Spill at Terzaghi Dam Increased!  New Bylaw Notice Enforcement System

Spill at Terzaghi Dam revised and increased to 200 m3/s!  Be careful.

As outlined in late March, BC Hydro began the process of managing the Downtown Reservoir to a new normal operating maximum of 734 meters. At the time, they anticipated a gradual increase in water flows for the Lower Bridge River and the Seton River as the snowmelt increased through the spring and early summer. 

As a result of warmer conditions over the past month, the spring snowmelt in the region is well ahead of the seasonal pattern. Starting next week, they plan to accelerate their release schedule from Terzaghi Dam and raise the maximum release up to 200 m³/s across May and June. The increase in flow from current levels (55 m³/s) will be conducted in stages. It is important to note that, in addition to the higher flows, river levels can change significantly without notice during this time.

This revised release schedule is designed to provide additional flexibility to manage both Downton and Carpenter Reservoir elevations should the increased water supply forecast continue across the spring and summer.

Spill Schedule

BC Hydro reminds residents and visitors to stay away from the edges of the Lower Bridge and Seton Rivers during this high flow period and continue to be mindful of water safety throughout the year.

For additional information on climate, snow and reservoir conditions, please see www.bchydro.com/water.

My previous post on this topic(scroll down about halfway): http://www.debbiedemare.com/2016/03/updated-wildfire-threat-analysis-and.html


SLRD INTRODUCES NEW BYLAW NOTICE ENFORCEMENT AND DISPUTE ADJUDICATION SYSTEM

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) has implemented a new system for enforcing the regulatory provisions of many of its bylaws. Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1447-2016 was adopted by the SLRD Board on March 16, 2016 in conjunction with a new ticketing and dispute adjudication system. With the bylaw and system in place, both the police and SLRD staff can be authorized to write bylaw notices (i.e. tickets) for bylaw infractions. A part-time Bylaw Enforcement Officer has been hired to oversee the program.

Under this new system, Bylaw Notices (i.e. tickets) may be issued to people or corporations who contravene the provisions of many of the SLRD’s bylaws, including those related to zoning, noise, signage, unsightly premises, land clearing and debris pollution management, and soil deposit and removal, among others. A person or company receiving a bylaw notice may either pay the ticket, or they can dispute it through a screening process and, ultimately, to an independent provincially appointed adjudicator, rather than through the court system.

“In recent years, the number of complaints the SLRD receives regarding various bylaw infractions has been increasing,” says Jack Crompton, SLRD Board Chair. “This system gives us a new tool to enforce SLRD bylaws while at the same time providing residents and businesses with a fair, affordable and effective means of resolving disputes outside of the Provincial Court system.”

The goal of the SLRD Bylaw Enforcement system is not to penalize people, but to achieve compliance with SLRD bylaws in order to maintain a safe and livable region for all residents. Incentives are provided by way of discounts for early payment or penalties, and surcharges may be added for late payments. Reduced penalties combined with appropriate terms and conditions may also be available in some cases through Compliance Agreements.

The Bylaw Enforcement and Ticketing system is complaint driven.  Area A has fewer nuisance type bylaws (noise, dogs etc) at the current time than the other areas, although we do have some including the Soil Removal Bylaw and the No Firearms Discharge Bylaw and of course all the building bylaw requirements.

More information about the SLRD’s Bylaw Enforcement system, including links to the bylaws, witness report (complaint) form, Frequently Asked Questions, and background information can be found at www.slrd.bc.ca/BylawEnforcement

============================================================Here is the April Edition of the Regional District Wide Update:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz8bmBXIlkCOcGRjNFhzZEJlams/view?usp=sharing

Have your say!!! Meetings & input opportunities

Tyax Resort Heli-House Rezoning - Public Hearing May 19

Tyax application page

http://www.slrd.bc.ca/planning-building/planning-development-services/current-projects/tyax-real-estate-ltd-rezoning-application

The meeting will be Thursday, May 19 @ 6 PM.  You have an option to teleconference in.

Meeting Notice:

http://www.slrd.bc.ca/inside-slrd/notices/public-hearing-or-meetings/tyax-lodge-public-hearing

See my previous post at:  http://www.debbiedemare.com/2016/01/tyaughton-lakegun-creek-rd-two-issues.html

Fire Services Delivery Public Consultation Meetings: June 12

This is a very important meeting to attend.  Areas other than Gun Lake and Bralorne, take your pick of which meeting to attend. 

The Fire Services Review was finalized in 2013, and we will update you on the work done to begin implementing some of the recommendations made in the Review.

The SLRD’s Emergency Manager will outline various options for the potential restructuring of each community’s volunteer fire departments and protective services, based on the recommendations received in the Fire Services Review.

If you’re unable to attend, or don’t plan on being in the region on that weekend, we will record the meetings, and post the presentation and recording to our website, so you can fill out the survey and provide your feedback on your preferred approach moving forward.

As your elected representative I need you to understand Fire Services delivery in today's terms and provide your input so I can assess how property owners throughout Area A want the SLRD to go.  If you don't attend and have no input please do not complain later about decisions and their implications to your tax bill and the services that are provided.  

Read all the background and information here:  http://www.slrd.bc.ca/inside-slrd/news-events/rural-residents-asked-weigh-future-fire-services-delivery


Last Chance for Input!   South Chilcotin Mountains Park and other area parks - Final Draft Management Plans

·    The final draft plans are now available for public review before moving forward in the approval process for these parks:

           South Chilcotin Mountains

·         Big Creek

·         Gwyneth Lake

·         Bridge River Delta

·         Yalakom

·         Fred Antoine

 Input from the public review of the first draft management plans were assessed and changes made where appropriate. Thank you for your interest in the future management of these parks. The final draft plans are available for public comment until May 22, 2016 on the BC Parks website at:

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/planning/mgmtplns/lillooet/lillooet_mp.html

Community Paramedicine Program announced for Province and our Area

73 rural and remote B.C. communities that will welcome community paramedicine, a program that offers residents enhanced health services from paramedics, our area being one of those 73.  I think this is a very positive step for our area.

Under this program, paramedics will provide basic health-care services, within their scope of practice, in partnership with local health-care providers. The enhanced role is not intended to replace care provided by health professionals such as nurses, but rather to complement and support the work these important professionals do each day, delivered in non-urgent settings, in patients' homes or in the community.

Community paramedicine broadens the traditional focus of paramedics on pre-hospital emergency care to include disease prevention, health promotion and basic health-care services. This means a paramedic will visit rural patients in their home or community, perform assessments requested by the referring health-care professional, and record their findings to be included in the patient's file. They will also be able to teach skills such as CPR at community clinics.

At least 80 new full-time equivalent positions will support the implementation of community paramedicine, as well as augment emergency response capabilities. Positions will be posted across the regional health authorities. The selection, orientation and placement process is expected to take about four months.

Community paramedics are expected to be delivering community health services in northern B.C. this fall, in the Interior in early 2017, on Vancouver Island and the Vancouver coastal area in the spring of 2017.

Great information at this link:

http://www.bcehs.ca/our-services/programs-services/community-paramedicine