Public input is wanted on plans to harvest the Williams Lake Community Forest’s (WLCF) Flat Rock Block.
Community Forest Manager Ken Day said everyone is invited to give input on the draft plan at a community meeting slated for Tuesday, Dec. 2 in Williams Lake.
The Flat Rock Block measures 5,927 hectares, and is one of two areas allotted to the WLCF.
It spans from the west side of Highway 20 to the Williams Lake River Valley and from Esler to the Fraser River.
A second block, Potato Mountain, measures 22,912 hectares in an area between the Likely and Horsefly Roads from Potato Mountain eastward and to Beaver Valley in the north.
Additional public meetings will be scheduled for early in the new year for the Potato Mountain Block.
“The area is popular for recreation,” Day said of the Flat Rock Block.
“There are mountain biking trails, a climbing face that’s pretty popular, lots of archeological and traditional cultural values, motorized recreation, woodcutting, hunting and an active range permit within the area.”
Day is hoping the public will provide input to help the forest proceed with planning.
Information gathered at previous public meetings is contained in the draft plan, but Day said the planners need to hear more about people’s interests and values of the land that will be managed in the community forest.
Trees in the block are primarily Douglas Fir, with a little bit of Lodgepole Pine and Spruce.
Once certain authorities are achieved, the plan is to do some brief harvesting of timber there in February 2015.
As to where the lumber will end up, Day said he didn’t know.
The community forest is a joint venture between the City of Williams Lake and the Williams Lake Indian Band.
The community meeting will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Thompson Rivers University Williams Lake Campus in the cafeteria.
“The new standing committee on resource interests and values for the community forest nominees will be present at the meeting along with some of the board of directors,” Day said.