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Logging could increase flood risk

Dear Editor, As a resident of High River and a long time user recreationally of the Highwood area I’m disturbed with recent news of the clear cutting plans for the area. First and foremost. I lived through the flood in High River in 2013.

Dear Editor,

As a resident of High River and a long time user recreationally of the Highwood area I’m disturbed with recent news of the clear cutting plans for the area.

First and foremost. I lived through the flood in High River in 2013. I witnessed a catastrophy of such magnitude that some of the images are forever burned in my memory.

I will never forget the impact it had on thousands of people. Tragically some lost their lives. I worked in mental health at the time and witnessed first hand how many residents suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

I witnessed the mental health fallout of the flood for months and months afterwards.

As the one year anniversary loomed in 2014 our clinic was busy dealing with worried folks needing some kind of reassurance.

This winter up in the HIghwood area we noticed flags all around the Etherington, Fitzsimmons, Baril creeks and the Highwood River.

Upon investigation we found out that these areas are going to be clearcut.

I was gobsmacked. These areas are incredibly beautiful and outstanding recreational jewels for Albertan’s.

More importantly it is well known that clearcutting tremendously impacts a healthy watershed. Trees absorb and slow down runoff from rain and snow into our river systems.

We all know that clear cutting directly impacts flooding yet this project is tabled for fall this year.

We need to make the public away of this potentially disastrous situation and put an end to the plan for clear cutting these area.

Pauline Walsh

High River




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