MV Frances Barkley still afl oat

An agreement has prevented the closure of a vital service at month’s end, bringing relief to Bamfi eld residents

By Mike Youds Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

Port Alberni, BC - New owners have stepped up to ensure MV Frances Barkley continues operation. Business partners Greg Willmon and Barrie Rogers, who own Devon Transport along with a group of rental and leasing companies, announced Monday, Aug. 16 that Lady Rose Marine Services has accepted their off er to purchase the business. They gave assurances the passenger and freight service, a fi xture of west coast life for generations, would continue uninterrupted. Willmon, who has a residence in Bamfi eld, was unloading his truck a few weeks ago at Port Alberni’s Harbour Quay when he ran into Mike Surrell, who has operated Lady Rose Marine Services for the past 13 years. Surrell went public earlier this month with his plan to cease operation Aug. 31, explaining that the pandemic has robbed the ferry service of most of its business. “COVID has basically destroyed this place,” Surrell said last week, before the purchase was confi rmed, while hinting that there could be hope of saving the operation. “Nothing’s over until it’s over. The 31st of August hasn’t come yet.” Numbers tell the story, as they do for countless other businesses stricken by pandemic impacts. In a typical year, Frances Barkley carries between 7,000 and 10,000 passengers. In all of 2020, there were only 154 passengers. Their freight business also fell off in part due to the high cost of lumber, Surrell said. On the other hand, the scenic voyage from Port Alberni to Bamfi eld remains popular. Would-be passengers found themselves out of luck after the announcement of potential closure earlier this month. The service is fully booked (while adhering to pandemic safety limitations) until month’s end. Now, of course, those wanting to take the trip won’t have to worry. The possibility of losing what many consider an essential service led the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District to hold an online meeting of stakeholders from various communities Monday afternoon. Bob Beckett, ACRD area director for Bamfi eld, said he was among those surprised by the sudden news of the possible closure. “I’m not sure folks know, especially

Photo by Mike Youds Mike Surrell, left, current owner of Lady Rose Marine Services, met Tuesday with future owner Greg Willmon. those who live outside of the valley, Bamfi eld and Anacla, just how many services they do provide,” Beckett said. “There is something absolutely magical when the boat comes in.” As one resident mentioned: “How are we going to know what day of the week it is?” “It’s an integral piece of infrastructure that serves a lot of communities,” said Trevor Cootes, Huu-ay-aht First Nations councillor. “Our citizens living at home defi nitely rely on Lady Rose Marine Services for transportation and also have used it for medical purposes. It’s been huge there.” Huu-ay-aht First Nations have purchased several businesses in recent years and the service is relied upon as part of their operations “right across the board,” Cootes added. Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council is the biggest customer of Lady Rose Marine Services, Willmon noted. Willmon, Rogers and their staff felt the shockwaves from the sudden news of the business closure. “Destiny was set in motion during a conversation I had with current Lady Rose Marine Services owner Mike Surrell a few weeks ago,” Willmon explained. “We were unloading our truck on his dock. It started with a question, ‘How are things Mike?’.” “They could be better, Greg. There is a 50/50 chance the Frances Barkley won’t be sailing next year, possibly sooner,” Surrell said. Willmon asked if he would consider selling rather than shutting down. Surrell’s answer: “Let’s talk.’” In the interim, Willmon spent “many hours” considering the purchase during a family vacation in Bamfi eld. He thought of the ramifi cations of losing what had long been a reliable service provided by Surrell, his wife Pauline, their staff and crew. After a meeting late last week, the two reached agreement in principle for the purchase. “My wife and I could not be happier with the sale,” Surrell said Monday. “We are proud to be able to continue helping the new owners in making this company the success it was pre-COVID.” Willmon said it was important to move quickly with the purchase in order to retain staff and crew members for the operation. The business employs a dozen people. He felt it was critical to get a commitment from Surrell to remain on as general manager. “The plan is to continue operating the Frances Barkley,” Willmon confi rmed. “We believe she has quite a lot of life left in her. We’re planning, over the next year, on doing some upgrades to her.” Devon Transport is based in Nanaimo, part of an integrated group of companies that includes a Budget rental outlet in Port Alberni along with 27 other locations. Lady Rose Marine Services has been in operation for 75 years. The company’s original fl agship, MV Lady Rose, was retired from service in 2009 and replaced by MV Frances Barkley.

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Photo by Eric Plummer Water level on the Somass River at low tide was so thin that one could walk halfway across the water on Aug. 24. Island moves to Stage 5 drought level

Salmon bearing streams at risk due to high temperatures and almost no rainfall

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter

West Coast British Columbia – Following a spring and summer of almost no precipitation and coupled with recordbreaking high temperatures, freshwater resources are under unprecedented stress, according to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. As of Friday, Aug. 20th, all of Vancouver Island was at Drought Level 5. This means that there will likely be regulatory action and emergency response preparation on the part of the ministry, including the likelihood of mandatory water restrictions. The Koksilah River in Duncan is struggling to keep its fl ows above the Critical Environmental Flow Threshold, and the province is forcing additional limits and cessation of water use in the river. The provincial drought level system is separate from municipal drought systems. The City of Port Alberni, for example, has a four-stage water restriction schedule. As of Aug. 23, Port Alberni is at Stage 2 water restrictions, meaning residents may water lawns and gardens on two designated days per week for a set amount of time. The provincial drought level system is geared towards aquatic resources – namely salmon and other fi sh stocks in the streams, rivers, and low-lying lakes. There are six levels of drought on the province’s drought information portal chart. Drought Level 0 indicates no adverse impacts, while at the other end of the scale, Level 5 means adverse impacts are almost certain. While the Level 5 drought level designation is concerning, NTC Fisheries Biologist Jim Lane says it’s not as much of an issue on the west coast of the island as it is on the east side. He noted that there are very few stream systems on the west coast that have dams on them. “Water levels have been low before, it’s the water temperature that is more of an issue,” he stated. The fi sh in lower elevation lakes like the Megin, Kennedy, Sproat and Great Central can escape to cooler water downstream, according to Lane. While the water temperature was dangerously high for fi sh in some lakes, areas of the lower streams are fed by cool ground water springs. The concern about fi sh pooling in lower streams is loss of fi sh through predation or through food competition, or if the stream dries up completely. “This happens every year,” said Lane, adding that for now, we are not outside of drought ranges from previous years. The warm temperature in the Somass River could be a problem if the adult salmon migrating upriver to spawn cannot reach cool water. “At 25C degrees, that becomes lethal for the adult salmon,” said Lane. But salmon have, in the past, found cool water pockets to wait out the heat. Lane heard from the Ditidaht fi sheries manager who reported water temperature in their river at 16C degrees with ground water-fed pools at 10C degrees. For now, local First Nations fi sheries staff are monitoring the situation in their respective communities.

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