Dear Editor:
The following is an open letter to B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman.
It was a pleasure to meet with your Assistant Deputy Ministers, Jennifer McGuire and Jim Standen, on Aug. 22, regarding the imminent threat that zebra and quagga mussels pose to British Columbia’s freshwater ecology, native fish species, infrastructure, economy, tourism, beach quality, water quality, property values, hydro dams, drinking water, and all forms of freshwater recreation.
Your assistant deputy ministers agreed that despite the foundational boat inspection program in place, we are not at 100 per cent protection. Far from it, in fact. Without 24-hour stations at Dawson Creek, Mt. Robson, Radium, and Crowsnest, it is a mathematical inevitability that a mussel-infested boat will enter B.C. during the hours of the night, and will infest B.C. with zebra and/or quagga mussels.
As your assistant deputy ministers explained, leaving those four inter-provincial border crossings unmonitored at night is a calculated risk.
That is not acceptable. The “risk” in this “calculated risk” is far too great. If we miss one boat, we will have allowed a permanent and devastating change to B.C.’s freshwater.
You have a successful 24-hour station at Golden. There is no reason it can’t be replicated at the other four locations. If there is a way forward to more protection, we must proceed as soon as possible.
The primary obstacle is money, so let’s solve that.
I have put forward three ideas:
1) a new $5 fee attached to the B.C. fishing license;
2) a new mandatory boater registration process with a $10 fee;
3) a $3 yearly surcharge for BC Hydro customers.
These dollar amounts are estimates. Regardless, these measures would bring in the necessary additional funds.
Some people will be slightly annoyed to have to pay these fees, but once they understand the need, they will GLADLY part with some pocket change to protect where they play, and protect B.C.
In summary, there is a clear way forward here, and I can see no reason to not take it, with all haste. Let’s close the gaps. Isn’t B.C. worth it?
Brynne Morrice
Protect Our Freshwater
Society for the Protection of Kal Lake
I like the fact that we need to stop this potential invasion, however, I disagree with an additional tax, we must find the funds from within, all levels of government must find areas to trim the fat! There is waste of monies that happens at all levels and this practice must stop, the money tree is bare. As a home owner, when I need or want something I SAVE for it, I don’t ask my neighbor to help pay for it, as residents we pay a lot in taxes and governments must spend wisely….
I would readily contribute to the “mussel problem” through licence fees, car insurance, hydro, or whatever. The end result of an infestation seems well beyond the comprehension of the general public. No surprise. Why would anyone living a few kilometres away be affected, if they never went down to the lake. Especially if they came from places without lakes handy. Check out Lake Havasu if you head to Ariz. Can’t walk barefoot on the beach. If that happened in the OK, kiss your tourist revenue goodbye. Just don’t go asking for the gov’t to do this on existing funding. Not something we should cheap out on. Pay up.