Editor:
Regarding the Chapman Lake drawdown, the historical agreement grandfathered into the 1995 Tetrahedron Park designation must be weighed very carefully.
Yes, this lake has been the primary Sunshine Coast water source and thus has been captured in the outdated Park Master Plan. But some very critical changes have occurred since 1995. Not the least is the SCRD water plan incorporating Chapman Lake in providing all possible water for fisheries and Sunshine Coasters. Chapman Lake, a 0.3 sq. km lake, tucked up in the mountains at 970 metres, remains our principal supply. If each of you could understand this fragile ecosystem and how our fine water is provided and protected, the issue before us could be laid to rest, and $5 million would not be wasted. Simply, there is too little water to meet growing demands. But before we get there, there is a wakeup call for the SCRD. Temporary fixes such as metering, a backup reservoir, and wells will only work to postpone the inevitable. Too little too late is the summary. The SCRD has not adequately crunched the supply numbers and has scapegoated BC Parks. Attention to change is wholly lacking and the province bears some responsibility.
We may be lucky for a couple years, but without a doubt all those filing new building permits, tourists, and visitors will soon find a severe water shortage. Dipping into Chapman Lake another five metres will not solve the problem. The solution is a new second major source. Take your pick but the price will be high. We need new sourcing equivalent to duplicating the existing supply. It’s past time to expand our vision at least another 50 years! An election may help but the idea is crystal clear.
Al Jenkins, Sechelt
