Community Fuel Management Plan for the Northern Village of 2020/2021

Prepared on behalf of Northern Municipal Services and Public Safety Agency

By Michael Bendzsak Saskatchewan Research Council Environment and Biotech Division

October, 2020

Contents

Introduction ...... 1 Project Objective ...... 1 Project Area ...... 1 Fuel Management Prescription: ...... 3 Hand Crew Thinning ...... 3 Project Engagement Process ...... 4 Environmental & Heritage Considerations ...... 4 Summary...... 5 Fuel Management Plan Sign-off ...... 6

Figures

Figure 1. Map of proposed thinning area (total area, 7.8 hectares)...... 2 Figure 2. Before (left) and after (right) pictures taken at Candle Lake, taken in 2019...... 3 Figure 3. A 2019 thinning project at Montreal Lake in a mixed wood stand...... 4

Introduction

The community of Air Ronge was found to be at high risk in The Community Wildfire Risk Assessment Project (2005). Heavy forest fuel loads to the north, south and east of the community were identified and representatives from the Village have expressed concern. To reduce fuel loads, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency successfully received Federal support from the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund to complete mitigation work on municipal lands. The Fund supports infrastructure projects that help communities better manage the risks of disasters triggered by natural hazards.

Objective

Thinning forest fuels is proven to be effective at reducing fuel loads and wildfire intensity. Thinning, specifically, reduces the risk of wildfire spreading from tree crown to crown and is much easier for suppression crews to manage.

Hand thinning crews will be contracted to use chainsaws within identified block to thin softwood trees (spruce, pine and balsam fir) and burn residual material in a controlled environment. The result will be a clean, park-like, area that is both aesthetically pleasing and will not carry wildfire well. Thinning projects are not designed to stop fires and it is important to note that individuals who own property in the area should take the necessary FireSmart steps to reduce the risk from wildfire to their own properties.

The proposed thinning treatment will provide suppression personnel with more options to protect the community and other values from wildfire. The area is strategically located adjacent to previously cleared areas and road networks, close to values (homes, cabins, utilities and other infrastructure), to reduce potential fire loss. This not only aids suppression personnel, but also residents and seasonal visitors in the event of a wildfire evacuation.

Please see the website below to view case studies on how thinning has shown to be effective in helping manage wildfires in Saskatchewan: http://www.publications.gov.sk.ca/deplist.cfm?d=66&c=4476

Project Area

Air Ronge is a northern village on the west shore of Lac , Saskatchewan. Located on Highway 2, the community is immediately south of La Ronge and 240 km north of Prince Albert.

Four parcels of land have been identified for thinning by hand crews. The parcels can be accessed directly from the existing road network, please see Figure 1 for an overview of the block shown below.

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Figure 1. Map of proposed thinning area (total area, 7.8 hectares).

The proposed sites are a total of 7.8 hectares in area. They are located within the municipal boundary, north and south of Gordon Denny Community School and includes a portion of Plans 78PA08809 and 93PA07657. The sites are accessed by existing trails and roads. No new access is required, and none will be created. The thinning area is designed to minimize fire behavior within the Village and to break up the run of volatile forest fuels. The land consists of mainly boreal spruce forest.

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Fuel Management Prescription:

Hand Crew Thinning

The proposed work would take place in late fall and winter to avoid the busy tourist season, facilitate safe brush pile burning, smoke management issues, and allow early completion.

Hand crews will remove all standing dead and down trees, along with immature softwood trees within the blocks. All mature trees will be thinned to create a 2 metre crown separation. Remaining softwood trees will be pruned to a height of 1.5 - 2 metres to prevent a surface fire from getting up into the tree crowns. Resulting slash will be piled and burned as the crews progress through the two blocks. Trees suitable for firewood will be cut and piled on site for local utilization. Any firewood resulting from the project can be gathered by local residents but cannot be sold or bartered.

Burn piles will be checked by thinning crews on a regular basis and any resulting ground fires will be dug out and extinguished as they are found. All burn piles will also be monitored and checked by SRC staff after project completion to ensure there is no hold over ground fires. No burning will be allowed until there is snow cover to minimize risk. Controlled Burns and Grass Fires notification is required and will be done once the project commences until classified out. Please see pictures below for a before (left) and after (right) example of a thinning project at Candle Lake.

Figure 2. Before (left) and after (right) pictures taken at Candle Lake, taken in 2019.

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Figure 3. A 2019 thinning project at Montreal Lake in a mixed wood stand.

Project Engagement Process

This proposal is to be shared with the local stakeholders for comment and ultimately for sign off by the appropriate Village representatives, the area’s Forest Protection Officer, a senior Fire Manager, and a Registered Professional Forester.

Prior to project implementation, the project will go through the governments Duty to Consult process to ensure any legal duty to consult obligations are met.

Environmental & Heritage Considerations

A Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre project review was performed and no mitigation measures are required for rare, endangered, or at risk species.

The work being proposed would be done by hand crews, which is considered to be a low intensity activity as all work is to be done by chainsaws and brush saws and the crew will be accessing the area by foot. Small burn piles within the parcel areas may generate some local smoke conditions. No new access trails would be created as a result of these projects.

A Heritage Resource Review was also requested for the proposed project site. Experience has shown that hand crews will have no impact on Heritage sites.

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Summary

Saskatchewan Research Council staff are available to meet to discuss the project in more detail, contact the representative below. Comments and suggestions are welcomed, and every effort will be made to incorporate any input into a final proposal.

Once the plan is approved by the listed stakeholders and any necessary Duty to Consult processes are complete then the project can be advertised. The approved project would be advertised as a Negotiated Request for Bids opportunity on the Sasktenders.ca website. All work must be completed by March 31, 2021.

Michael Bendzsak Saskatchewan Research Council Wildfire Mitigation Project Manager 125-15 Innovation Blvd. , SK S7N 2X8 Cell: (306) 930-9502 Fax: (306) 933-7817

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Fuel Management Plan Sign-off

The below signatures represent approval by representatives of The Northern Village of Air Ronge, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency and a Registered Professional Forester for the proposed wildfire mitigation project work proposed for this fall and winter (2020-2021).

Proposed Project Work Approved By:

______Northern Village of Air Ronge Representative Date

______Forest Protection Officer Date

______Senior Fire Manager Date

______Registered Professional Forester Date

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