Hi there,

As the wildfire in and around Sooke Potholes Regional Park burns for a third week, crews on the ground and in the air have helped reclassify the fire’s status to “under control.” Dubbed the Old Man Lake Wildfire by BC Wildfire service, the blaze is not projected to spread beyond its current 230 hectare perimeter.

Many of us have asked a similar question — beyond the immediate devastation, what is the larger impact of wildfires on our watershed and its environment? 

I am currently working on this story for next week that will help answer this for you — and myself. 

Yesterday, I had the honour of taking a long forest walk through Stocking Creek Park in Saltair with an expert who has been described as a “forest encyclopedia.” Erik Piikkila is a forest and watershed ecologist based in Ladysmith who helped me understand the complex consequences of fire on our watersheds.

Walking through the lush greenspace with Piikkila is quite a rush. We tasted berries, visited an immense nurse log, breathed in the clean air and talked extensively about the effects of forest fire for my piece. 

Forest and watershed ecologist Erik Piikkila works with ENGOs, First Nations, companies, governments and educators to understand and plan for the future of our forests. Photo by Jordan Kawchuk/The Discourse

Yes, there are actually some benefits when low- and medium-intensity fires work their magic toward long-term watershed and forest health. But we primarily discussed how unexpected fires, such as Old Man Lake, can impact wildlife, drinking water, sustainability and economics.

What I appreciate about Piikkila’s encyclopaedic knowledge is that he is not an alarmist, nor does he lean toward doom and gloom about the future. He is all about proactive solutions and joining forces to implement nature-based solutions.

“What it's going to take is for people to be working together,” Piikkila says. “Politicians, citizens, scientists, foresters, loggers, everybody. By working together, we're going to end up doing forestry differently and more ecologically.”

Do you have a specific question for Erik Piikkila around wildfires and watersheds?

Drop me a line at cowichan@thediscourse.ca, or simply reply to this email. And stay tuned for this full story, coming soon.

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