Quarterly Update - April 2011 to September 2011
Highlights since the last Quarterly Update
- Meetings. No meetings were held since March 2011. This is partly due to executive absences and the fact that there are no urgent issues requiring our attention. Whew!
- Membership. New and renewed memberships are only $10 for the entire family for the year and can be mailed to us or dropped off with any executive member at the lake. We appreciate the membership fees - and generous donations - which keep our society solvent, but we especially want to hear from residents to maintain a contact list in the event that there is something important we feel we should communicate and to know lake users feel about issues. Of course non-members may provide contact information and/or feedback so everyone is invited to keep in touch any way that is convenient.
- Newsletter. The annual community newsletter was delivered to all residences on Birch Lake and Lac des Roches in August. The newsletter has been posted on the website for any members who may not have picked up their printed copy at the lakes. Extra printed copies are available to those who need them mailed, just contact us. We will try to incorporate any communication members would like to have passed on to property users so please send your ideas or contributions into the editor at contactus@lacdesroches.org.
- Petition. Several copies of the petition supporting the boating speed reduction on Little Lac des Roches from 20 to 10 km/hr are now being circulated in the neighbourhoods by executive members. The petition reads as follows:
"The community group, Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake was formed to protest a proposed development of 500 homes and a resort area bordering Lac des Roches on the East and Birch Lake's Western shore. According to Marie Sturman, of Integrated Land Management Bureau the project has been set aside.
Meanwhile, the Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake has become a registered society. They are working as "stewards of the lake" doing water quality testing for the BCLSS (BC Lake Stewardship Society) and monitoring wildlife for the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey through Bird Studies of Canada.
Little Lac des Roches is a small lake connected to Lac des Roches by a narrow, shallow channel approximately 500 meters long. It currently has a 20 km/h speed limit which was put into place by BC Fish and Wildlife Branch over 10 years ago. The lake is small and narrow, approximately 450 meters at the widest point and 1.6 Km long. It is mainly used by fishermen and residents for family recreation. There are swimmers and a number of kayakers and canoeists on the lake. The resort rents boats with 1.5 kw motors and canoes but does allow larger boats with motors to use their launch site. They instruct their guests on the 20 km/h speed at check-in. there are also large boats that access the lake from big Lac des Roches through the channel. The Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake, along with concerned community members, would like to see the speed on the lake reduced to 10 km/h the same as the Universal Shoreline Speed Restriction which would protect nesting shorebirds and endangered loons and docks from large wakes. This would reduce confusion on the part of boaters and ensure the safety of swimmers and small watercraft.
Therefore: We the undersigned request the Cariboo Regional District to petition Transport Canada to reduce the speed limit to 10 km/h on all of Little Lac des Roches."
Residents are encouraged to indicate their opinion of the petition by either signing it or contacting the society and/or Bruce Rattray (brucerattray@crd.bc.ca) of the Cariboo Regional District with comments or questions. A public meeting is a future step in the process to make this change. The CRD will act as the catalyst with this initiative as the process does not allow a society to do this alone.
Around the Lakes ...
- Gerald Crescent lake access upgrade. The ministry of highways was asked to look at upgrading the public access on Gerald Crescent which is not suitable for launching boats. Evidently, the cost of upgrading was too high so the request was denied. Access #7 on the big lake continues to be the most popular boat launch for the big lake and the Lac des Roches resort is available for anyone to use on the little lake.
- Phinetta Lake monitoring and report. This year, Phinetta Lake monitoring was taken over by Kurt and Karen Roy of the Opax Mountain Resort and Café. Thanks to our new volunteers and, by the way, congratulations on the success of opening the Opax restaurant this year!
- Lake level. After high water levels all spring and summer, we have seen the lake drop in the last month, but still it is very high and the channel is passable between big and little LdR - for most boats - if they are careful.
- For sale.. In keeping with the trend throughout the entire south Cariboo, more "For Sale" signs have been posted on properties around the lakes. Whether waterfront or back lot, winterized home or rustic cabin, just about every possible property is available. When these properties start selling it will be sad to lose some of our long-time neighbours, but change happens.
- Deer and badgers. As in many places in the province, the Mule and White-tail deer population has jumped in numbers - so much so that there is an open season on antlerless (female) white tail deer in October. The family of badgers was a surprising sight this year. They have a large territory and have been seen in dens dug in the hillsides all along Boultbee Road. According to the badger reporting center, during the winter, the badgers will continue to feed on hibernating ground squirrels which means we could see fewer gopher holes in the lawns next summer.
- Loon chicks. A loon family with two chicks survived the summer and continues to fish near Rock Island and Carlos' Point. We'll publish the official loon update from Wendy once it is available.
- Cleanliness. There is a lot less visible garbage on the lakes' shores this year. Thanks go out to several residents who pulled debris from the water all spring and summer. No doubt the high water and winds lifted the debris and moved it to specific properties and - lucky for the rest of us - the property owners removed unsightly and dangerous garbage. Also doing their part were several kayakers who were seen retrieving and disposing of garbage throughout the summer. Thanks folks, for all your clean up work!
- Shoal markers. Thank you to our neighbour from Little Lac des Roches who took the time to replace the missing markers from the two rock shoals mid-lake on big Lac des Roches. Since the lake level has dropped these shoals became extremely hazardous to boaters.
- Transfer station. The closure of the Birch Lake / Opax garbage bins was a hot topic this spring. The aftermath included some illegal garbage dumping along the highway and into the bushes up the nearby forestry roads. Hopefully, the dumping has ceased as residents and travelers become aware of the site closure.
- Docks storage. Please remember that there are regulations governing docks at private waterfront lots. Often, residents seem to ignore these rules in their attempt to secure their docks from the damage often brought on by winter ice and spring freshet. Before relocating docks for winter storage, review the regulations at the government website.
Other Stuff ...
- Solid waste management. Changes are coming to garbage disposal in the south Cariboo. The intent of the public meetings throughout the region are to inform residents of planned changes and seek input into several recycling options. Residents unable to attend a meeting - the nearest being on Tue. Oct. 18 at the Interlakes Community Hall - can view the meeting material on the CRD website or via a link through Bruce Rattray's website.
- Recycling. A reminder to residents that refundable beverage containers can be dropped off at the big blue community recycling box located in front of the Bridge Lake Store. The Knights of Columbus donates part of the proceeds from these containers back to the community organizations in our area.
- Emergency response. A delay in the arrival of a volunteer first responder to a medical emergency 9-1-1 call in August has residents on Boultbee Road talking about how to ensure they get the emergency services they pay for. Some residents will now request a first responder in addition to an ambulance when they call 9-1-1. The local volunteer fire department chief feels this is unnecessary due to the two step dispatch process that is in place for our area, but evidently, mistakes and/or delays can occur. There are several local first responders and one should respond to all 9-1-1 requests for an ambulance.
- Logging planned. Users of the Wavey Lake Road and trail network will have seen the new flagging north of Lac des Roches. Cut blocks and access roads are indicated for many square miles. The anticipated logging and road building looks like it will be very extensive in the coming year. What this will do to trail access in the different seasons is unclear but obviously a huge change is imminent. Logging activity near Birch Lake will resume as evidenced by the reactivation of new logging access roads.
- Civic elections Sat. Nov. 19. Elected Area L Director, Bruce Rattray is seeking re-election for another three year term. Other candidates have yet to publicize their intentions. Bruce's website has information about early voting dates and mail in ballot processes for those qualifying residents who will not be in the area to partake in the local government elections. Residents are encouraged to partake in this important democratic voting process iusing the methods available to absent voters.
Next meeting TBA