SOOKE NEWS MIRROR - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2011
www.sookenewsmirror.com
NEWS • 5
Pirjo Raits photo
ALM Organic Farm took part in this year’s farm and food garden tour. See more photos on the website at: www. sookeneewsmirror. com, click on Photo Gallery, top right hand corner of the website.
Water important for coho survival Pirjo Raits Sooke News Mirror
About eight to 10 kilometres past Young Lake there is an earthen dam at Brown’s swamp that is a reservoir used by the Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society (SSES)to direct water into DeMamiel Creek. Every summer there is an issue with the amount of water in the creek and the effect that low water has on the spawning coho salmon. The dam was built in the late 1990s and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans was involved in the original con-
struction. “It’s hugely important for Sooke coho,” said SSES president Mel Hull. “The vast majority spawn in DeMamiel Creek and as a result the hatchery ones go to Young Lake.” Hull said they like to keep the lake refreshed so the fry survive in Young Lake. He said what they use the dam for is to release water into the upper reaches of DeMamiel Creek during the summer. Now, for a variety of reasons, the least of which is the fact that last year a similar type of dam burst in the Oliver area setting off a five-kilometre torrent of mud and debris, wiping out five homes and a large agricultural area, DFO wants
to rid itself of the structure. The cost of doing an inspection on the dam is between $30-$60,000 and because the dam is difficult to get to, a helicopter would be needed. Add to that the shortage of water for the 100 summer days. “There is a fair amount of risk of water behind dirt,” said Tom Rutherford of DFO. Rutherford is the acting sector head for Resource Restoration and Community Involvement. They are subject to uphold the B.C. Dam Safety Regulations. “It is eerily the same, the same height, the same distance to houses,” said Rutherford of the dam that burst. Other reasons include liability, the inaccessible site,
reconfiguration of the outlet, and the benefit for the cost. “Right now we hold the liability,” said Rutherford. “We’ve considered the view of the society. If you guys want the licence (for the dam) my advice would be, ‘you guys don’t want to go there.’” He said the offer was made and his advice was, “don’t touch it.” With any of the earthen dams scattered throughout the province, DFO is looking at all of their licenced structures. “This is the only one, to my knowledge, that we’ve done an analysis on and said, ‘oops,’” said Rutherford.
Debate over controversial project delayed Ryan Flaherty Black Press
A motion by one of the directors of the Capital Regional District to curb a development in the Juan de Fuca Rural Resource lands has been postponed until next month. Saanich Coun. Vic Derman withdrew the motion -- which states that a rezoning application by Marine Trail
Holdings Ltd. is inconsistent with the CRD’s Regional Growth Strategy -- from the CRD board’s Aug. 10 agenda, citing the need for a further legal opinion on its merits. “My belief is that the board holds the power to determine whether or not the application is consistent with the Regional Growth Strategy,” Derman said. “If the board was to rule it inconsistent, there is
provincial legislation that says very, very specifically that no regional board is allowed to adopt a bylaw that is inconsistent with its own regional growth strategy. “I intend to seek legal information independently at this time to ensure that the direction that I’m taking, which I believe to be legally correct, is in fact correct.” Derman also acknowl-
edged that the absence of several CRD directors at the meeting played a part in his decision. “This is a huge, huge region that I think deserves consideration by the full board and as much as possible by the regular directors who make up the board,” Derman said. However, Derman did file notice with the board that he intends to bring the motion forth when the board
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next meets on Sept. 14. The rezoning application, which would see the development of a resort featuring over 250 cabins, has been hotly debated for several years now. Two public hearings on the development will be held at the community hall in Sooke on Sept. 6 and 7. editor@oakbaynews. com
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