By Steve Hubrecht
The B.C. Supreme Court has issued an order halting any dredging or other changes to the Trethewey marina on the east side of Lake Windermere while the matter is before the courts.
This past fall the local ?akisq’nuk First Nation filed an appeal with B.C.’s Environmental Appeal Board, challenging the provincial Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship’s approval of plans for modifications, including dredging at the marina.
The ?akisq’nuk (?AFN) said in a press release at the time that the dredging extends well beyond the natural footprint and bed of Lake Windermere, and further that ?AFN’s rights “will be impacted by the project’s contribution to the cumulative effects of development and recreational use of Windermere Lake, and the project’s impact on wildlife using the area to spawn.”
The press release emphasized how shallow Lake Windermere is (it has an average depth of 3.4 metres) and cited “large wake boats which create turbulence that can reach eight metres into the water column, significantly impacting the shallow water system.”
?akisq’nuk Nasu?kin (Chief) Donald Sam had told?the Pioneer? when the appeal was filed that “we need a balance between recreation and environmental considerations.” Sam added he’s not completely against recreation on the lake (and that he in fact enjoys it too), but “I just worry about the lasting impact . . . we all need to be mindful of the lasting impact . . . until we understand that better, we are opposed to the dredging.”
He explained that the ?akisq’nuk had highlighted concerns about the Trethewey project to the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, “but the response to these concerns was less than adequate.”
