WATERSHED UPDATE - November 18th,2007
One of our concerned residents (Ted Mitravitz ) recently attended a meeting in the Comox Valley hosted by the Comox Valley Watershed Watch Coalition where Ted was able to discuss our drinking water issues with the Comox group.
The Comox group was very interested in hearing about our community struggle this past summer trying to protect our drinking water. The Comox group was very generous and collected $65.00 at their meeting which they donated to our Sunshine Coast watershed legal defense fund. Their support is most appreciated by the concerned citizens on the Sunshine Coast.
While Ted was on the Vancouver Island, Kathleen Kinasweich from the Comox Valley Watershed Watch Coalition group interviewed Ted and you can see the video clip on YouTube at the following web address:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI5zUJPzQRw
There is a second video clip with both Ted & Kathleen where the problems facing the Comox Valley residents with respect to their drinking water is discussed. Both of these video’s are well worth taking the time to watch and gain further understanding of the lack of protection for drinking water that towns all across British Columbia face under the current Provincial legislation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJN_o_NXi-k
The Comox group have a web site where not only watershed and drinking water issues are discussed and presented, but other significant issues are raised within the community. The following web address is where you can find their web site.
http://www.thecumberlander.ca/cgi-bin/show_home.cgi
If you are interested in reviewing a recent document that was funded by the Vancouver Island Watch, Project Watershed Society and the Council of Canadians, Local Chapter, the web address of this document is found below:
This document entitled “Comox Valley’s Drinking Water Reference Guide was released recently on June,2007 and contains an “excellent” overview of the problems posed to public drinking water systems (watersheds) due to the lack of protection provided by current Provincial legislation.
Each of the chapters in the reference guide can be “downloaded” in PDF format or simply browsed “on line”.
We have received 156 responses to our question “Are you in favor of a town hall meeting with the Premier?” and while the positive response is encouraging, we still need to get the numbers up. Anything you may be able to do personally would be greatly appreciated in spreading the word and encouraging residents to express their opinion, etc.
Cast their votes on our watershed web site: www.yourwatershed.com
On Saturday I attended a meeting hosted by Sechelt Projects Inc, which is the private company owned by the District of Sechelt (sole shareholder). Sechelt Projects Inc has the responsibility for the Community Forest licence issued by the Ministry of Forests on May 31st, 2006. The purpose of the meeting was to canvass the private business groups on the Coast who could potentially benefit from the Value Added component of the Sechelt Community forest timber supply.
My purpose in attending the meeting was to begin to understand and obtain (where possible) the information pertaining to that portion of the Sechelt timber licence that occupies both the Grey Creek and Chapman Creek watersheds. I am concerned that unless the financial viability of the community forest can be established outside the watershed, we may face the problem that the community forest may be forced to harvest in the watersheds in order to meet their responsibilities under the terms of their probationary licence. (20,000 cu3/year for five years).
I did find on the Internet a document dated March 12th, 2005 prepared by Brian Smart for the Community Forest titled Timber Supply Study – Sechelt Community Forest Tenure and there are some facts and figures about both Grey Creek and Chapman Creek watersheds. (Copy of document to view)
It is not clear to me yet just what volume of wood exists outside the watershed but Sechelt Projects Inc have mentioned that they need broad community support in order to meet the terms of their community licence, so I plan to start attending their Advisory Committee meetings which I understand are open to the public. I hope there I will be able to obtain the answers to some of my questions and concerns about the potential risk to the watershed from any harvesting that Sechelt Projects Inc may be planning.
The web site for the Sechelt Community Forest is: http://www.sccf.ca/
If any of you might be interested in attending the Advisory meetings please contact the Sechelt Projects Inc office at (604) 885-7809 ask for Jackie, to find out the date, time & location of their next advisory meeting. (I will be calling on Monday morning myself to find out this information, etc).
When I obtain additional information regarding Sechelt Community Forest I will keep everyone informed on this important issue.
Regards
John Bebbington