1998
The Year in Review
January 1998
- Bonanza arrestees found guilty of criminal contempt and sentenced to 7 days, with sentence suspended
- SVWA received $4,000 from WCEL ERDF to research possible legal avenues; legal committee setup in conjunction with VWS
- Attorney General's application to appeal the overturning of Perry Ridge injunction denied by Courts
- Perry Ridge LRUP proceeding without PRWUA
- Logging continues at New Denver Flats and Bonanza Creek in spite of wet muddy road conditions
- Residents report from Sawan-Anderson-Goloff-Chou Watersheds prepared and presented to Brian Simpson
- Viewing of proposed woodlot for Winlaw held
- Friends of Slocan in Victoria raise $1,500 to assist with protection of watersheds in Valley
- Dwayne Boyer makes presentation at Perry Ridge LRUP that is supportive of Van dyne report's observation that studies should be done prior to development
- Al Isaacson & Craig Pettitt inspect Bonanza Creek roads and report they are very poorly built.
- Disturbance with water at Perepolkin Creek results in loss of water for residents
- Kenyon discovers arrests made on private land; appeal and also counter suit seeking damages for those arrested filed
- Letter received from Zirnhelt re our November 1997 Proposal for Negotiated Settlement; he refuses to meet with us or other sectors of community
- Major landslide from Anderson Creek, across and over Elliot FS road layout and into trout pond
- MELP no longer involved with our water monitoring program, now handled directly through FRBC
- Gala Art Soiree a huge success, over $11,000 raised and many wonderful pieces of art were happily taken home
- Legal fund established with $4,500 from Art Soiree, $1,500 from Friends of Slocan Victoria; $1,000 from PRWUA, $1,000 from RMRA & $500 from EACT
- Organizing for Confluence Centre progressing, $5,000 raised
- Jennifer gives presentation at Columbia Basin Trust Conference
- Application made to WCEL ERDF for further legal funding
- Cedar Tree group makes 2nd annual presentation at Victoria; theatre piece in front of legislature, slide show and parade
- SVWA holds press release re leaked Ministry of Environment poll which shows public support for protection of water, even if it means loss of jobs
- Herb and Al Isaacson give presentation at Perry Ridge LRUP
- RDCK pulls out from funding hazard terrain study for Valley
- Grant approved for $15,000 from WCEL ERDF for expert studies and legal fees
- Jennifer attends meeting on changes to Forest Practices Code; whole process cut back with licensees required to do less and less opportunity for public input
- Al Isaacson & Dean Berg complete field trips for Bonanza, Red Mountain, Perry Ridge, EACT
- Winlaw Woodlot awarded to Bernie Clover & Tom Bradley
- TFL # AAC increased from 65,000 to 80,000 cm3 due to: cutting younger trees; relaxed "green up"; access through "special harvesting techniques" to wood that used to be considered unsuitable
- MoF undertakes terrain hazard studies on private land in Perry Ridge
- SFP fined $345 for their performance at Bonanza Creek
- Land appraiser hired to prepare a report on private land at Harris Creek and Hasty Creek
- In Red Mountain hydrology report Al Isaacson states the probably negative impacts on water quality, quantity and timing of flow are too high to maintain the present location of proposed Road 200"
- Forest Practices Board report on our '96 complaint (District Manager's refusal to extend review period for FDP) states our request was reasonable, refusal of extension was not reasonable but DM complied with code
- EACT petition against SFP's plan to build road into watershed signed by 114 residents and presented to Brian Simpson
- Confluence Centre is unable to be opened up as insurance cannot be obtained for it
- 40 people stand on road at Perry Ridge to block equipment sent to extend logging road.
- 7 cutblocks completed at New Denver Flats, sensitive watershed of Harris Creek is entered into
- MoF, PRWUA & VWS negotiate MOU on how downed timber is to be removed at Perry Ridge
- Goat Mountain Water-Users Association formed and joins SVWA
- SVWA partners with Canadian Columbia River Inter-tribal Fisheries Commission and environmental groups on Fisheries Renewal BC Proposal for Columbia/Kootenay area; Jennifer to be our representative
- Application made to WCEL ERDF for funding to analyze SFP's ecosystem design and for field work in Trozzo watershed
- Ecosystem Based Planning poster prepared by Candace is completed
- Candace attends SFP's Ecosystem symposium and distributes copies of ESB poster
- Hasty Road Permit signed November 12
- Forest Practices Board report issued on RMRA complaint (MoF & MELP not designating them a community watershed). FPB stated regional manager acted reasonably in deferring the decision
- Funds received from WCEL ERDF for experts; Herb & Al to analyze SFP ecosystem design and Al to prepare hydrologyl study of Trozzo watershed
- Richard critiques new Community Watershed guidelines and submits comments to MELP
- Climax Creek permit signed December 9