SEE THE HORSE | Caravan Farm’s The Night’s Mare features Endo the blind horse [A29]
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Sunday, July 26, 2015
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JENNIFER SMITH Morning Star Staff
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Three-year-old Mabel Smith enjoys a ride with her dad Ryan on the barefoot bar on a boat while cruising along Mabel Lake.
Cosens Bay process questioned RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Claims of consultation with communities over Cosens Bay Road are being refuted. B.C. Parks told the Regional District of North Okanagan board Wednesday that the Ministry of Transportation is completing final aspects of its boundary adjustment application for Kalamalka Lake Jim Garlick Provincial Park, including local government consultation. That brought a sharp response from director Jim Garlick, who is Coldstream’s mayor.
“It never happened or it hasn’t happened,” he said. “We’ve not had any consultation at all. We’ve been waiting for the opportunity but it’s never come.” Keith Baric, B.C. Parks planning section head, says Garlick’s concerns will be pointed out to the transportation ministry. “They have to clearly indicate what levels of government they have consulted with and any feedback,” he said. The ministry wants to have a 20-metre right-of-way removed from the park so safety and maintenance issues can be addressed. However, the regional district has opposed the plan, saying the right-of-way will negatively impact the park’s ecosystem. “B.C. Parks is not here to share its opinion on the boundary adjustment appli-
cation. We’re a neutral party,” Baric told RDNO directors. The Ministry of Transportation insists it has followed the consultation process set out by B.C. Parks, including a public open house and sessions with Friends of Kalamalka Lake Park and First Nations. “The ministry has also presented information on the application for the boundary adjustment to the RDNO board July 24, 2014, Aug. 7, 2014 and April 1, 2015, and to the District of Coldstream mayor and council July 14, 2014,” states the ministry. “We note that Coldstream Mayor Garlick sits on the RDNO board and was present for the April 1, 2015 briefing and discussion.” It also states that Garlick wrote a letter to the ministry in September 2014 about the proposed park boundary change.
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Local anglers are being cut off salmon fishing due to record low water levels and deadly temperatures. “It’s just trying to give the fish the best chance,” said Dean Allan, B.C. Interior resource manager for Fisheries and Oceans. Water levels in many systems in the Thompson and Shuswap are extremely low and temperatures in many cases are reaching lethal limits for migrating salmon. Effective immediately, all waters in the Okanagan (region eight) and Thompson (region three) are closed to fishing for all salmon species until further notice. “As far as fishery closures, it is out of the norm,” said Allan. “We’re seeing warmer temperatures than we typically have in the past.” The salmon, which migrate in mid Shuswap, lower Shuswap and Mabel Lake occur annually, but the fish are already under stress due to the temperatures and low levels, therefore removing angling takes another stressor off them. “They (water levels) are very low, the lowest levels recorded.” While the salmon likely won’t be able to use some of the smaller streams, Allan is hopeful the traditional routes will be OK (Shuswap River, middle Shuswap, Wilsey Dam to Mabel Lake and Mabel to Mara Lake). Predictions are that above average summer air temperatures and reduced precipitation will continue, and likely will further contribute to elevated stream temperatures throughout the Thompson and Okanagan areas. The department will continue to monitor environmental conditions to help inform future fisheries management decisions and fishing opportunities; updated information will be announced by fishery notice. If you witness suspicious fishing activity or a violation call the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line at (800) 465-4336 or the British Columbia’s toll-free RAPP line (Report All Poachers and Polluters) at 1-877-952RAPP (7277).
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