On the morning of Feb. 5, Scott MacKinnon and Jason Yates from the Kamloops Forest District office met with members of Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake, the community-based lake stewardship society, to discuss planned timber sales and clear-cut salvage harvesting in the hills southeast of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake. The map indicating the location and size of cut blocks gave rise to concerns about the proximity of logging to the shallow and sensitive Tortoise Lake and the impact on the view from several residences and points around the lake, particularly from the well-used McDonald rest stop. The group also expressed concern about poor logging practices observed in the area, which they felt had negative impacts on the environment and local residents. Using computerized imaging, the forestry agents were able to project how the view would be altered from several points around the lake, and upon review of their results at the meeting, were prepared to make changes to the plan to mitigate the negative effects voiced by the group. They explained their tendering process and their logging monitoring practices and assured the society that they welcome public observations and reporting of concerns. Then, they went to a meeting with the Fishing Highway 24 Tourism Association members and area landowners. In addition to issues about environmental impact and long-term forest management, this group voiced concerns about the impact clear-cut logging has had on the commercial use of Crown forests and trails for local business income such as horse back riding. More discussions will occur; however, the timber auction and salvage harvesting will begin this year.
Property damage
Gutters ripped off of eaves, chimney stacks dislodged and broken deck railings are the results of deep snow and ice sliding off metal roofs during mild weather. One resident was struck and pushed across his driveway by falling snow from his garage roof, and although he avoided injury, his ATV storage box wasn’t so lucky. One cannot be too careful for personal and pet safety when the snow is sliding off structures.
Challenging ice
Ice conditions on Lac des Roches are still deteriorating. New, small ice holes are appearing everywhere there are springs of warmer water and the overflow of water pushed upward from the weight of the snow is getting deeper. Mild temperatures are not low enough to freeze most of the water and no amount of repetitive sledding in the slush seems to be able to firm up frozen tracks for walking or skiing. Last week, a broken down snowmobile lay abandoned for the night in the middle of the lake, bogged down in at least a foot of slush. It appears the rescuers had a much easier time of towing the sled the next morning in tracks that had become partially frozen during the night.
Winning destination
Four snowmobilers who won a Powersports All About Snow Show prize package visited Lac des Roches recently. The contest was sponsored by Port Moody’s Checkpoint Yamaha and provided the winner and three guests with two days of winter (or summer) activity and two days accommodation at Lakeside Bed and Breakfast. The winner, Christine Grout, chose winter activities and brought her husband, Paul, and friends Paul and Caroline Chambers. Checkpoint supplied snowmobiles, training and guiding and the group enjoyed a spectacular weekend, away from the hustle and bustle of the Lower Mainland. The weather was perfect for sledding, snowshoeing and evenings in the hot tub.