2021 Projects

Back 40 Fire Smart Project Notice- Phase 4

During the winter months of January, February, and March 2021, FireSmart activities will be performed in the Back 40 area adjacent to the Summer Village of Waiparous. The following activities will take place:

• Standing live conifer will have branches trimmed up to 2 m.
• Due to the high intensity fire created while burning, all black spruce and ground juniper will be mulched (this is a very small component of the overall stand).
• Mulch a high percentage of the understory unless there is no overstory (field calls will be made for these areas during operations).
• The heavy down-and-dead component will be mulched.
• Overall spacing will be completed to realize an average 3 to 6 metre crown-spacing between conifers. We will also space the conifer in clumps as well as individual stems to add to diversity to the overall stand composition. Clumping will help alleviate blowdown after treatment for the shallow rooting white spruce while maintaining nesting opportunities and other wildlife habitat.
• Along Unit 9 (map below), beside the acreages, a 2-metre crown-spacing will be used and hand thinning as discussed during July 2019 Open House in Waiparous. This will aid in reducing the line-of-sight into the Back 40 from the bordering residents. Hand thinning will also occur in Units 8a and 8b.
• All identified wildlife trees will be protected.
• The standing healthy coniferous component of the unit will be maintained.
• All deciduous trees will be maintained unless deemed to be a safety hazard.

Latest Contract News

In early January, pre-selected contractors will be invited to bid. Contractors must attend the mandatory field visit to discuss the scope of work. The MD of Bighorn will announce the selected contractor prior to operational start up, with CCI Inc. acting as the Supervising Contractor for the project.

Activities in the Back 40

FireSmart areas will be flagged out in orange ribbon in January so there will be ribbon hanging along the south areas of the Back 40. Depending on weather and site conditions vegetation management work will start mid to late January 2020. Operations are expected to be completed during February or early March 2020. There will be no work done on Sundays. To ensure the Safety of all the public and operations personnel, access to the areas of operations is restricted. Signage will be provided at all Back 40 entrances and respective areas of operations. Please do not approach the operating machines for any reason. Firewood is expected to be minimal, though it will be available for residents post-FireSmart Operations with a TM66 application.

Project Contacts

2019-2020 Projects

Back 40 Project Notice- Phase 3

During the winter months of January, February, and March 2020, FireSmart activities will be performed in the Back 40 in Unit 4, which is commonly referred to as Phase 3 (please refer to the attached map). A summary of the following activities will take place:

• Standing live conifer will have branches limbed up to 2 m.
• Due to the high intensity fire created in a wildfire, all black spruce and ground juniper will be mulched (this is a very small component of the overall stand).
• Mulch a high percentage of the understory unless there is no overstory (field calls will be made for these areas during operations).
• The heavy down-and-dead component will be mulched. 
• Overall spacing will be completed to realize an average 3 to 6 metre crown-spacing between conifers. We will also space the conifer in clumps as well as individual stems to add to diversity to the overall stand composition. Clumping will help alleviate blowdown after treatment for the shallow rooting white spruce while maintaining nesting opportunities and other wildlife habitat. 
• All identified (flagged) wildlife trees will be protected.
• The standing healthy coniferous component of the unit will be maintained.
• All deciduous trees will be maintained unless deemed to be a safety hazard.

Latest Contract News

In November, pre-selected contractors were invited to bid. Contractors must attend the mandatory field visit to discuss the scope of work. The MD of Bighorn will announce the selected contractor prior to operational start up, with CCI Inc. acting as the Supervising Contractor for the project.

Activities in the Back 40

Depending on weather and site conditions work will start as early as January 2, 2020. Operations are expected to be completed around March 1, 2020. There will be no work done on Sundays. To ensure the Safety of all the public and operations personnel, access to the areas of operations is restricted. Signage will be provided at all Back 40 entrances and respective areas of operations. Please do not approach the operating machines for any reason. Firewood is expected to be minimal, though available for residents, post FireSmart Operations with a TM66 application. 

Project Contacts

Exshaw FireSmart Fuel Reduction Project

March 11, 2020- Update- 2019-20 Exshaw FireSmart Fuel Reduction Project has been successfully completed. 

The MD of Bighorn No.8 has completed the 2019-2020 Exshaw FireSmart fuel reduction project in the hamlet of Exshaw to reduce the threat of wildfire to life and property. The project started in November and is now complete.

For further information please call:

Stew Walkinshaw, Project Supervisor at 403-678-7054