Controversial bridge greenlit for reconstruction in Kananaskis Country

By Leah Pelletier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Rocky Mountain Outlook

KANANASKIS COUNTRY — The federal government has given a Cochrane-based logging company the green light for reconstruction of a controversial bridge over the Highwood River in Kananaskis Country.

The permit granted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to West Fraser allows for the construction of 14 temporary water crossings — for logging access — in the Upper Highwood, including the Highwood bridge which spans critical habitat for bull trout listed under the Species At Risk Act (SARA).

“What we saw when it was built the first time was that there were significant erosion issues on this bridge, including sediment directly entering the Highwood River where bull trout carry out processes and spawn  … so there’s certainly concern that this rebuilding of the bridge and others in the area pose similar risks,” said Josh Killeen, conservation science and program manager at Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS). 

Originally constructed in 2023 by Spray Lakes Sawmills (now West Fraser), the bridge had been built illegally without the required SARA permit.

Prompting investigation by the DFO, the bridge was eventually removed in 2024, with some reclamation work being done in the surrounding riparian area, according to a CPAWS press release.

“I’m not quite sure that there’s anything that’s been permanently improved.  It’s really just the bridge has gone in, been taken out again and now the plan is to put it back in again,” said Killeen.

Killeen said that if plans for bridge construction move ahead right away, bull trout will be at a greater risk as spawning occurs in the fall and eggs incubate over the winter.

“There’s actually a provincial regulation called the ‘restricted activity period’ in place, which is supposed to prevent any activities in water, like in the channel, during that time,” he said.

CPAWS said they hope West Fraser will respect the restriction time and refrain from building during the Sept. 1 to April. 30 period.

In a statement, communications director for West Fraser Joyce Wagenaar said the company is currently in the process of reviewing the permit conditions to ensure they are compliant. 

“We understand how important it is to protect bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout habitat in the Highwood — and share that priority. As part of our planning, we will monitor conditions before and after harvest to help inform responsible stewardship,” the statement said. 

“All critical habitat watercourses will have a minimum 30-metre buffer, with many areas receiving even greater protection. We apply rigorous best management practices to safeguard water quality. We also collaborate with universities, research institutes and NGOs to ensure our decisions are guided by the most current science and research.” 

Permit process ‘a real issue’ 

Killeen says that SARA requires all issued permits to be accompanied with an explanation posted to an online public registry, although the West Fraser permit, approved on Oct. 7, has yet to appear. 

“Those permit explanations are supposed to describe the rationale for sharing a permit like this but even though there is a permit in place and it’s active, that permit is still not up on the Species at Risk Act public registry.”

“That’s a real issue. It’s something that we’ve seen before that there’s this long, long delay between a permit being issued and its explanation … and that makes it essentially impossible for members of the public or interested groups like ourselves to actually know what the justification for the permit is and to be able to make any statement.”

Sometimes work has begun on permitted projects before the permit explanation is posted, Killeen added.

“There’s a real issue of transparency there when it comes to the processes that DFO are using.”

In an emailed statement, Carol Launderville, communications advisor with DFO, said West Fraser’s permit application included “mitigation measures” for reducing risk to fish throughout the project.

“An offsetting plan is a condition of the authorization and will counterbalance residual risk to fish, fish habitat and aquatic species,” said Launderville.

“The proponent must comply with mitigation, offsetting, monitoring and report requirements. Failure to abide by these conditions is a contravention of the Fisheries Act and may result in enforcement actions.”

The DFO said they will monitor compliance with the conditions of the permit throughout the project.

The Outlook asked the DFO for an explanation of the permit issued to West Fraser and when the explanation will be made public on the SARA registry, but a response was not received before print deadline.

Species at risk

Alberta’s official fish, bull trout are in trouble, says Killeen. 

“[It’s] very clear for bull trout that its range and the number of populations in Alberta are shrinking,” he said.

“This particular location in the Upper Highwood is one of relatively few remaining populations which appear to be quite healthy, and where there’s relatively undisturbed watersheds where they can survive.”

A recent study done by CPAWS beginning in 2024 found that current Upper Highwood logging plans present a “high risk” to bull trout specifically in Loomis Creek.

“We know very clearly that the risk to the bull trout population from the logging plan is really too high and we’re able to demonstrate that very clearly.”

The logging plan within Loomis Creek has yet to be approved by the DFO and is under a separate application, according to a CPAWS press release.

“What happens is DFO simply issues permits to allow for destruction of critical habitat and that is justified essentially based on the economic concerns outweighing the concerns for the species which we would argue is contrary to the purpose and intent of the Species At Risk Act,” Killeen added.

CPAWS will continue to engage with West Fraser, Alberta Forestry and Parks and DFO in an effort to continue protecting bull trout populations in the Highwood. 

“With [West Fraser] that’s bringing the work that we’ve done to them, the data that we’ve collected, the concerns that we have around the protection of the species to them to try and make sure that the protections that are in place are the best possible protections that there can be,” he said.

On a provincial and federal level, Killeen says “transparency” and ensuring correct interpretation of SARA is crucial for at-risk species to be able to survive and recover.

“I think a big missing piece when it comes to that is we have very little monitoring in the province for these populations, particularly before and after major industrial operations like logging and that makes it really difficult for a clear assessment to be made of what the impacts were or were not.”