Jasper National Park of Canada

Staying Smart About FireSmart

The FireSmart-ForestWise Communities Project continues to work towards protecting our community of Jasper from wildfire while restoring the historic ecological character of our forests - born and nurtured by fire.

Progress to Date

Since its inception in 2003-2004, Parks Canada contractors have treated nearly 400 hectares of forest to project standards. In addition, homeowners and business owners (e.g. Pine Bungalows, Alpine Village, Patricia Lake Bungalows, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and others) have treated an additional 150 hectares of land to reduce hazardous fuels and restore forests.

Since November 2007, about 40 hectares of forest have been thinned by a specialized forest management contractor, west of the Town of Jasper, to the south of Cabin Lake. Two ground crews (a contracted crew from the Alexander First Nation and Parks Canada’s Métis youth crew) are also working full-time behind the mechanized operation.

Upcoming Work in 2008

1. Between now and March 2008, the project will progress from its present location to areas immediately south of Stone Mountain, opposite the Wynd Road. Work will then move to south of The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, and finally to areas adjacent to Lake Edith and the Lake Annette day-use area. The total area treated will be about 100 hectares.
2. Under a separate contract, a ground crew aided by a highly specialized “spider-like” machine capable of negotiating extreme terrain with very low impacts will work to thin forests on the steep slopes of Bear Hill just behind the town. This work will progress from the east end of town (near the Sawridge) towards Cabin Creek over the next two winters. To limit environmental impacts, most wood will either be burned in place or re-distributed on the slopes. While no salvageable timber will result from this phase of the project, some firewood may be available for urban residents of Jasper via Firewood Permits obtainable at the Parks Canada administration building in February.

Further Information

If you are interested in receiving detailed, weekly updates on FireSmart-ForestWise work, related trail and road closures and smoke concerns, please contact Kim Weir at kim.weir@pc.gc.ca.

TMX Pipeline Update

Having taken a well-deserved break from December 20 to January 6, the pipeline workers are back on the job. During this time there was a frost packing crew working the Miette wetlands where frost packing was done mainly during the colder nights. Following you will find some interesting stats and facts on the current state of the project in Jasper National Park.

For the Jasper NP section:

• 54% overall completion
• Vegetation clearing is 100% complete
• Grading 93% complete
• Welding 63% complete
• Backfilling/Trenching 41% complete

In 2008 there will be the following work:

• Pipe installation from East Gate through Pocahontas to the Athabasca River.
• The Athabasca River Crossing.
• Pipe installation between the double rock cuts along Wynd Road.
• Pipe installation from the Miette River, first crossing to Decoigne.
• Reclamation will start in the spring 2008.

And a few trivia points for both JNP & Mt Robson spreads to date:

• There has been over 6000 meters of geo-textile installed to protect topsoil.
• Over 2500 meters of silt fence installed to protect watercourses from siltation.
• 23 bridges installed.
• Over 75 culverts installed.
• Over 3000 meters of orange fencing installed to protect sensitive sites.
• Completed 10 major road bores.
• Completed 17 creek & river crossings.
• Completed 4 major crossunders of the existing pipeline.

For more information on this project visit the TMX Kinder Morgan website at www.tmxproject.com

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