[LookOutSugarLake] Sugar Lake

[Tobin, Patrick J FOR:EX]

Good day Ms. Allen.
 
I would like to take this opportunity to clarify a statement you have
made. 
 
You have quoted me as saying that the client activities were in
compliance with provincial regulations. To be clear I was speaking
specifically to possible contraventions of the Forest and Range
Practices Act that Ministry of Forests and Range staff investigated this
summer. Our investigation found no contravention of the legislation we
are mandated to enforce. In subsequent e-mails to yourself the pertinent
legislation was identified and as you are aware the Ministry of
Environment is looking at the development with respect to the "Riparian
Areas Regulation". 
 
Take care.

Patrick Tobin 
Operations Manager 
Okanagan Shuswap Forest District 
Direct:   (250) 558-1780 
Email:    Patrick.Tobin @gov.bc.ca 

 

________________________________

From: Huguette OkShuswapGreens [mailto:voteallen at gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 3:09 PM
To: Mayes.C at parl.gc.ca
Cc: Eugene Foisy; Rob Smailes; Tobin, Patrick J FOR:EX; Hank Cameron;
Weir, Keith ILMB:EX; Reiner, Mike J ENV:EX; Christensen.MLA, Tom
LASS:EX; WalshN at DFO-MPO.GC.CA; lookoutsugarlake at sensociety.org
Subject: Sugar Lake


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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