Castle Watershed Campaign
Holding Off Logging in the Castle
This summer, chainsaws threatened to shatter the Castle's solitude. A collective effort including the Crown of the Continent Conservation Initiative (CCCI), a consortium of organizations in which Y2Y staff plays a leadership role, led the charge to stop the logging and advocated to have the Castle declared a ‘Wildland Park.' If declared a ‘Wildland Park,' the Castle will remain a keystone piece of the Crown of the Continent, and an important addition to Y2Y's efforts to connect this large landscape. The campaign generated enormous international pressure. Three rounds of advertisements in eight local papers as well as various outreach efforts by Y2Y, Mountain Equipment Co-op's (MEC) Big Wild, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Sierra Club of Canada, the National Parks Conservation Association and Natural Resource Defense Council generated an overwhelming response—more than 70,000 letters addressed to Alberta's Premier calling for the Castle's protection. Additionally, another targeted outreach initiative to MEC's Big Wild wide-spread customer base generated over another 9,000 letters to the Premier.
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Why is the Castle Such a Special Place?
- It is a water tower for much of Southern Alberta, providing one third of all water in the Oldman River Watershed, a tributary of the mighty South Saskatchewan River.
- It has profound cultural and sacred value to the Nitsitapii, Piikani (Peigan), Siksika, Kainaiwa (Blood), and Blackfeet First Nations, as well as the Nakoda (Stoney) and K'tunaxa First Nations.
- It is second only to Waterton Lakes National Park for species richness (number of species) in the province. It is home to over 120 provincially rare plant species and 59 species of mammals.
- It encompasses Alberta's second largest montane landscape.
- It is crucial to the state and health of the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem and the greater Rocky Mountain ecosystems.
- It is a critical connection for grizzly bears, and other wide ranging mammals, from Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park to other protected areas in Canada.
- It holds great recreational opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, backcountry camping, and wilderness discovery.
Read More
Four Birds, One Stone (SSRP) - December 2012
Castle Logging Halted - October 2012
Recent News
April 2, 2013 - Expert warns against commercial logging near Star Creek
A well-known forest scientist is concerned about a plan to allow logging near Star Creek — home to the threatened cutthroat trout — in the headwaters of the Crowsnest River valley, also prime grizzly bear habitat. Read more...
January 21, 2013 - Concerned residents reinforce objections to logging in the Castle wilderness region
If Spray Lakes Sawmills has its way, more than 3,750 truckloads of timber will be removed from the Castle area by 2014. Read more...
October 30, 2012 - Logging in Castle wilderness faces legal challenge next week
A legal challenge into logging in southwestern Alberta’s Castle wilderness will be heard Nov. 8 — despite the second two phases of the plan being put on hold by the province. Read more...
October 22, 2012 - Battle for the Castle: Environmentalists Hope to Limit Logging, Drilling
Environmental groups believe not enough is being done to protect the sensitive Castle Wilderness area of Southern Alberta. Read more...
October 11, 2012 - Province to Halt Logging in Castle After Completion of Spray Lakes Project
Those protesting the logging operations of Spray Lakes Sawmills near Beaver Mines, Alberta will be able to have their say during upcoming consultations on the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (SSRP). Read more...
March 15, 2012 - Castle Logging in Prime Grizzly Bear Habitat
While the logging occurring in the Castle special place may seem well removed from the Bow Valley, it has wide-ranging implications for grizzly bears and their ability to move on the landscape. Read more...
January 24, 2012 - Redford Won't Stop Logging Project in Castle Region
A logging project in the Castle region of southwestern Alberta will go forward despite pleas from protesters calling for the entire area to be protected, says Premier Alison Redford. Read more...
October 5, 2011 - Castle Logging to Occur Despite Contrary Claims
The Castle Special Management Area, located in Crowsnest Pass, southwest of Cochrane, is scheduled to be logged by Spray Lake Sawmills (SLS), contrary to a recent statement by the Alberta Foothills Network (AFN) that indicated that there would be a delay in the effort due to public letters. Read more...
