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May 2006
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Watershed Council Explores Environmental Challenges Smithers,
B.C. (Monday May 15, 2005) Late last week the Nechako Watershed Council (NWC)
met in Smithers to focus on three complex and challenging environmental matters. On
Friday May 12th, in a presentation from Darryl Bokvist, Forest
Superintendant – Canfor, Vanderhoof area, the NWC learned of Canfor's efforts
to address the massive mountain pine beetle attack facing their operation in the
Vanderhoof area. The presentation
described the sustainable harvesting strategy being adopted, the novel way of
handling the wood, the precautions taken to ensure safety and reduce the
potential of wildfires in these attacked stands, and the novel effort to market
the "blue-stained" wood. The
comprehensive presentation demonstrated the creative manner in which a local
resource company is striving to remain sustainable in difficult times. Dan
Bouillon, (Alcan) - a member of the Nechako White Sturgeon Recovery Plan,
Techinal Team - reported to Council the recent success catching both male and
female mature adult Nechako sturgeon and tranferring them to a temporary
hatching facility. At this facility
, located in Prince George, efforts will be made to stimulate laying,
fertilizing and idealy the hatching of the sturgeon eggs.
If successful, the young sturgeon juvenile will be transferred back into
the Nechako at the same location in which they were caught. This will be the
first time Nechako Sturgeon will be reared in this manner and will provide
valuable information and expertise to develop a large scale program to protect
and conserve Nechako River White Sturgeon stocks. The
NWC also reviewed the progress of activities related to the Workplan for the
Cold Water Release Facility. Rod
Bell Irving - the Technical Advisor for the Workplan - reported that progress is
being made in gaining key environmental and regulatory information from the
provincial and federal government agencies involved in the eventual permitting
of this project. Efforts are
being focussed in the area of the Murray/Cheslatta Lake System and the
sedimentation and temperature consideration for future flows in the Nechako
Watershed after the construction of a cold water release facility.
For the 2006 field season, additional information will be collected on
the natural characteristics of the Nechako Reservoir as well as the
sedimentation limits related to the Nechako River. On
Saturday May 13th, a group of 12 NWC members boarded a helicopter to
take a birds eye view of the Huckleberry Mine operation located south of
Houston. The purpose of the day
long tour was to gain a better appreciation of Huckleberry’s plans to safely
release water from their effluent pond into the Nechako Reservoir.
During the tour, the NWC members did an aerial view of the operation and
then spent time on the ground looking at the facilities.
Environment Coordinator, Ron Robichaud, along with Kent Christensen, led
the tour and provided a comprehensive explanation of the process and safe guards
to carry out the necessary activities. Issues
like the conservation and protection of White Sturgeon stocks, addressing
challenges of the Mountian Pine Beetle, ensuring progress toward a cold water
release facility and understanding how resource companies like Huckleberry are
striving to be sustainable will continue to be the focus of the Nechako
Watershed Council. For
Information Contact: Henry
Klassen (Chair, Nechako Watershed Council (250)567-4254 |
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