SLOCAN LAKE
STEWARDSHIP SOCIETY
PO Box 322 New Denver, BC V0G 1S0 Email:slocanlakess@netidea.com
Click here for a detailed report of the 2008 SLSS studies.
BACKGROUND
June 2006: At a Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) public forum in New
Denver, residents inquire about possible plan for Slocan Lake; MLA Evans states 300 signatures would indicate support to proceed
September 2006: 350 residents sign "petitions" in favor of establishing a management
plan for Slocan Lake
October 2006: At an Official Community Plan (OCP) public information meeting in
New Denver, Slocan Lake is identified as a priority by the community
Late Fall 2007: Ads in the Valley Voice newspaper invite interested residents to Slocan
Lake Management Committee organizational meeting
Winter/Spring 2006-2007: Slocan Lake Management Committee ("The Committee") is
formed, with 13 members and 5 sub-committees, creating a goal of sharing research and information about Slocan Lake with members and the community.
· Lake Inventory
· Lake Models
· Foreshore
· Water Quality
- Water Recreation
Spring 2007:
· (RDCK)Area H -North begins Offical Community Plan (OCP) process, through local volunteer Advisory Planning Commission (APC) for North Slocan Valley
· The Committee establishes a working relationship with the APC; member, Gerry Toop attends Committee meetings as APC liaison
· The APC and SLSS create a partnership with RDCK to share the Baseline Study research and recommendations for Slocan Lake and to be taken into consideration in the APC's draft guidelines for a lake management plan and the OCP
· The Committee joins the BC Lake Stewardship Society (BCLSS), which has implemented a province-wide community-based lake monitoring program
· Committee volunteers are trained and begin to monitor lake temperature and turbidity; this is called a secchi dip test
June 2007: With funding support from RDCK, 3 Committee members attend a
provincial conference on lake monitoring and planning. Informative conference notes and audio CDs are available to Committee and to public.
The Committee determines that a scientific Baseline Study of Slocan Lake is a priority. At least 10 B.C. communities have published studies and/or plans in place:
Central Okanagan Lake Foreshore Inventory and Mapping, Thompson-Nicola Regional District Lake Study Policy, Christina Lake Management Plan, Cariboo Regional District Lakeshore Management Policy, Tabor Lake Management Plan, Lake Windemere Management Strategy, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George Lakeshore Guidelines, Peace River Regional District Lakeshore Development Guidelines, Charlie Lake Environmental Strategic Plan, Wasa Lake Management Plan, W Kootenay Lake Baseline Study (to be completed 2007).
Summer 2007: As little information exists regarding Slocan Lake, the Committee
decides to plan and fundraise for a Baseline Study and to register in BC as a Society.
August 2007: The SLOCAN LAKE STEWARDSHIP SOCIETY is registered in BC with the following:
PURPOSE
a) To research and cooperatively plan guidelines that will insure the care and protection of Slocan Lake and foreshore;
b) To support and initiate projects and programs for sustainable lake use;
c) To facilitate education regarding Slocan Lake, its tributaries and its environs
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2008-09:
President Mary Therese Des Camp (New Denver) - Writer, Christian Retreat Leader
Vice President Barbara Yeomans (New Denver) - retired Secondary Teacher
Treasurer Lane Haywood (New Denver) - retired Elementary Teacher
Secretary Ruby Truly (Rosebery) - Electronic Media Artist; Archivist
Director Andrea Wright (New Denver) Professional entrepreneur
Director Glenn Jordan (Red Mountain Road) - Builder
Director Richard Johnson (Rosebery) Professional Engineer
MEMBERSHIP: $20 annually; open to all; currently 61 paid members, including two group memberships: Destination Silverton and Red Mountain Residents Association
CONTACTS: Box 322, New Denver V0G 1S0; email: slocanlakess@netidea.com
SLSS RESEARCH PROJECTS and VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
SLOCAN LAKE BASELINE STUDY Completion June, 2009
Facilitated by SLSS, in partnership with Dept of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Regional District of Central Kootenay and the Advisory Planning Commission for Area H-North
Donations made by:
Columbia Basin Trust
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Nelson
Ministry of Environment Nelson
Regional District of Central Kootenay
UBCM
Village of New Denver
Village of Silverton
Village of Slocan City
Columbia Kootenay Fisheries Renewal Partnership
Shell Canada Limited
Columbia Power Corporation
Purpose: Lake Inventory
Reports completed:
DFO SHIM mapping report, Sensitive Habitat Assessment, Water Analysis Assessment
Final Reports to be shared with partners, funders and the public
For present SHIM mapping results go to: http://204.244.79.12/mapguide2008/kootenay/kootenay_frameset.php
Coming soon more volunteers welcome! For more information please contact:
slocanlakess@netidea.com OR SLSS
PO Box 322
New Denver, BC
V0G 1S0
OR Talk to a member in your community!
CREEL SURVEY
Organized by SLSS, assisted by Biology Consultant, MOE and community volunteers
Purpose: Fish Data Collection
Consists of: Specific documentation of fish caught from Slocan Lake, to be conducted by local volunteers
Reporting and recommendations: To be collected and shared with appropriate government agencies
Kokanee Spawning Study
Organized by SLSS, assisted by Biology Consultant, government agencies and community volunteers
Purpose: To acquire scientific data about kokanee spawning in Slocan Lake tributaries
WATER SAMPLING
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans sponsored two SLSS members to attend the North American Lake Symposium Conference at Lake Louise. From a silent auction, SLSS was able to purchase a water sampling kit for the Baseline Study and future water monitoring studies.
SLSS COMMUNITY EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
***SLSS General Meetings are held monthly, the first Tuesday of every month, 7pm at the Silverton Zion United Church and are open to non-members, which offer on going educational opportunities.
September, 2007 Garlic Festival Information Booth
November, 2007 What is the Slocan Lake Baseline Study?
Slide Show by Columbia Kayak
February, 2008 North Valley Mountain Film Festival: informational booth and members present
February, 2008 The Columbia River Treaty: Shaping our Lives
Now and in the Future
Kindy Gosal, Columbia Basin Trust
April, 2008 Community Splash: Climate Change Speaker
Series
Climate change experts discuss impact on the
Columbia Basin; sponsored by CBT, hosted by SLSS
May, 2008 Tales from Slocan Lake: an evening of sharing
reminiscent stories and pictures from locals, including Denny Butler's video footage of sunken ore train.
September, 2008 Garlic Festival Information Booth
February, 2009 North Valley Mountain Film Festival: informational booth and members present
March, 2009 Slocan Lake Scientific Baseline Study Celebration: SLSS celebrates the completion of the Baseline Study project; a brief presentation summarizing the project, by Luce Paquin, with refreshments and conversation to follow. A special thank you to our sponsors listed on page 3.
SLOCAN LAKE
STEWARDSHIP SOCIETY
PO Box 322 New Denver, BC V0G 1S0 Email:slocanlakess@netidea.com
Please Note: SLSS Logo Design Donated by Tom Tassel