A proposed logging operation near Hummingbird Creek has unleashed a wave of protest by Swansea Point residents and others who don91裸聊视频檛 want to see history repeated.
The floodgates opened when Swansea Point residents Lois and Dave Schurek received a letter from Tolko Industries Ltd., dated Feb. 22, informing them of 11 cutblocks being proposed for the uplands above Swansea Point and the Schureks91裸聊视频� home, located on the east side of Highway 97A along Hummingbird Creek.
91裸聊视频淭his letter is being sent to you as a domestic water licence holder adjacent to our Crown land operating area and as part of our information sharing referral process91裸聊视频�,91裸聊视频� the letter states.
The Schureks, to Lois91裸聊视频� knowledge, are the only ones in Swansea Point to have received this correspondence.
91裸聊视频淲e only got the letter because we have water rights in that creek and they want to log that 7016 block91裸聊视频� and it91裸聊视频檚 within 1,000 metres of our well,91裸聊视频� said Lois. 91裸聊视频淚f they had left that one off and only went for 10, they wouldn91裸聊视频檛 have had to notify us. So we91裸聊视频檙e the only ones that got notification and that91裸聊视频檚 our only way to object.91裸聊视频�
The Schureks have since ignited a protest against the proposal, a response driven by memory of the large, devastating debris flows Swansea Point experienced in 1997 and 2012, as well as numerous smaller mudslides in the area, including one that occurred on Tuesday, March 14.
The Schureks say past upland logging operations contributed to those debris flows, and they don91裸聊视频檛 wish to see another.
91裸聊视频淭here is no question that we91裸聊视频檙e going to have this again,91裸聊视频� said Schurek.
Tolko spokesperson Janice Lockyer said the letter received by the Schureks is part of a process that91裸聊视频檚 in its infancy.
91裸聊视频淲e are well aware of the concerns and we are looking at the geography of the area and all that stuff,91裸聊视频� said Lockyer.
91裸聊视频淚 think what91裸聊视频檚 really important for people to understand right now is this is a very preliminary part of the process. We are working right now with a hydrologist and geotechs to start the modelling for this process. So we91裸聊视频檙e not even looking at hanging ribbons until next year. We have a lot of work to do before we even understand what91裸聊视频檚 going on there, or whether it will work or what kind of adjustments we91裸聊视频檒l need to make.91裸聊视频�
In response to Tolko91裸聊视频檚 letter, the Schureks are calling for a moratorium on all logging activity above Swansea Point. Others from the community who have since learned of the proposed cutblocks are doing the same.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think that91裸聊视频檚 unreasonable,91裸聊视频� said Lois. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 not anti-logging. That91裸聊视频檚 a small piece of land considering all of the mountains in B.C. But it would certainly save a lot of lives.
91裸聊视频淚n 1997, there was 120 to 125 homes, now there91裸聊视频檚 500. So when you say you91裸聊视频檙e going to put that many people in harm91裸聊视频檚 way 91裸聊视频� because it happens in the summer, these slides don91裸聊视频檛 happen in the wintertime when they91裸聊视频檙e empty.91裸聊视频�
Jim Cooperman and Shuswap Environmental Action Society are also supporting the Schureks, stating it would be completely irresponsible to clearcut log the unstable hillsides above Swansea Point.
91裸聊视频淲ithout tree cover, more snow accumulates on clearcuts and it melts faster, especially when it rains91裸聊视频�,91裸聊视频� said Cooperman. 91裸聊视频淕iven the instability of this hillside, we can expect more slides across the highway and perhaps even more damage to private properties. As well, with climate change intensifying, there will be more intense storms that will further increase the potential for more landslides in the future.91裸聊视频�
The Schureks91裸聊视频� certainty that logging practices contributed to past debris flows is founded in part on a legal action they took against the province and a logging company that had been working in the hills above Swansea Point prior to the 91裸聊视频�97 debris flow. That disaster rolled through Lois91裸聊视频� elderly parents91裸聊视频� home and property while they were at home, and she said despite having physical ailments, they managed to survive the ordeal.
91裸聊视频淚 did my homework, in 1997 I rented an airplane, went up and took a look,91裸聊视频� said Schurek. 91裸聊视频淭hen we went up and filmed it in a rain storm. When I had that to show them, they just folded and said, 91裸聊视频榳e91裸聊视频檒l pay you, and we got it.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭rees absorb something like 60 to 70 per cent of the rainfall91裸聊视频� We did huge studies when we won our case. The roots absorb it so it doesn91裸聊视频檛 get to the bedrock and the hard place and it doesn91裸聊视频檛 cause the (soils) to slip. You take them out and you91裸聊视频檙e going to have slippage constantly.91裸聊视频�
The Schureks have sent their 91裸聊视频淭olko package91裸聊视频� of letters to Tolko as well as local politicians, including Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo. He passed the information on to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Resource Operations, according to spokesperson Dave Townsend.
Responding to a request for comment, Townsend said the watershed above Swansea Point is within Tolko91裸聊视频檚 industry forest licence and the ministry expects all forest licencees ensure risks to environmental integrity and public protection are appropriately mitigated in the planning process.
He said the ministry is currently aware of local residents91裸聊视频� concerns and will be in contact with them.
91裸聊视频淭olko advises that the planning process will take 12 to 18 months to complete and that no layout on the ground is anticipated for two years,91裸聊视频� said Townsend. 91裸聊视频淭he ministry has been assured that they are committed to continued communication with residents throughout the planning process.91裸聊视频�
