Pagll ~ THE EXPRESS ,'July·1o;t99ll TuEEXPKESS LETTERSTO THEEDITOR PHONE (604)354-3910 EDITORIAL 354-1118 FAX 352-5075 554 WARDSTREET, NEU3ON, B.C. VlL 1S9 E-Mail:express@netidea.com Passmore water users concerned about quality OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF and AD DESIGN and To The Editor: in this area would now be left to regenerate. PUBLISHER: Nelson Becker PRODUCTION: As water users in the area of the Slocan Valley This sense of relief was short lived. We recently EDITOR: Ethan Baron A. Tremblay & A. Lockerbie ADVERTISING: Colleen Weber RECEPTION: known as "Passmore," we are concerned about the learned that SFP has been given permission to re- & Kelly Brigden-Wade Marina Kiborn continued disturbance of roads and valley slopes in activate large stretches of the road system to access July 10, 1996, Volume 8, Number 34 ISSN 1196-7471 our watershed. We are residents who obtain drink- blocks that just didn't get "harvested" the previous The Express Newspaper is owned by ing water from creeks and springs in watersheds year. The roads will now be "up-graded" for haul- Kootenay Express Commwrications Corp. west of the Passmore bridge. Some of us get water ing, only to be semi-deactivated again after approx- directly from Airy and Tindale Creeks. imately 20 hectares of timber are removed. Both The Airyffindale Creek watershed is large (59 these processes contribute to cause creek siltation sq. km.). It contains the familiar valley landmark and further soil disturbance. Take care known as "Frog Peak." It is also part of Tree Farm License #3 managed by Slocan Forest Products. As people dependent on this water source we ask: what about water quality and the need to perform There are many who enjoy risk, who like to push the enve- The watershed has a long history of forest "man- "restoration"? What about concern for the environ- lope, travel the edge between life and death. They make a agement." ment? The company may argue that semi-deactiva- choice to confront danger, and sometimes they die. Its main southern tributary, Tindale Creek, has tion in the fall and upgrading in the spring is stan- But in our everyday lives, we all face risk. Driving, cycling, experienced numerous landslides related to old dard practice. We contend that re-entrance into even crossing the street we may pass over the edge into obliv- roads that were built without consideration of the Airyffindale is different because: ion. steep, wet terraces. The west slopes above Airy I. Public funds were used to semi-deactivate And while random accidents-cases of being in the wrong Creek and below Frog Peak have also been degrad- Tindale roads to a high standard. The intent of the place at the wrong time--can kill people, more die because they ed by slides and avalanches that brought trees, soil Watershed Restoration Program is to restore envi- fail to take basic precautions. and rock directly into the creek. Largely because of ronmental damage, and provide a road maintenance Wearing a seatbelt, for instance, greatly increases a person's this, the first regional road deactivation project on service for forest licensees. chance of surviving a serious motor vehicle crash. Yet, as the the scale of a whole watershed funded by Forest 2. The road upgrading now in progress and Nelson police and our local coroner reported recently, many Renewal B.C. was conducted in 1991. subsequent deactivation need not have occurred if people neglect to take this elemental security measure. And The project involved a lot of road work and was the company had followed sensible "harvest" plans. some of them die because of it. lo be "state of the art restoration." As water users In 1992, a Ministry of Forests hydrologist com- Bicycle helmets, too, save lives. Still, there are those who we knew that silt-laden run-off water from freshly mented that the Tindale drainage "has obviously refuse to wear them. The wind in your hair feels nice, but it disturbed road surfaces increases creek siltation. suffered from lack of Total Chance Planning." In could end up blowing through the wrinkles in your brain. However, because the quality of the work was to be light of their recent decision to allow re-entry into Personal risk-taking can also bring collective costs. Cyclists high and it was to be the last time a disturbance Airyffindale we ask has anything really changed in with head injuries, motorists and passengers who don't buckle would occur, we agreed it was important to have the last four years? up and find themselves in hospital because of it, backcountry the work done and we were relieved that the forest Jennifer Yeow, secretary Passmore Water Users visitors who get lost-all boost the price of our health care sys- tem, taking money from everybody's pockets. Costlier than money are the innocent lives lost through irre- sponsible risk taking-when some risk the lives of others. Drunk driving represents the most obvious example of a per- ACROSSOURDESK sonal risk that carries over into the lives of others. Passengers, other motorists, and pedestrians can suffer injury or death Raffle winner Slocan Rivers during the entire simulation games and small B.C. Schizophrenia Society 1996-97 fishing season. The only group work. It is open to any stu- because of someone else's irresponsible choice. The Nelson branch of the B.C. exception is for whitefish taken dent entering grades I 0- J 2. It's not just drunks that are a menace on the road. For a num- ber of reasons-a rush lo get somewhere, inattention to road Schizophrenia Society held a raf- below Winlaw Creek on the Application deadline is August conditions, pursuit of adrenalin-boosting excitement'--many fle on July 3rd and the winner of Slocan River, between February I 0, 1996. For info, contact Paul people drive unsafely. the raffle draw is Chris Rehwald I and April 15. Trattle at 1-800-661-8144. Certainly, we can't expect everybody to eliminate all risk of South Slocan, B.C. The raffle B.C. Environment is issuing from their lives, even if it would save us piles of money. Some proceeds will assist the branch in the reminder due to reports of Coordinator sought anglers fishing the Slocan River The Terry Fox Run freedoms are vital to a wholesome existence, adding to our providing support to family members of individual afflicted below Koch Creek. Some confu- The Terry Fox Run happens quality of life. this year on Sunday, September In some cases, laws can help keep people intact and reduce with schizophrenia. sion has arisen from the descrip- The next family support meet- tion of the Slocan River fishery 22, and Fred Fox is looking for a our health care expenses. The bicycle helmet law comes into volunteer individual, group or effect in September, and will likely cause a drop in cyclists' ing will be held on Wednesday, closure outlined in the J996-97 Freshwater Fishing Synopsis. As organization to coordinate a run head injuries. Heavy penalties for drunk driving have cut that September 11 at 818 Vernon Street, Nelson. For further infor- published, the section under for Kaslo. The Terry Fox Run is problem significantly. the largest single-day fundraiser Essentially, this is a matter of personal responsibility. Each of mation call 359-8 I 42 or 352- Special Notes on pages 38 and 39 of the synopsis pertaining to the for cancer research. If you are our lives is precious, to ourselves and to those who love us. And 3340. Little Slocan and Slocan Rivers interested in organizing the run in our obligation extends outward-we must ensure that we don't Deadline for Kaslo could be interpreted to mean that Kaslo, please call Fred Fox at 1- endanger others through poor choices, and do our best to pre- 800-664-8369. serve our own health, because the costs of foolishness are Summer School fishing is allowed in some areas. shared by all. Kaslo On-The-Lake Summer However, this is not the case, and Free gas School of the Arts the 1997-98 Freshwater Fishing Kootenay Country Tourist The registration is fast Synopsis will clarify this section. Association approaching for many courses Here's an opportunity to win a Victorian Teas year's free gas from Chevron in Opinion Policy offered during the Kaslo-on-the- St. Andrew's United Church, Kaslo Lake Summer School of the Arts the 1996 Kootenay Country We encourage our readers to opinion. If you wish to write a write to us. Letters are a way for commentary, please contact the "Summer is-a-comin-in" is the Heritage Attractions Passport (July 26 through August 23). you to speak to your community, Editor. theme of the first in a series of Contest, sponsored by KCTA. to give new information, participate All letters and commentaries Why have a deadline? It has to eight Victorian Teas to be held in The contest will run until Sept. In a discussion or express an opin- must be signed and must include do with dollars. The Langham ion. your name, address, and phone St. Andrew's Hall in Kaslo dur- 2, with the draw Sept. 16. contracts with each instructor for Please address letters 11\e&nt number. ing July and August. The teas Passports are stamped at partici- for pubftcation, to the Editor. We do We will not print "name with- a fee based on a minimum num- pating attractions; after collecting not accept Open Letters. held" letters, unless there is a good ber of students registered in the will be held each Wednesday at least five stamps and one Letters must to be short (250 reason for anonymity. course. If this minimum is not from 2-4 p.m. Musical entertain- words maximum) and to the point. As to sub;ect matter, we are Chevron gas station stamp, the reached by July 12, the instructor ment accompanies each tea, and passport holder is eligible to win We want to print all the letters we guided by good taste. This in- receive but since we have limited cludes not printing letters or com- is released from the contract. there are new musicians on the a year's free gas. You can call 1- space, we reserve the right to edit mentaries that are personal at- Friday of this week, July 12, is list of perfonners. torlength and clarity. 800-661-6603 to have out of tacks, derogatory, or promote vio- registration deadline. After this town friends or relatives receive Commentaries can be longer (500 words) and are more in-depth lence, racism, or sexism. date, some courses may have to Youth leadership their passport for free. Opinions in the Express are The Canadian Red Cross Society than letters. Commentaries usualty not necessarily those of the pub- be cancelled - if you are plan- require some research and should The Canadian Red Cross is C CLA,S,.1;K.' •ord #-16 &OLUTION offer new information, as well as an lisher or the Express's advertisers. ning to take a course, call the -s ys p """ AC E ■ O E MO N ■ Langham to reserve your spot. now accepting applications for its L V A N ■ AN 0 A A K ~ Don't be disappointed. For more Youth Leadership Seminar, to be TIRJ AG I C T 0 NG U E held August 25-30, 1996. The A I s -o SE- A S E information call 604-353-266 I. A A Ml A A I S E ■ N E L The reproducJ,ion of any material contained in this publication is strictly forbidden withouJ. the prior consent of the publisher. THE KOOTKNAY WEEKEY EXPRESS IS PRINTED IN CANADA Full closure of Slocan River fishery B.C. Environment seminar helps young people develop leadership, communica- tion skills, and international awareness. A unique feature of --_, S C A L p E A ■ V I S AS E D El NIE T A S ■ A I o- F I N E A ■ A T T E S T S T E A A A I y AIH - A E ,_ -- S P A ON RECYCLED PAPER. Anglers are remirided that this seminar is that it is coordi- er.: TM AN ■ U L S T E A Publicanon• Mail Aj/reemenl #0654353. Paid at Ne/so", B.C. E L L E NS ■ MA K E u p there is a complete fishing clo- nated and led by young people ■ SE DAT SW AM e• sure of the Slocan and Little and uses experiential learning, Theme Scramble: STARCHILD