A Large Aggregate Cutblock in the Heller Tranquille Creek Watersheds Northwest of Kamloops
This complaint was about a proposed cutblock located in the Deadman River and Tranquille River watersheds. The watersheds are approximately 50 kilometres northwest of Kamloops, in the Kamloops Forest District and within the area covered by the Kamloops Local Resource Management Plan (LRMP). In the 1980s, the Skeetchestn Indian Band (the complainant) voluntarily halted fishing in the Deadman River due to declining salmon stocks. The Band worked with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to inventory fish stocks, and established its own hatchery on the Deadman River. In 1990, heavy rainfall resulted in large flows within the river system that caused considerable damage to fish habitat along the Deadman River.
Public Review of a Forest Development Plan in the Salmon Arm Forest District
This complaint is about the opportunity for public review and comment for the 1998 – 2003 forest development plan (FDP) for the Small Business Forest Enterprise Program of the Salmon Arm Forest District.
The complainant believes that public consultation was inadequate because he did not know that the Ministry of Forests planned to harvest 11 cutblocks in the Blind Bay area until May 2000, even though the cutblocks were approved as part of the 1998 FDP. In addition, the complainant believes that the newspaper advertisements for the public review of the FDP were inadequate because they misleadingly indicated that development was planned in the White Lake area, when in reality it was planned for the Blind Bay area.
Forest Practices and the Hummingbird Creek Debris Flow
In July 1997 there was heavy rain in the Salmon Arm area. The cumulative precipitation over a nine-month period was the highest recorded in 100 years. During a July 11 rainfall, a large debris flow impacted properties at Swansea Point, a residential area of approximately 150 homes. The debris flow blocked Highway 97A, about 10 kilometres south of Sicamous, and flowed into Mara Lake. It directly impacted homes and structures on several properties resulting in two buildings being destroyed. Debris and changes in groundwater also impacted residential septic fields and water wells at Swansea Point. Extensive scouring and erosion occurred along Swansea Point Road. The debris flow was the largest non-volcanic debris flow recorded in the province.
A Large Aggregate Cutblock in the Heller Tranquille Creek Watersheds Northwest of Kamloops
Public Review of a Forest Development Plan in the Salmon Arm Forest District
Forest Practices and the Hummingbird Creek Debris Flow
Enforcing the Code on Range Land in Oliver, BC
On September 25, 2000, the Board received a complaint from an Oliver resident. The complainant lives on White Lake road, a paved rural road that passes through Crown range land in the Penticton Forest District. The complainant stated that a local rancher repeatedly allowed his cattle to graze on Crown land without authorization, and that due to a lack of fence maintenance, the cattle frequently escaped from the range onto White Lake road, posing a safety hazard to motorists. The complaint is not about the rancher, but rather the Ministry of Forests (MOF). The complainant considers that ministry enforcement efforts have been inappropriate because, despite the ministry’s actions, the cattle continue to graze on Crown range without authorization.
