At four seconds a day, at the beginning, now, I can feel the morning light is gaining strength. The river has done it's ice ballet pirouette dance, on time again, it's icy jagged blanket on so warm and cosy. So much dangerous beauty in the winter, unless you're dressed right. The scalding cold wind on my face today as I recklously walk along the rivers edge admiring the master painters work etched in transparent black ice.
So by the new year in January, I'll be leaving this beautiful yet cruel cold world, no, I'm not planning to off myself (I made it fine through Christmas), I'll be heading off to Guatemala with a good friend. At this point in my sputtering, meandering career, I feel it's time to give something back and recharge my short circuited batteries at the same time. We'll be helping poor Mayan families in Xela to build low cost cook stoves through the amazing NGO called Guatemala Stove Project. If I don't have their link on this blog, I'll try to add it soon.
I'll be leaving on a high note for my involvement with SOS I hope. I have made plans with Paul Symes of Wakefield's Black Sheep to stage a show in February, with local bands and Maude Barlow speaking for the Council of Canadians, on our behalf to protect our spring and our local environment. Who needs an excuse for a party eh?
Stay tuned, the light is returning...
Monday, December 27, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Final EA for phase II highway 5
This is my take with the spring in mind. A few things worry me:
1) It is some consultant's opinion that there is no hydraulic link between the Wakefield spring and Carmen/Brown's lake watershed - and that it does not reach the 105. (I have trouble believing this, especially since there is no reference to how this was determined). The EA report goes on to say that the aquifer supply is located on a slope located a bit more that 100 m north of Brown's Lake road (this is vague to say the least!). Then further on in the EA, there is a stmt that says "according to NRCan experts, that the upper watershed area (Brown's lake?) moves through the gravel pit (I assume they mean the one that is being filled in at the end of Rockhurst?). Again, I think it is likely that much, if not all, the spring water supply, moves through the valley behind Giant Tiger and it would be responsible to limit development that is currently filling in this valley (especially from the newly built house at the end of Rockhurst) with dirty fill. We should be on top of this as it's in our neighborhood!
2) LaPeche has launched research to determine the cause for the increase in total coliforms over the past 3 years. I find it strange that Council provided me with only 6 mths of water quality studies (there seems to be a problem giving us older data?). Also not clear how Health Canada is involved here, as there is no study referenced, their explanation is bizarre: "many users are filling large containers with a hose to their car trunk" (not a bad idea actually since all that lifting, especially in winter is difficult and unsafe for some people). I've never seen this practice and have doubts that this hose could contaminate the spring valve (unless they were using this same hose to pump septic waste?). Something sounds smelly to me here.
3) The section on monitoring is not just to verify if mitigation measures have been implemented, - but to ensure they address concerns noted. The report says that the env. follow-up will be coordinated by MTQ to verify the accuracy of the EA and effectiveness of mitigation measures (sounds like the same activity?). They say that the spring will be monitored for 2 yrs - even if it falls in the "no problems anticipated" category (MTQ - 2010) - what is the methodology for this I wonder?
The report goes on to say that if the water quality/quantity falls below "accepted levels" - and deterioration is deemed project related (by who and how?), environmental follow-up will continue for at least one year (this does not reassure me!).
If this is the case with the spring, will the MTQ be able to supply potable water to people who currently use the spring? (I sincerely doubt it!).
4) Section on adaptive mgt leaves the door open for further studies and actions if required? The assumed caveat here is presumably related to residual impacts. IF results reveal a need, actions will be taken to correct the situation and ensure a supply of potable water to residents (therefore, the residual impact is not fully addressed right?). Reality is, once our spring is contaminated, it will probably be too late to correct the problem!
Happy holidays!
1) It is some consultant's opinion that there is no hydraulic link between the Wakefield spring and Carmen/Brown's lake watershed - and that it does not reach the 105. (I have trouble believing this, especially since there is no reference to how this was determined). The EA report goes on to say that the aquifer supply is located on a slope located a bit more that 100 m north of Brown's Lake road (this is vague to say the least!). Then further on in the EA, there is a stmt that says "according to NRCan experts, that the upper watershed area (Brown's lake?) moves through the gravel pit (I assume they mean the one that is being filled in at the end of Rockhurst?). Again, I think it is likely that much, if not all, the spring water supply, moves through the valley behind Giant Tiger and it would be responsible to limit development that is currently filling in this valley (especially from the newly built house at the end of Rockhurst) with dirty fill. We should be on top of this as it's in our neighborhood!
2) LaPeche has launched research to determine the cause for the increase in total coliforms over the past 3 years. I find it strange that Council provided me with only 6 mths of water quality studies (there seems to be a problem giving us older data?). Also not clear how Health Canada is involved here, as there is no study referenced, their explanation is bizarre: "many users are filling large containers with a hose to their car trunk" (not a bad idea actually since all that lifting, especially in winter is difficult and unsafe for some people). I've never seen this practice and have doubts that this hose could contaminate the spring valve (unless they were using this same hose to pump septic waste?). Something sounds smelly to me here.
3) The section on monitoring is not just to verify if mitigation measures have been implemented, - but to ensure they address concerns noted. The report says that the env. follow-up will be coordinated by MTQ to verify the accuracy of the EA and effectiveness of mitigation measures (sounds like the same activity?). They say that the spring will be monitored for 2 yrs - even if it falls in the "no problems anticipated" category (MTQ - 2010) - what is the methodology for this I wonder?
The report goes on to say that if the water quality/quantity falls below "accepted levels" - and deterioration is deemed project related (by who and how?), environmental follow-up will continue for at least one year (this does not reassure me!).
If this is the case with the spring, will the MTQ be able to supply potable water to people who currently use the spring? (I sincerely doubt it!).
4) Section on adaptive mgt leaves the door open for further studies and actions if required? The assumed caveat here is presumably related to residual impacts. IF results reveal a need, actions will be taken to correct the situation and ensure a supply of potable water to residents (therefore, the residual impact is not fully addressed right?). Reality is, once our spring is contaminated, it will probably be too late to correct the problem!
Happy holidays!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
This sign says it all!
I found a sign the other day
It was near the place
Pierre,Kevin and I
found another for sale lot sign
That said "I B 1"
Maybe it was a synchronistic?
Of a time to come?
But that sign was no more than 100 ft
To the entrance to Brown’s lake
That I noticed immediately
Just laying on the ground
Maybe one of our ancestors had pity
To prop it up on a small tree
So it wouldn't be lost forever?
Like all the trees surrounding it
That will be erased by a highway
Steamrolling it's way up north?
Even more synchronistic
I must have walked over this sign
At least a dozen times
In my many excursions
In and around Brown’s lake
Down to this exact route
Into the beautiful Valle Verde
For over 25 years and counting..
What a revelation this was!
At first I thought this sign should stay
Exactly where it was found
But Ian Huggett from Eco Watch
Who has been a local hero to me over the years,
Thought it was best to rescue it
At he end of the media photo shoot
I asked Ian if it would be OK
To donate this recued sign to the SOS cause?
He graciously agreed, it's not like he owned it?
This sign resonates for me
like when I was a boy scout leader
And "Be prepared" was our motto of the day
Though I was never fully indonctrinated
Into the Military or PS equivalent
I carry on the simplistic and frugal life
That is a testamount to my brothers teachings
And my university and life's experience
Wherever we camped or inadvertantly tread
That we should leave it cleaner before we arrived
Than after we left - big to smaller footprints
Some signs and simplistic mottos never change
It was near the place
Pierre,Kevin and I
found another for sale lot sign
That said "I B 1"
Maybe it was a synchronistic?
Of a time to come?
But that sign was no more than 100 ft
To the entrance to Brown’s lake
That I noticed immediately
Just laying on the ground
Maybe one of our ancestors had pity
To prop it up on a small tree
So it wouldn't be lost forever?
Like all the trees surrounding it
That will be erased by a highway
Steamrolling it's way up north?
Even more synchronistic
I must have walked over this sign
At least a dozen times
In my many excursions
In and around Brown’s lake
Down to this exact route
Into the beautiful Valle Verde
For over 25 years and counting..
What a revelation this was!
At first I thought this sign should stay
Exactly where it was found
But Ian Huggett from Eco Watch
Who has been a local hero to me over the years,
Thought it was best to rescue it
At he end of the media photo shoot
I asked Ian if it would be OK
To donate this recued sign to the SOS cause?
He graciously agreed, it's not like he owned it?
This sign resonates for me
like when I was a boy scout leader
And "Be prepared" was our motto of the day
Though I was never fully indonctrinated
Into the Military or PS equivalent
I carry on the simplistic and frugal life
That is a testamount to my brothers teachings
And my university and life's experience
Wherever we camped or inadvertantly tread
That we should leave it cleaner before we arrived
Than after we left - big to smaller footprints
Some signs and simplistic mottos never change
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Senator D Head
My neighbor, the "esteemed" Senator Raymond Lavigne is a real D Head. Not only does he get away with building an ugly big house on designated flood plain land, get his aid to cut down the neighbors trees, sick the cops and lawyers on me and my neighbors, but we have to look at his God damn flood lights (5 at last count) that pollute the sanctity of a magnificent flowing river reflecting only stars and the moon. How dare he? Why would he? I mean these big light serve no purpose whatsoever, except maybe to further piss off the neighbors.
Granted, my neighbors and I have been spoiled over the decades we've lived here, but no other home on the river anywhere, is there more light pollution being sprayed out into the country night sky, than from Senator D Head's ugly house. Did I say his house is really ugly? With it's beige vinyl siding and ravaged shorelines turned into tacky docks and lots of tents and motor boats. Of course, the lush forest that used to be there is now completly gone. Full exposure.
I mean if the Senator and his wife want light and noise so bad,why don't they stay in the city? It's always been a mystery to me why he picked the spot he did. Is there gold, maybe rare earth elements over there? The amount of cash he must have spent just on adding fill and landscaping, not to mention the bucket loads of cash he spent to have the municipality surveyed, so he could make a deal with Council and retroactively, get his prize lot on the river. He only spent something like $20 K on the 2 acre lot, what a deal!
This obvious sense of entitlement enjoyed by Senator D Head has obviously spoiled something for me, and probably my neighbors. I realize now, I have to leave. I can't stay here anymore. So if anyone wants to buy this place for a song, let me know. I'm outta here, Mexico, here I come!
Granted, my neighbors and I have been spoiled over the decades we've lived here, but no other home on the river anywhere, is there more light pollution being sprayed out into the country night sky, than from Senator D Head's ugly house. Did I say his house is really ugly? With it's beige vinyl siding and ravaged shorelines turned into tacky docks and lots of tents and motor boats. Of course, the lush forest that used to be there is now completly gone. Full exposure.
I mean if the Senator and his wife want light and noise so bad,why don't they stay in the city? It's always been a mystery to me why he picked the spot he did. Is there gold, maybe rare earth elements over there? The amount of cash he must have spent just on adding fill and landscaping, not to mention the bucket loads of cash he spent to have the municipality surveyed, so he could make a deal with Council and retroactively, get his prize lot on the river. He only spent something like $20 K on the 2 acre lot, what a deal!
This obvious sense of entitlement enjoyed by Senator D Head has obviously spoiled something for me, and probably my neighbors. I realize now, I have to leave. I can't stay here anymore. So if anyone wants to buy this place for a song, let me know. I'm outta here, Mexico, here I come!
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