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April 27, 2001
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 27, 2001 Village of Burns Lake becomes NWC’s newest memberBurns Lake, B.C. – Shortly after opening the April 20 – 21, 2001 meeting of the Nechako Watershed Council (NWC) Mayor Paul Jean signed the Council’s Terms of Reference making the Village of Burns Lake the newest member organization of the NWC. This now brings total membership to 26 organizations. A key focus of the NWC is to work with various levels of government and other stakeholders to construct a water release facility (WRF) at Kenney Dam. This facility provides the best opportunity to enhance the Nechako watershed’s downstream environment. It would also create redevelopment opportunities along the Murray Cheslatta Lakes System, and could make hydroelectric generation at Kenney Dam possible. To ensure the continuity of its work on the recommendation of a WRF, the NWC has become involved in two other issues that have developed in the Nechako watershed. First, Henry Klassen and Kees Van Leeuwen have been appointed to the Action Planning Group of the Nechako River White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative. The work of the NWC to date will be very useful in identifying and providing feedback on the potential socio-economic and environmental implications of the Recovery Plan components being developed. Second, the NWC also continues to become educated on the proposed Tahtsa Narrows Dredging project by hearing from various interested parties. On behalf of the Ootsa Nechako Watershed Protection Committee, Gwendolyn Nicholas did a follow-up presentation to Rolf Hussinger’s March 9th presentation to the NWC, to reiterate for the Council the concerns that some area residents’ have with the proposed dredging of Tahtsa Narrows. Examples of these include loss of water quality, impact on wildlife and debris accumulation. The NWC was informed that the provincial and federal governments have established a public review process that will allow stakeholders to express their concerns. The NWC has also started discussions on exploring alternative solutions to dredging Tahtsa Narrows. Guests at this meeting included Harold Prince, Vice-tribal Chief of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, Richard Peters, Acting Chief for the Cheslatta Carrier First Nation, Ellen Petticrew, Independent Member of the Nechako Fisheries Conservation Program and Rolf Hussinger, area resident. The NWC has renewed its administrative service contract with Sabra McLain who can be contacted at (250) 567-6977 or www.nechakowatershedcouncil.com for copies of brochures and meeting information. For further information, please contact: Henry Klassen, Chair, 250-567-4254
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