Tag Archives: Basil Creek

Indigenous Nations, Rivers & Oceans

5,000 Chum fry released back into Basil Creek

More than 20 people gathered at the Klahoose hatchery in Squirrel Cove to watch around  5,000 Chum fry be released back into Basil Creek on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Six of them were women and girls from the Klahoose village, who came to sing a prayer song. Seven were homeschool students, enrolled in the Partners in Education (PIE) program, who came with their mothers. There were also a handful of Cortes Island streamkeepers, three Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) personal and two reporters. 

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Forests, History

A brief history of Cortes, Forestry and Mosaic

(De Clarke produced the audio version of this story, which is part of the March 15th Cortes Currents broadcast.)

The people living on this island have had a long and deep history with its forests. First Nation people lived here at least 4,000 years ago with new research pushing that date back to 10,000 years and perhaps even more.

In 1896 the first European settlers arrived and began clearing the forest for their homesteads. By the 1920’s, there were 120 families on this island making a living from logging so that by the 40’s and 50’s, much of the easily accessible old growth forests were already fallen. Today on any walk in the woods, you can still see those massive, ancient stumps.

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Forests

Mosaic’s Proposed Cortes Timber Harvest

“I am deeply concerned with Mosaic Forest Management’s draft harvest plan which I think would lead to the forest being cut down faster than it can grow. So, I wrote Mosaic this letter.”

Originally published on the Cortes Tideline

By Cec Robinson

Mosaic Forest Management
Colin Koszman, Land Use Forester

Hello Colin

First, I have learned a deep respect for the Klahoose people’s rights and title to their traditional territory, and I feel blessed to be living as I do on Cortes Island. I know there are often complexities that I am not aware of, and I do not want my comments here to harm Klahoose interests or wellbeing in any way.

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Forests

Open letter to Mosaic Forest Management 

” … When asked about volumes, the answer was ‘approximately 6,000 to 8,000 m3 per year.’ That’s a potential of 18,000m3 to 24,000m3 total over the 3 yr plan and that would amount to approx. 500 to 700 logging truck loads. One logging truck at approx 35m3. So one truck load some say is approx 6500bft of milled lumber and approx enough lumber for a 1,000 ft2 home. Not sure ? I would like to hear island miller’s comment on that.”  

Originally published on the Cortes Tideline

By Sonya Friesen

Attention: Colin Koszman, RPF, RBTech

I live within the forest community of Squirrel Cove on the unceded territories of the Klahoose, Tla’amin and Homalco First Nation. I honor their history of 10,000 years of knowledge learnt from time in place, and their respect for all natural systems kept in balance.

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Forests

Mosaic hopes to start logging on Cortes this fall

Mosaic Forest Management is tentatively considering logging some of their Cortes Island holding after the wildfire season ends this year.  

The forestry giant laid out their draft three-year plan during a ZOOM call on Thursday night. A company spokesperson emphasized the idea this is very much a draft plan and they want to hear back from Cortes residents. 

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