Ottawa investigating logging company over bridge in Alberta's Kananaskis Country

Federal officials are investigating an Alberta logging company for building a bridge without a permit over a river considered crucial habitat for threatened species.

Federal officials are investigating an Alberta logging company for building a bridge without a permit over a river considered crucial habitat for threatened species.

“Fisheries and Oceans Canada is investigating the construction of a bridge over the Highwood River,” said department spokesman Rodney Drover in an email.

“Construction of infrastructure near water may require review to ensure compliance with relevant provisions under the Fisheries Act.”

Spray Lake Sawmill is building the bridge in a popular recreation area called Kananaskis Country in order to reach a large swath of forest it has slated for clearcutting. Fisheries and Oceans has confirmed no authorizations for the bridge have been issued, although the Species at Risk Act requires permits for such activities in critical wildlife habitat.

Spray Lake vice-president Ed Kulcsar said he couldn't comment on the investigation.

“We follow all approval processes and implement all measures and best management practices to ensure the protection of fish and fish habitat on all our bridge installations,” he said in an email.

The river provides increasingly rare habitat for bull trout, Alberta's provincial fish and a threatened species subject to a federal recovery plan.