A private parcel of land that has been partially harvested by AJB Logging in the Chapman Creek watershed is causing erosion and sediment issues in the creek, and while the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has registered their concern, no further action can be taken until the problem impacts the drinking water supply.
“We are monitoring for drinking water impacts, and unfortunately with the privately managed forest regulation, we can’t basically raise an issue until we demonstrate we have a detrimental effect to our drinking water quality,” said Bryan Shoji, general manager of infrastructure services at a Dec. 4 meeting.
The SCRD has already sent letters to AJB asking them to control the sediment and erosion, as has Vancouver Coastal Health.
While some additional erosion and sediment control measures were put in place by AJB in mid-November the fix was not adequate, according to the SCRD.
More correspondence asking AJB to fix the problem has not been responded to.
Director Ian Winn called the situation “very alarming” and said “it’s unfortunate we can’t take quicker action.”
Chair Garry Nohr noted the SCRD will “keep an eye on the situation.”
The private parcel that was logged earlier this year (logging was halted in October after public outcry) is identified as Block CH1; it’s about 120 metres from Chapman Creek at its closest point and approximately one km upstream of the water treatment plant intake.
Wildsafe money
Wildsafe B.C. may receive $3,000 more this year after directors moved to bring an increased funding request from the program to the first round of budget discussions.
WildsafeBC community coordinator Kim Drescher asked directors Dec. 4 for the increased amount to top up her budget to $5,500.
She said the program, formerly known as Bear Aware, has been very active this year with education and outreach and that the overall wildlife-related calls to the conservation office dropped from 853 in 2013 to 707 as of Oct. 22, 2014.
While the program seems to be making an impact, Drescher said the current budget allows for limited hours of work and those hours ran out the first week of November.
“It was disheartening because wildlife is active here all year round and this is the big season for bears,” Drescher said.
Money for ports
Directors unanimously agreed that the SCRD will transfer $55,000 from the Ports Capital Reserve into the operating budget to proceed with needed repairs on all SCRD dock cranes and the Halkett Bay dock.
Another $11,500 will be transferred to cover the expense of needed port inspections at docks in Halfmoon Bay and Hopkins Landing.
