The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development says it will be expanding helicopter logging operations in the Williams Lake area.
Heli-logging operations to minimize the spread of Douglas fir beetles will start as early as Friday on Pablo Mountain approximately 10 kilometers south of Williams Lake.
“Douglas fir beetle populations are higher than normal in some parts of the Cariboo, but helicopter logging (used to selectively remove infested trees and protect other trees nearby) and related containment treatments have helped slow the spread of the beetles around Williams Lake,” the Ministry stated in an information bulletin.
“This is the third straight year that heli-logging has been used in the area to decrease their numbers.”
Over the past eight weeks, heli-logging activities have taken place in:
- the Esler area (a few kilometres southwest of Williams Lake)
- the South Lakeside area and a site further south off Anderson Road
- sites in North Lakeside (in steep terrain on Fox Mountain)
- sites on Slater Mountain area (west of Williams Lake)
The project is expected to be completed by mid-March.
“Douglas fir beetle infestations tend to be cyclical,” the Ministry said.
“The last major outbreak in the Cariboo-Chilcotin Natural Regional District (prior to the current outbreak) peaked in 2008, covering about 68,550 hectares.”