The society is pleased to provide its fifth annual newsletter for the residents and visitors to the area. This year the newsletter is in a condensed format to save costs. To maximize our readership, we are resuming door-to-door delivery however we will respect the wishes of residents who would like to decline a hard copy – just let us know if you do not want the next issue left at your residence. We encourage readers to view this and previous editions, full of interesting and entertaining articles, posted on our website www.lacdesroches.org and please tell your friends!
All about Friends …
Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake organized in 2004 to provide a unified voice of opposition to the massive residential development proposed for the east end of Lac des Roches, now “set aside” by the B.C. government. We will continue to be stewards of the lake and the surrounding area and are recognized as a diversified community group with several important initiatives underway, listed here.
- Lake quality monitoring and environmental reporting
- Fish stock monitoring (Creel Reports)
- Official Community Plan input, linked to the Area L Advisory Planning Commission
- Bird monitoring (BC Bird Atlassing and Canadian Loon Survey)
- Community activities and communication
Members receive quarterly updates and special messages which are also published on our website. Meetings are held throughout the year in addition to the August Annual General Meeting, to be held on August 25, 2010 at 7 pm at the Bridge Lake Community School. We are always looking for interested persons to join our team of executives to assist with decision making on behalf of our membership.
Outstanding issues
We have several issues on our radar screen which get our attention as deemed appropriate in the changing political and environmental climate. These are the development of an Optimum Land Use Plan for incorporation into the Official Community Plan for the Interlakes area, the benefits of altering the regional boundary so that the lakes all fall within the Cariboo Region, the benefits of limiting boat speeds and mitigating congestion on Little Lac des Roches and mitigating traffic accidents near Gerald Crescent. We welcome input from all lake users.
Stay current and informed
We send out a quarterly update to our member distribution list and feel strongly that we can play a role in keeping property owners well-informed of issues that may be of interest to our neighbours, particularly those who may not reside in the area. For this reason, we encourage membership to our society for all residents however there are several other means of staying informed of issues and happenings in the South Cariboo.
- Our website is updated regularly and has been used to share “news” items when the need arises
- Area director, Bruce Rattray, informs constituents via his website and newsletters at www.brucerattray.ca.
- The 100 Mile House Free Press newspaper is available by subscription and at http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_cariboo/100milefreepress/.
- The 100 Mile House Advisor newspaper can be found in outdoor boxes along Highway 24.
- The Friends of Bridge Lake website informs readers of area issues, www.friendsofbridgelake.org
Current “hot topics” in our area
High speed Internet service is coming to Lac des Roches this summer. With the help of a grant, BC Wireless from 100 Mile House, will be erecting a repeater tower on the west Lac des Roches hill which is intended to provide the necessary “line of sight” service to at least 60% of the residences on the lake. Interested subscribers are asked to call the 100 Mile Net Shop 250-395-4397 and indicate your interest. They will be offering an open contract to part-time residents.
Environmental damage to Little Lac des Roches and the connecting shallow channel as a result of increased boating pressure from area development is a serious concern to our society. While not opposing all development, we are hoping that the negative impact of more users on the lake could be mitigated by taking steps to see if we can direct additional lake users to the Public Access #7 on Lac des Roches. With the addition of a toilet and refuse facilities, we feel this is a wise environmental position to promote. We have recently written several letters to different levels of government with our proposal and await a reply. Our quarterly update in September will reflect the status of this initiative.
Please be kind to the area
There is growing concern about the quality of living in our corner of the South Cariboo. Development and the trend towards recreational use are changing the demographics which seem to have an exponential negative impact on the water, land, wildlife and residents. Many people and groups look to more regulations and enforcement in an attempt to control change and the rate at which it effects of our way of life. This is evidenced by the emphasis on new regulations and proposed by-laws for recreational vehicles, noise, barking dogs, operation of wood stoves and boilers and renting out property, to name a few. Despite the rules, we really can only impress on our neighbours to use common sense and care when they live and enjoy this pristine area, with the hope of keeping it that way. Respecting private land, treading lightly on public lands, controlling pets and children’s behavior, limiting your residential footprint on the environment and caring for your surroundings like they are your permanent home, are all ways we suggest residents help sustain our piece of paradise. Please protect the lake from deteriorating pollutants and debris. The shoreline and riparian buffer zone may be inside your property line but there exist strict guidelines against clearing and development for the protection of the lake and its abundant wildlife that relies on this area for its survival. There are many publications and websites that offer suggestions to rural residents on development, dock care, use of public lands and roads, boating etiquette, ATV etiquette, protecting property from wildfires, and use of firearms, to name a few. Contact us through our website and we will happily guide you to available resources for yourselves and your guests.
Calendar of area events this summer season
- June 12 – Friends of Bridge Lake 2010 Fishing Derby
- June 18 thru 20 – Free Family Fishing Weekend (all of B.C.)
- July 3 – Bridge Lake Stampede
- July 8 thru August 19 – Friends of Bridge Lake’s Summer Speakers Series (BL School)
- July 31 & August 1 – Interlakes BCRA Rodeo
- August 15 – Bridge Lake Fair (Interlakes Hall)
Membership rewards and renewal
Once again, we would like to remind members and other lake users that our annual membership runs from September 1 to August 31. Benefits of membership include voting rights at all meetings, direct receipt of quarterly updates and newsletters and residential alert notices. If we know how to contact you, we will keep you informed! Your annual dues of $10 for the entire family are used to fund the administration of the society, mainly our website and membership to the BC Lake Stewardship Society.
Download the membership form here.
Thank you and enjoy your summer!
Comments?
Published by Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake, contact Sharron Woloshyn 250-593-0041