The host-organizer has chosen to cancel the rally and protest that was planned for Friday, 4 pm, at Vernon’s Tolko Offices.
This was received from Code Blue BC...
.BREAKING NEWS: Tolko Industries just backed down from clearcutting in the Greater Vernon community drinking watershed. YOU did this!!
This is a HUGE people-powered WIN for the people of Vernon–YOU took a stand and took back local control over your critical drinking water source.
In just 3 days, almost 500(!) people from Vernon sent letters to MLA Sandhu and Minister Conroy, while THOUSANDS of you helped put this on the map by sharing, liking and commenting on the story.
Nobody should have to fight for clean, safe water to drink–watersheds across BC should be managed by the people closest to them, who know them best and depend on them most. But when push came to shove, you really stepped up, Vernon. Bravo. Our hats are off to you, and our little team here at CodeBlue is grateful to have been able to help.
But this was then sent by a local reader:
Hello and good morning to all.... this is great news however the press release states " it will be altering harvest plans to exclude the area that is of concern to the RDNO. No harvest or road construction will take place in this area of concern."
This area of concern is relatively small in the overall plan of the proposed cut block (lv1243) . The concerns of slope stability on the Nicklen creek side and sensitive wintering habitat is not being addressed. As it stands approximately two thirds of this cut block will proceed.
This is a smoke screen and great way of making the public feel like they have a victory.
It's important that we get the full truth to the public.
RDNO suggests a much larger parcel of land that extends right to the edge of Nicklen Creek and up a sensitive wet sloped area 'in trade' for not harvesting the small area that drains directly into Duteau.
Vernon Area Water Supply At Risk
Join the Protest, Friday, May7, 4 pm, Tolko Offices, 3000 28th St Vernon BC
RDNO PRESS RELEASE:
RDNO Urges Tolko to Halt Plans to Log Land above 60% of
the Water Supply for all of Greater Vernon
"We want to be clear. The RDNO is not opposed to logging or forestry
operations. We have serious concerns about logging at this specific
location, and we are asking Tolko to pause and work with us so we can find a
mutually beneficial solution," said Kevin Acton, Chair of the RDNO Board of
Directors.
http://www.rdno.ca/index.php/news/media-releases/rdno-urges-tolko-to-halt-pl
ans-to
Where: Tolko Industries Corporate Office , 3000 28 St, Vernon, BC
When: Friday, May 7th, 2021, 4 pm
Why: To protest Tolko logging "in May 2021" within 500 m upslope of the Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant.
How: All COVID regulations will be followed, with masks and social distancing in effect. Groups of no more than ten can walk around the block with signs. We will ask to speak with a Tolko representative, from an appropriate distance.
Sign the petition created by CodeBlue, a provincial water advocacy group:
https://www.codebluebc.ca/defend_vernons_watershed
Background Information
The Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant is threatened by a plan to begin
logging and road-building within 500 m of the Duteau Creek water intake
above the Headgates Dam, starting in May, 2021. Despite Tolko Industries
Ltd. being in communication with Greater Vernon Water over the last 5 years,
Greater Vernon Water was only informed of plans to begin logging this spring
by email on April 9th, 2021, three weeks before operations were to begin.
North Okanagan communities have spent more than $70 million on the Duteau
Creek Water Treatment Plant which supplies 60% of Greater Vernon water needs
and supplies 50,000 residential, commercial and agricultural users (for more
information see: http://www.rdno.ca/docs/duteau_creek_information.pdf).
The plan to log cut block LV1243 needs to be paused so that concerns of
Greater Vernon Water staff about protecting drinking water can be properly
addressed.
Slope instabilities issues have been clearly put forth by a professional
engineer (see RDNO case summary below), but inadequately addressed by Tolko,
the logging company involved. Hydrological changes caused by road building
cannot be easily reversed, especially in the dry, erosion-prone soil of the
Duteau watershed. Landslides after logging are not unusual 3 to 4 years
after logging as large tree roots decompose. Logging on adjacent slopes in
the area has causes slope instability recognized by Tolko, involved
professionals and RDNO.
If logging is to be considered in the community watershed, RDNO staff and
forest professionals with demonstrated expertise in low-impact harvesting
techniques should be involved in planning collaboratively for the best
outcome for the logging industry and water protection. For example,
road-free options such as selective cable logging or heli-logging could be
considered for selective removal of quality timber with minimal hydrological
disturbance. Tolko could also offer financial assurance in the form of a
fund held in trust for post-harvest damage mitigation. However, avoiding
harm to hydrological integrity is preferable to attempting post-harvest
watershed restoration in dry, erodible soils. Regardless of the approach
chosen, time is needed to develop clear plans and evaluate costs and
benefits. A new, collaborative decision-making structure may be required.
More sediment in the water, or worse, a landslide, will drive up water
treatment costs and could even force closure of the expensive Duteau Creek
Water Treatment facility. The city of Victoria does not even allow hiking in
their community watershed. With the millions invested in the Duteau Water
Treatment Plant, much is at risk. Citizens already pay high rates for water
and cannot afford additional costs to facilitate short-lived profits from
logging operations, despite their overall support for a sustainable forest
industry.