Slocan Watershed Acchive Year in Review 1997

1997

January 1997

Zirnhelt responds to SFF Ecosystem-based Landscape Plan with 2 reviews of plan. No response to our Proposal for Negotiated Settlement
Hills woodlot cancelled, but to be replaced by SBEP.

February 1997

Forest Practices Board complaint re IWAP process continues with investigation by Bodo von Schilling
SFP releases their five-year development plans and forest renewal proposals. Open houses held on February 12 & 13. Herb writes letter to SFP responding to FDP
KBLUP response presented to government on protest walk in Nelson February 25.

March 1997

Susie gives mini workshop on ecosystem-based planning in Nelson March 1.
Video nights showing .3 films, March 7 in Silverton & March 14 in Winlaw
SFP releases their five-year development plans and forest renewal proposals for SBEP. Open house held on March 13.
Open letter to government in newspaper regarding no government response to our Proposal to Negotiated settlement in 5 months.
Cedar tree cut down at Phil Larstones for value added products to take to Victoria.
Meeting with SFP March25, directors eloquently tell Alex Ferguson history of SVWA and watershed concerns. SFP rejects our proposal to work together to develop planning process, test this process in non-consumptive area and defer harvesting activities in Valley until testing phase is completed.
Meeting with Valhalla March27 to discuss relationship between groups.
Slides in Lemon Creek, Airy Creek.

April 1997

Meeting with Passmore seniors in outreach to community April 13.
Meeting with local government April 15, they voice their concern about this summer.
Cedar Tree Group goes to Victoria April 15-18, presentations outside legislature with gifts of value added products, slide shows in Victoria & Vancouver.
SVWA attends first meeting of Regional Water User's Group April 19
Slides continue throughout the Valley; at Carpenter, Dennis, Wilson, and Salvation Creeks, and Slocan Lake. me statistics state 28 slides in Slocan Valley. MoF trucking water to Lemon Creek water users.
Spring newsletter printed

May 1997

May 1 letter received from government rejecting our Proposal for Negotiated Settlement.
Friends of Slocan in Vancouver working to support us, meeting with their local Las
Community Workshop "Ecosystems & Economies" May 9 & 10 focusing on what structures we need in Valley and how to get them.
Woodlot and contract to build 7.7 kin of road advertised for Perry Ridge
SFP has 3 road permits in to Arrow for processing, Climax, Hasty & Bonanza
Victoria trip benefit/fundraiser May 31

June 1997

Fred Easton speaks to SVWA about legal procedures involved with injunctions
EACT goes to 3rd SFP/community meeting June 19 and gives clear message to SFP that water users do not want proposed logging & road building plans to proceed. Petition with 102 signatures supporting EACT position
Perry Ridge Woodlot and road building contract awarded - 250 signatures on petition gives clear message to MoF that PRWUA represents the water users.
Village of New Denver unsuccessfully proposes to rescind 1994 resolution opposing clearcutting, Richard presents brief on behalf of SVWA

July 1997

Common Ground presentation at SVWA meeting July 3. SVWA declines to give written comments in their newsletter, requests public community meeting instead.
New Denver Flats: 175 people protest road building July 14; injunction served July 17; injunction enforced July 22 and 7 people arrested as equipment rolls in
Perry Ridge: 150 people protest road building July 14; injunction applied for July28, granted but MoF ordered to meet with FRWUA; injunction served July 30.
MoF states intention to advertise woodlot in Winlaw/Trozzo Creek
Peace Village opens July 26 with support and donations from around the province
Daniel Hellyer cycles over 700 km to bring water to Eloise Charet, arriving July 31

August 1997

Perry Ridge: injunction enforced August 6 and 9 people are arrested; 7 more arrested in following days. Four people are in prison on hunger strike. PRWUA meets with MoF, concerns cannot be addressed by local MoF but Zirnhelt refuses to meet.
SVWA meets with Sierra Legal Defence representatives re community watersheds.
Solidarity hunger strike starts August 12 outside government buildings in Nelson in support of changes to forestry, ends August 24 after attack on fasters in the night
Ad in Nelson Daily News with over 800 signatures supporting arrestees and demanding protection for BC water.
Climax Creek road permit issued August 22
Sector Review process meeting August 26, SVWA clearly states how present process doesn't work and why we are not participating
Artists in the Valley donate over 20 pieces of art to support fundraiser for SVWA
Peace Village has approximately 25 people staying per night, lots of activities "Uncut Ricardo" showing of video and slides from blockades August 29.

September 1997

Bonanza Creek: road permit signed Sept 9; 80 people protest on road Application for blanket injunction not successful, but obtained for Bonanza. Injunction served Sept 24; injunction enforced Sept 30, 12 people arrested
"Forest, Water & Wisdom" Sept 13, educational fundraiser in Nelson
Sept 15, first cases go to court, rally of support for arrestees. Eloise Charet ends 55 day hunger strike and is released from prison. Later in week Richard Allin, Kim Marshall, Doug Smith, Shane Drucker, Jeff Crook, David & Jessie Herreshoff, Stan Rowe, Terry Lowrey receive 7 day suspended sentences.
Janet Bassingthwaite & Ka'an Muncaster arrive in Vancouver after walking over 700 km in "walk for water" since August 8
Friends of Slocan in Victoria stage rallies, protests, in support of watersheds
SFP files SLAPP suit for damages against VWS and individuals
Talk on Protecting Watersheds at Nelson Women's Centre, Sept l7 - Jennifer Yeow
Equinox benefit for SVWA Sept 20, $600 raised
First Perry Ridge LRUP meeting Sept 23, working on terms of reference.

October 1997

Sentencing continues in Nelson court: Matt Lowe & Andrea Lofquist are sentenced on criminal contempt to 21 and 14 days respectively. Jack Ross released after spending 71 days in prison, argues and loses a constitutional challenge to Perrys Ridge injunction, his next court date set for February 1998, along with Tom Prior, Dustin Cantel, Jennifer Clark, Stuart Parker & Bruce Carron. Eloise Charet & Andy Shadrack given 7 days suspended sentence
Bonanza Creek cutting permit signed October 31

November 1997

SVWA proposal "Resolving Water Conflicts in the Slocan Valley" made to Premier Clark and BC Cabinet November 10
Perry Ridge: walk of Perry Ridge road shows lots of concerns; buried stumps in road, sidecast material into wetlands, inadequate culverts, built within riparian zone of ephemeral creek.
Application to set aside Perry Ridge injunction heard November 10-14 and was successful. Justice Parrett stated reports government referred to did not all support government position, they failed to provide reports on stability problems in Perry Ridge, and water was not only concern of applicants.
PRWUA decides not to participate further in LRUP until detailed studies are done, requests that MoF suspend LRUP also until studies are done
Court case November 27 & 28 requesting that New Denver Flats injunction be set aside, judgement reserved.
12 Bonanza Creek arrestees appear in court, next court date January 1998
Bodo von Schilling from Forest Practices Board comes to Valley to review his proposed report on IWAP process
Silverton Creek cutting permit signed end of November
Hasty Creek cutting permit signed November 27

December 1997