Editor:
Elections signs are popping up along Highway 101 and two in particular supporting Al Holt for Sechlet mayor and Doug Wright for Sechelt councilor caught my attention. The banner on each sign reads: “Vote Water.” They call this the “silly season” and these signs are a classic example of this. T
he lack of water during the summer months extending into fall is a hot topic these candidates are trying to capitalize on by throwing out a one-liner.
I searched for their web sites to learn how they would address the water shortage issue, however didn’t find any. However, Mr. Holt was quoted in the Aug. 22 Coast Reporter stating: “Raise the [Chapman Lake] dam. That to me is a no-brainer, but all I hear over and over is that it’s in a park. Well, let’s look at how the park got formed – the park was formed to protect the water, not the other way around.”
This proposal by Holt is not even considered in the SCRD Comprehensive Regional Water Plan or as an Alternative Option and for good reason. The Chapman is an alpine lake with a full capacity of 680 million litres of water. If a dam (there’s only a small weir now at the outflow channel) was built or “raised” it would back up water and overflow the lake’s banks causing an environmental disaster.
In addition, the Tetrahedron Park was not created to protect the SCRD water supply, but to protect the ecological integrity of the area. The RD was drawing water from the Chapman long before the park was established. I’d caution voters to look out for these Johnny-come-lately types who want to address the water shortage issue by throwing their hats into the ring, but who are clearly misinformed on the issue.
We deserve SCRD board directors who have thought long and hard on this critical issue.
Ross Muirhead, Elphinstone Logging Focus
