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The Canadian EarthCare Society (EarthCare) is a non-profit environmental organization with a mandate to protect Earth's environment through advocacy and public education...

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Pesticide Info

Kelowna Adopts Pesticide Bylaw

City Of Kelowna Launches "Be Pesticide Free" Campaign

Article by Don Burnett

2,4D Pesticide Fact Sheet (Download)

Sign up for the Pesticide Registry

more info coming soon

The Green Vacation Challenge: An Initiative from EarthCare and Bearfoot Canada

Visit the Website

What's New?

Leaked report shows that changing the way the Mininstry of Environment operates has sever implications

Do-it-yourself conservation: Will bears go on Facebook?
Social media are a key part of B.C. environment ministry shuffle By Ethan Baron,

The Province September 15, 2010

Tweet tweet: The provincial government is moving away from trying to reduce environmental impacts in favour of social-media outreach and do-it-yourself environmental protection. The move comes as part of a massive and secretive Ministry of Environment reorganization, revealed in a leaked memo.

"It is clear we can no longer spend so much of our time responding to specific projects and trying to mitigate negative impacts," says the memo sent Monday by deputy minister Doug Konkin to all staff.

"Future success depends on accelerating the shift to proactive environmental management; on using social media and finding more ways to get manufacturers, proponents and society to protect the environment."

This sea change, unannounced to the public, but effective last Monday, centralizes the four major ministry departments -- environmental protection, environmental stewardship, water stewardship and parks -- into two new divisions.

No ministry jobs will be cut, but some staff may be moved to other functions, ministry spokesman Suntanu Dalal says in an email to The Province, confirming the contents of the Konkin's memo.

Konkin, in his memo, says the change is not about money. "We do face further budget reductions next year but need to address those by changing work processes and systems, not by reorganization."

The memo was leaked to the Wilderness Committee. The group's spokeswoman, Gwen Barlee, said there are no more efficiencies to be gained in a ministry that has seen staff and funding halved since the Liberals took power in 2001.

"The Ministry of Environment doesn't need more reorganization, it needs more funding and it needs more staff and it needs better environmental laws," Barlee said. "We don't have the hydrologists or the biologists or the environmental scientists on the ground enforcing the few laws that we have remaining."

Konkin's reference to "market-based instruments" and reliance on social media suggest the government will reduce oversight and hand industry an increasing role in environmental management, Barlee said.

"It's not adequate to leave the management of the environment to Twitter and Facebook and to market-based approaches, which means logging companies and mining companies telling us the right ways and the wrong ways to manage the environment," Barlee said.

The ministry hasn't developed specific plans for using social media. The changes will not result in reduced environmental protection, Dalal said in his email to The Province.

Coming from a government that has laid waste to environmental-protection budgets, it's hard to believe this change is not about the money -- likely, it's preparation for staff cuts next year.

As for B.C.'s salmon, wolves, bears, caribou and other creatures, it looks like they better make like the birds, and learn how to tweet.

ebaron@theprovince.com

© Copyright (c) The Province

New Report on Parks Released

Subject: BC Auditor General's latest report: Conservation of Ecological Integrity in B.C. Parks and Protected Areas

Good afternoon,

As Auditor General of British Columbia, I just released my latest report, Conservation of Ecological Integrity in B.C. Parks and Protected Areas. Should you be interested in viewing this report, as well as the associated news release and/or supplemental materials, they can be accessed from the home page of the Office’s website at www.bcauditor.com.

I welcome your feedback on the report at communicationsteam@bcauditor.com.

The RDCO has officially opposed the sinking of the pontoons

"The Regional Board does not support the sinking of the old floating bridge pontoons into Okanagan Lake. It's resolution recognizes the Province has jurisdiction over the eventual outcome of how the old pontoons will be disposed and that the Province has a contract with SNC Lavalin, but asks that the Province ensures environmentally friendly disposal options are thoroughly investigated before a final decision is made on the fate of the former bridge pontoons."

Details can be found in the RDCO Staff Report dated Jan. 21, 2009.

A 13-year-old challenges pontoon scheme

By Judie Steeves - Kelowna Capital News
Published: December 11, 2008 10:00 PM Updated: December 13, 2008 9:02 PM

Raphael Nowak of Kelowna says his experiments show dumping the old floating bridge pontoons to the bottom of Okanagan Lake is a harmful idea. A 13-year-old Kelowna boy, who admits to being captivated by old ships and passionate about Okanagan Lake, has conducted an experiment to demonstrate the potentially harmful affects of dropping the 12 old bridge pontoons to the bottom of the lake. Raphael Nowak says that may be the easiest solution to disposal of the huge slabs of concrete, but it doesn't make any sense. About a year ago he built a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) with a skeleton built from irrigation pipes and lights for probing the depths of the lake so he could learn more about the deep parts where he couldn't dive. He saved his money and bought himself an underwater camera, manipulator arms and began exploring the deeps from the 12-foot aluminum boat he and his 15-year-old brother Ephraim use to go fishing. He found that Okanagan Lake has extremely dense sediments but there are different seaweeds and fish, boulders and even tires down there as well. He was also surprised to find water intakes and pumps far under the surface of the lake. With construction of a new bridge over the lake, he's been very interested in watching its completion and the dismantling of the old bridge.

"It's not every day you can watch something like that," he said. However, he is adamant that the pontoons should not be dumped to the bottom of the lake, and became determined to prove the potential problems with such a scheme. Finally, on Nov. 10, the boys found a calm day when conditions were perfect so as to take their boat out far enough to conduct the experiment and have good visibility. Their dad, Sam Nowak, usually gets the boat out and launches it for them, but both boys have obtained their operators' licences and taken the VHF radio course, so they usually go out alone. On this day they went out about 200 metres from shore near Cedar Creek in the Mission area, where the water is about 30 metres deep.

"We positioned the boat and hovered the robot at the bottom. Then we dropped a 10-pound piece of cement in front of it from different heights," explained Nowak. The first drop was from about three metres off the bottom and a cloud of sediment puffed up around the block. During 10 drops, they dropped it from higher up each time to get an idea of the different impacts it had on the lake bottom from different heights. A plume five metres by five metres was created, Raphael said, and it spread to the side and up the water column. As well, a current was moving the plume.

"Without question, dropping the (thousands of tonnes of) concrete pontoons will stir up a huge plume of sediments," he concluded. "The deeper you are, you are going to have way more sediment, and the suction from those 4,000-tonne pieces landing on the bottom will create a plume miles and miles wide, which will definitely pollute water supplies," he added. His dad is proud of Raphael's efforts, and notes the government should pay attention and not take the cheap way of disposing of such things, by dumping them in the lake. "We have a moral obligation to set a good example for the children," he said.

His son thinks much further ahead, he notes, to the next generation, instead of just the immediate future. Raphael has written to a local lawyer who has also expressed concerns about the disposal plans and says he's trying to let the community to know it's not a good idea. Last weekend Raphael visited fellow concerned citizen Richard Drinnan, a retired environmental and resource management consultant who has been in contact with both the environment and transportation ministries regarding his concern.

Drinnan argues there has been no analysis of what's in the sediments that would be disturbed if the pontoons are dropped into the lake. He says the impact speed has been estimated at 46 kilometres an hour by a naval architect, and he doesn't believe it will be possible to predict just where they will land, or whether they will hit a steep slope and cause gouging and even more sediment disturbance. What's in those sediments is of particular concern to him. "It's a crap shoot what's down there," Drinnen says. Because the dumping will impact our water reservoir, he says there should be a full public review of the project.

"It's intentionally been engineered to look smaller than it will be," he adds. Because an estimated 210,000 cubic metres, or 30,000 dump truck loads of sediment will be disturbed, he said it's just like that is being dumped into our reservoir. Drinnan feels Nowak's video should be shown to the environment ministry to indicate how much impact even a small piece dropped on the lakebed can have.
jsteeves@kelownacapnews.com

Articulate inventor Raphael Nowak,13, shows off the robot he created to carry his underwater camera to the depths of Okanagan Lake and film an experiment to indicate what sort of sediment plume can be expected when a chunk of concrete is dropped to the lakebed. He's opposed to the proposal to dump the concrete pontoons from the old bridge into the lake.

Sean Connor/Capital News

Pontoons delay bridge demolition

by Wayne Moore - Story: 43388
Dec 1, 2008 / 5:00 am

A decision by the Ministry of Environment is having an effect on the demolition of the old Okanagan Lake Floating Bridge.

SNC Lavalin, the contractor charged with decommissioning the old structure, is awaiting word from the Ministry as to whether they will be allowed to sink a dozen pontoons from the old structure.

The plan to sink the pontoons has been met with opposition from area municipalities and environmental groups.

SNC Lavalin had hoped to sink the pontoons sometime this fall, however, that now appears unlikely.

Ministry of Transportation official, Jon Buckle, says the delay in dealing with the pontoons has put the demolition of the bridge a bit behind schedule.

He says it's too early to say whether the contractor will fall short of its contractual obligation of having the bridge totally dismantled within 12 months of the opening of the William R. Bennett Bridge.

While they await word on the pontoons, Buckle says work is progressing on the dismantling of the steel lift span.

"The towers are pretty much down which is a big step forward," says Buckle.

"The counterweights and everything that was kind of hanging up on the towers is pretty well down and a lot of it is on barges waiting to be taken to the graving dock for shipping out."

Buckle says SNC Lavalin had hoped to have the lift span dismantled by January.

"I don't think they are quite where they originally thought. A number of things in terms of the removal of the bridge have taken a little more time than we expected for all kinds of different reasons."

He says the contractor is ready to proceed with sinking of the pontoons if the Ministry of Environment comes back with approval.

EarthCare asks B.C. Environmental Assessment Office
to declare sinking Okanagan Lake Bridge
reviewable under the B.C. Assessment Act.

On November 11, 2008, Lloyd Manchester wrote to Mr. Garry Alexander,
Project Assessment Director, Shoreline Modification Projects, BC Environmental Assessment Office to request that Okanagan lake Bridge Floating Bridge become a reviewable project.

Dear Gary,

I am writing you to request that the EAO deem the sinking of Okanagan Lake Floating Bridge as reviewable under the regulations. In the interests of brevity, EarthCare supports this documentation as a rationale (footprint is over 2 hectares) to have the sinking of the bridge made reviewable under the Act.

EarthCare is concerned with the environmental impacts of sinking the bridge and sincerely hopes that you share them and ensure that this project will not cause harm to the public that use Okanagan Lake as a drinking water source.

I look forward to your early response to our request.

Environmentally yours,

Lloyd Manchester

Related documents:

Letter to G. Alexander (.doc)
Changes to impact areas (.xls)
Talisman Reclamation Plan (pdf)
Letter requesting exemption (pdf)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NOTICE

Application for Approval Under the Provisions of the Environmental Management Act.
Okanagan Lake Concession Limited Partnership the "Concessionaire" and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of British Columbia; as represented by the Minister of Transportation, submit this application to the Director for approval to authorize the disposal of the concrete pontoons and piers from Okanagan Lake Bridge into Okanagan lake.

The disposal is proposed to occur at the following locations:
* Twelve Pontoons - sunk in the section of the lake between Traders Cove and Wilson's Landing in greater that 150m depth of water.
* Two Piers - sunk in the section of lake between Gellatly and Trepanier in greater than 150m depth of water.

The approximate quantity of concrete for the pontoons and piers is 11,000 cubic meters.
Prior to sinking, the pontoons and piers will be carefully cleaned and all deleterious materials and potential contaminants will be removed in accordance with all regulatory requirements.

Any person who may be adversely affected by the proposed disposal and wishes to provide relevant information may, within 30 days after the last date of posting, publishing, service or display, send written comments to the address below, with a copy to the Regional Manager, Environmental Protection, at 102 Industrial Place, Penticton, B.C., V2A-7C8. The identity of any respondents and the contents of anything submitted in relation to this application will become part of the public record.

WRB Bridge Environmental Protection Notice
#300 - 1358 St. Paul Street
Kelowna, B.C. V1Y2E1

Letters of concern should be sent to the Regional Manager, Environmental Protection,
at 102 Industrial Place, Penticton, B.C., V2A-7C8. You can also email Dale Bonke at dale.bonke@gov.bc.ca Please cc your emails to info@earthcares.org

Also you can read a column by:
Richard Drinnan, M.Sc., Guest Columnist – Kelowna Daily Courier, October 26, 2008.

Rational For Not Sinking The Bridge

read more here

Pontoon Article in Kelowna Daily Courier

read more here

Bridge pontoons could become a hazard

Read The Answers!

Voter info can be obtained at http://www.kelowna.ca/CM/Page161.aspx

Candidate information can be obtained at

http://www.kelowna.ca/CM/Page954.aspx

Help prevent CANADA'S GREATEST CONSERVATION OPPORTUNITY from being lost!

PLEASE take 5 MINUTES to WRITE and PHONE for a new SOUTH OKANAGAN -
SILMILKAMEEN NATIONAL PARK

Right now the BC and federal governments are undertaking a
joint feasibility study to look at the possibility of
creating a new national park reserve in the desert,
grasslands, and Ponderosa pine forests of the South Okanagan
and Similkameen Valleys in southern BC. To be located near
the towns of Osoyoos, Oliver, and Keremeos, this proposal is
currently Canada's greatest conservation opportunity. A
decision on whether the park will go ahead is expected to
occur late this year or in 2009.

ZEBA

Zeba is a biodegradable, non-toxic, odourless, corn starch based super-absorbant product that promotes healthy lawns, landscapes and houseplants with less watering.

For more details and sale information follow the link.

EarthCare joins Campaign for B.C. Parks

Visit the Friends of the Campaign for BC Parks
website to read fact sheet and sign petition

Pesticide Bylaw

Encourage Council to adopt a pesticide by-law in our community that would ban the use of cosmetic pesticides such as 2,4-D.
read more...

HOW SAFE IS YOUR DEODORANT/ANTIPERSPIRANT?

All anti-perspirants and some deodorants contain aluminum. Aluminum clogs your pores and is the element that keeps you from sweating. Inhibiting a natural process by which you release toxins from your body is essentially unhealthy. As well, aluminum is absorbed and accumulated in the body, and has been linked to serious illnesses including osteoporosis, extreme nervousness, anemia, headache, decreased liver and kidney function, forgetfulness, speech disturbances and memory loss.
read more...

Solutions to make your lawn healthy and how to use native plants to reduce water consumption

Is a National Park Reserve Feasible?

The South Okanagan-Lower Similkameen is part of the "Interior Dry Plateau", a region of rolling plains dissected by deep valleys and long narrow lakes with a particular ecosystem. This area is one of the most interesting and ecologically diverse parts of Canada with many native plants and animals, and natural communities found nowhere else in Canada. The Interior Dry Plateau Natural Region is currently not represented in the national parks system. Parks Canada and the province of British Columbia are examining the possibility of protecting this area by identifying a certain park boundary. Read more...

Uranium mining in the Okanagan Valley	Take Action on Uranium Mining
*Update: Coalition Organized to Oppose Uranium Mining in British Columbia* EarthCare has joined the Uranium-Free BC Mining Coalition. Read the Press Release Here.
Update: Boss Gold International (BOG.H) now controls the Blizzard Uranium Deposit For details of this announcement, click here.
We will be updating our site on this issue as time permits. In the meantime, we encourage you to write letters to the government requesting that Uranium mining not be allowed in British Columbia and that a moritorium be enacted. Read More....

Meg Sears 2,4-D document

In this article: Pesticide regulation is examined in the context of Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s assessment of the chlorophenoxy herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for turf. 2,4-D. Read More...

City Of Kelowna Launches "Be Pesticide Free" Campaign

The City of Kelowna is launching a new campaign encouraging residents to reduce pesticide use and explore pesticide alternatives for the home and garden. To promote the "Be Pesticide Free" campaign, the Environment Division is offering Pesticide Free lawn signs and carabiner key chains that include "recipe" cards for creating eco-friendly pesticide alternatives such as "hot and spicy pest repellent", "vinegar weed eradicator" and "orange zest". Read More...

City of Kelowna Considers Enacting Pesticide Bylaw
Kelowna City Council, in their meeting on Monday, considered creating a bylaw prohibiting the use of certain cosmetic pesticides, citing existing support for such a bylaw and the need for education of the effects of pesticides on groundwater and wildlife. Read More....

EarthCare Kicks off the Green Vacation Challenge	View our Website at www.greenvacationchallenge.com

- Also, check out the Press Release

Katimavik Volunteers

Katimavik volunteers Karen Ka-Yan Cheung from Burnaby (left) and Jennifer Brooks from Mackenzie B.C. take in the sites of Kelowna from Knox mountain. Jennifer is working with EarthCare while in Kelowna

Katimavik Volunteer

Katimavik volunteer Jennifer Brooks from Mackenzie B.C. shows off two rainbarrels that she painted for EarthCare.

For Older Updates, See our ARCHIVE

How We Do It

EarthCare has used appeal processes, the court systems, discussions with politicians, corporations and stakeholder groups to create an atmosphere that fosters positive change. Over 90% of our work is educationally based.

We support the public in voicing their concerns on environmental issues that affect their lives. EarthCare hopes that you will utilize our website to become aware and effect change. Please use our take action section!! It is important to let decision makers know how you feel.

Our mission is to create change in a positive manner for the benefit of all. We hope you will join us.

* Contact information for BC MLAs, the Minister of Forests and the premier is available on our "links and resources" page.

Volunteer?
	The Canadian EarthCare Society is always looking for community concious individuals who would like to do more to help. Volunteers are a big part of our organization. If you feel you fit this bill then we encourage you to please fill out our volunteer application... more

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What's New?

Read The Answers!

ZEBA

EarthCare joins Campaign for B.C. Parks

Take Action on Uranium Mining

Update: Coalition Organized to Oppose Uranium Mining in British Columbia
EarthCare has joined the Uranium-Free BC Mining Coalition.
Read the Press Release Here.

Update: Boss Gold International (BOG.H) now controls the Blizzard Uranium Deposit
For details of this announcement, click here.

~ HOME ~

What's New?

Read The Answers!

ZEBA

EarthCare joins Campaign for B.C. Parks

Take Action on Uranium Mining

Update: Coalition Organized to Oppose Uranium Mining in British Columbia EarthCare has joined the Uranium-Free BC Mining Coalition. Read the Press Release Here.

Update: Boss Gold International (BOG.H) now controls the Blizzard Uranium Deposit For details of this announcement, click here.

Update: Coalition Organized to Oppose Uranium Mining in British Columbia
EarthCare has joined the Uranium-Free BC Mining Coalition.
Read the Press Release Here.

Update: Boss Gold International (BOG.H) now controls the Blizzard Uranium Deposit
For details of this announcement, click here.