Dam … Dam … Dam!
Dam, yet another development plan for our lakes! Executive members attended an information session in Little Fort and learned that the Federal and Provincial Agriculture Ministries are working with a group of citizens in Little Fort to secure more water for irrigation. They are targeting the Lemieux Creek watershed, which extends into the Northern Nehalliston Plateau and includes Lac des Roches and Birch Lake, which – due to their size – are high on their list of potential dam sites. Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake have responded with a letter of opposition stating problems of siltation and lake level alteration as only a few of our many environmental concerns. We will monitor this initiative closely.
The Development – Status
The major development proposed for the east end of Lac des Roches is still alive – as reported in December, however the most recent letters from provincial and regional offices indicate that the project is under re-assessment in light of the BC Government’s “5 great goals”. Our actions are to continue to request the name of the selected proponent and confirm that there is no rezoning application yet submitted to the Thompson Nicola Regional District. We have secured the support of Charlie Wyse, Cariboo South MLA who will enter our 700 plus signature petition into the legislature. We have not ruled out some previously researched options of alternate uses of the land through conservation and land acquisition processes. As more resources become available during the summer months, and members attend our July and August meetings, we will determine a definite action plan.
Lake Monitoring Results
The BC Lake Stewardship Society has used our monitoring data to complete their 2005 report on Lac des Roches and it will soon be on their website, with a link from our site. Marge Sidney of the Ministry of Environment has advised us that lake monitoring on Lac des Roches will be elevated to “Level 2”, to obtain more baseline data. We are very encouraged by the increased interest in the well-being of our lakes.
Regional Boundary Change
We are very optimistic about the effect, of moving the east end of Lac des Roches, Birch Lake and Phinetta Lake into the Cariboo Regional District, could have on the development proposal. Although we have support from the Cariboo Regional District (CRD), our local MLA and the Minister responsible, the talks between the CRD and TNRD have been slow in starting. There is no further action we can take on this item – it is in the hands of the Regional District directors. Maureen Pinkney, our CRD director, sends regular emails providing the latest plans for the groups to meet. We have obtained a significant number of signatures to ensure we had the support of property owners. Ms. Pinkney has indicated that public meetings will be part of the process.
Staying in Focus!
In order to best utilize the time of the few members available in the winter months, a motion was passed at the March meeting to reduce the number of scheduled meetings. Our new annual meeting schedule is as follows: February; May; July; August (AGM); and November. Meetings will still be on the last Wednesday of the particular month and held at the Bridge Lake Community School. As before, the executive will meet prior to each of the general meetings as well as on an “as needed” basis, as before.
The executives also reviewed our goals going forward. Although we have discussed and reported on other pursuits suggested by our members in 2005, we will be focusing on the stewardship of our sensitive lakes. It is through our united voice that our group and our mandate are now recognized and supported throughout the many levels of regional and provincial governments. We will continue our opposition to the development proposal as well as dam construction and will provide information to lake users on the many aspects of our lakes that make them so pristine, and our responsibility to keep them this way. Watch for our public newsletter coming in April. It will be distributed to all property users on the lakes as well as members.