Category: Community Blog

The proposed 43-lot subdivision at Muddy Lake, on the headwaters of Lac des Roches, is a significant change to the area’s agricultural landscape. At the public meeting on Nov. 14, several Lac des Roches residents voiced concerns about the location of the main highway access at the bottom of the Lac des Roches hill (the site of last month’s livestock hauler accident), the added pressure on Little Lac des Roches for summer and winter recreation and the compounding effect this proposal will have on the area with other development proposals being contemplated. Several other issues were raised as well, as there was a strong show of support for the development – especially for its economic value – by local entrepreneurs. The next steps are a first and second reading at a Cariboo Regional District board meeting (likely Dec. 12) followed by a public hearing to be scheduled in January or February. The proposal detail is on the CRD website, www.cariboord.bc.ca, but has been reproduced for easier viewing on the Friends of Bridge Lake website, www.friendsofbridgelake.org.

Cattle still missing

Grazing permits on Crown land have expired for the year so any stray cattle in the area are likely one of the still missing 11 head of cattle that survived the accident on the Lac des Roches hill on Oct. 17. Any sighting of wayward cattle may be reported to the owner’s local contact, Monty Timmons, at 250-593-4399.

Area well-represented

Residents appreciate that both of the candidates for regional director, Bruce Rattray and Ray Carlson, took the time to visit our neighbourhood prior to the Nov. 15 election. Residents look forward to sharing the same interest in our area with our Bridge Lake neighbour and new director Bruce Rattray, as we did with our previous area representative Maureen Pinkney, who has chosen to leave the South Cariboo. Congratulations to each of you.

Traffic increases

Active logging is once again underway a few kilometers up the Wavey Lake Forestry Service Road. Vehicle operators should be extra cautious of the trucks now hauling logs down the road and along Highway 24.

Warming hut

Years ago, nine snowmobile enthusiasts got together and built the Bridge Lake Bushwacker Snowmobile Club’s clubhouse and warming hut. Credit for the hut goes to Dan Buchanan, Nicolle Dupont, Charly Enzmann, Linda Enzmann, Rod Hanzel, Joan Hanzel, Greg Lundihn, Lynn Lundihn and Matt Palmer. Since the fall of 2003, the hut has been towed up the Wavey Lake FS Road to provide a dry shelter during the snowmobile season. This summer the hut received a significant makeover thanks to Boultbee Road residents Al, Arnold, Frank and George. The hut will be a little warmer and brighter this year and it will be particularly nice to have a place for sledders to shed their outerwear and actually see each other’s faces during a warming break.

Bear not seen

The black bear that was often seen around the lake this fall may be hibernating. The conservation office agent said that the bear needs to ingest about 10,000 calories a day right now. The scarcity of a natural food source may have forced it into hibernation, despite our mild temperatures. We’ll keep a look out for it, but it is likely gone until the spring.

Swans a-swimmin’

Lac des Roches is a popular stopover spot for migrating birds and we have enjoyed watching seven swans swimming in the quiet bays. They have been feeding alongside the few ducks that remain and seem quite intrigued by the busy muskrats that are feeding and burrowing in the lake bed nearby.

The water at Lac des Roches is at its lowest level in years due to the lack of precipitation this fall. The channel between the big and little lake is passable, but only when using a shallow drive option on outboard motors. Since this area of calm water is the first to freeze, the anticipated cold weather in November will soon cut off this transportation link. It will reopen once again for the winter when the ice is thick enough for travel. Low water levels also means there is plenty of newly exposed shoreline and the absence of unfrozen water in the shallow bays. This will force the muskrats, otters and beavers to look for new homes this winter. Unfortunately, the pair of muskrats which chose our floating dock as their alternate winter nesting site are out of luck. We have to repair the damage caused by these furry and ambitious little shore mates!

Public information

Another development near the lake is being considered, but this one, despite its location on the headwaters of Lac des Roches, will have significantly less impact on the area than that of the government’s proposal we first heard about in 2004. The Crown’s plan, which initially proposed 500 homes, two resorts and a golf course on the southeast shores of the lake had residents and visitors of the area extremely concerned about the environmental impact on this pristine area. That project was officially “set aside” in November 2007. The latest development proposal for the area, northwest of Lac des Roches, has landowners considering a 43-lot subdivision around Muddy Lake. Helga and Manfred Zeiner have invited the public and Lac des Roches residents in particular, to learn about their development ideas on Friday, Nov. 14 at the Interlakes Community Hall. Maureen Pinkney, Area L representative for the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) indicated that the CRD is committed to better informing residents of significant development proposals than has been exercised in the past and residents applaud both the developers and the CRD for hosting this information meeting.

Very good water

The last of the official water testing was conducted on Oct. 30 by the Minister of Environment. Despite the cold weather and breaking waves that filled their boat with water by the end of the test, Gord and Wendy Marshall managed to assist Marg Sidney of Kamloops in completing a full water analysis of the big lake. Wendy reported that, as she has found with her bird activities, waterproof paper and pen are must haves for outdoor recordings and they couldn’t have recorded the results without them on that day. The results were as expected, indicating that the water quality is “very good”. Now, we all have to do our part to keep it that way. This testing completes the 3-year program of in-depth analysis by the Ministry. Sidney will return to Lac des Roches in five to six years unless the annual monitoring done by the resident lake stewards indicate significant changes in water quality which could warrant an earlier visit.

Another thank you goes out to the Ministry of Highways for the new rumble strips that have been added to Highway 24, along the lake, since the repaving project was completed this year. Residents and visitors have frequently commented on the number of vehicles that drift over the centerline on this winding road, and readers may recall reading in this column about an Alberta driver who almost lost his pickup and travel trailer down the embankment near Boultbee Road due to an oncoming vehicle in his lane. Although the tires riding on the rumble strips can be heard for miles down the lake, we hope it is the occasional local driver, loosening the rocks from his tire tread when there is no traffic around, and not a careless driver meandering over the center line. The rumble strips are intended to alert drivers of their wayward driving and keep them in their lane, where they belong.

Ringers play on road

The Thanksgiving weekend marked the 20th anniversary of the Boultbee Road Horseshoe Tournament. This event has transformed over the years as the demographics of the residents of the road has changed. What was a junior and adult class tournament is now a two-day adult tourney, consisting of 44 players, randomly teamed. The first place winners for 2008 were the team of Mike Yeager and Kelly Raby although several other award categories recognized the achievements of many other players, including first time ringers. In addition to the games, barbeque and socializing, the group honoured retiring founder and organizers Deb Roysum and Barb St. Hilaire who have passed the task on to Patty Brenton, Kelly Raby and Karen Lefebvre, all of whom will start planning next year’s event around August.

Bear searches for food

The injured bear which has been feeding on natural food sources around the lake this fall and has become a familiar sight is now in danger. It stumbled onto two food source; used cooking oil and freshly hung game which, naturally, has kept it coming back hoping for more helpings of the same. All residents are careful about securing potential food sources, including garbage cans and compost material but oversights happen. We all must take responsibility for the safety of the wildlife we share the lake with and be diligent in our own actions of eliminating unnatural food sources. It would be a terrible shame to see this wild bear be labeled a nuisance bear and involve the authorities who have reportedly used drastic measures to rid an area of an unwanted bear.

Cattle on Highway 24

The single vehicle accident on the Lac des Roches hill involving a livestock hauler was a disturbing sight on the morning of Oct. 17. Although at least a dozen cattle died at the scene, evidence of the more than 70 surviving cattle escaping the scene and plodding east along the highway for miles was perhaps the most upsetting as their ordeal continued through the darkness of night. Despite the mild temperatures and clear conditions in the evening of Oct. 16, the truck did not successfully maneuver the corner and sent about 100 yards of newly placed concrete barriers over the embankment before upsetting the trailer filled with cattle. This is just another reason why drivers along this highway must expect the unexpected.

Residents applaud the Ministry of Highways for erecting additional signs following the paving completion on Hwy 24. The pedestrian signs on Gerald Crescent are a welcome sight as they will hopefully slow down drivers who tour through this short residential street at a dangerous speed. The side road warning signs at the blind corners for McCarthy and Boultbee Roads should provide drivers, especially those unfamiliar with this section of the highway, with some advance warning of possible slow vehicles entering and exiting these busy residential streets.

Fences injure animals

The recent sightings of a bear with an injured leg and a doe with obvious severe ear damage serve as reminders that in addition to the many natural hazards for wildlife, we need to take responsibility for man-made hazards which may threaten the animals, wild and domestic, where we live. Since much of the property around the lake was evolving ranchland throughout the last century, the fields and forests are littered with old fence posts, barbed wire and page wire. Where possible residents should remove these hazards, taking care to remove nails or staples from live trees that may have been used as fence support and could become a danger tree when cut with a saw in the future by an unsuspecting faller. Autumn is a particularly good time of year to spot hazards as the lodging grass will often hang up on wire. Out-of-place standing grass is often an indicator of abandoned fencing material.

Ladder safety

For all those neighbours seen cleaning tree leaves from their gutters; please be careful on your ladders. Far too many injuries around the lake this summer can be traced back to ladder incidents. This year, we invested less than $30 on ladder supports which slip into the step rung holes on an aluminum extension ladder and brace the top of the ladder on the roof. Not only is the top of the ladder stabilized, but the supports hold the ladder away from the eaves troughs, avoiding gutter damage. Scrambling up and down a ladder never felt safer and is a sure way of improving ladder safety. This invention rates right up there with clumping cat litter at our house!

Driveway access

Snow in early October is a reminder that seasonal residents planning to use their properties throughout the winter need to have an ongoing snow removal strategy. Jamie Moberg points out that once the banks created by the snow plow on the sides of the road freeze, they are difficult, almost impossible, to remove. To maintain driveway access, snow must be cleared after every major storm or snow plow pass. Several local residents maintain driveways and provide other caretaking services throughout the winter months.

Highway cycles

October’s unpredictable weather (and snow flakes on Oct. 5) is as indicator of the end of the motorcycle season on Highway 24 and now the familiar sounds of the two-wheeled vehicles are becoming few and far between.

For two days in early September, artist Ann Bates, of Clearwater, sat in the field above Boultbee Road sketching the old landmark cattle barn in water colours. Ann is well-known for her outdoor scene sketches; however she admitted, old barns are one of her favorite subjects. She always paints on location, which gives her chauffeur and husband and most admiring fan, Stewart, many hours to explore the surrounding area, which he did in his cedar-strip canoe. Ann shows her artwork in Clearwater and Kamloops.

Black bear sighted

Last week, several residents saw an injured black bear feeding on the properties along Boultbee Road. Its injury was severe enough to prevent it from putting weight on one of its hind legs but otherwise he appeared relatively healthy. Despite its obvious pain, the bear seemed to have a normal disposition and was wary of humans. Residents should be cautious in their yards and mindful of the abundant wildlife that we share the lake area with.

Late great midge hatch

In mid-September, when our daytime highs jumped from 10°C one day to 28°C for the next two days, we experienced the biggest midge hatch that veteran fisher Gordon Marshall has ever seen on the lake. For several days following, evidently no fish were caught on the entire lake. Gordon figured all the fish were sitting on the bottom of the lake with indigestion from eating too many midges and joked that only a Tums antacid on a hook would interest them!

Loon count has grown

Wendy Marshall, our resident volunteer for Canada Lakes Loon Survey, reports that six loon chicks have survived on Lac des Roches this year. Despite the many predators that prey on eggs and baby loons from land, water and the air and the humans who venture too close to the loon families, adult loons have managed to successfully protect these chicks throughout the summer. In late October, we can expect the adult loons to fly south, leaving the immature loons to fend for themselves for a few more weeks before they migrate as well.

Poles inspected

During September, power poles around the lake and surrounding area were manually inspected by Shawn Parker for BC Hydro. Shawn explained that the health of the power pole is determined by the rate of descent or the speed at which a drill bit travels through the wood. Inspection involves drilling several holes into the center of the pole near the soil line. If the results are good, the pole will be passed and re-inspected in eight years. If the results are poor, replacement will be recommended. Most of the poles in our area are in good shape and, due to initial preservation treatment, are immune to beetles and worms that prey on so many of the trees in our surrounding forest. Wooden replacement poles (lodgepole pine or cedar) are best suited for our area due to the seasonal climate changes whereas milder, year-round areas use concrete replacement poles.

Saskatoon berry picking excursions were a disappointment this year. Cool and wet summer weather prevented the many bushes that dot our southern slopes from producing their usual abundant tasty berries. Where last year the bushes thrived with berries to satisfy the household, cedar waxwings and the bears, this year, it was first come, first served only. A tall thicket near Boultbee Road went entirely to a bear, in what appears to be one frenzied feeding as he broke many of the taller bushes to reach the few berries far from the ground. The berries were so slow to ripen that we noticed the leaves turning from green to yellow, sooner than many of the berries ripened from red to purple. The weather conditions did seem to help the wild raspberries thrive this year. Raspberry bushes have cropped up in places we have never had them before and they had plenty of ripe berries. To the delight of our granddaughter, the berries were delicious and apparently just the right picking height for a 5-year-old!

Grizzly bear may be on the prowl

Neighbours are talking about a reported sighting of a Grizzly bear in the hills north of Lac des Roches, up the Wavey Lake Forest Service Road. Rumor has it that "beyond cow camp," which is 17 km from the start of the road at Highway 24, is where the bear was sighted. Although unable to confirm this sighting at the time of writing, it seemed that it is most certainly worth mentioning and urging caution out there since so many of our community members enjoy recreational activities in the surrounding hills this time of year. Although sightings of black bear have been rare this summer, any bear out there may be hungry since the berry crops have been so poor and outdoor enthusiasts should be mindful of them as well.

Canoes thwarted by high winds

On Aug. 23, we watched the lake throughout the day, aniticipating the South Cariboo Rowing Club travelling along our shores as noted earlier this summer in the 100 Mile Free Press. The article in the Sep. 3 edition, picturing the rowing enthusiasts enjoying Bridge Lake, confirmed our suspicion that for the second year in a row, the club was unable to launch their canoes onto Lac des Roches due to high winds and whitecap waves. Brenda Jenkins reported that the rowers drove to the rest stop overlooking the lake, to see what they might have enjoyed, then headed for Bridge Lake where they had a wonderful time. It is not uncommon for fierce winds to stir up the waters at Lac des Roches while the surrounding lakes on both sides of us are calm. Jack Jenkins confirmed that the club will try Lac des Roches again next year and hopefully have better luck with the weather.

Non-resident voting requirements

Some non-resident neighbours were disappointed to find out that they were unable to vote in the Fire Services referendum on Sep. 3. For property owners that live permanently elsewhere, there are special criteria that must be met on voting day. For the referendum, residents needed to obtain a voter registration certificate from the Cariboo Regional District, which provides them with the right to vote on this and future referendums in this region. The legislation has just been modified and the requirements have changed. Non-residents should contact Alice Walters at the Cariboo Regional District (1-800-665-1636) for further clarification on what is required for future voting privileges.

Several neighbours are alarmed that they have heard the sound of gunshots for the last couple of weeks around the lake. Although this is a sound we often hear during the hunting season, it turns out this is not the sound of gunfire at all. One of the machines used by the paving crew has a tendency to backfire when started and it is the source of the alarming noise. Although there is the odd bang and the deep rumble of the rolling machines, we have already noticed a significant reduction in the noise of highway traffic since the first layer of new pavement was laid. Gone is the thumpety-thump noise of the tires hitting the cracks which made the highway sound more like a railway track.

Cycling the Cariboo

While sitting in the paving line-up last week, a neighbour met a European tourist on a bicycle with an amazing story of physical fitness. It seems on that day, she had cycled from Clearwater, up the 10 km long Little Fort Hill and had her sights set on 70 Mile House that same evening! She claims to travel 60 miles or 100 kilometers on a typical day. Now that is an active lifestyle.

Registration deadline

Today, Sept. 3, is the last day to register if you are a non-resident voter for the Sept. 6 referendum on the Interlakes Fire Service. Registration certificates can be obtained through faxing rather than travelling to Williams Lake as indicated in the advertisements. Call the Cariboo Regional District for more information at 1-800-665-1636.

Family reunion

The Birch Lake Reunion, advertised on multiple signs along the highway for the Aug. 24 weekend, turned out to be a private family affair which was held at the Birch Lake Fishing Camp. Residents report that the multiple families utilized “all the camping spots and them some”, and enjoyed the good weather.

Beaver is busy

If anyone was wondering, at least one beaver is thriving on Lac des Roches. In July, we had to wrap wire mesh around our remaining willow and alder trees along the shore to maintain some foliage. Last week, a neighbour reported that he had lost about 30 trees and the water is now cluttered with willow and alder branches, stripped of most of their leaves. Apparently not all of the over-development in the sensitive riparian buffer strip along the shoreline is caused by humans after all.

Friends host AGM

Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake held their social and annual general meeting on Aug. 27 at the Bridge Lake Community School. In addition to various annual reports of their lake stewardship activities, the group presented their first draft of an Optimum Land Use Plan resulting from months of research. Since Lac des Roches straddles the boundary between the Cariboo and Thompson-Nicola Regional Districts, they are contributing to two Official Community Plans that cover their community.

The upcoming Interlakes Fire Department referendum has highlighted a number of oversights in the legislature that governs the referendum process: the legislation does not require direct notification to the property owners. The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) hosted two public meetings that were advertised and held, June 11 and Aug. 13, at the local community hall. The referendum question was advertised twice, for the advance poll (Aug. 27 and 29) and regular voting date (Sept. 6) in the local 100 Mile House papers. All the notification has been "local" advertisements, which, although compliant to the legal requirement, is one of the significant oversights in the process. In my neighbourhood on Lac des Roches, 93 per cent of the 128 land parcels are owned by persons who live permanently elsewhere. Most were unaware of the local meetings and many were unaware that there is a referendum at all, which will see their property taxes increase if 50 per cent plus one of those who turn out to vote, vote yes. Property owners should be informed of a referendum where the minimum per parcel tax increase is $50 and their "cabin" could see a property tax increase exceeding $500 a year. At the first meeting, the public was invited to provide input into the proposed property tax increase. Many issues, such as maximum number of parcels per owner, assessment values used for the calculation, certification and service requirements of the fire department and possible insurance discounts were raised. The show of hands was an indication that assured funding and certification for our Interlakes Fire Department is a positive step forward for our community. The CRD considered the public’s input and budget requirements and have determined and published the tax rates that will be the referendum question, which they presented at the second meeting. Although there are aspects of the tax calculation that may still be questionable to some, the referendum question has been determined and will proceed to a vote for property owners in Area L. At the June 11 meeting, Maureen Pinkney, elected Area L Representative, mentioned that the addresses of property owners in our area are on several continents around the globe. It is because of this discussion the CRD is now taking extra steps to ensure that non-local property owners are aware of the referendum and have mailed out notices on August 21. Although it is very short notice for many out-of-towners to travel to the Cariboo, pre-register and cast their vote, the CRD, particularly Rick Hodgson, chief election Officer and Rowena Bastien, manager of protective services, deserve a round of applause for their efforts to compensate for an oversight in the process that does not address the unique demographics of the Area L property owners. The referendum legislation is the responsibility of the Ministry of Community Development and is undergoing review. Other areas for improvement that need to be considered are non-resident voter pre-registration requirement, mail-in or proxy voting and the location of advance polling to ensure a democratic process going forward.

Presently, the Interlakes Volunteer Fire Department (IVFD) provides fire and medical response through voluntary fees from property owners and various grants. For most, the cost is $60 a year – although apparently only 30 per cent of the residents are paying. Certifying and converting the IVFD to a tax-based service of the Cariboo Regional District seemed like a good idea; however the June 11 public meeting presented a number of issues that have the neighbours talking. The fact that the homes located at the east end of Lac des Roches are in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and will be out of the protected zone is understandable, yet another reason to question the location of this boundary. The proposed tax is a combination of a per-parcel amount of $100 and $28.12 per $100,000 of building assessed values. This means that bare land will be taxed for emergency services, and although initially there was no limit, an arbitrary maximum of three parcels per property owner was proposed but with no basis other than past practice for other taxes. Since this is a tax and not an insurance policy, why is the assessed value of buildings entering into the calculation? Will the IVFD response not be the same whether the emergency is at a $500,000 home or the $30,000 cabin next to it? There is an assumption that with a certified fire department, property owners will see a reduction in their insurance premiums to offset this tax, but this will not be the case for a bare lot or one that is only used to park a licensed vehicle. Written details and justification of the required $750,000 for upgrading equipment and facilities should be supplied to the public. Clearly, there is more work to be done by the CRD for neighbours to make an informed choice at a referendum vote in August.

Firewood permits

The beetle-killed pine trees in the hills around Lac des Roches are reported to be an excellent choice of home-heating firewood. Dead trees harvested as late as this summer are naturally seasoned so that they can be burned this winter. Due to our proximity to the regional forestry boundary, residents should be sure to carry a free cutting permit for the jurisdiction they are in. Both are available on-line. Kamloops: www.for.gov.bc.ca/dka/permits/FirewoodPermit.htm
100 Mile House: www.for.gov.bc.ca/dmh/forms/Firewood Permit.pdf

Foiled again by a fly

I spoke too soon in my last column about the aspen leaf miner possibly being foiled by our cool spring weather. No sooner was the paper published on June 18 when it became obvious that this destructive bug had returned.

A rural-life lesson

Living in the wilds, few homes can pick up a cellular signal or receive television or radio signals without a satellite or Internet connection. Our neighbour had a harsh reminder of our situation on the July holiday weekend when several of his friends headed back to Edmonton, unaware of the road closure on Highway 16, east of Valemount. They could not receive cell calls so they had no warning. There was also no notice at the junction of Highways 5 and 24 in Little Fort, where they could have chosen a more suitable route through southern Alberta, so, they proceeded north, only to be diverted through Prince George and Grande Prairie. A trip that should have taken 10 hours to drive, took 18 Ouch!

The skies over Lac des Roches have been filled with flying objects and not just the hundreds of swallow fledglings. Several float planes have dropped in for visits, as they routinely do; however, the ultra-light planes that buzzed over the fields near the rest stop were an uncommon sight. None of the neighbours seem to know the pilots of these small craft, but we hope they had safe flights. Our unpredictable wind gusts have upset many unsuspecting windsurfers and sailboats and would surely be a challenge for these fragile flying machines!

Chilly playground

An improvement in the weather for the latter half of the August long weekend was a welcome bonus for the many lake users who braved our chilly waters. I especially enjoyed watching the antics of the skiing threesome as it brought back old memories of my four brothers and I, skiing together behind my Dad’s boat. The unseasonably cold weather and winds have kept the lake from warming to a pleasant swimming temperature we usually have in August but it appears that the weather was ideal for the annual Bocce ball tournament. Boaters are reminded of the law to reduce their boat speed to 10 km/h within 30 meters of all shores.

Sharing the land

I am not fond of some of the critters we share our property with. The gophers leave dirt piles and rocks that catch on the lawnmower blade. The crows start squawking way too early in the morning. The Bonaparte gulls harass anyone venturing into the quiet bays. No, I am not fond of these critters but it warms my heart to see their babies every summer. It is comical to watch the baby gophers chase each other in the grass and up and along the split rail fence. The line of baby crows hops along in a clumsy manner behind their mom, jumping onto the fence rails and teetering unsteadily. The fluffy baby gulls have discovered that the top of duck deterrent netting strung on our floating dock is a soft perch and under the netting is a safe haven from the many eagles perched above the bay. Although I realize these are critters-in-training, it is sure a pleasure to watch the antics of the babies every summer.

Outdoor garden

A resident has a solution to deterring the many deer, which regularly nibble in her outdoor garden. A beaten egg, mixed with a cup of water, sprayed on the leaves of the garden vegetables has successfully deterred the deer this season.

Best Wishes

There is a noticeable absence of many of our neighbours this year. Initially, there was speculation that the high cost of fuel may have kept some seasonal residents away; however, we have learned that several friends were not able to travel to the lake due to health-related issues. The community sends good wishes to you all with hopes that you can return to the lake soon.

Friends Host AGM

The annual general meeting of the Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake will be held at the Bridge Lake School on August 27. The evening will begin with a drop-in social hour at 6 p.m. , complete with snacks and refreshments, followed by the meeting starting at 7 p.m. Highlights of the agenda are executive reports, a land use presentation and executive elections. All are welcome!