Maps for each of the sub-drainages show old growth forest…

Shuswap Watershed Project
Media Release

The Shuswap Watershed Project has been continuing to work on tasks that improve understanding, appreciation and protection of the Shuswap watershed. Since the release of the groundbreaking map poster in March, 2010, the Project’s website, shuswapwatershed.ca, has been expanded and improved with the addition of many resources, including an educational handbook, images, the winning salmon and Shuswap songs and a section on history with archival documents.

Recently, a new set of maps was added that provide more details about each of the sub-drainages in the Shuswap watershed. There are 12 major sub-drainages within the watershed that range in size from the very small 21,000 hectare Wap Creek watershed to the very large 440,000 hectare Shuswap River watershed. In addition, there is a map of the smaller drainages surrounding Shuswap Lake.

‘These maps provide an invaluable resource for students, backcountry enthusiasts, researchers and anyone with a curiosity about our region’s geography,’ said Project leader, Jim Cooperman. Already one Salmon Arm Secondary teacher, Dave Ramsay, is excited about using these maps in the upcoming school year for his newly developed course on the Shuswap watershed.

For each of these watersheds, there are actually three map files available for downloading on the website. One is a topographic map that includes the water features. The other two maps use satellite coverage for the base and one is a PDF file that can be shared easily and the other is jpeg file that can be modified. All of the maps are designed to be printed in colour on 11 x 17 inch paper or viewed on a screen.

The colour maps show a key feature that until now has not been available for public viewing, all the old growth management areas (OGMAs), which range in size from a few hectares to hundreds of hectares. The designation of OGMAs is a key component of the province’s biodiversity protection plans, as old growth forests provide critically important habitat for many species that cannot survive in clearcuts and plantations. These old growth areas were chosen during the land use planning process over a decade ago and they are protected from logging and road building.

Perhaps the most familiar OGMA for Shuswap residents in the one in the Larch Hills that includes the well appreciated trails in the North Hub area that wind past the giant white pine, red cedar, Douglas fir and hemlock trees. Anyone that is interested in ecology or would like to visit an ancient forest to see what the Shuswap landscape looked like prior to the era of resource extraction can use the maps to locate these majestic, giant trees.

Another use for these sub-drainage maps designed by Silvatech Consulting would be for comparing one area with another. Some drainages, such as Celista Creek, Momich River/Cayenne Creek, Scotch Creek, Anstey River and Wap Creek are void of human habitation, while in others the communities are for the most part located adjacent to lakes or streams. The watershed that contains the largest population, Salmon River, is also the most modified, primarily from intensive agriculture, logging and cattle grazing.

The maps also show where there are extensive wetlands, alpine areas, clearcuts and plantations. The names for many of the smaller creeks are listed. It should be noted that there are many creeks and small lakes in the Shuswap watershed that are unnamed. This lack of names points to one interesting characteristic about our region, that except for forestry workers and occasional fisherman and hikers, few people ever venture into much of the backcountry.

The sky is the limit for what one can do with the jpeg images of the sub-drainages maps. On the screen, the images are sharp enough to allow one to zoom into any area of interest to view roads and individual parcels of private land. The jpegs can also be cropped to create new maps, which can then be further modified. Feedback about this new mapping initiative is welcome via the website. ‘We look forward to hearing from users of this new resource about different ways these maps can be utilized, added Cooperman.

For more information, contact:
Shuswap Watershed Project
www.shuswapwatershed.ca

The CSRD is seeking a court injunction to halt the development…

CSRD seeks court injunction
By Leah Blain
Salmon Arm Observer
June 21, 2011

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) is seeking a court injunction to stop any further work at West Beach Village in the North Shuswap until the landowner has obtained all necessary permits from the CSRD.
CSRD Chair Ron Oszust said they’ve exhausted other ways of working with the developer. ‘As with many situations, staff worked toward finding amenable solutions and sometimes we’re not able to come to that point and hence you move to the next stage or another process.’

Because of the legal action, Oszust was reluctant to get into details but said CSRD is ‘aware of activities on the site.’

North Shuswap director Denis Delisle said although staff have been ‘incredibly patient’ there have been ‘ongoing infractions’ and he would like some backup from other levels of government.

‘I’m hoping the federal and provincial agencies start doing their jobs and get involved technically and legally to help the CSRD make sure the development is done right.’

West Beach Village has been controversial from the beginning. Developer Mike Rink proposed the 218 residential unit and commercial facility in 2008 but local residents and environmentalists said a development of that size so near the Adams River would impact the world-renowned sockeye salmon run.

In 2009 Rink applied for development permits and was working within the parameters of zoning and official community plan bylaws.

That same year, however, the CSRD contemplated legal action after receiving a petition from residents asking them to stop the development. The residents said Rink was circumventing the zoning and subdivision rules by selling long-term RV leases and condo and home leases under the guise of camping and motel use.

The CSRD received legal advice not to pursue the matter.

In 2010 Rink faced a civil lawsuit from a group of five sub-contractors who claimed Rink never paid them for the work they did at the West Beach site in 2008 and 2009.

The five companies: Westend Shuswap Concrete and Gravel, Engel Electric, Highland Powerlines Ltd., L Coster Land Surveying and Rona Revy, were seeking over $500,000.

Commenting on the current direction to seek a court injunction, Oszust said although enforcement ‘can be a challenge’ the CSRD has a responsibility to the people to enforce regulations.

Delisle said despite patience, the developer is refusing to co-operate.

‘We felt we’ve given them every opportunity to deal with us,’ said Delisle, ‘and they haven’t.’

Concerns about flood hazard risks prompt need for court action…

By Tracy Hughes
Salmon Arm Observer
July 20, 2011

The Neskonlith Indian Band announced Wednesday they are initiating a legal challenge against the City of Salmon Arm’s issuance of a hazardous area development permit for the SmartCentres Shopping Centre.

In a press release, the band says despite repeated requests to establish a proper consultation process regarding their concerns about the proposed development, none was undertaken.

“The City of Salmon Arm refuses to acknowledge the constitutional obligations which passed to them when the province delegated the responsiblity for flooding risk assessment and we now unfortunately have to look to the courts to ensure that the city lives up to those obligations. We have therefore instructed our legal counsel to prepare the documents to file a challenge…” says Neskonlith Indian Band Chief Judy Wilson.

“As Secwepemc people, we hold aboriginal title and rights over our territory, which includes the Salmon River delta and floodplain. This critically important decision regarding our territory, which we are told by independent experts could have a tremendously negative impact on an area of extraordinary value to our people, was taken without any meaningful consultation with us. We will not sit idly by and allow this to occur,” she adds.

When contacted by the Observer late Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Marty Bootsma said he was unaware of the band’s statement, but said he was not surprised the band would challenge the city in court.

“That kind of talk, it’s always been out there. We’ll just have to wait and see where it goes from here.”

In the wake of reports by Stantec, an engineering firm hired by SmartCentres to report on flood risks for the proposed shopping centre site, the band retained their own expert who disagreed with Stantec’s view that there would be no measurable increase in the current flood hazard risk to adjacent properties from the development. The Neskonlith lands are directly beside the SmartCentres site, which are all part of the Salmon River delta area.

The band retained Michael Church, an engineer and professor who specializes in natural stream channel design, and Nancy Turner, a professor and ethnobotanist, who were of the opinion that further studies were needed to understand the potential impacts to the reserve lands.

“Professor Church is of the view that the development will flood in the near future and there is a pressing need to study the potential impacts of resulting flood mitigation measures. We can not allow such careless planning about an area of such importance to go unchallenged,” said Wilson.

There is no indication as to when the band’s lawyers intend to officially file suit.

Salmon Arm counsel votes yes despite concerns over flood risks…

Centre gets city approval
By Lachlan Labere
Salmon Arm Observer
July 13, 2011

An outpouring from academia failed to keep Salmon Arm council from approving a development permit relating to flood risk on the proposed SmartCentres property.

Council’s decision came Monday evening following two back-to-back public hearings that lasted four-and-a-half hours. The first hearing related to a development permit application that determines the form and character of the shopping centre development at the west end of town. The second hearing was for a Hazardous Areas Development Permit, which determines whether the site can safely be used for the intended purpose.

Council unanimously approved the first permit. The second, however, saw Couns. Ivan Idzan and Ken Jamieson opposed, and Couns. Alan Harrison, Kevin Flynn and Debbie Cannon, and Mayor Marty Bootsma, in favour.

City staff supported both permit applications and related variances, with conditions tied to each. These included a recent condition tied to the second permit, relating to new flooding information that could impact the northwest part of the property.

‘Over the last couple of weeks, the Ministry (of Environment) has received some additional information in the form of a formal complaint: and at this point in time, they are currently reviewing a portion of the property, said city development services director Corey Paiement. As part of that, the hope was that the ministry could make a determination prior to the hearing, but what they have determined was the applicant and their consultants will have to do some additional work to see if the Riparian Areas Regulation applies to that portion of the property, and if that portion of the property is an active flood plain or streamside protection enhancement area.

The condition requires the applicant to do any additional work determined necessary by the ministry.

SmartCentres site manager, Nathan Hildebrand, said hes met with the ministry to discuss the matter.

We are committed to go out and undertake further investigation, said Hildebrand. That may result in changes, that may not: If there are changes that need to be made and we arent able to construct, essentially the extension of 30th Street, our site plan can function without 30th Street.

The majority of the evening meeting was in the publics hands to voice their opinions on the two permit applications. While SmartCentres had its supporters in the audience, the podium belonged to those concerned or critical of the development.

First to speak for both hearings was Neskonlith Indian Band Chief Judy Wilson and Switzmalph Cultural Society president Bonnie Thomas. Wilson emphasized that, to date, the city has yet to engage in proper consultation with the band, and instead has communicated through letters, largely legal in nature. Thomas implored council to consider the rare species of plants and animals that currently reside on the subject property. Wilson and Thomas referenced two professional studies of the SmartCentres property that confirm the significant importance of the ethnobotany of the Salmon River Delta, and call for further study of the land.

Throughout both hearings, flooding data provided by SmartCentres contracted consulting engineer, Stantec, was challenged by professionals in the audience, including soils and vegetation specialist Alex Inselberg and professional engineer Calvin VanBuskirk, who suggested the city could avoid future flooding challenges with the creation of a channel that would run under the Trans-Canada Highway and along that northwest portion of the SmartCentres property.

We can run it through here, an open channel, and right back into the river and essentially have a massive reduction in flood hazard risk in Salmon Arm, said VanBuskirk, maintaining the channel would safeguard the town at a very nominal cost compared to cleaning up after a flood.

Along with the advice, council and the applicant received significant criticism. Diane Ambil expressed her disappointment with council not having consulted with the Neskonlith. Others, like Warren Bell, argued a flood plain risk analysis needs to be done before a spade is put in the ground.

With the quality and quantity of conflicting technical information, Coun. Ivan Idzan said he would not support the permit application. Jamieson commended SmartCentres for their tenacity in working to make the project happen, but said what they are trying to do on the site is not what he wants to see happen.

Coun. Alan Harrison said he respected all the opinions provided but, in the end, his vote to support the permit was based on what he has seen at the site over the 40 or 50 visits hes made, along with the recent fly-over he and council made. Harrison said the development proposal represents compromise, with 48 of the 67-acre lot being preserved in its natural state. He described the 19 acres to be developed as harsh land, with a consistency like concrete.

Cannon agreed that city council and the Neskonlith band need to come to the table and discuss what a proper consultation looks like. However, she said she sees no problem with development proceeding on the SmartCentres property.

Hildebrand said construction could begin as soon as August, with completion expected in November 2012.