Roundtable Report – Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Mission AreaJune. 2008

Submitted by Dave Smith:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Urbanization or the watershed, hardening of the lowlands, wetlands, loss of riparian habitat, impact on main stems and tributaries. Thornvale, Spenser

Storm water management issues – using our creeks and streams as storm water / surface water drainage systems for new developments.

Blue Mtn Forest Lands – Katzie + Kwantlen Community Forest and Woodlot Agreements with BC Min of Forests.Public input and meetings have been held.

These will impact Kanaka and the Alouette Rivers as well as the south side of Golden Ears Park / Alouette Lake.

Tourism, Sports + Arts Ministry will be working on the Blue Mtn. Recreational Strategy meetings in 2008 with rec stakeholders.

Vanc – Fraser Port Authority – proposed marine cargo / container docking, loading, unloading facility in Mission on farmland in the Silverdale wetlands. Jim Taylor and the Stave Valley Salmon Enhancement Society, Wetlands Patrol, Tom Cadieux, and Silverdale Community Assoc will keep us informed.

Golden Ears Bridge will be finished across the Fraser River summer of 2009.

Over 30 southwest BC proposed “in stream” Hydro projects – ie: Run of the River proposals. Will impact Pitt Lake and the upper Pitt Valley all the way to Squamish.

Run of River Power Inc. at http://www.runofriverpower.com/ Pitt River Power Cluster at http://www.runofriverpower.com/projects/pitt.shtml
Project description at [PDF] Upper Pitt River

KEEPS + the Bell – Irving Hatchery celebrated 25 years with Metro Vancouver partnership program.The annual Goodbye Chums event was held in April with over 500 people helping to release Chum Fry. Over 240 Chum have gone to other area watersheds and DFO – MauriceCoulter Boisvert + John Heaven will transport approx 200 Coho fry for Burnaby, Vancouver watersheds.

19 Salmon in the Classroom programs, 3 high school active in watershed testing, monitoring, data collection and documentation.

MAPLE Ridge District is looking into an “environmental Fund” from the newly created Industrial Park and the new Gravel / mining operation.

Loss of fishing – Commercial, Recreational + Aboriginal(worse every year).

Kanaka Watershed Stewardship Centre has an architectural landscape plan for our new facility - fund raising campaign thru Pacific Parklands Foundation.

Meetings for the Maple Ridge SEP Community Workshop 2009 are underway, this years’ theme is “ Sustaining the Spirit”. at http://workshop.pskf.ca/2007/ or for the upcoming 2009 http://workshop.pskf.ca/2009/ )  hosted on the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation website, www.pskf.ca under"what's new" category -

Thank you, Dave S.