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www.comoxvalleyecho.com Friday September 12, 2014
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Volume 20, No. 73
Inflows to Comox Lake have been the lowest in at least a half century.
Comox Lake reservoir water District opens inflows lowest in half a century Lake Trail Effects of low snowfall, little rain, could be taste of things to come By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff As Will Evers, a 32-year-old Courtenay resident, approached the edge of the water at the base of the Comox Lake Dam he was surprised by what he saw. “Wow!” he exclaimed to his friends. “It’s really low.” It’s not the first evidence he’s seen of unusual water levels this season, a year that authorities now report has seen the lowest inflows in more than 50 years to the reservoir that provides drinking water to much of the Comox Valley. Recently, Evers rode his bike to the other side of Comox Lake and saw what looked like a brand new terrain feature. “There’s a whole new sandbar beach area that’s never been there before,” he said. “The riverbed is dry enough that you could ride on it.” Only 1126 mm of rain has fallen since October and total precipitation has been 53 per cent of average - the lowest in at least 33 years. In order to hold onto the water we do have BC Hydro has already forgone millions of dollars in potential revenue by running the 24 megawatt Comox Lake Dam at partial capacity for much of the year. It’s hasn’t been running since mid-June at all. Justin Smith, 33, is a self-described “bushman” who is seriously concerned with what he’s witnessed this year. “It’s brutal how low water flows are in all these reservoirs really,” he said, noting this has a huge impact on fishing, with warm temperatures and low levels making it harder to snag those that are in Comox Lake. “The fish are super docile.” Smith has seen a broader trend. “It’s getting progressively lower over the years,” he said. “It’s inevitable.” He’s worried that effects of our impact on the environment have finally come home to roost, adding we all have a part to play to prevent things getting worse. Smith doesn’t fault BC Hydro for the
school for international students Local teachers union calls the move “disrespectful” By Michael Briones Echo Staff
Justin Smith is worried by the impact of the low precipitation on the natural environment. water levels and says it’s everyone’s responsibility to preserve the ecosystem for the future. “It’s about society,” he said, pointing to the drive of the BC government to the oil industry in the Fort St. John area where he has worked. “We’re just killing our environment really.” The Comox Valley Regional District, which sources its water from the Puntledge River watershed, hasn’t run out of water, but BC Hydro has asked officials not to pull its entire allowable limit all at once, but rather grab take smaller volumes each time water is drawn under their licence. But regional director Jim Gillis says the “absolutely superb weather” we’ve had this summer may be nice, but notes the water levels are something to be seriously concerned about. “We’re probably just seeing a good example of climate change happening
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here,” he said. “That’s why we have to manage and control our drinking water.” He’s read the scientific reports dictating a potential future of serious climate change impacts and says we’ll soon see if the hypothesis of Vancouver Island’s future weather patterns will materialize. “In our Valley what they’re predicting is more rain in the winter, less snow and warmer summers,” he said. “If that prediction comes true we’re going to have issues with water in the future and we should do everything possible to mitigate the problems that will result.” Leegion Brooks, 30, says she has noticed some changes already. “The creeks are drying up,” she said. “All the salmon come back to spawn and they can’t get up the creek. Then they get stuck at the mouth and the seals get them.” (Continued on page 2)
International students crossed the picket lines this week much to the dismay of teachers in the Comox Valley. School District 71 opened Lake Trail Middle School for close to 170 paying students from abroad who are now being taught by principals and administrators. “We’re disappointed. We are frustrated,” said Comox Valley District Teachers Association president Nick Moore. “We think that this is a disrespectful thing to do.” SD71 has had a successful International Education Program and considers it to be a vital component of its overall educational program as it offers local and foreign students, teachers and community the opportunity to learn more from one another and develop a global awareness. But Moore feels the situation tends to favour the paying students and is eroding the public school system. He considers it to be another form of privatization, which the teachers strongly oppose. “That’s exactly what it feels like. We don’t like it,” said Moore. “We believe that a fully funded public education system is the way to go and that’s what BC teachers are standing up for.” Last week, superintendent Sherry Elwood expressed concerns about the long-term impact of the teacher strike may have on its IEP, which contributes over a million dollars to its coffers. She said that the extra income helps pay for teachers and other programs in the school district. “Isn’t it a sad state of affair that school districts are forced to basically create their own private schools, which is kind of what the international school is like to properly fund our public education system,” said Moore. (Continued on page 2)
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