Errol KutcherSpray Lakes Sawmills

Craig DeMaere Alberta Environment and Parks

November 15, 2018

Ecological Restoration of High Elevation Montane Grasslands

Mountain Legacy Projecthttp://mountainlegacy.ca/

• Median fire return interval for the Montane: 26-39 years prior to effective fire suppression (Rogue 2016)

• 10% cover change of the land base from grassland to Forest / Shrubs: 1949 -2006 (Alberta Conservation Association / Petro Canada Sustainable Grasslands 2010)

1899 2009

In the trench…• Ecosystem Restoration being going for 20 years.

– Ponderosa Pine / Douglas fir; Thin and burn to desired stem density

– Promote forage – Increase timber quality– Increase wildlife habitat– Decrease risk of catastrophic fire– Beta diversity?

From Machmer et al. 2002

From Page 2014

Utilizing ecological sites - Montane

Not Sufficiently Restocked (NSR) southwest facing slope Dutch Creek

NSR Block Lower Livingstone near Spears Creek

Reclaimed Haul Road on southern exposure in Dutch Creek

Mountain Legacy Projecthttp://mountainlegacy.ca/

20071913

Testing• Two SW predominately Pl blocks identified

– One to be cleared, other to be thinned

Questions?