Hi everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful week as we were blessed with some precipitation and milder temperatures. Our gardens, trees and lakes sure needed it as we move closer to warm, dry weather. Speaking of water, SCRD water conservation regulations state that Stage 1 will begin on May 1. The SCRD advises that the various stages of regulations are in place from May 1 until Sept. 30 in order to conserve water and meet high demand during the hot and dry summer. We will move up to higher stages during the next few months, if and when deemed necessary, based on regular monitoring of the water supply. Let’s hope we get a little help from Mother Nature during the summer, so our water supply will not be so strained and restricted. For more information go to scrd.ca./Sprinkling-Regulations.
Broom Busters in Halfmoon Bay are currently working on their plan to battle the Scotch broom over the next two weeks. Volunteers will be working in the Welcome Woods area as well as along Redrooffs Road. The forest industry views Scotch broom as a major reason for the decline of Pacific Northwest species, and BC Hydro views it as a serious fire hazard under power lines. Fire risk is quite high in the hot dry summer, when the oily, dried-out broom plants may become excellent fuel. Closer to home, on or near your property the fire risk is also quite a concern. The Broom Busters volunteers work very hard to help Halfmoon Bay residents combat this invasive plant and are always looking for new recruits. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please send an email to marybeth@telus.net. If you remove broom on your property, leave your harvest (broom only please!) in a pile on the roadside and a volunteer will pick it up. HMB Fire Chief Ryan Daley will arrange a site suitable to burn the collected broom later in the fall.
BC Parks recently provided some statistics of visitor numbers at Sargeant Bay and Smuggler Cove Parks. The Sargeant Bay Society shared some of this information with their members. SBS president Rand Rudland noted that, “I think we all recognize how popular these two parks are for both our local residents and visitors alike, but without numbers it is a bit difficult to define.” Over the last four years, BC Parks has monitored access points at two of the most popular entrances to each park. There is a light counter located at the main access point to Smuggler Cove Park trail while Sargeant Bay Park has a “car counter” located at the road entrance. Although this is an estimate, the numbers show that Smuggler Cove is very popular in the summer months, reaching almost 7,000 visitors, while Sargeant Bay numbers show close to 4,000 visitors. Sargeant Bay numbers are difficult to gather accurately as many visitors enter on foot and from other access points to the park. Those of us who visit these parks on a regular basis have noticed an increase in usage and hope that all who visit will be respectful of the flora and fauna and continue to appreciate all who maintain these incredible parks. Thank-you to the Sargeant Bay Society and all who volunteer to help preserve these natural accessible places for us to enjoy!
Be safe, be gentle, and always be kind.
Have your “Say at the Bay,” please contact me before 5 p.m. on Mondays. cindy.kisser@telus.net.
