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Thursday, June 4, 2015
SEAFARING
Comox boater challenges PAPA KRISTI DOBSON ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
A retired Comox Valley resident was shocked when he was told he could no longer stay overnight aboard his boat moored at Fisherman’s Wharf. Last Tuesday morning, Gordon Wilkins was informed of the decision by the wharf’s management. If he continued, he was told he would be evicted from the premises. Wilkins first brought his 37-foot pleasure boat to the harbour last year. As a recreational fisherman, he typically spent anywhere from two to four days fishing and returned to the dock to stay overnight. He said he signed the contract and complied with the written rules, including purchasing $2 million in liability insurance and complying with proper sewage disposal. “I worked to fix up my boat and brought it here last year for six months,” Wilkins said. “I stayed two to three days a week with no problems. Last week I stayed two nights and the guy who runs the dock said I couldn’t stay.” Ron Kyle, manager of marine services, said that the allowable space for live-aboard pleasure users is maxed out and Wilkins did not go through the proper channels to reserve a spot, should one come available. “If he wanted to live on his boat,
Retired from the military, Gordon Wilkins was surprised he is no longer able to live aboard his fishing vessel at Fisherman’s Wharf after doing so last year. [KRISTI DOBSON, TIMES]
he would have to explain to us what he wanted and we would document it,” Kyle said. “If a space came available, we would contact him.” Kyle said there are currently six pleasure boat owners who are allowed to remain long-term, but they share the space for the main commercial use of the harbour. “This is a commercial dock for
the commercial sector,” Kyle said. “We get up to 250 gillnetters and need the space. We allow people to come in to make up the difference in the winter but always need the space for commercial use first.” Kyle said it is a small craft harbour, and due to liability, it is up to the discretion of the PAPA to allow a certain number of pleasure boats.
Wilkins said there is nothing written in the contract that states live-aboards are not permitted and it has not been changed over the year. “I just really want them to change the contract so people know before they get here,” Wilkins said. “The contract is updated every year. It is pretty straight forward
in the contract,” Kyle said. “It is cut and dry. He lived on it without our permission and that is a big problem with us. You can’t do that without a permit.” The contract on the PAPA website, dated February 2014, states “No person is permitted to use their vessel as a residence while moored without written permission from the Port Authority.” “It doesn’t state you have an option to live aboard,” Kyle said. “If it did, everyone would and it would be unmanageable.” Wilkins said he started saving up for the boat after retiring from the military about 20 years ago. “This is my dream,” he said. “This is my summer cottage on the water.” He said he likes to come to Port Alberni when he can take breaks from working on his Comox Valley farm, but next week plans to moor at a government dock in Deep Bay, where he is permitted to stay up to 75 days. “I buy all of my groceries, fuel, bait and tackle in Port Alberni,” Wilkins said. “I love the restaurants and spend my money here. When my four grandkids and their parents came, we toured the town and rode the train. So there goes more tourist dollars that Port Alberni could use.” Kristi.Dobson@avtimes.net 250-723-8171 ext. 234
ENVIRONMENT
City may add more water monitors Extra equipment would measure turbidity, temperature throughout watershed RCMP recruiting for volunteer program The flexible volunteer opportunity is good for anyone interested in assisting with public safety and crime prevention. » Alberni Region, 3A
Alberni wrestlers qualify for Team BC A small group of Alberni Wrestlers made the journey to Vancouver over the weekend to participate in the Western Canada Games. » Sports, 7A
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“There would need to be some analysis as to where they should go, whether they would be mobile or fixed.”
MARTIN WISSMATH ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
Port Alberni city council is looking into the need for additional monitors to measure water turbidity and temperature from drinking water sources into the Alberni Valley. Council passed a motion last week brought forward by Coun. Chris Alemany, suggesting that city staff investigate the feasibility of installing water monitors throughout the China Creek watershed, which provides drinking water to the valley. The extra equipment would produce additional data for the watershed’s tributaries that could also be useful to fisheries and timber companies, Alemany said. “With our low snowpack and continued [forestry] activity in the watershed, it’ll be important to have as much information as we can,” said Alemany. The monitors would enhance, not replace, the existing equipment, he noted. Currently the city continuously monitors water at intakes in China Creek and Bainbridge Lake, but elsewhere the monitoring is done manually with one-time spot reads on a rotating basis, said city manager Ken Watson.
Ken Watson, city manager
The China Creek Intake Dam circa 2010. The City of Port Alberni is investigating the feasibility of installing more water monitors for temperature and turbidity throughout the China Creek Watershed. [CITY OF PORT ALBERNI PHOTO]
Staff will now look into installing automatic, continuous monitors elsewhere. “There would definitely be a cost to that,” Watson said. “There would need to be some analysis as to where they should go, whether they would be mobile or fixed.” City engineer Guy Cicon said the cost would depend on what kind of equipment is needed and how
many monitors would be installed. He estimated it would likely cost somewhere around $20,000; however, the report is still in its earliest stages, he noted. More information as to what is happening in our watershed is valuable, Cicon said. Issues affecting water quality could arise either from natural causes, such as a landslide, or from logging
activity from forestry companies. Cicon suggested measuring streamflow as well. Alemany runs a weather monitoring website at alberniweather. ca with data from a weather station at his house in Port Alberni. He’s noticed a warming trend since 2005, with snowpack depleting on nearby mountains. Measuring water temperature in the watershed would offer further data on climate trends, he noted. This year’s snowpack was 15 per cent the normal level, according to the River Forecast Centre – the lowest in over 30 years. Snowpack levels have steadily fallen since 2011. Martin.Wissmath@avtimes.net
Inside today Alberni Region 3A Opinion 4A
Community 5A Sports 7A
ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES VOLUME 66, NUMBER 106
Entertainment 8A What’s On 9A
Driving 1B On the Island 2B
Comics 5B Classifieds 6B
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