[LookOutSugarLake] Sugar Lake

[Huguette OkShuswapGreens]

Mr. Mayes,

The purpose of this email is to ask for your help as our  elected  
representative in the federal government concerning Sugar Lake and the  
Middle Shuswap River.

As you will remember, during the election period I questioned your  
statement on the flyers you sent around the riding taking credit for  
"protecting the water at Sugar Lake".  You assured me you had done a  
lot of work on this issue and deserved to take credit for keeping  
Sugar Lake clean.

If indeed this is so, you will again have the opportunity to continue  
this work  for there seems to be more required. The owner of the  
resort has completely deforested the land including the riparian area,  
and we are told by he Ministry of Forests and Range that this is in  
compliance with provincial regulations since "Under the Forest Range  
and Practices Act, or more specifically, under the Section 49 of the  
Forest Planning and Practices Regulation lakes greater than 1000 ha in  
size do not have a defined Riparian Management Zone around them. Sugar  
Lake, at approximately 2173 ha in size, falls into the category of a  
L1-A class lake and as such has no defined Riparian Management Zone  
around it. The theory, as I understand it, is that large water bodies,  
such as Sugar Lake, have far more resiliency to both natural and man  
made disturbances than do smaller lakes and therefore do not require  
lakeshore management areas."

As our federal representative, the SLAMSS (Sugar Lake And Middle  
Shuswap Stewards) are asking you for urgent action on this matter. DFO  
should act immediately since this is at the headwater of the Shuswap  
River which is an essential habitat for many species of wild Pacific  
salmon. As you must know, Pacific salmon has diminished so much that  
whales are dying of starvation. This situation demands urgent action  
since scientists tell us large ocean mammals are essential to keeping  
oceans healthy and that *healthy oceans are essential to a livable  
planet.  Already many dead zones exist in the oceans thanks to  
pollution, and no effort should be spared to redress the situation.

We are clearly at the brink and need to do all we can to protect  
salmon habitat in every way possible. We urgently await your reply  
telling us what you can and will do to "protect the water at Sugar  
Lake".

Huguette Allen.



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