Photo: RDCO Salvage logging is planned for Rose Valley Regional Park to help in recovery from the McDougall Creek wildfire one year ago. The Regional District of Central Okanagan says it has been working with the provincial government to address wildfire damage in the park in West Kelowna. When wildfire risk subsides, crews will start falling hazardous trees along trails above Rose Valley Elementary in the first phase of the recovery work.
“Reopening closed parks is a priority for our staff, but safety comes first, and we are moving forward with a carefully phased plan that takes into account the needs of the community, requirements of funding and environmental stewardship,” says Wayne Darlington, Interim Director Parks Services. “There is nothing we want more than to invite visitors back to the parks they love, where they connect with nature in the beautiful region we call home.” Phase two will see danger trees fallen along other maintained trails within the park while phase three will see salvage logging of “large accumulation of hazardous trees.
” The regional district says wildfire-damaged wood may be used to produce dimensional lumber, hog fuel to produce energy for manufacturing or to make household items, such as paper, packaging and tissue paper. The RDCO is asking the public to stay out of Rose Valley Regional Park in the meantime. On the other side of the lake, Stephens Coyote Ridge Regional Park also remains closed while wildfire recovery work takes plac.