A Review of Timber Harvest in the Oldman Headwaters, with Observations on Species at Risk Trout Habitat
May 20, 2026
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Calgary, AB – April 15, 2026.
Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) alongside Fisheries Biologist Matt Coombs, and Professional Biologist Lorne Fitch have documented widespread disturbance to critical habitat for Threatened trout species in the upper Oldman watershed, raising serious concerns about forestry practices and the effectiveness of regulatory oversight in Alberta’s Eastern Slopes.
AWA’s report presents evidence of impacts to habitats protected under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). These include inadequate or missing riparian buffers, ineffective erosion and sediment control measures, and sediment entering streams designated as critical habitat for Bull Trout and Westslope Cutthroat Trout. Under SARA, it is illegal to destroy any part of the critical habitat of listed species at risk.
For more information on the sites assessed, you can visit our Logging Review Assessment Sites Map.