Box 1322, Salmon Arm, B.C. V1E 4P5
Email: tamb@sunwave.net
PROTECT OUR WETLANDS
ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS
WA:TER opposes harmful alteration of wetlands and floodplain adjacent to the mouth of the Salmon River, for the following environmental reasons.
ONE - SALMON RIVER AND SHUSWAP LAKE WATER QUALITY WILL BE DEGRADED FURTHER.
TWO - FLOOD PATTERNS WILL CHANGE, WITH DIRECT IMPACTS ON NEIGHBOURING RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS RIVER AND FLOODPLAIN DYNAMICS.
THREE - CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEM WILL BE DESTROYED, AND AT-RISK SPECIES MAY BE FURTHER COMPROMISED:
RED LISTED - cottonwood ecosystem largely unprotected by riparian regulations, Western Grebe in their last nesting place in BC, western screech owl, Mexican mosquito fern;
BLUE LISTED - western painted turtle, American bittern, great blue heron, Dolly Varden trout ;
YELLOW LISTED - western toad;
FEDERAL JUDICIAL INQUIRY - the Pacific salmon collapse is under investigation.FOUR - THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IS AT ODDS WITH SALMON ARM'S OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN (OCP) ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES, AND COMMUNITY PRIORITIES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AS EXPRESSED IN THE OCP REVIEW SURVEY.
FIVE - DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SITE SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR FURTHER ENCROACHMENTS ON CRITICAL HABITAT AND WATERCOURSES. More than 80% of Canada's species at risk are endangered because of habitat loss. 90% of greater Okanagan wetlands have been drained, filled and otherwise ruined.
WORDS & VIDEO OF THE LATE DR. MARY THOMAS, NESKONLITH BAND ELDER
"I used to go down there and the trees were everywhere. Now there are only a few patches. If there is one thing I want to do, it is to save what is left. ... If enough people get together as "people" we can go far together. THAT is the message I give."
WHO IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFEGUARDING OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT?
When it comes to pro-active protection of wetlands, provincial and federal governments provide the framework, and municipal governments are required to make the decisions that will determine what legacy is left for future generations.
The Western Grebe is on the BC Ministry of Environment's red-list (considered extirpated, endangered or threatened). Salmon Arm Bay is BC's only remaining successful nesting site.
ENCOURAGE PROTECTION OF WETLANDS
A number of families who are dead-set against the filling in and destruction of wetlands have created a lawn sign that has found its way onto lawns and into windows all over town. To get yours ($20), stop by:ACORN MUSIC CASSSA OFFICE
(regular hours) (www.casssa.ca)
100% of the sign proceeds goes to support WA:TER's initiatives.
SITE QUICK LINKS ...
ACTIVE FLOODPLAIN SCIENCE
MOE REJECTS RAR REPORT
DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
RIPARIAN AREAS REGULATION
OTHER INITIATIVES & PROJECTS
ECOSYSTEM & WATER RESOURCES
COMMENTARIES
PROTECT WETLANDS SIGNS
DELTA SITE WALKS
WORDS OF DR. MARY THOMAS
MOE FINDS DEVELOPER'S 2009 RIPARIAN AREAS REGULATION REPORT INADEQUATE -
REVISED 2010 REPORT AND PLAN PENDING
On December 1, 2009, after receiving submissions and scientific data from WA:TER and others, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) commissioned an independent review of the Salmon River floodplain and wetland complex. The review found SmartCentres' mandatory Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR) assessment to be deficient. As a result, MOE referred the matter back to the developer to have their engineering firm address deficiencies. Reassessment focused on whether or not the proposed development site is active floodplain, and thus fish habitat. One of the indicators is regular flooding. SmartCentres' RAR report stated that the Salmon River does not overtop its banks (i.e flood). MOE's independent assessment found that the river does indeed overtop its banks, at least once every ten years. Because Riparian Areas Regulation designates one flood every five years as a definition of an active flooplain, MOE asked the developer to show whether or not this occurs. The one in five level, a complicated and expensive determination, was not part of MOE's assessment. The broader implementation of RAR, despite 87 pages of guidelines, is complicated and somewhat subjective.
The Salmon River delta has since been shown by WA:TER and others to flood more frequently than once every two years, and the developer has revised its environmental report and development proposal for a third time. Although expected soon, full details have not been released to the public, nor an application formally presented to Salmon Arm City Council.
Even with a fully implemented RAR, concerns remain regarding protection of endangered species and ecosystems, hydrological functions, and water quality. RAR relates to specific fish habitat only. No regulations are in place to protect other MOE designated endangered species. The ability of the Water Act to protect water quality and hydrological function in this context is limited.
For a detailed discussion of the active floodplain, please visit the "Delta" page.