SCRD Planning & Development Committee

This past Thursday morning, the Friends of Egmont, the Ruby Lake Landholders Association and other community members appeared before the SCRD Planning & Development Committee to voice our concerns regarding Tsain-Ko Forest Development Corporation's logging plans for the Ruby Lake, North Lake and Waugh Lake watersheds. We submitted the following six requests to the Committee based upon knowledge gained at the Watershed Meeting in Roberts Creek the night before and input from the Egmont Water Board and the local citizens who have fought hard to protect the watersheds over the years.

"Therefore, when we combine our concerns about our watersheds and all the proposed cutblocks in the Ruby Lake and Egmont area we recommend the following:

1. That the SCRD ensure on our behalf that the Waugh Lake Watershed is registered with the provincial government as a “Watershed Reserve.” (According to the BC Tap Water Alliance, Waugh Lake does not appear as a Watershed Reserve in their government documents; although, we have maps dating back from 1998 calling it a Reserve).

2. That the SCRD support our wish to see the North Lake Forest Service Road be decommissioned permanently beyond the last properties at North Lake. We are against Tsain-Ko’s plans to reactivate and extend this FSP which runs through the heart of the Waugh Lake watershed.

3. That the SCRD call for a moratorium on all clear-cutting on the Ruby Lake, North Lake and Waugh Lake watersheds. Tsain-Ko’s FSP is based upon Canfor’s 2002 Development Plan’s which is now 5 years out of date. We are calling for time for a new comprehensive Development Plan to be development that will reflect new knowledge both about watersheds and weather patterns.

4. That the SCRD extend to our watersheds, the same efforts it is undertaking to protect the Chapman Creek watershed. This would include contacting the Vancouver Coastal Health Officer who in turn would contact the Provincial Health Officer to ensure the long term safety of our drinking water supplies and that we, too, will be served by the ‘Drinking Water Protection Act.”

5. That the Joint Watershed Accord between the SCRD and the Sechelt Band be extended to include all coastal watersheds.

6. That the SCRD be as resolute as the GVRD whose watersheds are 88% crown land and who demanded that all logging in the watersheds be stopped.

7. That the SCRD join forces with other regional governments to bring about effective legislation for watershed protection that would be applied to both crown and private managed forest lands within watersheds.

The P&D Committee is comprised of all Area Directors and Chief Stan Dixon of the SIB. A number of motions were passed and once the minutes are available I will the post motions on the blog. The Committee expressed support for our concerns and reassured us that despite their immediate preoccupation with the Chapman Creek watershed they were aware of our needs and will begin work on our behalf. Their first action will be to request Tsain-Ko and its representatives to appear before the Committee to address our concerns and correct their glaring ommission of failing to inform the regional govenment of their logging plans.

The Committee has admitted they are being inundated with logging issues up and down the coast. Their planning staff is working flat out trying to keep up with the myriad of requests coming in from APC's and the Committee. Therefore, it is my suggestion we here in Egmont and at Ruby Lake continue to do our homework and assist the SCRD in any way we can.

Now, until I get the Committee's motions, I will begin posting some of our submissions.