The Burnco proposed Gravel Pit in How Sound          Jan 2018

For a long time many concerned citizens backed by Local Environmental Groups have been protesting a proposed Gravel Extraction Facility at McNab  Creek on the west side of Howe Sound.

This is where there is a small Estuary, formed by the local creek which runs into the Sound.

A large variety of shore life and sub-tidal organisms will be affected. This article which has been forwarded to me gives more background information:

Federal Approval Next Step for Howe Sound Gravel Pit

Thu Jan 25, 2018 1:04pm

184.71.160.114

Federal Approval Next Step for Howe Sound Gravel Pit

Public Comment for Burnco Aggregate Mine Project open til Jan. 26

By Eric Thompson

https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler/federal-approval-next-step-for-howe-sound-gravel-pit/Content?oid=6625848

PHOTO SUBMITTED - Gravel pit The Canadian Environmental Assessment is accepting public input on the proposed Burnco Aggregate Mine Project

GRAVEL PIT The Canadian Environmental Assessment is accepting public input on the proposed Burnco Aggregate Mine Project

The federal environmental assessment of the proposed Burnco Aggregate Mine Project is nearly complete, meaning after years of public debate, the Howe Sound gravel pit is closer to a conclusion, one way or the other.

The public comment period on the comprehensive study report released by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) runs until Jan. 26. Originally slated to go until Jan. 22, the CEAA extended the comment period after a technical issue limited people's ability to provide comments or access the registry website around New Year's.

Burnco's proposal is for the construction of a sand and gravel mine located at McNab Creek, approximately 22 kilometres southwest of Squamish. The mine's production capacity would be up to 1.6 million tonnes of sand and gravel per year, and is expected to be in operation for around 16 years.

The CEAA's comprehensive study concludes — after considering Burnco's mitigation measures and proposed conditions by the BC Environmental Assessment Office — that the project "is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effect."

However, there is disagreement on these findings. Ruth Simons, executive director of the Future of Howe Sound Society, has a number of issues with how the study was conducted, for example, how they measured potential noise impact on residents and wildlife.

"Being a valley, the sound will reverberate off the mountains and travel across the water," said Simons. "We really do not agree with the way the studies were done. The only standards that they based the assessment on were B.C. Oil and Gas regulations and Health Canada. There are no regulations that are relevant to this type of geography, there's only industrial-based or WorkSafe noise regulations. So I think the reason they end up at these conclusions is because there's not relevant regulations in place to protect pristine, quiet areas."

Along with noise, the biggest public concerns have been over water quality, and what potential affects the project could have on the estuary. Howe Sound has only recently recovered from years of pollution from the Britannia Mine, and it still has some locals on edge.

"Now that the acid rock drainage is being neutralized, we've seen a resurgence of the ecosystem of Howe Sound," said Ken Melamed, Green Party president. "People are celebrating the returns of orcas, dolphins, herring are spawning in greater numbers. We're seeing a revival as a result of, not just de-industrialization, but the active remediation that's been going on. People are really excited about that, and those same people are very concerned about re-industrialization, if you will."

In their proposal, Burnco has been trying to design against potential environmental problems, or putting in remediation to compensate some other way, like the construction of 4,034 square metres of in-stream habitat.

"I'm confident that we've put forward a really strong application. It's up to regulators now to decide if it's in the best interest of the province," said Derek Holmes, Land and Resource Manager for Burnco BC.

As of Jan. 15, the CEAA has received 26 comments from the public and Indigenous groups as part of the comment period.

Following this final public comment period, Catherine McKenna, the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, will consider the report, along with all the comments received and decide whether the project should go ahead as currently constituted.

Though CEAA approval would be a significant step, it wouldn't be the final hurdle for Burnco to break ground in McNab Creek. If granted, the project will then be referred back to Fisheries and Oceans Canada for authorization. The project will also require re-zoning by the Sunshine Coast Regional District.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will then be accountable for ensuring any necessary follow-up and monitoring programs are implemented, so that will play a factor in their review. Simons and Melamed both expressed skepticism over the company following through on proposed clean-up once it gets approval, but Burnco said its reputation is on the line.

"It really comes down to the nature of resource extraction. Our company — which is a Canadian company — has been in business for over 100 years, and it's no mistake that you stay in business by doing what you say you're going to do. Gravel being non-renewable; it needs to be replaced. So this won't be the last project we look to do in the province, and you're really judged by the track record you have on previous projects. I think that your track record stands for itself," said Holmes.

Even still, Simons and the Future of Howe Sound Society plan to keep fighting the project. If necessary, they will send letters to Fisheries and Oceans and engage in the re-zoning applications. Simons is also leading an initiative to get Howe Sound designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve, which would mean a greater focus on sustainable development.

Added Melamed: "Howe Sound is a very special Canadian fjord. We don't have many, especially in such proximity to a major population centre. There's a lot of industrial and development pressures around an area that's so close to Vancouver, so it requires an extra level of diligence in assessing the merits of these various proposals."

_____________________________________

So now the latest development:

The March 5 weekly newsletter for our 1st. Nations band members led with this message:

“Dear Squamish People

“On March 1, the Coast Reporter published a story confirming Squamish Nation’s ‘approval’ of the Burnco Aggregate Mine Project at McNab Creek in the Howe Sound without providing the details of the agreement or process. We sincerely regret not informing you about Squamish Nation Council’s position on the project before it came out in the media. This project has been in negotiations before the new term of council was elected since 2010. We had a short window to make a decision due to timing of the provincial and federal process.”

The message goes on to explain that since the provincial and federal environmental assessments did not meet the Nation’s standards, council demanded to assess the project “from our unique perspective based on our inherent title and rights to the land and water.” Burnco agreed, and the Nation hired “independent environmental specialists” to review the project.

The result was a series of conditions that required Burnco to “enter into a legally binding agreement regarding ways to avoid, mitigate or accommodate impacts on our deer/elk, fish, and our access to practice Aboriginal rights; maintain current habitat for our deer and elk; [and] ensure water levels and quality are not affected and fish habitat is constructed. The Nation also won the right to override specific decision-making processes on the operations of the project.”

Council had voted in favour of the agreement two weeks earlier, the newsletter said, and it lists the seven Councillors who voted in favour, three who were opposed, two who abstained and four who were not present.

No details about possible resource-sharing were mentioned, but the next step will be to invite band members to two information meetings where council will “present to our people the terms and conditions we won on a confidential basis.”

So it turns out that while opponents of the Burnco project were focused on critiquing the flaws in the environmental assessment process, Squamish Nation was following a different track entirely, carrying out its own review with its own experts.

As with Woodfibre LNG, the Nation’s leaders can go back to their members and say their assessment, conditions and enforcement tools are more robust and authentic than Victoria’s or Ottawa’s, and that tangible benefits for the community are part of the deal. And as with Woodfibre LNG, both senior governments will likely green-light the project now that the company has obtained First Nation consent.

Last month in Ottawa, in her first speech since she stepped down as B.C. Liberal leader, former premier Christy Clark told a gathering of conservatives that Indigenous communities “are the single most important piece” in the pipeline equation. “If we want to get our resources out to market, we have some incredibly powerful voices on our side,” she said. “So, let’s fight with them.”

It’s an insight that applies across the board in debates over resource extraction. The side that works with Indigenous communities is increasingly the side that wins.

Wild Salmon and Fish Lice Re. Open Net Fish Farming

                                                   Our Wild Salmon and Fish Lice                 January 2018

Over several years there has been much discussion regarding the effect of open net Fish Farming of Salmon on our BC Coasts. It has long been suggested that there is a very real relationship between salmon farming and disease caused by the industry. One particular disease is the devastation apparently caused by Sea lice.
Pressure groups have long been lobbying the Federal Government and our own Provincial Government to step in and address this problem. There has been considerable resistance to this for some time. Here is an open letter from a Mr. Noel Murphy which offers  considerable  weight to the issue, Perhaps we can now move forward:

OPEN LETTER TO ANGLERS, CONSERVATIONISTS, AND CONCERNED CITIZENS

Most of you are aware of the steady decline of our salmon stocks in recent years. While some natural causes are partly responsible, man-made open-pen fish farms are suspected of having the greatest single impact to the decline of our fisheries. The following examples are noteworthy:

• Global Warming - Dry summers result in extremely long spells of low water-levels in the rivers and creeks. This makes it challenging for juvenile salmon trying to survive under these adverse conditions. • Questionable management of our fisheries, at the Provincial level. • Relaxed enforcement of Fishing Regulations. • Foreign owned pen-net fish-farms, many in critical areas of our coastal waters.

While some issues are more difficult than others to correct, what we really need is a genuine and concerted effort on the part of DFO to address our concerns. This department should assume responsibility and be required to provide accountability and transparency.

I suggest to DFO that they take a look at other North American management policies, and compare them to our own. The Alaskan Fisheries Program is a recommended model and worth reviewing.

Of the many issues impacting our salmon, the greatest danger by far (in my opinion) is posed by open-net fish farms. Primarily Norwegian owned, this farming concept has quite a reputation for decimating local wild fisheries wherever their fish farms have been implemented. Their unfavourable history is well recorded and documented. Originating in Europe, the wild salmon fishery in Norway has been decimated. Coastal inlets in Ireland that harboured fish farms, lost their runs of salmon and sea trout, while estuaries free of fish farms were less affected. Scotland’s salmon fisheries suffered tremendous losses, with the blame placed directly on the open-net fish farms.

Why are we in British Columbia allowing the risk of having our irreplaceable wild stocks wiped out? Replacing our salmon stocks is not as simple as building more hatcheries and producing more fish. Specific gene pools are irreplaceable. Gene pool diversity in the salmon populations are critical to the species survival. We have lost some genetic strains in the past; the Fulford Creek run of Coho salmon in Salt Spring Island for one. This unique run of fish was wiped out in the 1980’S, a prime example of mismanagement.

Why is DFO so protective of fish farms? Fish farms and wild salmon are in direct conflict. There is an old Hebrew (biblical) expression, “you cannot serve God and Mammon (money)”. Neither can DFO claim to serve the interests of the wild salmon, while protecting the interests of



Marine Harvest and other fish farms related activities. These are strictly business people, concerned only with their “bottom line”, and protecting the interests of their shareholders.  What about the rights of our indigenous people? Their future access to fish for both food and ceremonial purposes appears to be threatened. Where is DFO’S responsibility to ensure that this does not happen? Surely you are not telling them to “Buy Farm Fish!”   Why is DFO preventing the scrutiny of Peer Reviews surrounding the testing for HSMI’s? PEER REVIEWS SHOULD BE OPEN TO SCRUTINY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. TRANSPARENCY IS ALSO REQUIRED. An independent review of this policy is warranted.

We in the sports fishing industry contribute significantly to our provincial economy and should not be dismissed so easily. We are also concerned for the future of our native salmon. Neither should our efforts towards conservation and environmental causes be under estimated. For too long we have had no lobbying power, and therefore we have no voice in matters that affect us. The decimation to our wild fish, resulting from the irresponsible activities of the fish farming industry is far-reaching. Fish farming impacts the livelihood of our industry professionals, (sports fishing shops, charter boat owners, guides etc.) A common aftermath, caused by an industry with a horrific reputation for fish and habitat decimation on a worldly scale and very little credibility.

Marine Harvest is a foreign conglomerate that appears to have very little regard for others, including the people of this province. Their disregard for our wild salmon goes without saying. Now it is up to us to protect our fish and our waters; they are our children’s inheritance.  I personally have lost confidence in DFO’S ability to protect or manage our fishery, I assure you that the same opinion is widely held throughout the sports fishing industry. Perhaps we are expecting too much from a reformed Commercial Fisheries lobby group!

We cannot let our salmon disappear like the cod fish in Eastern Canada, I feel that we are very close to that right now. Removing the open-net fish farms, would (in my opinion) be a step in the right direction. A dedicated fish management/protection department, with substantial input from the sports fishing industry, should be considered. Listen to Joni Mitchell’s song: “YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’VE GOT ‘TILL IT’S GONE.”

Most of us anglers are conservationists and release most of our catch. We are also stream keepers, and are witnesses, first hand, to the dramatically reduced salmon returns to our spawning streams. It is time to for change, while there are still some salmon left to preserve and protect.

Of the many critics and testimonials relating to the state of our salmon fishery and related issues, I refer you to the following links:

http://salmonfarms.advokit.ca




http://mailchi.mp/watershed-watch/salmon-news-weekly-salmon-media-round-up-jan-32018?e=2796db5f76

Part One: http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?id=198175;article=10231 Part Two: https://thetyee.ca/News/2018/01/11/DFO-Gut-Rules-Protecting-WildSalmon/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=110118

https://watershedsentinel.ca/articles/wild-salmon/

https://thetyee.ca/News/2017/12/14/Fish-Farms-Expose-Wild-Salmon-Deadly-Virus/


Please read all pertinent information and show your support for eliminating fish farms by writing to your local MLA, requesting the implementation of new regulations that will preserve and protect our salmon fisheries before it’s too late.

Regards,

Noel Murphy

Return!

Well I am now back after several years and will be posting here some nonsense as time goes by....Stay tuned.

The Waters of Howe Sound

What an inspiring sight it must have been for those sailors aboard the surveying ships of the last century as they edged into Howe Sound or numerous other coastal inlets. Many of their impressions have become part of official ship's logs. No doubt there would have been many stories to tell on their return home but unfortunately only of those scenes observed above the waves. But what of the mysteries below? Science fiction writers like Jules Verne had hinted at the possibilities of underwater exploration but only today can we see what wonders are indeed available to us with the help of technology such as SCUBA.

During my University years I was introduced to the environment beneath the surface and to this day I am still amazed at the diversity and formidable beauty that exists there for all who would venture forth. Whenever one wades in from a shore or rolls off the side of a boat there is a door which opens into a new and different world; a world with its own rules, needs and systems.

The cold waters of our Pacific Northwest are full of nutrients brought down by rivers laden with the essential minerals necessary for the growth of microscopic plant life which in turn provides the basis of the ocean food chains. Howe Sound is ,for example, a model for this process. This is reflected up and down our coast in every inlet that has rivers and streams running into it. In our own inlet light from the sun reaches through the shallows to nurture the plants and in every estuary a nursery of new life spills its rich bounty into the endless ebb and flow of the ocean.

Oh yes, oftentimes, a microscope is what is needed to appreciate these small beginnings but many of us find larger "beasties" more exciting. These we do have in Howe Sound, including some creatures of great beauty and size.

As the estuarine bottom life and swimming creatures merge into the bodies of the larger consumers further out in the Sound we see an increasing diversity of form and size which sets the stage for a showcase of underwater wonder. So let us at random visit some of these performers in our play beneath the waves.

Just a few tens of meters below the surface can be seen creatures that are not familiar to the shore explorer and a glimpse of them requires special equipment, both for sustained underwater breathing
and for insulation from our very very cool water. Most divers feel it a great privilege to be able to visit the domain of the largest species of octopus in the world or to play with six foot eels in front of their rocky dens.

As one would imagine, much of Howe Sound's bottom is covered with a thick layer of silt brought down by the river and might seem an unattractive place to pursue the sport of SCUBA diving but it is here that many fascinating creatures dwell. The new diver on his first lesson at Porteau cove may encounter the Dungeness crab which often graces our restaurant table but there are other more exotic forms to behold further out on the current swept rocky reefs and on the craggy spurs which project out from the shoreline. One of the richest spots are the Islands in the middle of the sound such as Pam rocks, Defense Islands and Cristie Islet. Here stalks the giant octopus which can reach a full eight metres span in a mere lifetime of four years. Though they are large and truly awe inspiring to encounter , they are gentle creatures and harmless to man. As a mollusk it is surprising that they have much intelligence. The proportion of their central nervous system to their body mass is the greatest of the animals without back bones. Both octopus and Squid have an ability to change colour in an instant to match their surroundings. It is interesting to note that this ability far surpasses the chameleon. It is also amazing that a mother octopus will guard her eggs in her den without feeding until all are hatched-she will then die of starvation.

Many of the smaller creatures of the reef are adept at camouflage and mimicry . One that particularly comes to mind is the decorator crab which collects pieces of seaweed and shell fragments to festoon his body in order to merge into the background, perhaps avoiding the marauding octopus or prowling rockfish. There are sea-slugs called Nudibranchs which show a variety of forms and demonstrate fascinating survival tricks. With generic names taken from Greek mythology such as Aphrodite, Eolis and Doris. Many steal the stinging cells from sea anemones by eating the owner and incorporating the arsenal into their tissues. In this way they protect their soft bodies from an obvious fate. The giant Nudibranch reaching a length of a foot or more can swim with the grace of a Spanish dancer and may swallow a burrowing sea anemone in an instant. Vulnerable creatures which have soft, unprotected bodies may display warning colours which may be associated with an unpleasant taste or poisonous effect. Patterns of orange and black are common in many Nudibranchs and there is evidence that this does help them discourage would be predators. Some other animals, like the Pacific red Sea Urchins, have a rather more pointed way of protecting themselves!

There are animals which exhibit bizarre behavior in their strivings to escape their enemies. The swimming Scallop is a wonderful example which behaves like a set of snapping dentures when a shadow passes over. This clam has many blue eyes and its two shells will clap together as it seems to purposely swim towards its foe in a threatening manner. Sea cucumbers squirm when faced with the oncoming odor of its arch enemy, the sunflower starfish. And of course it is well known that the octopus sets up its "ink screen" when faced with a real threat.

It is a gift of nature to be able literally to sit and watch these events in the apparent weightless state provided by the physics of immersion, without the artificiality of the aquarium. At every turn one realizes the scope for future research as well as the obvious fragility of the ocean environment. Howe Sound has gone through many traumas over these past years and we hope that there is the beginning of a concerted effort towards conservation in our area. Life forms which I have observed to have been waning in numbers over the past ten to fifteen years, appear to be actually on the increase again. However, one cannot be certain of the reasons without some further scientific investigation. Lingcod have been on the decline and the Fisheries did bring in some recent control measures. These may be working, as many of my diver friends have reported more sightings. They are much smaller than they used to be but let us hope that we can return to the state of twenty years ago when 50-60lb specimens were common here.

It is also interesting to watch the territorial behavior of this species particularly during the winter breeding season. The male guards the clutch of eggs until they hatch and will even lunge toward a diver if he/she gets too close. They have a set of very sharp teeth which has convinced me to respect any fish over ten to fifteen pounds. Their Latin name is Ophiodon which means snake-tooth! Many other species of fish abound in the area; some large like the Salmon or the five foot Mud Shark and some very small like the Bullheads, Gobies and Blennies. Some are more colourful than others but each has some unique quality that only has to be noticed to be appreciated. all you have to do is be patient and pause a while. Some of my best dives were when I remained still or almost still in a very small area rather that rushing about and thereby using up valuable air too quickly. For example, on a dive on Boyer Island reef a couple of years ago I observed a deep sea variety of fish known as a Lancet fish that had come up from the deeper regions . This fish was about six feet long ,snake-like, silver and had a sail resembling a Marlin. It also had long thin sharp teeth. What if I had been swimming too fast and had missed this one!

Never let it be said that there is not beauty in our own underwater backyard- a beauty which rivals some tropical areas. There is a garden like quality to some of our reefs which sport huge sea anemones reaching height of 3-4 feet. Some, like the White Plumose Anemone, form ghostly groves, resembling Grecian columns, standing majestically in the current. They are deceptive in one sense since they are armed to the hilt with thousands of sting cells all ready to paralyze their prey.
These seductive snares will later digest their meal at leisure. Other relatives of the anemones called sea pens, feed in the same way but are orange and get their name from a feather-quill appearance.

Close by there is so much to see, worth preserving. Here in the Sea to sky country we have immeasurable, growing, living fascinating resource; the value of which, we are only beginning to realize. Let's keep learning. 

Jellyfish Bloom in Howe Sound November 2013

                                                 
It has been noticed that recently there has been a bloom of Jellyfish in Howe Sound near Squamish. Many have been seeking an explanation.

 This is the Moon jellyfish (Aurelia). It feeds on any floating organic matter which can range from decaying flotsam such as the left overs from fish like our pink salmon, pollution from humans like sewage, to natural seasonal plankton. They are common all up our coast, including pristine waters.

Their population is greatest in the fall where they are found feeding on the phytoplankton/zooplankton bloom. However the plankton bloom can be especially high where there is an extra amount of suspended organic matter in the water. And yes their population can increase with an increase in water temperature. Remember that we have had an unusually warm summer and fall temperatures this year....They are in greatest numbers in the fall rather than in the spring because of the higher ocean lag temperature..... So the reason is complex and may or may not be a cause for alarm, given all these factors!

We are not always the culprit and nature has still lots of checks and balances. She/he has been at it for a very long time.

Climate Change

Climate Change, Global Warming and all that!                                                       September 2013


The simplicity is to stop digging up all fossil fuels EVERYWHERE. Stop clearing forests and quit messing up the carbon-sink abilities of the oceans. The complexity is that this would overnight cause the demise of what we glibly call "Civilization'. There would be mass starvation, as the infrastructures of most of the Countries of the world collapse and wars would occur all over, to the extent we can hardly imagine. Our planet would, however, shrug her shoulders and contently carry on without our interference once we have destroyed ourselves.
So what can we do?
Naively, many say we should really work at sustainable energy resources such as wind power, hydro, and solar, while reducing the use of fossil fuels to a minimum .
But who are “WE”….Unfortunately this includes, beside ourselves, China, Russia, America and a whole host of Nations whose insatiable appetite for burning stuff and cutting down stuff will not abate.
GRIM. I guess you and I can sit on our donkeys and "tilt at windmills" (so to speak) for the rest of our lives! And don’t forget to stop paying your Carbon Tax or not!

In short:
I would gladly put a windmill on every one of my tall trees, cover all my roofs with solar panels and lobby for same on every available space nearby. I would buy an electric car and hope to, somehow, be able to charge the battery. Also I would dig up all my garden space to grow my own food. And for those who know me (don’t laugh), I would have chickens, ducks, pigs and goats in my back yard too!
BUT that ain’t gonna happen guys because I could never afford it....and, anyway the neighbours would likely object to the noise of the windmills. The wildlife people would object to the potential for frightening the birds and most people would complain about the aesthetics of my venture.
So, I continue to buy gas for my car, run my house on mostly natural gas and
a little electricity. I watch the stock market to see that my shares in gas and oil keep going up and live with it.

What about the rest of you? I guess we are all stuck with the way things are going , eh?

 

On Backyard Chickens...Further viewpoints July 2013

 

If there is a “trial” in Squamish, let's make sure that the District is fully prepared to follow through with the policing/control aspect of all this. During the “trial” I am sure this would be done but later, due to obvious fiscal constraints, things will inevitably fall back. The very best example of this is the pitiful Dog Control bylaw and its lack of application.

The wildlife attractant aspect remains as important and particularly in R1 Zoned urban areas this will be a problem…counter to all the efforts of Bear aware.

You can put your chicken coops in the equivalent of Fort Knox but the bears and coyotes will still come sniffing around . And, one successful break-in due to lack of vigilance will undo years of work by B.A. preventative measures. Any meaningful trial will restrict householders to about five hens. Their efficient egg laying lifespan will be about four years and then they will have to be replaced to ensure continued “food security”.

Nowadays it is technically illegal for ordinary people to simply bonk the birds on the head. They will have to be euthanized (legally) by a vet…..costly. The type of chicken food for the best production includes fish-meal and this is smelly and not cheap.

A meaningful trial should involve full permission from neighbors on both sides of the property, otherwise there will be battles which could get nasty!

LEAVE CHICKEN REARING TO RURAL AREAS IN OUR VALLEY and buy your eggs from them. Such a “can of worms”, I think.

Oh yes, for the “educational experience” of the kiddies, have them watch their pets be put down after four or five years!....Hmmm.