Canfor won't talk about its proposed logging beside Wells Gray Park and the Ministry of Forests is saying little.

But residents who live at the gateway to the park say proposed large-scale salvage logging in an unroaded area threatens ecology, water quality and millions of dollars in tourism revenues.

"When you hit Second Canyon (en route from Clearwater to the park) it's a prime view. The right-hand side will be logged," said resident and retired faller Steve Murray.

"That view is worth millions to us and the world. Who wants to drive through 40 minutes of cutblocks to see the park?"

Another resident - a scientist who lives in the valley populated by about 150-full time residents in winter and a few more in summer - said Canfor's plans also threaten one of the few surviving herds of endangered mountain caribou in B.C.

"Logging will provide habitat for deer and moose," said Trevor Goward, a lichenologist and naturalist. "That will naturally enhance wolves and cougars . . . They'll (predators) spread out and go after caribou in calving season."

At the heart of the anger is an agreement signed 13 years ago between residents and the Ministry of Forests.

A "guiding principles" allowed three woodlots of 1,300 hectares. In return, Goward said valley residents believed they were protected from industrial logging in the valley, which protrudes like a thumb into the south end of the park.

"Forestry is betraying this agreement," Goward said. "They paid for a facilitator and signed an agreement."

Contacted this week, a spokeswoman for Canfor said the company will not comment on its plans for the valley.

Rick Sommer, manager of the Kamloops Forest District, said the company has not submitted any formal plans for its tree farm licence area.

While Goward and Murray believe clearcuts could be as large as 300 hectares based on preliminary proposals, Sommer called the plans "blobs on a map." There are no cutblocks or cubic metres of timber proposed yet.

"We're waiting for Canfor to go through the process of re-engaging the community . . . That would trigger information-sharing from First Nations that may be included."

The area on the east side of the valley is within Canfor's cutting rights. The key decision, which rests with Sommer, is whether what's eventually submitted to government is in keeping with the guiding principles signed in 1999.

Murray, a past president of the Friends of Wells Gray Society, said there are also concerns in the valley about how logging will impact water quality and stability of the hillsides.

While residents acknowledge there is dead pine in the valley, they also note an understory of other species of trees is greening up in the wet environment - similar to the natural regeneration that occurred after a 90,000-hectare wildfire in the early 20th century.

"We did our homework," Goward said of the agreement signed 13 years ago. "We did three years of hard work and sacrifices (for logging). We had an agreement."