Showing posts with label kokish river. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kokish river. Show all posts
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Saturday, 28 April 2012
Two Wild Summer Runs Return--Both Male
Reduce. Abuse. Recycle.
As in reduce habitat, abuse the fishery, and hopefully recycle the government that approved this project. Check out the articles in The Globe and Mail and The Times Colonist about the imminent approval (insider information?) and eventually approval of the Kokish River power project by The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
Two More, No More
When the history of dams on wild steelhead, trout and salmon runs is so horrible, this project should never have been approved. Take a dammed summer run steelhead river like the Puntledge, which eventually had a season where two wild summer run steelhead returned--both of which were male. We're slowly moving toward endangerment and extinction of these wild fish stocks working from south to north. The US endangered and extinct lists for wild stocks is huge compared to Canada's and now Canada is apparently looking to catch up. I have little doubt we'll move from three to two healthy summer run steelhead rivers on Vancouver Island's east coast given this new power project approval. Sad but true.
As in reduce habitat, abuse the fishery, and hopefully recycle the government that approved this project. Check out the articles in The Globe and Mail and The Times Colonist about the imminent approval (insider information?) and eventually approval of the Kokish River power project by The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
Two More, No More
When the history of dams on wild steelhead, trout and salmon runs is so horrible, this project should never have been approved. Take a dammed summer run steelhead river like the Puntledge, which eventually had a season where two wild summer run steelhead returned--both of which were male. We're slowly moving toward endangerment and extinction of these wild fish stocks working from south to north. The US endangered and extinct lists for wild stocks is huge compared to Canada's and now Canada is apparently looking to catch up. I have little doubt we'll move from three to two healthy summer run steelhead rivers on Vancouver Island's east coast given this new power project approval. Sad but true.
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Run of River and Freedom of Information
Here's a link to an article publicizing the results of Run of River power based on information obtained via a Freedom of Information request. To summarize, Run of River compromises fish and fish habitat. Who could've predicted that? Hundreds of dead fish on multiple occasions is unacceptable. Let's hope DFO has the gumption to nix all future Run of River projects in anadromous fish habitat. Crashing wild fish numbers and artificially enhanced numbers via hatchery production are both wrong. Fix the problem, not the symptoms.
Please email the contacts listed in my previous post before the DFO makes their decision on the Kokish River. Their decision is due to come down any day so write fast.
Please email the contacts listed in my previous post before the DFO makes their decision on the Kokish River. Their decision is due to come down any day so write fast.
Thursday, 1 March 2012
My Message to DFO: Save the Kokish
This is my email to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in opposition to the proposed Kokish River hydro project. Please make the time to send your own message and do it fast as a decision is due to come down in a matter of days. If you want to send an email, click on this DFO contact link.
I'm writing to express my opposition to the Kokish River power project proposal. The health of all steelhead and salmon rivers have been in decline for decades. This is undoubtedly largely due to the hands of man and our penchant for abusing the habitats these fish live in for our own purposes. Power can be generated via wind turbines or other methods--hydro does not have to be the main power generating method. I urge you to protect all steelhead and salmon rivers, starting with the Kokish. Please act on behalf of Canada's anadromous fish and turn down this proposal. I would also like to see a policy that sends a message that all steelhead and salmon rivers remain free flowing and uncompromised. That, along with habitat rehabilitation for our past transgressions, are our best hopes to rebuild Canada's anadromous fish populations.
Roy Wheeldon
Roy Wheeldon
Fly Fishing Fantasies
Skate First, Ask Questions Later
Willie Mitchell on Kokish River's Last Gasp
Only you and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) can save the Kokish River now. The provincial government has dropped the ball, letting one of Vancouver Island's last decent east coast steelhead rivers be decimated by their approval of a Run of River power project.
NHL defenceman and Van Isle native Willie Mitchell is one of many BC residents or groups throwing their names into the ring in the hopes of having the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the final gatekeeper for all Run of River power projects, turn down Brookfield's extremely harmful power project proposal. Below is today's Vancouver Sun advertisement hoping to create a last minute swell of opposition. Please contact the DFO and let your voice be heard quickly. We're likely only days away from their decision. I plan to email them right now to express my opposition, hopefully you will too.
NHL defenceman and Van Isle native Willie Mitchell is one of many BC residents or groups throwing their names into the ring in the hopes of having the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the final gatekeeper for all Run of River power projects, turn down Brookfield's extremely harmful power project proposal. Below is today's Vancouver Sun advertisement hoping to create a last minute swell of opposition. Please contact the DFO and let your voice be heard quickly. We're likely only days away from their decision. I plan to email them right now to express my opposition, hopefully you will too.
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Kokish River Power Project Approved?
Corporate Greed
Once again, some of the world's most beautiful ecotourism opportunities are about to be wiped out by hydro power--big corporate business squeezing the land for dollars and leaving the rotting pulp behind. Shameful!
Speak for the Kokish Now
Speak up for Chilean Patagonia and speak up for Vancouver Island's Kokish River. Speak out against run of river hydroelectricity. What's being touted as "green" power is sure to nearly or fully wipe out great runs of steelhead and salmon in the Kokish. How can you draw more than half of the Kokish's water from 9 of its 11 kilometres below Bonanza Lake and not adversely affect the river's ecosystem? You can't!
What Incredibly Beautiful Transmission Lines
In my opinion, a lucrative commercial fishing industry for wild salmon would still exist and the sport fishing industry would be a much bigger cash cow if habitat were properly protected and rehabilitated. Ecotourism in many forms could be reaping far greater profits. Last I checked many of the Germans, Japanese, Dutch, etc that come to the west coast of Canada weren't coming to see the transmission lines, they were coming to see the whales, the mountains,....
Tomorrow's too late!
The Kokish River could have only days left until it's power project proposal is given the stamp of APPROVAL/DISAPPROVAL from The Department of Fisheries and Oceans. I'm told this decision is likely to come down within a week or so. Stock assessments on the Kokish show that from 1968 to 1996 the mean annual steelhead catch was 220. From 1997-2001 this number had dropped to only 66. Is there something horribly wrong with a trend that has already reduced the run to 30% of what it was? And let's not kid ourselves, a 1968-1996 average is not this river's historical abundance either. Can this river afford to have a hydro project thrown into the mix?
Do Things Differently
The Kokish is only one of many BC steelhead, salmon, trout, bear, eagle, otter,...producing rivers that are in decline. We, humans, are the problem. Habitat destruction is the problem. If we hope to be the solution, we need to do things differently. The Kokish River is a good starting place. On a more global scale, run of river hydro as a future power source needs to go. At the very least it needs to go on all anadromous fish bearing streams. When there are rivers that have 2% of their historic numbers or even 0% of their historic numbers, you're well past critical levels. BC rivers need your help--your voice. BC rivers need run of river hydroelectric to be scrapped. Maybe DFO can be an ally, not an enemy. Speak up. If your voices are heard, maybe they'll feel they have the backing of the people in turning down the Kokish River proposal. Maybe your choice of words are the words that make it clear to DFO that it's time to can run of river instead of canning the ghost runs of fish we already see on many of our rivers.
Here's the conservation message that got me started on this rant.
Once again, some of the world's most beautiful ecotourism opportunities are about to be wiped out by hydro power--big corporate business squeezing the land for dollars and leaving the rotting pulp behind. Shameful!
Speak for the Kokish Now
Speak up for Chilean Patagonia and speak up for Vancouver Island's Kokish River. Speak out against run of river hydroelectricity. What's being touted as "green" power is sure to nearly or fully wipe out great runs of steelhead and salmon in the Kokish. How can you draw more than half of the Kokish's water from 9 of its 11 kilometres below Bonanza Lake and not adversely affect the river's ecosystem? You can't!
What Incredibly Beautiful Transmission Lines
In my opinion, a lucrative commercial fishing industry for wild salmon would still exist and the sport fishing industry would be a much bigger cash cow if habitat were properly protected and rehabilitated. Ecotourism in many forms could be reaping far greater profits. Last I checked many of the Germans, Japanese, Dutch, etc that come to the west coast of Canada weren't coming to see the transmission lines, they were coming to see the whales, the mountains,....
Tomorrow's too late!
The Kokish River could have only days left until it's power project proposal is given the stamp of APPROVAL/DISAPPROVAL from The Department of Fisheries and Oceans. I'm told this decision is likely to come down within a week or so. Stock assessments on the Kokish show that from 1968 to 1996 the mean annual steelhead catch was 220. From 1997-2001 this number had dropped to only 66. Is there something horribly wrong with a trend that has already reduced the run to 30% of what it was? And let's not kid ourselves, a 1968-1996 average is not this river's historical abundance either. Can this river afford to have a hydro project thrown into the mix?
Do Things Differently
The Kokish is only one of many BC steelhead, salmon, trout, bear, eagle, otter,...producing rivers that are in decline. We, humans, are the problem. Habitat destruction is the problem. If we hope to be the solution, we need to do things differently. The Kokish River is a good starting place. On a more global scale, run of river hydro as a future power source needs to go. At the very least it needs to go on all anadromous fish bearing streams. When there are rivers that have 2% of their historic numbers or even 0% of their historic numbers, you're well past critical levels. BC rivers need your help--your voice. BC rivers need run of river hydroelectric to be scrapped. Maybe DFO can be an ally, not an enemy. Speak up. If your voices are heard, maybe they'll feel they have the backing of the people in turning down the Kokish River proposal. Maybe your choice of words are the words that make it clear to DFO that it's time to can run of river instead of canning the ghost runs of fish we already see on many of our rivers.
Here's the conservation message that got me started on this rant.
Here's the type of fishing and scenery you might see or might have seen on a river like the Kokish. Irreplaceable!
Saturday, 5 March 2011
Fight Run of River Hydro in BC
Fight Run of River Hydro projects by emailing your displeasure to all three of the following contacts: Ron.Ptolemy@gov.bc.ca ; Martha.Anslow@gov.bc.ca; mjl@telus.net.
You can also donate to Fly Fishing Fantasies via our website at flyfishingfantasies.com. We are using exhilarating fishing footage to help people understand what's at stake. We hope to spread the word far and wide to enlist as many supporters as possible. The number of BC rivers targeted for Run of River projects numbers in the hundreds-please help. Your donations will be put to use to create additional videos aiming to stop all Run of River projects--not just one river at a time.
You can also donate to Fly Fishing Fantasies via our website at flyfishingfantasies.com. We are using exhilarating fishing footage to help people understand what's at stake. We hope to spread the word far and wide to enlist as many supporters as possible. The number of BC rivers targeted for Run of River projects numbers in the hundreds-please help. Your donations will be put to use to create additional videos aiming to stop all Run of River projects--not just one river at a time.
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