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Oct 27, 2000
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 27,2000 Nechako Watershed Council Reaches Milestone Smithers, B.C. – On October 20 and 21, 2000 the
Nechako Watershed Council (NWC) held a meeting in Smithers, B.C.
The NWC reached a milestone, at this meeting, by completing the intensive
work of evaluating each of its identified interests in the Nechako Watershed and
building consensus on how each one relates to the Nechako River’s volume and
timing of water flows, fluctuation of water levels and whether or not it is a
consumptive use. Alcan reaffirmed its commitment to work with the NWC to
develop a flow regime that will take into account all interests of the Nechako
Watershed. “As we move towards our next report to the Nechako
Environmental Enhancement Management Committee, the work completed at this
meeting, will provide strong support for our recommendation that the Nechako
Environmental Enhancement Fund should be used to build a water release facility
at Kenney Dam", said Henry Klassen, Chair, NWC.
(The Nechako Environmental Enhancement Fund was established in 1997 as
part of the BC - Alcan Agreement and is intended to finance projects that will
enhance the Nechako Watershed environment.) The next step is determining the best way to reallocate
water flows in the Nechako River to develop a flow regime that incorporates all
identified interests. Ronald Ptolemy and Don Cadden with BC Fisheries presented
to the NWC the work being done to create the optimum adaptive management
strategy with regard to fish flow requirements for resident fish in the Nechako
River, with a focus on white sturgeon. Two
key goals have been identified in evaluating fish species: the ecological
sustainability of fish species and no-loss of fish species.
If a fish species is at risk for either goal, a management strategy will
be created. The Southside Economic Development Association tabled a
draft report on the potential economic value of tourism and other benefits
associated with the restoration of natural water flows in the Cheslatta
watershed. The study identifies the
most probable opportunities available to promote the renewal of Cheslatta
society, culture and spirituality as well as increased tourism, increased food
fish harvests, reduced erosion damage and increased water quality for residents
of the Southside particularly on the Murray-Cheslatta Lakes system.
The construction of a water release facility at Kenney Dam will assist in
providing the consistent year to year flow in the Cheslatta River that is
desired to assist in the economic redevelopment and environmental enhancement of
the area. The NWC will send a delegation of 10 people to the upcoming
State-of-the-Fraser Basin Conference 2000 to be held in Richmond, B.C. on
November 24 and 25. This conference
will focus on the importance of measuring progress through sustainability
indicators and the information and insight obtained will be invaluable to the
NWC as it continues to work towards resolving long outstanding conflicts along
the Nechako River. The next meeting of the NWC will be held on November 17 and
18, 2000 in Burns Lake, B.C. For further information, please contact: Henry Klassen 250-567-4254
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