owl award winners work wisely and quietly to conserve wilderness habitat and wild crea- tures. AWA’s successes reflect their enduring commitments to your conservation organization and our goals. The award is presented annually to those who meet the highest standards of volunteerism, dedication, and commitment. AWA awarded this honour to Bob Blaxley last fall. Bob is quite simply an icon for the Whaleback. He studied the Whaleback as a Master’s student in the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Environ- limber pines, that stand like sentinels along AWA and our members have been blessed mental Design. His passion for the Whale- Little Whaleback Ridge. You’ll learn why by Bob’s passion, knowledge, and commit- back’s rare montane landscape didn’t stop the western sides of exposed Douglas firs ment to the Whaleback and Alberta’s other when he completed that degree. Instead, it are so much smoother than their eastern wild spaces. led him to write The Whaleback: A Walk- sides. And, you’ll learn something of the ing Guide, a marvelous introduction to the history of activism when Bob stops to point Previous winners of the Great special features found there. Every year Bob out where AMOCO Petroleum proposed to Gray Owl Award include: Anne leads two, if not more, groups into that en- drill an exploratory well in 1994. Govern- Fabris, Margaret Main, Linda chanted landscape. As the Advocate’s edi- ment refused – a very rare victory that may Javeri, Ed Hergott, Paul Sutherland, tor knows first hand those excursions are a only have been secured because, in Bob’s Nuno Fragoso, and Heather Crone. treasure trove of information and insights. words, the Whaleback is “a sacred place.” There you’ll walk among the ancients, the

On the Nature-Mindedness of Children As much as our children have to learn from us, we have much to learn from them. Eight-year old Sebastian Brennan (shown here) and seven-year old Abigail Hadden donated their birthday money this year to help AWA take care of and speak out on behalf of wild animals. The care these two youngsters, and many others of their generation, show for the bees, the birds, and the bears is inspiring. If you think your child would like to learn more about Al- berta’s wildlands this summer be sure to check out the announcement about AWA’s August kids’ camp in the Events section of this issue.

WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | ASSOCIATION NEWS 25A Updates

Wolves been wiped out as a result of this infec- aim to restore this charismatic keystone Alberta’s management of wolves has tion. Individuals often die with a white species. The Blackfoot Reservation in been a contentious issue for many years. ring of fungus on their faces. We know too northern Montana just two hours from Le- In 2013, AWA published a news release little about where this fungus came from thbridge recently received 88 bison. Their revealing from FOIPed documents that and why this is happening. bison are coming from Elk Island National some bounty programs in the province The fungus was first recorded on the east Park; today’s Elk Island bison are descen- came from the US-based Wild Sheep coast of the United States in a cave in the dants of herds originating from Montana. Foundation. Bounties by some munici- state of New York. Once an individual is It’s a true homecoming story. palities and private organizations provide infected, the mortality rate of the entire Our neighbours to the south also signed incentives for wolf kills up to $500. colony nears 100 percent. Reports put the the Bison Legacy Act, designating the bi- The International Union for the Conser- death toll of bats due to this syndrome at son as America’s new National Mammal. vation of Nature (IUCN) wrote a letter to at least seven million. The bison now joins the bald eagle as a the Alberta government to urge a change This winter the fungus was discovered U.S. symbol. Advocates of the Act say it in management to correspond with glob- in the western U.S. Hikers near Seattle, will be an important step to increase bison al best practices. At the time, the gov- Washington found an individual on a trail restoration efforts and include the animal ernment responded by saying the issue and brought it in for rehabilitation. It died in classroom education. should be taken up with municipalities, from the effects of starvation soon after. In Canada, Banff National Park will wel- not the province. The disease has spread rapidly and sci- come a herd of 30 to 50 plains bison by Because wolves are not provincially man- entists think humans may play a role in January 2017 to the Panther and Dormer aged, there is no provincial oversight into transmitting it. Most likely, a caver visit- rivers areas north of Banff. Fencing has how many wolves are killed. There is also ed an infected site out east and brought been undergoing field testing, to ensure no knowing how the wolves are killed. fungus spores on clothes and gear to sites natural movements of other animals are Too often we believe wolves are taken out west. Once there is sufficient buildup not impacted. During the consultation through snaring, which can be inhumane of the fungus in the environment, the ani- process, participants voiced concern over and have unintended by-catch. mals become vulnerable. bison moving onto adjacent ranchland. The FOIPed documents also revealed The Alberta Bat Action Team (ABAT) How Parks Canada will manage potential that Alberta government staff was aware is working with researchers, the govern- escapees remains to be disclosed to the untargeted wolf bounties were not effec- ment, and caving associations to monitor public. tive at reducing livestock predation, an the situation and raise awareness. It is cru- Lu Carbyn, a research biologist, sug- issue discussed in the WLA article by Car- cial for people to know this is happening gested the following in a WLA article last olyn Campbell in the summer of 2015. if we are to protect a species that plays a year about the Banff reintroduction proj- A wolf management plan regulated by vital role in our ecosystems by controlling ect: “initial introduction of 40 animals the ministry of Alberta Environment and insect populations and pollinating plants. will, therefore, result in the population of Parks, using the best available scientif- ABAT is a member of the Western Bat over 80,000 animals or so over a 50-year ic principles, and carried out with an Working Group. If you see a dead bat period.” He predicts wolf predation will open and transparent public consulta- or bat flying around during the daytime, not be enough to keep the population in tion, would be a great addition to wildlife please contact the group at wbwb.org/ check and that human intervention (likely planning in the province. We’re sure the contact as well as Alberta Environment by culling) will be necessary. A scientific wolves would thank us, too. and Parks. paper released in February 2016 estimates - Andrea Johancsik - Esther Bogorov that Banff National Park has enough habitat area to support 600-1,000 bison – this White-nose Syndrome Is For Bison: A Pretty Good would easily make the Banff herd the larg- Killing Bats Closer to Home Year est plains bison herd in southern Alberta. When bats are infected with white-nose The bison, North America’s largest land Bison reintroduction is happening out- syndrome, they fly during winter and in mammal, has made headlines in the con- side of North America too. The European daylight. This unnatural behaviour leads servation world this year. Across the prai- bison, also known as the wisent, was rein- to their death. Entire bat colonies have ries of North America, “rewilding” efforts troduced to the Maashorst in the Nether-

26 WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | WILDERNESS WATCH lands in March 2016. The wisent has also The first issue is broad, where the meth- thrive. Various drilling company repre- been reintroduced into Poland, Belarus, odology for the EIA is unclear and the word sentatives believe this project will provide Romania, Germany, and Spain. “significant” is used without a clear defini- work for their employees and fill much Here’s the last good news story about bi- tion (the word “significant” is associated needed gaps in the province for employ- son: the first bison calves born in Alaska with a metric when used in an EIA, and it ment. As one drill company representative in more than a century were spotted in cannot be used without the proper calcu- explained, when the old mine companies late April. These births represent a huge lations that are attached to it). Then, the left there was an employment vacuum. conservation win and deserve celebration. AER goes on to pick apart the assessment These concerned citizens hope the mine For more information about the biology, in many sub-categories. They include con- will bring in the type of jobs people can distribution, and issues relating to bison servation and reclamation, biodiversity, air, and want to do. in Alberta, visit https://albertawilderness. water, land, vegetation, wildlife, land-use, There were nearly twice as many letters of ca/issues/wildlife/bison/ history, and socio-economic. In summary, concern than there were letters of support. - Andrea Johancsik the letter states the EIA was insufficient in Some came from those who have lived every category imaginable. in the area long enough to remember the New Year, New Start for To understand a bit more about what experience of having an active coal mine Grassy Mountain local residents had reported to the AER, nearby. These residents recount poor air On March 21, 2016 the Alberta Energy AWA requested to see the letters of support quality, loud operations, and bright lights Regulator (AER) sent an email to Benga and letters of concern that citizens sent in. at night as just some of the acute damage Mining Limited about their proposed coal These letters are officially a part of the pub- and disturbance brought into their lives. mining project on Grassy Mountain in the lic domain and can be accessed by submit- For some of the families who have been in Crowsnest Pass. The subject was “AER En- ting an information request to the AER. the Pass for nearly a century more damage vironmental Assessment Major Deficiency Several letters of support for the mine to area waterways might threaten an entire Report” and requested that Benga provide were sent in. Small business owners are way of life. Other residents cited the cumu- a work plan and commitment to address concerned understandably that the area lative effects on the landscape and, given all the deficiencies found in the Environ- population is declining and that there are the extensive coal mining that has taken mental Impact Assessment (EIA). The letter not enough good-paying, year-long jobs. place throughout the region already, how then details, in 20 pages, why the compa- They want to attract people to help their this mine will add to those effects. Some ny’s EIA was incomplete. businesses thrive so their families too can wrote that this project will further add to the damaged critical habitat of westslope cutthroat trout. What is good for this fish is good for other mountain fish, the raptors

WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | WILDERNESS WATCH 27A that eat them, and humans, especially those ple will move to the town and work while support us. of us who enjoy hunting, fishing, and gath- they can and move on when it’s over. Perhaps the government would take a ering on the land. We do not need the coking coal that will step back and consider the letters received One letter of support stood out from the be extracted, not here in Alberta nor any- as a plea for help and as a challenge to re- rest, as the author spoke of the prospect of where in Canada, and the market for the spect their ideas of what “livelihood” means successful remediation that is promised by material across the ocean in Asia is uncer- – a healthy landscape and fulfilling em- the company. It’s overly optimistic to sup- tain. The appetite for healthy living, how- ployment. It’s imperative for government to port a mining project based on the hope ever, has only increased. As more people give as much attention to long-term, small- the company will carry out the proper re- come to terms with the negative side-effects town economic development as they do to mediation the site has needed for decades. of living in cities, towns such as Blairmore urban centres such as Calgary or Edmon- Taking something that is broken, break- become appealing to visitors from near and ton. It’s reasonable for the people of the ing it even more, and then promising to far who are seeking fresh air, clean water, Crowsnest Pass to ask the government to fix it all twenty-five years later doesn’t feel good fishing, and a taste of a nature-orient- help them find ways to remediate and re- right. With the concerns of the supporters ed version of the good life. People will fall store the old mine sites and to try to build a in mind, it’s useful to step back and take in love with the wilderness that still exists local economy less dependent on resource a look at the larger context of this project. throughout the Crowsnest Pass and it will extraction. The residents of the Crowsnest The boom and bust nature of the resource empower them to take the chance to live Pass deserve a government that will work extraction sector seems to be ineffective in there. The history of coal mining can fade proactively to deliver this vision. long-term, stable job creation—the Crows- into the past as we move forward, together, - Esther Bogorov nest Pass knows from the past, as the drill away from failed models of economic de- company representatives described, that velopment towards more sustainable, sta- the jobs are actually temporary. Given the ble communities. There is a lot of work that nature of this type of economic enterprise can be done to restore ecosystems to the we should expect it to happen again: peo- point where the land itself can once again

“Argia Vivida: Vivid dancer damselfly” by Susann and Michael Lagore

28 WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | WILDERNESS WATCH Reader’s Corner GREEN ZONE Lorne Fitch, Caring for the beavers are also in- Green Zone: Beaver – Our credibly interesting Watershed Partner, (Lethbridge; for their own unique Cows and Fish – Alberta Riparian Habitat characteristics: they Management Society, 2016) mate for life and By Esther Bogorov are extremely territorial; they build Do you love beavers? If you don’t, then mounds of sticks you might just hate them. As Lorne Fitch in the middle of writes in the most recent Cows and Fish a pond and call it publication, Caring for the Green Zone: Bea- home, and have ver – Our Watershed Partner, it’s not easy two sets of spe- to be ambivalent about the big-toothed, cialized paws, tree-chopping rodents. Fitch’s work is worth Beaver the front pair Our Watershed Partner a read for anyone with strong feelings about for dexterity Canada’s national symbol – especially if you and the back are a landowner or watershed manager. pair for swim- The booklet is very well layered, serving ming. They as an effective introduction, good refer- only build ence, and quick review guide. Skimming when they the illustrative photos and their captions is need to— eye-opening and the cute cartoons add a some live lightness and accessibility to the text. Fitch in and near CARING FOR THE has done a fine job of squeezing a great deal water bodies that of useful information into only forty pag- are calm enough that they do not feel the es. Readers from all backgrounds will find urge to slow down the flow. Of all the fun beaver in brings back biodiversity, health, answers to their beaver questions: How im- facts I learned from this booklet, my favou- and stability. It leads to a resilient valley eco- portant were the beavers to the Hudson’s Bay rite was about a system of complex dams in system. Company that once owned most of what is California. Radiocarbon dating revealed that As much as that restoration process is im- now Canada? Very – as soon as you open some beaver hit a gold mine of water and portant for wild land, it is important to con- the book, black and white photos of drying found the perfect site for a dam in year 580. sider how we can use these positive effects beaver pelts greet you. How can a small fur- Beavers used it for 1,200 years until they fi- on the watershed to benefit ranchers and ry family alter an entire ecosystem? Aerial nally abandoned it in 1850. farmers throughout our water networks. photographs, like what page 14 offers, will The most striking section for me was “Bea- Making a living off the land while collabo- help you to understand their far-reaching ver – A Restoration Tool.” It asks us to shift rating with beavers is a challenge that more effect on the landscape. What do I do about our attitudes to see beavers as a useful tool and more brave landowners are taking on. the beaver that’s eating all my trees? Almost for restoring waterways that we didn’t even A healthy and well-managed ecosystem can any solution you can think of is displayed on recognize as damaged. The excessive use create strong and sustainable businesses. page thirty, from habitat management strat- and abuse of our streams and rivers has led The techniques and tricks that Fitch offers at egies to a recipe for painting tree bark with to eroded and degraded banks that cannot the end of the booklet will help lead to suc- latex and sand repellent. support healthy vegetation and no longer cessful cohabitation, where woody debris is Beavers are fascinating. They are a critical function ecologically-well during flood seen as a small price to pay for the benefits part of our environment; by building and re- events. Beavers are quick and effective at re- of having beavers on the land. building their structures they help maintain storing what has been lost through human the very things we need: clean water, flood activity: wide floodplains, mineral-rich sed- resilience, and healthy wildlife habitat. But iment, and high water tables. Bringing the

WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | DEPARTMENTS 29 Spring/Summer Events Upcoming Summer Hikes • The cost of most hikes is $20 for members/$25 for non-members • You can register for upcoming hikes on albertawildernes.ca/events • Our hikes program is extremely popular so reserve a spot while you can!

June 12, 2016 Black Duck Lake Hike – Lakeland Hike This hike is a 14 km round trip hike near Lac La Biche. Hikers will travel through mixed wood aspen forest to Black Duck Lake. Join Aaron Davies and Carolyn Campbell for some excellent birding opportunities and a chance to learn more about the natural history and conservation issues of the region as you stroll through this southern boreal region.

July 29, 2016 Hussey’s Loop Hike Hussey’s Loop The Hussey’s Loop Hike will lead hikers into the middle South Ghost River area. During this hike, participants will enjoy wildflower meadows and have spectacular views while cresting Hussey’s Hill. With the close proximity to Calgary, hikers will, in addition to enjoying spectacular views, witness the effects of clear cut logging, OHV use, and watershed protection concerns. Join Heinz Unger on this spectacular and informative hike located on Calgary’s doorstep.

August 4, 2016 Wainwright Dunes Ecological Reserve Hike Wainwright Dunes Ecological Reserve, Wainwright, AB The Wainwright Dunes Ecological Reserve is part of a large and diverse area of sandy glacial deposits. Located 33 km southeast of Wainwright, AB this reserve is famous for its sand dunes that can reach heights of 30 meters. Hikers will be walking through mature balsam poplar, stunted aspen groves, shrub-grasslands and shrubby fen wetlands.

August 13, 2016 The Beehive Natural Area Hike Beehive Natural Area, Located in the Upper Oldman Valley in southwestern Alberta, the Beehive presents a stunning mix of cool dark sub-alpine forests and broad alpine meadows against a dramatic backdrop of rugged rocks and scree. The area boasts over 2,000 acres of old-growth forests, with individual trees up to 300 years old, and provides habitat for Grizzlies, as well as summer range for Elk and Bighorn Sheep.

For a complete list of AWA hikes and tours go to: Albertawilderness.ca/events 30 WLA | April 2016 | Vol. 24, No. 2 | EVENTS Spring/Summer Events

August 27, 2016 Hand Hills Ecological Reserve Hike Hand Hills Ecological Reserve, Drumheller Hikers will be visiting Thumb Hill that is located within the Hand Hills Ecological Reserve. Located 35 km southeast of Drumheller, this area provides sweeping views and well preserved native prairie landscapes. Thumb Hill is also rich in both geological and aboriginal history. Consequenetly hikers will have the opportunity to discover teepee rings, bison rubbing stones and fossils throughout the hike.

September 17, 2016 Autumn in the Whaleback Hike Whaleback Ridge Located in southwestern Alberta, the Whaleback Ridge is a 30 km ridge that rolls along its eastern edge. Known for its diversity of birdlife, the Whaleback is home to grizzly and black bears, wolves, cougars, deer, and elk. Experience fall colours and vistas in this classic montane landscape, one of the largest remaining examples of this fascinating ecosystem. Wander the trails, ridges and valleys and visit ancient pines clinging precariously to the slopes.

Summer Kids’ Camp!! Wilderness Defenders Kids Day Camp Pick up and drop off location at AWA’s Hillhurst Cottage School (455 12 Street NW Calgary, AB)

August 8 to Friday, August 12, 2016 OR Monday, August 15 to Friday, August 19, 2016. Age Group: 6 -11 years old Join our - day eco-adventure camp filled with friends, laughter, fun and nature! Action packed days will include fun activities, games, crafts, special guests, field trips and more

Week 1 August 8-12, 2016 Week 2 August 15-19, 2016

$150.00/child/week for AWA members, $180.00/child/week for non-members

For a complete list of AWA hikes and tours go to: Albertawilderness.ca/events Life returns: two years after the Lost Creek/Crowsnest wildfire PHOTO: © J. TWEEDIE

Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to:

Alberta Wilderness Association 455-12 ST NW Calgary, Alberta T2N 1Y9 [email protected]

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