Welcome Neighbours
The Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake (Friends) welcome you back and hope you enjoy a safe year. We’ve distributed a complimentary copy of our second annual newsletter to all the lake properties and hope you find it informative and entertaining.
Go S-L-O-W
By Barry Reid
Several visitors to Lac des Roches have asked why the small lake and the channel connecting the lakes have restricted speeds. Here’s the rationale: The channel is the narrowest and shallowest portion of the entire system, and wave action from boat wakes has been severely impacting the channel edges. The resulting siltation is contributing to the declining depth of the channel, a situation which, over the next few years, could end access between the lakes. The channel is also an area where many waterfowl raise their young, and as such, it should be an area where sensitivity to their habitat is practiced.
On Little Lac des Roches, the 20km/hr speed limit was set by the Federal Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans, which has determined that higher speeds would contribute to the deterioration the shorelines and riparian zone, negatively impact fishing, and would also impact the docks and waterfront of residents. Friends support the various uses of the lake for pleasure and recreation, but ask that residents and visitors respect the speed limits for the benefit of all.
Rats!
By Gordon Marshall
Pack rats will quickly inhabit an empty building such as a barn, cabin or garage and unfortunately, will proceed to do extraordinary damage by building nests and running amuck. One resident swears by his anti-rat secret weapon – the CBC! Like some of us humans who are loners by nature, the pack rats, don’t seem to like the continuous talk that is aired by the CBC, pretty well 100% of the time. Keep your radios tuned loudly to CBC, 24/7 and you may rid yourself of those pesky rats.
Now, if only we could get rid of the gophers as easily!
All about Friends
Friends initially organized in 2004 to provide a unified voice of opposition to the massive residential development that is proposed at the east end of Lac des Roches (LdR). The development continues to be our key focus, and in addition, we have expanded our role to official lake stewards and are gaining recognition as a community group with diversified interests related to our lakes and the surrounding area. Below is a list of some of our more significant work over the past year.
- Ensured our petition opposing the development, with 700 signatures, was entered into the B.C. Legislature by MLA Charlie Wyse.
- Commenced lake monitoring on Phinetta and Birch Lakes in addition to that done on LdR and Little LdR, of temperature, turbidity and pH levels.
- Developed “welcome packages” for new users of the lake and for the resorts and rental properties.
- Alerted the Ministry of Environment to high pH levels we detected in Little LdR.
- Initiated discussions with the Ministry of Tourism on further identification and preservation of the Hudson’s Bay Fur Brigade Trail along the north side of LdR and Birch Lake.
- Started a map-based community plan for the LdR watershed straddling the two Regional Districts, to be incorporated into a revised Interlakes OCP (Official Community Plan). *
- Provided input into the TNRD’s (Thompson-Nicola Regional District) proposals for area OCP’s, Wildland Fire Policies and New Resort zoning bylaws.
- Provided input to the Lemieux Creek Watershed Roundtable group, looking at water storage possibilities in the LdR watershed. *
- Maintained dialogue with various levels of government of our continued opposition to the proposed residential development.
- Researched recycling opportunities for publication. *
*More information on the starred points is contained in this newsletter.
More details are sent to our members through quarterly updates and special messages and are published on our website.
Fly Fishing Lac des Roches Ice Off to Ice On
By Bill Jollymore
The early feed for trout when the ice first comes off is Chironomids and Leeches. Leech pattern sizes #6-8 in black, brown and burgundy work best. Chironomids sizes #13-16 in black or burgundy are most popular. Chironomid fishing takes patience and study and goes on through the season.
June and July is the time for Sedge hatches as well as Damselflies and Dragonflies. These are also the months for the famous Mayfly hatch that is world-renowned. Mayfly nymphs work best, as trout on this lake seem to leave the adults alone. Damselfly and Dragonfly nymph patterns are a must but there is no greater experience that taking a trophy trout on a Tom Thumb if the fish are surface feeding.
August produces little fly fishing except for trolled flies. Half Backs, Leech and Dragonfly patterns will work when fished fairly deep.
September, October and November shows renewed life for the fly fisherman. Sedges hatch into late September and Dragonflies become a major food source.
The one trout food that is abundant all season is the Shrimp and Scuds. These make up a large portion of the fish diet and in September they lay eggs on weed and grass stems along the lake edge in their orange egg-laying colour. The fall is a favorite time for the dedicated fly tossers.
This is a very brief outline as the complexity of the lake and fishing it is as varied as the opinions and patterns of the pursuers. However, mornings and evenings seem most productive. During the day fish the drop offs of the shoals. In the evenings cover the same water but fish the shoals.
The successful fisherman will have a rod of 8.5 to 10 feet with a line weight of #5 or #6. A floating line, a full sinking line and a floating sink tip are musts. Leaders of 9 to 16 feet and 3 to 6 lb. will cover most situations.
The big thing is “Go Fish”.
Dump and Dumper
There have been several cases of illegal dumping of yard, land clearing and cabin waste on private and crown land in our watershed. The Interlakes Solid Waste Refuse site is only 15 minutes down the highway and is relatively unrestricted. Residents, please do your part in keeping our rural area pristine and report illegal activity on Crown Land to the Ministry of Forests and private land trespassing to South Cariboo Citizens on Patrol (1.877.593.2344) or the RCMP.
Boundary Unchanged & Land Use
No change is in store for the regional boundary line that dissects LdR between the Cariboo (CRD) and Thompson-Nicola (TNRD). It is this division that leads to conflicting classifications of LdR as “ sensitive” by the CRD and “development” by the TNRD. As a partial solution, Maureen Pinkney of the CRD suggested that a joint Official Community Plan (OCP) could be created for the entire lake and we are inspired and excited to provide input into this process.
The executive is currently researching and developing a map-based land use plan of our watershed area for presentation to the CRD and/or the TNRD for inclusion into their OCP. We plan to present the draft to our members at the August 29th Annual General Meeting (AGM). Members are invited to contact any executive member, through the website, with land-use ideas.
Best of Friends
Thank you, members of Friends. Your support and our 186 voices are gaining recognition as a strong lake stewardship group with a clear message of lake and land preservation in the Cariboo. We continue to grow and welcome new members, their financial support and ideas. You do not have to be a property owner to join. Our current one-time membership fee of $10 for an individual or $20 for a family entitles members to;
- Receive quarterly membership updates,
- Vote at general meetings and the Annual General meeting (must be 19 years of age),
- Attend executive and special meetings with chairman’s approval, and
- Submit “around the lake” stories for our website.
Our next general meeting is Wednesday, May 30. Our AGM is Wednesday, August 29. All meetings are at 7pm at the Bridge Lake Community School.
Where There’s Smoke …
The well-used Highway 24 rest stop is responsible for LdR being called “the most photographed lake in B.C.” There’s always a risk however, that the many travelers stopping here for a break, increase the risk of a grass fire, especially if we have another hot, dry summer. On April 15, the Interlakes Volunteer Fire Department’s used a controlled burn of the privately owned grass land below the rest stop as a fire practice. From the landowner and the residents of Boultbee Road, thanks to the department’s volunteers for their time and mitigating the fire risk.
Under the Ice
By Bryson Kerr
What’s happening under the cover of ice at Lac des Roches and Birch Lake?
Every January through to March lake residents become amorous during the nighttime hours. Groups of up to 12 individuals are thrashing about in a frenzied ball of passion. It is the spawning time for the lake’s Burbot. Females may deposit up to a million eggs as the males and females cross the lake bottom. Spawning is the time Burbot are most vulnerable to fishermen as the Burbot come into the shallows to begin a new life cycle. This is also the time their meat is at its flavor peak. Burbot may also be taken in the summer, but they prefer water in the 15°C range and are found on the lake bottom in deep water.
Burbot also referred to as Freshwater Ling has a slim, brownish body with smooth skin (Burbot appear scale less but actually have small microscopic scales). It has a flattened head and distinctive “barbells” or filaments of tissue hanging from its lower jaw and nostrils, which provide a sense of touch and smell. Predominately night predators, they eat fish, aquatic insects, and even small rodents. At the age of about 5 years they are sexually mature and feed mainly on fish, most of the fish being other Burbot. Burbot can grow to 39 centimeters.
Burbot are found throughout BC in streams and lakes. While Burbot have long been considered a non-recreational fishery this has been changing. Today, many sports persons are realizing the winter sporting potential and the good eating that the delicate white meat provides. In 2003 management officials chose Lac des Roches and Birch Lake as a site to develop field procedures to estimate fishing mortality rate of Burbot. One of the goals was to assess the ability of releasing Burbot (they bloat when brought to the surface). It was discovered that the age of Burbot in Birch ranged from 5 to 16 years and fish were 417 to 765 mm in length. In Lac des Roches Burbot ranged from 5 to 14 years and were 336 to 719 mm in length. The sample group diet was mainly fish – the Lac des Roches Burbot diet was 50% other Burbot; and the Birch Lake Burbot diet while also mainly fish was not analyzed as to species.
Burbot can be caught using standard bait fishing techniques – a hand held rod, a 2/0 or 4/0 single hook (a long shank is best as they have a big mouth) and a 1 oz weight to take it down. Remember that in Regions 3 and 5 you may not use a setline (an unattended line) and you may not use a finned fish or any part of for bait. Daily catch limits for Region 3 is 2 and for Region 5 is 5.
The easiest way to clean a Burbot is to hang it by its head, cut the skin around the head and pull the skin down using pliers, remove fins, and fillet.
Spawning Burbot
Old Docks, New Tricks
By Gordon Marshall
Old docks make great mating floats for loons and ducks however too many abandoned docks are creating lake hazards. Rotting ropes, shifting ice and summer storms are breaking up some of these docks and littering the lake with spiked boards and disintegrating Styrofoam. Mating floats must be well secured and situated in quiet waters, unaffected by changing weather or lake conditions, and be free of all dangerous and hazardous material. If you are not sure of their security for years to come, we recommend you remove old docks from the lake.
Weather or Not …
What do Sargeant Lake Lookout, Windy Mountain, and Bridge Lake have in common? They are just a few of the weather station sites monitored by professional meteorologists to produce accurate weather forecasts for our area. These emailed forecasts include; conditions, precipitation, significant winds, temperatures and during the fire season, smoke and ash warnings. Initially, these emails were obtained through word-of-mouth but a full page notice in the 100 Mile Free Press on September 27, 2006 introduced the public to this free service and our mysterious (but internationally famous) weather forecaster.
To receive these free forecasts, send your email address to weather@bcinternet.net. Guaranteed, you will be pleased by the accuracy and entertainment supplied in these emails. Let them also know if you have high speed internet and you will receive bonus emails such as webcams and video links of local phenomena, like the fireball caught on camera in the night sky over Bridge Lake! The website is still under construction, www.theweatherman.ca.
Birding News
By Wendy Marshall
2006 proved to be a poor year for our lake’s nesting loons. Most nests on the big lake were drowned by high water in June. The resident pair on the little lake successfully raised one chick to maturity.
We held our annual Bridge Lake Naturalists’ Christmas Bird Count December 30th. Once again, numbers were down significantly. We’ve been doing this count for 10 years, fewer numbers of most species recorded is certainly cause for concern.
On a lighter note, we saw our first Red-Winged Blackbird Feb. 18th, which is always our first sign that spring is imminent and with it many more migrants will be “on the wing”!
Water Woes
The LdR watershed is a potential target for water storage primarily for downstream irrigation purposes around Little Fort. The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands has considered constructing water retention dams on Lac des Roches, Birch Lake and Phinetta Lake. Their initial concern was property loss or damage by potential flooding caused by increased water levels or impact on licensed water works by decreasing water levels (such as stranded pumps).
A startling fact is that while we estimate that between LdR and Birch Lake, 115 properties are drawing water from the lakes for domestic use, only 13 water licenses exist. The Ministry made their impact analysis based on a total of 13 active water licenses of 500 gallons of water per day, far below the actual number of properties relying on water from these lakes.
A water license is not a guarantee of water supply or priority, but the existence of a water licenses is definitely a factor in development proposals for water-related studies where water availability is, or may become, an issue. Residents may wish to become more informed on the water act and licensing, especially as development in our area seems imminent.
Drilled wells for ground water are regulated by new legislation and must now be registered and tagged but do not require a water license.
Complete information on the act, water licenses and ground water regulations is available on the Internet, www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/
Towering Towers
Cellular phones don’t work at most LdR and Birch Lake locations although cellular customers can usually get a signal from the rest stop or above. TM Mobile Inc. (Telus Mobility) has several applications pending with Integrated Land Management Bureau (previously Land and Water BC) for installing communication towers along Highway 24. One is to be located above Lac des Roches (File 3411525). Notices have appeared in the 100 Mile House Free Press and the applications can be viewed in detail on the Internet www2.lwbc.bc.ca/ApplicationPosting/viewpost.jsp?PostID=7758.
Evidently these towers won’t be used to deliver high speed Internet, but satellite service is becoming commonplace in our area.
Death by Beetles
Residents may be quite shocked to see how quickly the area forest has been affected by the beetle epidemic in the last year. Not only are we losing our stands of pine trees but spruce and fir trees are dying as well. There is a posted sign at the LdR rest stop but more comprehensive information is available on the Internet. A search for “mountain pine beetle” will take the viewer to several types of sites.
The ‘locals’ have observed that a beetle-killed tree does not remain standing as long as a tree that has died a “natural” death. It seems to quickly lose its’ root stability and becomes a falling hazard, to people, buildings, wires and roads. Aspen trees, infested with a leaf-mining moth for the last 3 years, are losing their roots to either a fungus or ants. Be mindful of trees on or near your property. You could be injured – even killed – by a bug!
Diary of a Lake Skier
Jan 14 – Wow, 6 inches of snow last night on the lake. Too deep, only went round Rock Island.
Jan 15 – Sledders made excellent track on south shore. Went to Eagle Island and back in sledder’s track. Thank you sledders!!
Jan 17 – Big wind storm for 2 days. Snow is gone from ice, no skiing.
Jan 19 – More snow, 3 inches is perfect. Made a real nice track along the north shore and back.
Jan 20 – Great skiing, track is perfect. Used by the neighbours this morning too!
Jan 21 – DARN! Sledders went all along the shore today, on top of my tracks! Got to start all over again. Wish they wouldn’t do that!
Goose Guards & Duck Deterrents
Many pairs of geese (and their fine feathered friends) make our lakes their mating grounds and homes for the summer months – after all, it is their lake too. For the property owners with trimmed lawns on their waterfront, the presence of geese is obvious as they create quite a mess and health hazard with their waste, or “calling card”.
To gently urge geese from calling your lawn their home or feeding ground, we have found some applicable published advice. In the pamphlet we included with our 2006 newsletter, “Waterfront Living”, it is recommended that you “…start a buffer strip by leaving some grass uncut near the water.” In its publication, Cariboo-Chilcotin Lakes, Protecting Water Quality and Shorelines, the CRD says “shoreline buffer strips can deter Canada Geese as they like to have a wide, unobstructed view and need to have close and easy access to the water to escape predators. Although lawns are attractive to geese, dense vegetation and tall grasses between the water and lawn are an effective way to keep them away.” It is clear that the landowner’s landscaping decisions have the most influence on the habitat habits of geese.
To deter geese from using a floating dock as a rest stop, one LdR resident has had success with suspending animal netting about 16 inches above the dock, which is set in place in the evenings and removed during daytime use.
News – Flash – Fire
As reported in the April 2007 Interlakes Volunteer Fire Department (IVFD) newsletter, the borrowed east hall has been sold and the Bridge Lake fire truck needs a new permanent home. A temporary arrangement has been made at the Interior Roads Ltd. maintenance yard at Bridge Lake, but this is a short-term solution. The search is on for a suitable location and building to serve the Bridge Lake area. Funding will be a challenge as the fire department’s expenses are covered by; annual fire dues, fund raising and a Lottery Corporation grant.
Residents may be impacted, as the move, by just a few kilometers, could affect homeowner insurance policies where premiums are dependant on the distance from the fire department. To ensure continued fire protection, we may each have to become an active part of the solution, specifically indicating our endorsement for the CRD to support the IVFD and payment of voluntary annual fire protection dues for our properties.
Fire chief, Doug Townsend would be pleased to hear your suggestions for a new hall and funding solutions, ditownsend@telus.net.
A Letter to my Neighbours
Dear Neighbour:
Welcome back. I hope you and your guests enjoy the lake as much as I do. I am concerned that some of your guests are unaware of the provincewide shoreline speed law that restricts boats and personal watercraft (pwc) to 10 km/hr within 30 meters of all inland shores. On occasion, I have been uncomfortable swimming or paddling in the water in front of my cabin when guests at your cabin are operating pwc’s at excessive speeds. I notice at these times as well, the absence of our usually abundant waterfowl and their young families, likely due to the excessive noise and waves.
Would you please ensure your cabin users areaware of all boating laws and encourage them to respect the resident’s desire to keep this lake “quiet, peaceful and … the perfect place for relaxation”.
Friends have several copies of Canada’s Safe Boating Guide and would be happy to provide these on request.
Respectfully; Your Neighbour
In the Dark
Are you in the dark? Literally? If you experience a power outage at your property, you should report it immediately to BC Hydro, don’t assume they will know. BC Hydro has indicated that a localized power outage, especially near the end of their line, (as we are) will not be detected – we must report it.
At the beginning of each powered sub-division there is a main breaker. Usually, any problems along the local line will cause the main breaker to trip and all the properties will lose their power. An outage on a specific property may only trip the breaker on the step-down transformer however often, several properties share a transformer, so all effected properties would lose power.
If the problem is along the mainline and affecting a large area, BC Hydro may know about it, but it is best to report ALL outages to initiate a repair crew. Oh, and you should have at least one phone, that doesn’t require electricity to work, to make that call!
Country Cleaning
Many of your neighbours have unofficially adopted stretches of highway and public places around our lakes. That is, they pick up other people’s garbage during their routine walks. If you are one of our country cleaners, thank you! For those thinking of becoming one, be sure to invest in a box of disposable gloves for your health and safety. To the rest, thank you for being part of the solution.
Wait Watchers
Our weekly lake monitoring is a summer event, when the lakes are free of ice. During the fall and spring, we do watch the ice conditions carefully and report lake conditions to the Ministry of Environment. In the spring, they will conduct a level 2 water survey of LdR as soon as the ice is gone. Here is how we report ice lakes in B.C.
Freeze Up (Fall):
F0 – No ice formation
F1 – Ice formation on shore
F2 – Ice covers bays
F3 – Lake Completely Frozen |
Break Up (Spring):
B0 – No sign of break-up
B1 – Open water on shore
B2 – Open water offshore
B3 – Ice in movement
B4 – Lake ice Free |
100 Things
Once again, Lac des Roches is included in the booklet “100 Things to See and Do Around 100 Mile House, BC”, published by the 100 Mile House Free Press, and included with the May 2, 2007 edition of the paper. We may not be # 1, but visiting Lac des Roches is # 75! There are a number of local attractions listed that may not be common knowledge to all of our residents and their guests. Booklet copies are available at the Free Press office and the Tourism Office in 100 Mile House.
A few really local “things to see and do” which may not be well known to our neighbours and are not included in the pamphlet are;
- Emar Lake Provincial Park and canoe portage (Janice Lake).
- Eakin Creek circle tour (old Highway 24).
- Wavey Lake Forestry Road to “cow camp”.
- Phinetta and Taweel Lake Forestry Road sightseeing and trails.
- Hudson’s Bay Fur Brigade Trail hike.
- Bridge Lake Ice Caves (walk in trail).
It should be noted that most of these “really local” sites are close to our watershed but fall in the TNRD jurisdiction, and would therefore not be included in a South Cariboo write-up.
If you would like more information about these destinations, contact Friends. A member has a copy of the Emar portage map (you must have the map to find your way) and we have a member who has hiked the Fur Brigade Trail. If you know of other interesting local places you would like to share with your neighbours, let us know and we’ll put them in next year’s newsletter.
Rainbows Never End
Most residents know about the history of LdR’s MacDonald ranch either through the plaque at the rest stop or the book, “The Rainbow Chasers”. What you may not know is that the 2005 edition of this book includes pictures of the original MacDonald homestead, which tell their own stories of pioneer ways like horse logging. There are many familiar landscapes and landmarks such as the last farmhouse built by Mr. MacDonald, which was located where the wood frame barn stands today and the unmistakable grassy slope where the Cottage Country Estate lots are being developed.
What we understand is that Mr. Boultbee replaced all the original buildings with log structures in the mid 1940’s which are still used today on various lots on Boultbee Road; the ranch house, the family house further down the road, and the horse barn, to name a few. Later, in the 1950’s, the wood frame cattle barn was erected and modified over the years. This book about the area pioneers is available everywhere, and is an enjoyable account of some colourful area history.
Historical accounting and preservation of our area is an important component of the Friends‘ ongoing goal of keeping this area pristine.
Watch Outt!
Keeping an eye on what’s going on in the neighbourhood is a big part of crime prevention with rural living. If something doesn’t look quite right, chances are, its not. Being an attentive neighbour or having a canine buddy who is a great watchdog is a real benefit to the security of our area, especially with so many seasonal residences left uninhabited for months at a time.
Throughout the year, there are articles in the local newspapers about the many watchful organizations in our area. Their websites are worth a look.
South Cariboo Citizens on Patrol routinely patrol rural roads in personal vehicles for suspicious activities. www.sccop.com
Rural Crime Watch is a group of residents who watch vehicle traffic during the course of their regular day and observe and report suspicious activities. www.ruralcrimewatch.com
BC Wildlife Federation Wilderness Watch is a group of residents who routinely patrol wilderness areas and observe and report infractions of environmental legislation (poaching, pollution, etc). www.bcwf.bc.ca/programs/wildernesswatch/
On a final note, the canine buddy will also tell you about the deer, moose, coyote, fox, bear and owls day and night – little training required!
Recycling
When the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) announced at the February 20th Town Hall meeting that they had no plans to expand recycling in our area (except for new share sheds), a few Friends decided to do some research to see just what recycling opportunities were available to us. We found that there are extensive recycling opportunities and facilities in the Interlakes area, at 100 Mile House and in Kamloops. We’ve summarized our findings on pages 7 & 8, which we encourage you to cut and save for future reference. For those part-time residents who have full recycling at their permanent place of residency, we encourage you to take your recyclable items home, if possible.
Local recycling opportunities at a glance …
Interlakes Area: Beverage bottles and cans, liquor containers, large metal objects (like fridges and cars), propane tanks.
100 Mile House Area: Beverage bottles and cans, liquor containers, corrugated cardboard, milk jugs, newspapers, ink jet cartridges, cell phones, office paper, computer paper, paint cans, plastic grocery bags, certain product packaging (plastic, cardboard, metal, glass), cell phones, liquid containers, car batteries, rechargeable batteries, plant containers and tags, metal cans, plastic and glass containers.
Kamloops: All of the above plus used oil, E recycling (electronic equipment) and hazardous materials.
Rules for Recyclables
Rinsed clean
Lids & caps removed
Labels left on (to read the UPC)
Not crushed
Support your Local …
Many area businesses and organizations support various types of recycling and are reasonably accessible to our residents and visitors.
Bridge Lake Store
Sheridan Lake Store
Interlakes Store
Knights of Columbus Bins
Lone Butte Garden Center
Gold-Trail Recycling – 100 Mile House
CRD Recycle Bins (Save-On & Safeway)
CRD Interlakes Solid Waste Disposal Site
Save-On Foods – 100 Mile House
Canada Safeway – 100 Mile House
Tip Top Radio-TV-Video – 100 Mile House
City of Kamloops Recycle Bins (various locations)
Recycling Groups
Bridge Lake Store & Interlakes Store will accept all water, juice, pop and liquor containers that they sell (no juice boxes).
Sheridan Lake Store will accept all water, juice, pop and liquor containers that they sell and is also a drop-off point for out-dated and unwanted refillable propane tanks. All tank sizes, up to 100 pounds, will be inspected and may be refurbished and re-certified by a local resident for resale.
Knights of Columbus bottle and can bins are found along area highways. Volunteers empty these bins and the money raised goes back into our local community. Friends have arranged to have one located at the Bridge Lake Store in May.
Lone Butte Garden Center will accept all reusable plant containers and plant name-tags.
Gold-Trail Recycling and Bottle Depot accepts most household recycle items, car batteries and paint.
- Aluminum beverage cans & other metal cans,
- Plastic beverage bottles – clear and coloured,
- Other plastic jugs, cups & containers,
- Glass juice & beverage bottles – clear & tinted,
- Bag-in-a-box beverage containers,
- Polycoat containers (juice boxes, milk carton),
- Liquor containers and boxboard (cereal boxes).
The CRD and the District of 100 Mile House have established two bin-type recycling facilities located behind Canada Safeway and in the Save-On Foods parking lot. These bins are marked for;
- Newspapers (and accompanying flyers),
- Corrugated cardboard,,
- Office paper,
- Plastic milk jugs.
The CRD Interlakes Refuse Site (Garbage and Recycling) is our area’s CRD designated solid waste disposal site (also known as “the mall” to the local residents). It is located just northeast of the Interlakes Corner about 1.6 km on the Horse Lake Road.
- Large metals such as stoves, cars, etc.,
- Tree branches, wood, roofing material,
- Cement clocks, broken concrete,
- All household garbage,
- Sharable items (new share sheds).
Save-On Foods and Safeway accept specific brand packaging (check with the store), used grocery bags and ink jet cartridges for cash and store points.
Tip Top Radio accepts rechargeable batteries.
Donations Accepted
The Bridge Lake Community School has benefited from the donation of older but still working personal computers and would welcome your used machine, if you should upgrade. Phone 592.4538.
The 100 Mile Food bank accepts donations of used ink jet cartridges and cell phones, which they can convert into cash. These items can be dropped off at The Wolf/Max, Tip Top, 100 Mile Free Press, PSO, 100 Mile Jr., and 100 Mile elementary. Info: 395.4661 or 397.2571.
Some recyclables are not refundable but benefit the environment by staying out of the landfill.
Dead Zone
Decomposed organic material does wonderful things for a garden and composting is a great way to keep certain waste out of the landfill. Some general guidelines;
- Include coffee grounds, eggshells, vegetable peelings, fruit rinds, leaves, grass clippings, and freshly pulled weeds.
- Avoid meat scraps, dairy products, cooking oils and grease, and noxious weeds.
Composting requires oxygen so turn or aerate your pile regularly.
The Smallest Hobby Farm
Worms work well for fishing many of the lakes in our area. Similar to compost piles, worm boxes or worm farms are a great way to use up your organic waste. Building your worm farm from used or scrap building materials is a start. Be sure to keep the box moist and cool, especially in the hot summer days. Before the frost comes, don’t forget to free your worms for the winter. You can start the process all over again next spring or summer.
Get Organized
An extra, small plastic garbage can in your cabin or house can be designated as the “recycle bin” for sorting later, maybe during one of our area’s fabulous summer storms.
Stackable and washable plastic storage bins make the best recycle bins as they safeguard against any leakage when placed in the trunk or cargo space of a vehicle. They are easy to stack when empty, or protect your purchases from getting squashed upon return from the recycle depots in town.
One Man’s Trash is …
Where there are cabins, mice and packrats (see RATS on page 1), there will always be the temporary need for used furniture and appliances. In our area, the “Cariboo Network” works effectively. Let your neighbours know that you are planning on ridding yourself of certain items, and there just may be a need out there. Other popular items include tools, tires and building materials. It may at least save you a trip to the landfill site.
If you have room to store them, smaller items may be of interest to local organizations for their nnual fundraising garage sales, such as the Interlakes Volunteer Fire Department and the Bridge Lake Community School.
The CRD is constructing share sheds at their solid waste disposal sites. These unattended sheds are intended for the placement of reusable items that you think may be of use to others. We applaud the CRD for making these facilities available and look forward to cruising “the mall’s” newest outlet.
How Have You Bin?
The CRD’s Lone Butte & the TNRD’s Opax Road Transfer Stations have the following posted information – they are “for household refuse only. All other items must be taken to designated landfills. Please help keep your transfer station clean. Put all refuse in container. Close container lids. Do not deposit hot ashes.”
Would you believe we have seen; tree branches, dead animals, broken snowmobiles and rotten firewood in these bins. Can you imagine the household this stuff came from? Actually, these items should have gone to the landfill site.
Donated recyclable items are a major source of funding for many organizations. Recycle items left at the refuse site or transfer stations may not be recycled but may end up in a landfill. Please ensure recycled items are placed in a recycle bin – somewhere along your travel route.
Some of our full-time neighbours have started a “recycle run”. When one of us is traveling to town, we let our neighbours know when we are going and will take whatever sorted recyclable items they may have ready to go.
References and More Information
BC Recycling Hotline 1.800.667.4321
Cariboo Regional District 1.800.665.1636
Used Oil, Oil Container, Oil Filter 1.866.322.8662
2007 Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Info Book, pg 8 & 9
City of Kamloops www.kamloops.ca/garbage