On April 5, 2001, the Board received a complaint about the construction of the BC Gas southern crossing pipeline across Barclay Creek, near Fruitvale, BC. The complainant was concerned that pipeline construction activities during the summer and fall of 2000 disturbed Barclay Creek and seriously impacted his water supply. The complainant also asserted that government enforcement was inappropriate because government permitted BC Gas to disturb Barclay Creek in contravention of the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act. Finally, the complainant asserted that remediation activities had not been carried out.
Enforcement of Trespass on Salmon Arm Timber Sales
In May 1999, while considering a bid on a small-scale salvage licence near Three Valley Gap in the Salmon Arm Forest District, a salvage contractor (the complainant) observed signs of what he believed to be unauthorized timber harvest. He promptly reported a trespass to the forest district office. In June 1999, he complained to the Board that the response to his report was inappropriate. The Board did not investigate that complaint because the Comptroller General was carrying out an internal government audit of the district’s small business timber administration process. In November 1999, the complainant observed signs of what he beleived to be an unauthorized timber harvest near another block he was considering for a bid, this one near Anglemont. He made another trespass report to the district office. In September 2000, he filed a second complaint to the Board about both instances of trespass, and asserted that enforcement was inappropriate. The Board noted that the internal audit that might have resolved the complaint had still not been completed, so it decided to investigate.
Enforcement of Trespass on Salmon Arm Timber Sales
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
CLOSING LETTER: Slocan Valley Watershed Assessments
This letter constitutes the Board’s report of conclusions and reasons after an investigation into a complaint submitted by Slocan Valley Watershed Alliance on August 21, 1996. The complainant said that the Arrow Forest District had accepted and approved cutting permits and road building permits in at least ten consumptive use watersheds in the Slocan Valley. The complainant considered that to be inappropriate because water users had not been involved in planning and decision making through advisory committees in watershed assessments.
