[LookOutSugarLake] draft press release

[handr at telus.net]

Here is the press release that the Alliance is planning to print - as  
SLAMSS is a member, your feedback and inputs welcome,

huguette

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Jim Cooperman" <jcoop at ribaa.ca>
> Date: July 19, 2007 10:56:01 AM PDT (CA)
> To: <swalist at lists.onenw.org>
> Subject: [swalist] draft press release
>
> Hi all
>
> Here is our draft press release and recommendations (note that  
> there are a few additions and revisions)
>
> Please send your comments ASAP, since we should get this to the  
> Observer very soon.
>
> Also, if any other member group rep wishes to add a quote or wishes  
> to be on the contact list – please send it too me now.
>
> Thanks, Jim
>
>
>
> SHUSWAP WATERSHED ALLIANCE
>
> Media Release
>
> July 19, 2007
>
>
>
> Alliance Provides 48 Recommendations to Protect the Shuswap Basin
>
>
>
> Representatives from the 12 member organization of the Shuswap  
> Watershed Alliance were out in full force at the two Shuswap Lake  
> Integrated Planning Process public meetings held this week.   
> Although the process at this stage is primarily interested in  
> receiving input on what the issues of concern are, the Alliance  
> instead opted to provide a list of 46 recommendations for solutions.
>
>
>
> “The barn door has been open for too long in the Shuswap,” said Jim  
> Cooperman, Shuswap Environmental Action Society president, “and  
> given the short time-frame for this process we have chosen to  
> provide suggestions for solving the multitude of problems facing  
> the Shuswap watershed at the beginning of the process.”
>
>
>
> Two of the Alliance’s key recommendations include expanding the  
> plan to the entire basin and forming a permanent basin council to  
> oversee and coordinate management, monitoring and research.
>
>
>
> “We are very pleased to see all the regulatory agencies working  
> together to protect the lakes,” aid Bob Eadie, Friends of Mara Lake  
> spokesperson, “however, we are concerned about the extent of  
> development ready to proceed and therefore a moratorium is needed  
> immediately on marina construction and expansion to ensure the plan  
> is successful.”  Bob added, “In order for the plan to be effective,  
> it must eliminate the loopholes that developers use to advance  
> their projects.”
>
>
>
> “The plan also needs to address the poorly designed boundaries of  
> the CSRD,” said Ray Nadeau, president of the Shuswap Water Action  
> Team, “and that is why we are calling for a revision that would  
> bring the entire Shuswap basin under the jurisdiction of one  
> regional district.”  Ray added, “Another key priority that requires  
> immediate action is to disallow both public and private houseboats  
> from mooring near drinking water intakes.”
>
>
>
> Other key recommendations include: requiring all boat motors to  
> meet the highest North American standards, disallowing floating  
> buildings larger the 100 sq. feet, and enforcing a 10 mph speed  
> limit on the Shuswap River where jet boats and wake boats have  
> caused extensive damage to streambanks.
>
>
>
> Contact:
>
> Jim Cooperman, SEAS president, 679-3693
>
> Ray Nadeau, SWAT president, 675-2435
>
> Bob Eadie, Friends of Mara Lake, 836-2508
>
>
>
>
>
> Backgrounder:
>
>
>
> There are well over 1000 members from throughout the region in the  
> 12 organizations that form the Alliance.  SWA member organizations:  
> Shuswap Water Action Team, Shuswap Environmental Action Society,,  
> Shuswap Lake Coalition, South Shuswap Property Owners Association,  
> Bind Bay Area Association, Shuswap Naturalists, Council of  
> Canadians, Friends of Mara Lake, Shuswap River Keepers, Swansea  
> Point Community Association, Committee for a Strong Sustainable  
> Salmon Arm and Sugar Lake and Middle Shuswap Stewards
>
>
>
> Shuswap Watershed Alliance Recommendations for the
>
> Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Process
>
>
>
> All issues:
>
> Incorporate climate change impact assessments and adaptation  
> measures into all decisions made through the process
> Develop a monitoring program to measure the impacts of climate change
> Improve access to information with a website that contains up-to- 
> date news and data
> Ensure lake shore management looks beyond the needs of just fish
> Expand the plan to cover the entire Shuswap Basin and create a  
> permanent Basin Council or Board that includes representation from  
> public interest groups to oversee and coordinate management and  
> research
> Create an office and a 1-800 number for by-law and agency staff to  
> enforce regulations and serve as trouble shooters for all issues of  
> concern within the Basin
> Revise administrative boundaries to ensure the entire Basin is  
> covered by the same government staff
> Consider revising regional district boundaries to bring the entire  
> Basin under one jurisdiction
> Increase the representation on the CSRD from the South Shuswap
> Provide public education through outreach to increase understanding  
> of the issues and the need for improvements
> Add a tax to marine gas sales to fund Basin stewardship programs
>
>
> Foreshore Development:
>
> Moratorium on all proposed new marinas and marina expansions
> Use existing salmon habitat mapping, assessments of natural  
> riparian areas, and water intake locations to zone the foreshore
> Ensure new marinas or marina expansions are only allowed in  
> appropriate zones
> Develop ways to restore foreshore habitat where possible, including  
> the Sicamous channel
> Ensure trails are not build along lake, river and creek shorelines  
> where erosion could occur
>
>
> Water Quality and Waste Management:
>
> Ensure liquid waste management plans disallow both public and  
> private sewage effluent outfalls into the watershed
> Begin the process to end the use of the watershed for sewage  
> effluent in Salmon Arm and Enderby
> Develop an effective and consistent water quality monitoring  
> program that focuses on the areas of concern, including Salmon Arm  
> and Tappen Bays, Blind Bay and Mara Lake and includes testing for  
> trace chemicals and pharmaceuticals
> Ensure BC Parks, the Ministry of Environment and the houseboat  
> companies work together to increase the number of and improve the  
> existing pump out stations on the lake for both private and  
> commercial boats
> Obtain more funding for the restoration of the Salmon River
> Enforce stricter rules on agriculture, including grazing leases on  
> crown land to prevent pollution and restrict irrigation during the  
> fall when water is needed for salmon spawning
> Develop by-laws or legislation to require testing and clean-up if  
> necessary of old septic systems near the lake
> Ban the use and sale of formaldehyde products for holding tanks in  
> RVs and boats
> Develop regulations that prevent the dumping of grey water, black  
> water and bilge water in areas where there are drinking water intakes
> Develop a public education program to reduce the use of fertilizers  
> and pesticides near the Basin shorelines
>
>
> Zoning and Growth Management:
>
> Disallow all floating buildings larger than 100 sq. feet
> Use zoning to ensure rural quality of life is maintained
> Require OCPs for the entire Basin
> Develop specific plans for Blind Bay to avoid further deterioration  
> of water quality
> Ensure OCPs place limits on developments near the Basin shorelines
> Obtain authority from ILMB to allow for local regional district  
> management of foreshore approvals through a development permit process
> Ensure building permits are required throughout the Basin
> Revise highway regulations to remove the loophole that allows  
> inadequate road access to phased developments
>
>
> Recreation Management:
>
> Require all boat motors to meet the highest North American standards
> Restrict and eventually phase-out jet-skis
> Improve enforcement of noise by-laws and ensure loud boat engines  
> are taken off the lake
> Maintain and improve public access to the lakeshore
> Enforce a 10 mph speed limit on the Shuswap River and ban all jet  
> boats
> Develop a program like air care for boats with stickers that show  
> boats have been tested which can be visible for RCMP, environment  
> staff or DFO staff.  The fines collected could be used to support  
> the work the Basin Council or Board.
> Enforce laws to ensure all large boats contain both black water and  
> grey water holding tanks
> Improve the regulations regarding fuelling water craft
> Enforce regulations on unauthorized private houseboat and boat moorage
> Require marinas to remove milfoil under docks and moorage areas
> More efforts are needed to control noisy parties and lakeside  
> littering by marine campers
>
>
>
>
> ====================================
>
> Jim Cooperman, President,
>
> Shuswap Environmental Action Society
>
> R.R. 1 S10 C2
>
> Chase, B.C., V0E 1M0
>
> 250-679-3693, cell 319-4197
>
> jcoop at ribaa.ca, www.seas.ca
>
> =====================================
>
>
>
>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://sensociety.org/pipermail/lookoutsugarlake_sensociety.org/attachments/20070719/f077fd32/attachment-0001.html