RE: July 17, 2020 Letter
Dear Mr. Leishman,
Thank you for expressing your concerns regarding the recently hung falling boundary adjacent the Eagle Ridge Trail on Quadra Island. As you noted, Mosaic and the companies it represents take pride in their respectful and honest relationship with the communities and associated groups they interact with. This has been demonstrated on Quadra Island through our ongoing commitment to follow through with the well-defined planning and communication process established over the last 20 plus years. This includes sharing all planned blocks with The Sierra Club, The Salmon Enhancement Society, The Quadra Island Cycling Coalition, The Quadra Island Trails Committee and any other immediate neighbors within the vicinity of where we plan to harvest. The process allows concerns expressed by the groups and individuals to be heard, and wherever possible and reasonable, incorporated into the plan or alteration thereof.
The actual ribbon hanging, or block lay-out, is only one small part of what is in many cases a multi year iterative planning and consultation process before reaching harvest. In this case the harvest area in question is likely at least 2 or more years out in the current plan. Once ribbons are initially hung by field crews the block is reviewed by a Mosaic Area Planner, in this case me. The entire block is walked, potential issues are noted, and the required changes to rectify those issues are made. Issues pertaining to any values outside of the planner’s scope of expertise may also be referred specific professionals (ie. biologists, terrain specialists, engineers) should it be necessary. None of the blocks are shared until this is all completed, and a draft map and plan are compiled. To date none of the process above, beyond the initial lay-out, has taken place for this block. As such the information sharing process has not yet begun.
It was noted that there are other new blocks within the accessible hiking areas on the Island. These too will require a thorough walk through which has yet to happen and are subject to change. To aid in the mid to long range planning process, blocks need to be established well in advance to allow ample time to work with our stakeholders and address potential issues.
I hope this allays some of your immediate concerns. Nothing is final until it has undergone consultation and the block is placed under cutting permit. We are at early stages in the process and no where near this currently. I am happy to meet with you in the near future at a mutually agreeable time to further review your concerns.
Sincerely,
Chad Iverson, RPF
Area Planner/Contract Manager Mosaic North Island Operation
