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Author Topic: Cowichan Drying Up?  (Read 2360 times)

Novabonker

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Cowichan Drying Up?
« on: October 07, 2012, 12:02:34 PM »
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IronNoggin

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Re: Cowichan Drying Up?
« Reply #1 on: October 09, 2012, 12:02:03 PM »
Update from One Cowichan:

A temporary ‘pulse’ of water is currently being released into the Cowichan in an attempt to coax the salmon that have gathered in the estuary up the river and away from the seals. Some salmon have already been caught and trucked up river – there is video showing this on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/OneCowichan

Fishing in the river has also been closed. Patti Delisle from Cowichan Tribes describes what this sacrifice means for her community in a moving video also on our Facebook page. Please watch and share.

Meanwhile, you have been joined by hundreds of others in asking for local control over our water so that this situation can be avoided in the future. There are now over 600 signatures! Supporters like Tina Winterlik are also putting great stuff online: http://tinawinterlik.blogspot.ca/

The BC Minister in charge – Hon. Steve Thomson – continues to duck responsibility despite the fact his Ministry was asked by local officials months ago to store more water and refused to do so. He seems open to more local control in the future, though, so we need to keep the pressure on him and others to follow through.

Thanks again for your support, and please keep sharing the petition and Like us on Facebook (we’re really nice!). We’re working on a community event that we will tell you more about soon.

Best wishes,

Matt Price

The Petition again: http://www.onecowichan.ca/?utm_campaign=update_oct_9&recruiter_id=398&utm_medium=email&utm_source=onecowichan

Cheers,
Nog
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Novabonker

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Re: Cowichan Drying Up?
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2012, 06:59:35 AM »
Thanks Matt - I see the Nanaimo is suffering, as well as other flows too. As much as I have enjoyed the sunny weather, it's good to see some rain to help the flows out.

http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=75c3c12c-6bde-4ce9-9e1c-379e67ddb988
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IronNoggin

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Re: Cowichan Drying Up?
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2012, 12:04:46 PM »
There is a solution to the Cowichan crisis. A weir at Lake Cowichan, managed by the Forest Ministry, controls water flow into the river, under a water licence held by Catalyst Paper. The flow could have been reduced in the spring, when rainfall was more frequent, providing a reserve for the dry season - especially for this critical time when salmon need adequate flows to enter the river to spawn.

For the past decade, according to groups who work on protecting the river, the ministry has done just that, providing a needed reserve.

But this year, the Forests Ministry said that the licence rules prohibit the practice. Local mayors, Cowichan Valley Regional District chairman Ron Hutchins and representatives of First Nations met Forests Minister Steve Thomson to ask that more water be stored. He told them to apply for a change to the licence, a lengthy process.

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Cowichan+grim+warning/7380059/story.html#ixzz29CTD326R
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