PRWUA Newsletter March, 1999

MANY STUDIES - MANY HAZARDS

Numerous reports and studies indicate that Perry Ridge is inherently unstable. Risk assessment shows that logging will increase the risk.

The Slocan Valley Geological Hazards Report by Apex Geoscience Consultants Ltd. identifies "the primary concern in this study is the terrain instability associated with... clay (that) is particularly sensitive to ground water saturation and disturbance."

The S. Chatwin Geoscience Draft Report surveyed 14 stream channels and identified 4 hazard types. Many of these were rated as high. The report stated that each of these hazards "could possibly lead to debris flows in the channels by increasing water flow, increasing sediment supply and storage or by mobilising previously stored sediment in the channels."

The most recent report by the Ministry of Forests' Technical Review Panel is the Perry Ridge Risk Assessment which was done for the east side of Perry Ridge and gave only a general assessment on the west side of Perry Ridge. There are residences and a main travel route on the west side and the people who live there requested the west side be included in this risk assessment.

The panel has identified that 8 of the 32 hydrological units have moderate risks. Moderate risk may include serious injury to a person, several occurrences of minor injury; destruction of a single residence, commercial building, public roads, utilities, or agricultural land; or destruction of a single water intake/system, serious damage to multiple intakes/systems, or high water turbidity.
Even low risk is described as: "Destruction of private roads, out-buildings; or serious damage to single residence or commercial building, outbuildings, public roads, utilities, agricultural land; or minor damage to multiple residences or commercial buildings." also "Serious damage to single intake or distribution water systems."

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"...In summary, I would recommend against any road building or logging activity on Perry Ridge." J. Allen Issaccson - world renowned Hydrologist

"16 of the 32 hydrologic units either have existing "High" or "Very High" risks to life and limb, property or water supply, or are anticipated to have "High" or "Very High" risks after logging." LRUP Technical Review Panel (D. Boyer, Water Management Branch, P. Jordan, Ministry of Forests, D. VanDine, Geotechnical Engineer)

Many of the landslides within the Kootenays that have occurred within 10 years of being cut, even on land assessed as having a low risk of landslides. What does this tell us about areas of high and very high? The logging industry in the Kootenays has a poor record of debris torrents and landslides generated by clearcut logging and its associated roads on more stable terrain than what is identified on Perry Ridge.

The facts and science speak for themselves. What right does the industry and government have planning logging that puts our lives, homes, property, water and travel corridors at risk? This is not a campaign for or against logging. It is not a campaign about political parties. It is not about "us and them". It is about the safety of our families, our homes, our water supply -and our travel corridors. Let the government know we do not accept these risks.

Who is Hydrologist J. Allen Issacson?

Allen Isaacson, the independent hydrologist who has studied Perry Ridge and other watersheds in the Slocan Valley is a graduate of the University of Idaho and has completed requirements for Masters in Aquatic Ecology 1998 and a Bachelor of Science - Forest Management from Washington State University. He teaches short courses for various state agencies, U.S. Government agencies, environmental organisations, foundations and privately funded organisations. He is a Water Resource Instructor at Spokane Community College. This is a full time tenured teaching position teaching college level classes. Prior to his teaching career Mr. Isaacson worked for the U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Panhandle National Forests as a Supervisory Hydrologist.

Mr. Isaacson is the recipient of several honours and awards:

The Burlington Northern Foundation, Faculty Achievement Award, 1990
NISOD-University of Texas Excellence in Teaching Award, 1998
Selkirk-Priest Basin "Professional of the Year Award", 1992
Numerous cash awards U.S. Forest Service, 1966-1986

Mr. Isaacson has published several works relating to hydrology.

Hydrology Part II USDA Forest Service, Region One, Missoula, MT. (Edited and team member of regional hydrologists group effort (1975);
The Effects of Timber Harvest on the Quantity and Quality of Stream Flow, University of Washington Press, Seattle, WA (1986)
Rocky Mountain Challenge: The Fish are Seeing Red. Association of Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (1994) to name a few.

Mr. Isaacson has also taken part in 'Television Specials:

Roads to Nowhere (KREM Television, Spokane, WA 1987
Critical Habitat (Public Broadcasting System, Seattle, WA 1994)
Outdoor Idaho, "Forest Health" (Idaho Public Television, Boise, ID (1994)

Perry Ridge Water Users Association has a great deal of respect for the hydrology work Mr. Isaacson has completed for the community of the Slocan Valley. Mr. Isaacson has seen major flooding, landslides and erosion problems stemming from logging on more stable slopes than the ridge. His warnings against road building and logging on Perry Ridge are based on a lifetime of work, education and first hand field knowledge of hydrology.

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SEEKING
ANY RESIDENTS AND OR PROPERTY OWNERS LOCATED IN THE SLOCAN OR LITTLE SLOCAN RIVER VALLEYS,FROM SLOCAN CITY TO VALLEY WHO HAS SUFFERRED WATER OR EROSION DAMAGE TO THEIR PROPERTY.
PLEASE WRITE TO

G10 C2 RR1 WINLAW BC VOG 2J0.

ALL ENQUIRIES WILL BE HELD IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE.

We rely on community input, please send more:
Letters from Home:

Muffin's View

I live at the base of Jerome Creek and it is common knowledge that my property and home are sitting in a high risk area. I have already suffered property damage resulting from underground water originating on Perry Ridge. The assessed value of my land has been cut in half by the government. My pastures are unsafe for my horses. There are air tunnels that fill with water underlying my entire property; these are FACTS.

Expert hydrologists have told me that the removal of any trees or the building of any roads above me will increase my risk. Dwain Boyer told me I was considered a "socially acceptable risk" because I'm only one home. Corky Evans told me he would not stop the logging to save my home because the temporary jobs created were more important than my home. The LRUP table then adds insult to injury by going private just when they are at the most critical decision making point.

There is no division within this community. We are united in wanting to protect our homes and water. The few self appointed people at the LRUP table have divided themselves from our community. Would any of you trade houses with me, knowing what the experts have told you about the fragility of the whole ridge?

We all depend on clean water. If the ridge is logged our water will be contaminated. Water is one of the most important resources of the future. We would be fools to throw ours away so a few can profit.

Muffin Benedict

What Happened at Austin & Sharrons' Place?

October 4th 1996, my property was impacted by a rotational slump that dropped 18 inches a day for 7 days. Although the house did not slide into the river, the back third of it was severely undercut and left hanging. As a result we were forced to evacuate on day 6 of the slump when the droppage was heading towards the 10-ft. mark. The house suffered extensive structural damage which resulted in the home being evaluated at less than $5,000: the salvage value of materials such as windows, doors and plumbing fixtures.

I keep hearing rumours in the community that I was well taken care of by the Provincial Emergency Program or private insurance - this is not so. The assistance that was finally obtained paid only a small fraction of the costs involved in moving the house and rebuilding things like: structural damage, water systems, drainage systems, and new electrical hookup. PEP assists with a percentage of the assessed value of the primary dwelling only. There is no insurance available in B.C. for landslide damage.

If it had not been for the help that we received from my good neighbours and friends we would not have been able to move back onto our property. The structures below my property have been permanently altered and may fail again - financially we have no choice but to live with that risk.

The land-slump failure is an indication of a disturbed balance in the very fragile clay layer and any up-stream disturbance of drainage patterns can have devastating consequences. To continue to plan development of Perry Ridge before all of the studies are done properly is foolish and dangerous. Those involved in the Perry Ridge U~UP are endangering the safety and security of their neighbours. I urge every homeowner living below Perry Ridge to become informed and active because it is your home that you may be protecting.

Austin & Sharron

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A Logger Speaks Out

I've worked in the forest industry for over twenty years and I feel the time has come to make some serious choices regarding the future of the Slocan Valley. We can no longer afford to give Slocan Forest Products a blank cheque on our resources. There isn't enough coming back into the valley to justify it. All we have left to log is our watersheds. This fact coupled with the farce called public process has prompted me to speak out on a few issues.

First off, I find it absolutely shameful that in this day and age we continue to allow SFP to operate a burner! I can't imagine how much wood has gone up in smoke over the last thirty-five years, not to mention the thousands of slash piles burned in the bush. The fact that SFP refuses to address the burner problem says to me that they are not here for the long haul. In five years time after we've sacrificed our creeks and allowed SFP to place our lives and property at risk, they'll pack up and head north.

Secondly, whatever is allowed on Perry Ridge will set the precedent for all future watershed logging. The only thing SFP puts back into the valley in return for the trees are a few jobs that they are always harping about! SFP is here to make profits, not create or sustain employment and would not make those profits without a highly skilled work force.

Thirdly, whether we like it or not, there is a multi-billion dollar ecotourism industry emerging in the Kootenays. If we miss out on it will be our loss. We seem to forget that we own the resources, not SFP! I am part of a growing number of people in this industry who are sick and tired of watching profits being funnelled out of the valley into SFP shareholders pocket, while nothing comes back into the community. I, and a lot of other people would rather bite the bullet now and make the necessary changes while there is something left here to save!

With less, but more skilled logging, some secondary processing, and tourism jobs our kids should be able to find work here instead of moving to Calgary. We can't afford big business any longer. There simply isn't enough to sustain this mill. We have to get more out of our wood than just lumber! As long as we continue to allow government and industry to drive wedges between us all they will be making the decisions concerning our futures, not us. SFP should be forced to pay their workers severance, clean up their mess and give us back our lake and valley.

Nick Trace

Dear Friends and Neighbours,

We are having a difficult time in our valley trying to resolve issues of land use with the government. Many of us who live on Perry Ridge are feeling frustrated or angry.

Solutions to our problems may be found through respect for our neighbours. Having understanding and compassion for one another is essential for us to live here comfortably together, and to build a positive community. When we express our points of view clearly in a context of mutual respect we are much more likely to be heard.

Philip Pedini

LRUP IN HIDING

The directors of the Perry Ridge Water Users Association have written a letter to David Zirnhelt, Minister of Forests, asking him to immediately halt the Perry Ridge Local Resource Use Planning table. In December 1997 the directors called for an end to the LRUP because, among other reasons:

The table is stacked with timber interests.
No person or organisation, including the Ministry of Forests, is legally liable or accountable for their actions.
The participants in the LRUP do not have expertise in forest ecology, forest hydrology, and the effects of timber management on water quality, quantity, and timing of flow, nor do the participants have expertise in evaluating ecologically sensitive terrain which is found throughout Perry Ridge

On February 8th, 1999 an attempt was made to videotape a regularly scheduled meeting of the LRUP. The table elected to close the meeting and hold further meetings behind closed doors. This is a violation of their own terms of reference. The section entitled Options for Involvement in the Perry Ridge LRUP, 3.2 states, "Observers may attend some or all meetings" and "The LRUP is a public process". Observers were not allowed to speak; now they are not allowed to speak, hear or see the LRUP deliberations. This is why the directors have once again asked the minister to immediately halt the LRUP process.

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