Environmental Assessment Office

February 9, 2012

I do not support the mitigation in this project.  I feel that there are significant holes in the research and that very little is being done to minimize the impact on recreation in the Big Silver/Thretheway/Shovel projects. De-watering a creek or river has a negative impact on paddling.    

Removing water from one area of the creek will affect the others.  This area is known and loved by paddlers because it offers something for everyone so a mixed group of more experienced paddlers, less experienced paddlers, and new paddlers can all travel to this area and all paddle something that will challenge them appropriately.  This is a very special and also very rare thing.  In order for a paddler to improve and gain skill they need their more experienced friends to be willing to guide them along runs at the higher ends of their abilities.  By dewatering the chosen sections you are negatively impacting the users that will come along.  Based on the reports, the various sections of the river will a) not run at optimal flows nearly as often as they do now, and b) not run at optimal flows at the same time as they often do now.  Both of those factors will limit recreation in the area. 

Furthermore as an outdoor industry worker I see MANY foreign tourists that come to BC specifically to paddle in the Big Silver/Tretheway/Shovel area.  This project is going to significantly reduce flows in the area throughout the season, which will result in less tourism to the area, and will have a direct and negative impact on my business.

More effort needs to be made to come to a resolution that we can all live with in this project.

I am a whitewater kayaker from Seattle, WA. Each year my friends and I enjoy many weekend trips to British Columbia for the sole purpose of whitewater kayaking. Big Silver Creek is a spectacular whitewater destination and in some years I have spent as many as 4 weekends in the area. I am completely opposed to hydropower development on Big Silver Creek because its natural, wild, and free-flowing beauty is a large part of what makes it such a fantastic destination.
If an IPP is approved and water is diverted from Big Silver Creek, I strongly urge you to require scheduled recreational whitewater releases on multiple weekends throughout the summer. Big Silver Creek is truly the whitewater gem of the southern Harrison Lake area. Unfortunately, without predictable and dependable summertime flows, I will probably choose to vacation elsewhere.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

To whom it may concern, 

As a lifelong BC resident and dedicated explorer of this province's waterways via kayak & canoe, I am deeply disturbed by the notion of hydroelectric development threatening the Harrison Lake region. The assortment of creeks being targeted in this area are further examples of what the rest of the world thinks of when defining the beauty of our province.  

While I understand that BC remains rich in hydroelectric potential, the recent pursuit of Run-of-River development in remote, sensitive wildlife habitat environments is not acceptable. We are meddling with more than what any current assessment criterion is capable of understanding.  
For these reasons, I strongly oppose the idea of developing Big Silver, Tretheway and Shovel Creeks for unwarranted hydroelectric development.  

I can only wonder what the rest of the world thinks of BC now after learning that such proposals even exist.  

As an avid whitewater kayaker and local small business owner that sells, rents and teaches canoeing and kayaking in Southwestern BC I have several issues with the proposed projects in the Harrison Lake area, more specifically the mitigation and Nav. Reports.

I'am hopeful that after Premiere's Christy Clarke's recent overhaul of the Clean Energy Act you will really consider what is at stake here, and what we are willing to loose in the name of more energy that arguably is not needed, especially now.

The Navigability Reports done by Typlan have several inaccuracies and some misleading information. Both the proponent and their consultants have had several meetings with paddlers, how ever most of what was discussed has been left out of the reports and proposed mitigation. The area receives much more paddler traffic than the reports lead you to believe. I have rented many kayaks to local and international paddlers on their way to do the highly curveted, Big SIlver, Nahataltch River loop. If Big SIlver does not flow at the same times as surrounding rivers the impact to recreation will be substantial. This is a very important issue and deserves consideration.

The Harrison Lake area already has many hydro projects on it and many more planned. I feel that any additional projects will require a lot better mitigation than current projects to maintain some form of value to kayakers. 

The lack of scheduled releases in the mitigation is an insult to kayakers. We were using this resource for years before the proponent staked it for hydro generation. Online gauges offered by Inergex as mitigation will be of no value to paddlers if there is not enough water in the creek for safe navigation. Contrary to what is said in the Nav. report this project WILL NOT IMPROVE KAYAKING on these streams. That statement alone should tell you what the consultant for navigability thinks of the Navigable Waters Act and paddlers rights to Navigate these streams, it is a bold faced lie!

Inergex has offered scheduled releases on many of its projects that have no history of recreational navigation, why do they think it is okay to with hold releases on a stream with such high value? In many cases the proponent has releases scheduled for streams that the public cannot access or on streams that simply are not navigable. In one of Inergex recent projects they used the construction of a whitewater park as mitigation, again this mitigation far exceeds that of what is offered for these projects.

 
Big Silver Creek has seen a considerable increase in traffic in recent years, the impact of this project on future usage is almost impossible to predict, that as well needs to be addressed when considering mitigation. Also since the recent publication of "The River Gypsies Guide to 294 of the Contents best Rivers" which features Tretheway Creek and refers to it as one of the most magical places you can visit in a kayak there has seen a substantial increase in kayaking traffic.

In order to properly mitigate the impacts of these projects there must be scheduled releases, online gauges and a guarantee of no access restrictions which have occurred at past Inergex projects. The construction of a park or play feature in the form of a surf wave would help to offset the impacts this project will have on my business and my 25+ staff members.

As always, I'am available for discussion should EAO, Nav Waters or Inerex be interested in correcting this unacceptable mitigation offered by the proponent.

Thank you for considering my concerns. 

I am still strongly opposed to this devastating project and I wish with all my hearth to keep Big Silver in its pristine condition. However if all the reasons given to stop this project, including its navigability and recreational value, are to be disregarded and it is going to go ahead despite all the opposition, there must be concessions made to mitigate the effects of the project on the public and protect the resources available to the public.

Big Silver is an important navigable and recreational waterway that gets a lot of use from the whitewater community. There are several sections of varying degrees of difficulty that suits a wide range of kayakers and other whitewater enthusiasts, from beginners to experts.

1)We must have continued access to all the different sections.

2)We must have regular scheduled releases to continue using the river as flows will otherwise be disturbed and unpredictable.

3)We must have access to an actual online gauge to know when the river is runnable and when it is safe to run.

I hope that at a minimum these small concessions will be granted because they are essential to maintain the recreational value and navigability of this waterway, and also essential to the safety of its users.

I represent Canoe Kayak BC which is the provincial sporting organization. We are not against green energy or IPP's in general but review each project as they affect the recreational opportunities on our rivers.

After reviewing the proposed mitigation on Big Silver Creek the CKBC does not feel that there has been adequate measures taken to ensure continued recreational use of the river. The proponent states that there are 15 days of flows that are 'paddelable'. While this may be true, that is far fewer days than were previously available. As I read there graph it is less than half of the days that were previously available. Many of these days will also fall during the week which will mean that most of the paddling community will not be able to enjoy the river.

Without scheduled weekend releases or some other additional mitigation that brings the recreation opportunities up to a more reasonable level the CKBC will continue to not support the proposal.

February 8, 2012

Big Silver is a very important navigable recreational river to kayakers and other outdoor enthusiast. I am totally against this project going through for many reasons but if it is going to be pushed through against the will of the public, at the very least there has to be a number of concessions. 
This river is a very important navigable recreational area that has several sections of varying degrees of difficulty for different levels of kayakers from beginners to experts. We must at the very least have regular scheduled releases throughout the season, And access to the many different sections. It is also important to have an online gauge so we know not only when we will have water to run the river, but also when it is safe to run the river.
If this river is to be taken from the public for private power use, we must be allowed to continue to have use of this public resource, and these concessions are essential for this to happen

I wish to register my opposition to this project.  Big Silver Creek is a valuable resource to all the people of this province.  To alter, de-water and industrialize yet another naturally free flowing creek is ultimately a poor long term investment. I have attended meetings and listened to Innergex' presentations and remain unconvinced that they are able to deliver clean / green power with minimal environmental impacts. This is an industrial project and a commercial project and historically when push comes to shove the land, water and wildlife become simple economic inputs. Innergex/Cloudworks' record on previous projects does not inspire confidence.  Minimal resources within the Ministry of Environment to provide oversight is a significant concern. As a whitewater kayaker who has paddled sections of Big Silver I have personally experienced the wild beauty of this creek and hope that it will be there for my children and grandchilden to enjoy.

Hello,

I'm writing this letter to voice my concerns over the development of an IPP on Big Silver Creek.  I feel the mitigation measures put forward by the proponent that account for dewatering the river and the subsequent loss of navigability are inadequate.

Should the project be approved, the following points must be considered:

-    Dewatering a river and altering the natural flow patterns do not ‘improve kayaking’ as stated in the navigability assessment.

-    The dewatering of a navigable river such as Big Silver can only be mitigated by providing recreational flow releases and a real time, publically available flow gauge.

-    In the absence of reliable data on appropriate kayaking conditions, a flow study should be conducted to assure whitewater releases are providing usable river flows.  If this isn’t possible, there should be provision for the required flow release to be altered in the Navigable Waters permit after the project is complete should the permitted flows prove to be unusable.

-    There are mandatory recreational whitewater releases in the Harrison Lake area on dewatered rivers that have little or no record of recreational use or are inaccessible by road (Stave, Fire, Douglas, Tipella etc.).  As usage of Big Silver is well documented and access is relatively easy, there is no reason recreational releases should not be provided.

-    The whitewater release system on Ashlu Creek should be seen as the gold standard by which to organize releases on Big Silver.

-    The cumulative effects of multiple IPPs in close proximity should be adequately assessed during the permitting process.

Thanks for your time – I trust these comments will be carefully considered.

I am a whitewater kayaker from Germany and I am living in BC since 2008. This province is known for its world class white water in remote wilderness areas. Since I am living here I am realizing more and more that this will not be the same anymore in a couple of years. It seems like every creek and little river has at least one proposal for an IPP project. This is not just bad for kayakers, it is even worse for wild life. Pristine wilderness will be destroyed by excavators and chain saws. 

Country's like Germany would be very happy to have so many untouched rivers and would not allow any wilderness river to be diverted today. Its just a matter of time for me until BC is realizing that as well, but than it is probably too late.

To Big Silver directly, I have never paddled this river but it is high on my list for the coming season. I hope my kids can paddle this river as well.

Thanks for considering my comment.

I am writing in response to the Environmental Assessment Application submitted by Cloudworks Energy Inc. to the EAO for permitting approval for their proposed 36 MW Hydroelectric Facility to be located on Big Silver Creek, BC. 

I have been kayaking whitewater for 20 years and regularly paddle class 3, 4 and 5 whitewater.  I have paddled in a number of countries around the world including New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, UK, Norway, USA and Canada, and have seen the effect hydroelectric facilities, both run of the river and storage dams, have had on navigation of rivers in these countries including recent local examples on the Ashlu and Rutherford Rivers in BC. 

Big Silver Creek has a number of sections of interest to kayakers that will be affected by this proposal.  The challenge and commitment required to successfully navigate class 4 and 5 whitewater such as the middle and upper sections of Big Silver Creek is the experience that myself, and a large number of other kayakers that I know, travel the world for.  The whitewater on Big Silver Creek is world class and a draw card for kayakers due to its accessibility from Vancouver. The proposed facility will divert a flow of 42 cumecs which is a significant volume for this size of creek.

Cloudworks Energy Inc. has submitted a Navigational Assessment report prepared by TyPlan as part of this application.  This report contains a number of inaccuracies, misleading statements, has insufficient research and does not provide adequate mitigation measures for recreational purposes.  The following content highlights some of the inaccuracies and shortfalls of this report:

1. Section 3:  Big Silver is identified in 5 of the 6 external references utilized in this report as suitable for kayaking.  This indicates that the river is of high interest to the kayaking community and navigated by a larger population of users than this report suggests.

2. Section 3.2:  The report indicates that no kayakers were observed in the vicinity during the 2009 and 2010 seasons suggesting that there is very low usage of the river.  The first paragraph of Section 2 indicates that only one site visit was made in April 2011 by the author and that TyPlan is relying on data from other field reports.  The geotechnical report prepared by Golder Associates indicates that only a desk top study was performed with no site visits.  No scope is provided in any other report indicating navigability or usage frequency by kayakers of the river.  This shows that minimal field visits have been performed to assess frequency of usage.   Most local kayakers tend to paddle during weekends and it is unlikely that any field investigations would be completed in overtime or weekend hours.

3. Section 4: Although not specifically stated in the report, the flow chart provided indicates that (for a range of suitable flows identified between 12 and 20 cumecs) the river is suitable for kayaking for 7 months of the year between January to April, August to November and in December for pre project flows except for the odd high spike In flows.  The report indicates that 39 suitable days are available year round after construction however this is a misrepresentation of how a run of the river project operates.  The facility will release the minimum base flow allowable downriver and divert all remaining water up to 42 cumecs into the diversion system.  A minimum of 54 cumecs natural inflow is required to raise the outflow to 12 cumecs, which according to the chart provide will only occur for approximately one week at the end of May/beginning of June.  This method of operation is confirmed by reviewing the Ashlu River outflows on the Innergex (owner of Cloudworks) website which shows a consistent base flow of 3 cumecs expect during releases and when the inflow is greater that the allowable diverted volume of water.  The number of navigable days on the river will be dramatically reduced from present and much lower than indicated in the report for post construction flows. 

I recommend that the EOA reject the application submitted by Cloudworks Energy Inc. based on recreational navigational purposes.  Construction of the proposed hydroelectric facility will be detrimental to the navigation of this creek in particular by kayak, as well as other whitewater devices. This type of facility does not contribute to better kayaking conditions but detracts from the wilderness experience. 

However, if the EOP approves the applicant's submission, the following conditions should be included to provide some mitigation (although any form of mitigation does not make up for the loss of such a resource) for loss of navigability on Big Silver Creek:

1.  There must be recreational whitewater releases provided by Cloudworks to account for the dewatering of the creek during its historical season of navigation. Water releases should be of satisfactory duration to accommodate safe travel for kayakers down the creek taking into account time variations due to group size, skill level and familiarity of the kayakers to the river. Water releases must allow for a range of suitable flows as different water levels provide different experiences while navigating a river. 

2.  There must be real time water level and flow gauge information publically available online to account for the variance from seasonal flow periods for the creek due to the dewatering. The gauge information must include both inflows and outflows from the facility (including the volume of water removed from the creek) and an indication of the projected volume of water to be removed from the creek for the upcoming period. This is particularly important on non-release days when there is significant rain forecast in the watershed.  Notification shall be provided to the local kayaking community indicating upcoming water releases beyond those scheduled for recreational purposes.

3.  Access to the creek via existing roads (and future roads constructed as part of the project) must remain open during and after the construction period.

This project is going to ruin whitewater kayaking on these streams. I would like to kayak here one day. With out scheduled releases this stream will be useless for recreation.

As a lifelong BC resident and dedicated explorer of this province's waterways via kayak & canoe, I am deeply disturbed by the notion of hydroelectric development threatening the Harrison Lake region. The assortment of creeks being targeted in this area are further examples of what the rest of the world thinks of when defining the beauty of our province. 

While I understand that BC remains rich in hydroelectric potential, the recent pursuit of Run-of-River development in remote, sensitive wildlife habitat environments is not acceptable. We are meddling with more than what any current assessment criterion is capable of understanding. 
For these reasons, I strongly oppose the idea of developing Big Silver, Tretheway and Shovel Creeks for unwarranted hydroelectric development. 

I can only wonder what the rest of the world thinks of BC now after learning that such proposals even exist. 

February 6, 2012

This waterpower project, like other ones proposed for other vulnerable creeks, is just not worth the loss of Big Silver Creek water that has a substantial capacity and ability to support life.  For power that we do not want or need in B.C.!  B.C.'s wild rivers and creeks and  public power need saving.  Private company profits do not.

February 1, 2012

The Environmental Management Act [SBC 2003] CHAPTER 53 Subsection 1(2) states “For the purposes of this Act, a detrimental environmental impact occurs when a change in the quality of air, land or water substantially reduces the usefulness of the environment or its capacity to support life.”

In contradiction to the above legislation the reality is that the Fraser river is listed as endangered, the Stave river is dammed, and most other watersheds in the Fraser Valley are urbanized and industrialized, being less and less able to support life.  Common sense and history ensure that the industrialization of the Harrison watershed by the Big Silver Creek Waterpower project will have the same impact   

These  IPP projects are promoted as a way of making BC energy self sufficient and creating economic activity. In most years BC Hydro is a net exporter of power realizing net trading profits on power exports of $298 million in 2009 and $98 million in 2010. Many believe that energy self sufficiency for the foreseeable future can be obtained through conservation and improvements to the existing energy infrastructure, which also create jobs.  

Economic projections by Cloudworks indicate this project will create 67 person years of direct employment in the Fraser Valley and create long term employment of just over person year.  Further the project will cost $156 million with only $19 million being spent in BC. The balance of the $156 million will be spent on buying materials from suppliers in the US and other parts of Canada. .  

Cloudwork’s IPP projects are mainly financed through debt financing.  The projected income statement of Cloudworks for the nine months ending September 30, 2010 indicates that Cloudworks was projected to have income of $42 million and pay $20 million in interest to investors while spending $3.3 million on operating their facilities.  The operating expenses represent only a small fraction of revenues.  In the same way long-term operating spending by Cloudworks related to the Big Silver Creek project within the local community will represent only a small fraction of income generated from this hydro project.

If this project is approved, the long-term result will the industrialization of one of the last remaining watersheds in the Fraser Valley which remains in a relatively natural state.  In the long-term, economic benefits to the local community and the people in Harrison would be small and short term in nature. 

We should be wary of the persuasive power of money.  The few salmon that spawn in this stream, other wildlife and the local environment have a very small voice and the short term benefits of this project will forever affect this watershed.  

If approved, one suggestion is Cloudworks be required to put in salmon spawning channels to replace inevitable loss of salmon spawning habitat.  Chehalis First Nations has the expertise to implement and manage spawning channels. Cloudworks has the equipment onsite to build channels.  If approved, at a relatively small cost Cloudworks could mitigate some of the negative environmental impacts of this project.

Dear Sir/Madam:

I write in order to support the proposed Big Silver, Tretheway and Shovel Waterpower projects.  These projects will provide substantial gain to the Province and local community, without significant environmental impact.

BC Hydro has selected these projects through a competitive procurement process, ensuring that users of electricity in BC are able to satisfy some of their requirements through clean, sustainable energy sources at a reasonable cost.

By building projects such as these in British Columbia, the Province ensures that property taxes, sales taxes and other levies are paid to the benefit of BC citizens.  This is far preferable to importing electricity, where the jobs and benefits associated with the electricity production reside somewhere other than BC.  Environmentally, these projects are far superior to gas fired, coal, or nuclear generation.  It is in our interests as a Province to encourage these initiatives, so that less environmentally-friendly alternatives are not built in their place.

The proposed projects will benefit the Kwantlen and Douglas First Nation communities directly through local employment and other economic participation, allowing more hope and a brighter future for many members.  While these communities would attest to the limited contribution to their economic base from recreational users of the rivers, the projects impact relatively small reaches and should be able to allow for some continued recreational use.

Working with provincial and federal government scientists, the Projects will allow for continued use of the river by fisheries and wildlife through manadatory flow releases and comprehensive construction environmental plans.  Fisheries enhancement and compensation projects are often able to result in higher fisheries returns after project construction, than there are currently.

Please expedite the approval of these projects so that citizens of this province can see the resulting economic, social and environmental benefits.

Thank you.

January 29, 2012

January 26, 2012

I am writing to object to the Big Silver Creek Water Power Project and the plans for the three creeks involved. My concerns include: the fact that two the creeks are fish-bearing and will impact the fish, there will be road building and power line clearing that will require deforesting many kilometers of land, the tunnel will involve rock residue that is toxic. 
I am also objecting to the fact that the environmental review process does not seem to think that the major flaw is messing with the environment and especially with water. Water is an essential ingredient in a healthy ecosystem, necessary for all life from small invertebrate in the water to large mammals. 
We need to stop allowing these kinds of power projects that are possibly planned for most of the waterways in BC.   Common sense and science says that we need to look again at this type of hydro project.

January 25, 2012

Every year thousands of people visit Harrison Lake to hike the surrounding hills and fish in the creeks that flow in to the lake.  They are also home to western screech owl, tailed frog, harlequin duck, northern goshawk, spotted owl, red legged frog, pacific water shrew and grizzly bears, many of which are listed as species at risk. 

The surrounding creeks are also home to rainbow trout and dolly varden, steelhead, coho, sockeye, longnose dace and cutthroat trout, including Shovel and Big Silver creeks, which are both fish-bearing streams. 

All of this is at risk if we allow Cloudworks Energy Inc. and their new owners Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. to fragment this wilderness with roads and transmission line right of ways.

Thanks for your time

January 24, 2012

Hello Environmental Assesment Office.
I was unable to attend the Open House on January 19th for Harrison Lake Area Creeks but that doesn't mean I'm any less dedicated to this cause. The Harrison Lake Area Creeks are incredibly beautiful and important. Please do not let it be subject to destruction via Cloudworks Energy Inc.'s plans to fragment this area with roads.
Sincerely,
A concerned environmentalist

January 23, 2012

January 22, 2012

January 21, 2012

I support the Western Canada Wilderness Committee's views on private power projects and strongly agree with Gwen Barlee's comments as seen below. Property owner's must fully comply with all enviromental standards. Business must also be held accountable to fully comply with all enviromental standards, not doing so is insane. Please keep BC Rivers Wild and power public.

"We repeatedly hear from Environment Minister Penner that private power projects are held to a rigorous set of rules and regulations to protect our rivers and environment,” said Gwen Barlee, policy director with the Wilderness Committee. “However, the BC government’s own documents prove that is not the case. Cutting to stream banks, logging in old-growth management areas, destroying endangered species’ habitat, damaging fish habitat, and exempting private power projects from basic environmental standards is simply inexcusable.”

Every year thousands of people visit Harrison Lake to hike the surrounding hills and fish in the creeks that flow in to the lake. And it’s not just tourists and nature lovers who you will find in those hills. They are also home to western screech owl, tailed frog, harlequin duck, northern goshawk, spotted owl, red legged frog, pacific water shrew and grizzly bears, many of which are listed as species at risk.

The surrounding creeks are also home to rainbow trout and dolly varden, steelhead, coho, sockeye, longnose dace and cutthroat trout, including Shovel and Big Silver creeks, which are both fish-bearing streams.  

All of this is at risk if we allow Cloudworks Energy Inc. and their new owners Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. to fragment this wilderness with roads and transmission line right of ways.

Both companies have records of being involved in controversial projects. Freedom of Information requests done by the Wilderness Committee showed that Cloudworks’ nearby Upper Harrison project and their Rutherford Creek project in the Sea to Sky region had used poor construction practices, caused destruction of fish habitat, damaged wetland habitat, logged streambanks, illegally built a bridge, and illegally harvested wood and caused numerous landslides.

Innergex, furthermore, is the current owner of the Ashlu project near Squamish, which sparked much of the opposition to private power projects in BC when it was forced through over the objections of the local Regional District when the provincial government passed Bill 30.

Please stop these companies from getting their hands on any more of our streams and rivers.

January 20, 2012

Tretheway, Shovel and Big Silver creeks, east of Harrison Lake, are under threat from a proposed private power project, and I urge you to protect these creeks from destruction. 

Every year thousands of people visit Harrison Lake to hike the surrounding hills and fish in the creeks that flow in to the lake. And it’s not just tourists and nature lovers who love those hills. They are also home to western screech owl, tailed frog, harlequin duck, northern goshawk, spotted owl, red legged frog, pacific water shrew and grizzly bears, many of which are listed as species at risk. 

The surrounding creeks are also home to rainbow trout and dolly varden, steelhead, coho, sockeye, longnose dace and cutthroat trout, including Shovel and Big Silver creeks, which are both fish-bearing streams. 

All of this is at risk if you allow Cloudworks Energy Inc. and their new owners Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. to fragment this wilderness with roads and transmission line right of ways. Please do your utmost to protect this precious natural inheritance for future generations.

Hello,

I've spent a lot of time at Big Silver both kayaking, camping, and exploring the area (much of it during the alleged time the navigability study took place, and I notice I was never noted as being there). It is incredibly unique to this part of North America, having an almost California Sierra-esque look and feel to the riverbed. 

It is an area with quality whitewater that gets run, in fact, people travel all over from North America and the world to enjoy it's beauty and splendor. To take from one group that came to BC from the South Eastern United States on a kayaking trip and enjoyed many of the provinces most fabled rivers, they concluded at the end that Big Silver was the most scenic river they paddled.

A large part of the aspect of recreational kayaking and tourism is to enjoy an area in it's natural, unaltered state. This is becoming increasingly rare, and BC as well as Canada in general is one of the last bastions of largely unspoiled splendor left in the world. Unfortunately it seems the government is doing all it can to spoil and pillage these last remaining jewels of natural beauty.

I am against the IPP on Big Silver Creek, as well as Shovel and Tretheway Creeks for the same reasons described above. IF an IPP is to go ahead and divert the flow of the creeks, mandated recreational releases will be required as mitigation. Not only to maintain the tourist and recreational value of these navigable waterways, but also the aesthetic beauty of the area in general.

Dear Environmental Assessment office of British Columbia,

Please refuse the application of Cloudworks Energy Incorporated to develop private power production projects on Trethway, Shovel and Big Silver Creeks east of Harrison Lake.

This region is home to a variety of wildlife including the western screech and spotted owls, tailed and red legged frogs, harlequin ducks, northern goshawk, pacific water shrew and grizzly bears. The creeks surrounding Harrison Lake are home to fish species such as rainbow and cutthroat trout, dolly varden, steelhead, coho, sockeye and longnose dace.

All of these species are at risk if Cloudworks Energy and their new owners Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. are allowed to fragment this wilderness area with roads and transmission line right of ways.

Every year thousands of people visit Harrison Lake to hike the surrounding hills -myself included- and fish in the creeks that flow in to the lake. Needless to say that destruction of this wilderness area will not draw me and others back. 

Cloudworks Energy has a poor environmental record which was revealed in Wilderness Committee Freedom of Information Requests. In Upper Harrison and in Rutherfrord Creek, Cloudworks used poor construction practices, caused destruction of fish habitat, damaged wetland habitat, logged stream banks, illegally built a bridge, and illegally harvested wood and caused numerous landslides.

For its part, Innergex which owns the Ashlu project near Squamish was the source of much opposition to private power projects. This project was forced through over the objections of the local Regional District when the provincial government passed Bill 30.

The residents of British Columbia don not need the electricity generated from private power producers. Our future energy needs can be met through conservation. The energy produced from private producers will most likely be exported for private profit while simultaneously being subsidized by B.C. Hydro rate payers and at the cost of precious, irreplaceable ecosystems.

Please put the public interest first and reject Cloudworks Energy proposal for power projects on Trethway, Shovel and Big Silver Creeks.

I write to stand up for Harrison Lake area creeks.  Please keep them safe from Cloudex or Innergex "Renewable".

January 19, 2012

January 17, 2012

Please immediately impose a complete stoppage on any work at the east end of Harrison Lake and engage in a detailed environmental appraisal of work done so far.

We are unable to attend the January 19th hearings in Chilliwack, but write now to share our dismay over the appalling proposal to divert three Harrison streams for private power - severely impacting precious riparian systems.

We find it very difficult to understand the ready approvals for private power projects, basically destroying the associated ecosystems, when at the same time, Provincial Riparian regulations apply for all other stream- and streamside-related activities in the province.  Why do these streams not receive similar protection?

We ask for these Harrison streams be protected in their entirety.

I am strongly opposed to this project.  This creek is, at present, a pristine environment and a fish bearing and fish rearing creek.  It is also home to a wide variety of wildlife.  Additionally the firms that wish to put in this power project have an abysmal record. Both companies have records of being involved in controversial projects. Freedom of Information requests done by the Wilderness Committee showed that Cloudworks’ nearby Upper Harrison project and their Rutherford Creek project in the Sea to Sky region had used poor construction practices, caused destruction of fish habitat, damaged wetland habitat, logged streambanks, illegally built a bridge, and illegally harvested wood and caused numerous landslides.

Personal Information Withheld -Vancouver, British Columbia
I do not support this project because of the damage it will bring to the natural habitat of BC's  flora & fauna.  Why do we humans think we own this planet?  Do we really need to sell our rivers and lakes to independent power producers?  There is only one thing they are after and that is pleasing their investors.  
 
 Please stop IPP's!

Every year thousands of people visit Harrison Lake to hike the surrounding hills and fish in the creeks that flow in to the lake. And it’s not just tourists and nature lovers who you will find in those hills. They are also home to western screech owl, tailed frog, harlequin duck, northern goshawk, spotted owl, red legged frog, pacific water shrew and grizzly bears, many of which are listed as species at risk.

The surrounding creeks are also home to rainbow trout and dolly varden, steelhead, coho, sockeye, longnose dace and cutthroat trout, including Shovel and Big Silver creeks, which are both fish-bearing streams.  

All of this is at risk if we allow Cloudworks Energy Inc. and their new owners Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. to fragment this wilderness with roads and transmission line right of ways.

Both companies have records of being involved in controversial projects. Freedom of Information requests done by the Wilderness Committee showed that Cloudworks’ nearby Upper Harrison project and their Rutherford Creek project in the Sea to Sky region had used poor construction practices, caused destruction of fish habitat, damaged wetland habitat, logged streambanks, illegally built a bridge, and illegally harvested wood and caused numerous landslides.

Innergex, furthermore, is the current owner of the Ashlu project near Squamish, which sparked much of the opposition to private power projects in BC when it was forced through over the objections of the local Regional District when the provincial government passed Bill 30.

I will keep this short & sweet.

I AM TOTALLY AGAINST LETTING OUTSIDE POWER COMPANYS DESTROY MY LAND  !!! < go destroy another countrys land, not mine !!!

January 16, 2012

January 15, 2012

There are too many species at risk here,especially the creeks which hold spawning steelhead,stop this project and do the right thing.THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE.

As a German who moved into BC for it's rivers I am devastated to see another jewel being threatened by hydro projects. Let them run free, intact nature is what BC stands for in the eyes of visitors. Please put a stop to it!

I want to keep our rivers wild. There is something about them that is part of my soul. I can sit by a flowing river in the wilderness and feel at peace. There is a well-known phase which goes something like this: 'in wildness is the preservation of the world'. I agree.
In many years my summer holidays have involved a canoe trip lasting several days on a wilderness river. I come home refreshed, having not thought about the rat race for this time. 
In the case of Big Silver, I have spent a few weekends there, helping to train novices in river canoeing. It is a good place for that, and one can camp right beside the river.
Converting it into a power project would be a retrograde step. We need the wilderness and the flowing waters in it. 
As well, there is no overwhelming need for the electrical power it would produce. As I understand it every one of these power projects is going to end up costing us all money unnecessarily.

I would like to voice my opposition to the Big Silver Creek Waterpower Project.  

Every year thousands of people visit Harrison Lake to hike the surrounding hills and fish in the creeks that flow in to the lake. The area is also home to western screech owl, tailed frog, harlequin duck, northern goshawk, spotted owl, red legged frog, pacific water shrew and grizzly bears, many of which are listed as species at risk. 

The surrounding creeks are also home to rainbow trout and dolly varden, steelhead, coho, sockeye, longnose dace and cutthroat trout, including Shovel and Big Silver creeks, which are both fish-bearing streams. 

All of this is at risk if we allow Cloudworks Energy Inc. and their new owners Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. to fragment this wilderness with roads and transmission line right of ways.

I fully support keeping our rivers wild.

I strongly oppose the proposed projects on Tretheway, Shovel and Big Silver Creeks.  These areas are important wildlife areas and should be left in as natural a state as possible.  This precludes and development of any kind.
Thank you.

Environmental Assessment of the Proposed Statlu Creek, Tretheway Creek, Shovel Creek and Big Silver Creek  I am opposed to the IPPs on the above creeks due to the cumulative effect and the continual fragmentation of habitat they are creating.  the EA process continues to be flawed because of this fact and has become nothing more than window-dressing as the concerns of British Columbians goes unanswered.
Our riparian lands are severly impacted by these developments as roads and associated developments occur. In additon, the study list is incomplete and mitigation is often of no value to species that depend on specific host species or habitats. Rare butterflies, shrews and other mammals appear to be missing.
These projects benifit the companies and not British Columbians.  Jobs disappear after construction, lumber is shipped out, and long-term benefits are no where to be seen.  In the meantime, increased traffic, noise,and irreversable environmental damage occurs.

January 13, 2012

After approval, none of these projects receive any oversight and the scorched earth methods of irresponsible companies play-out causing irreparable damage to land and the environment. Both companies mentioned have records of being involved in controversial projects. Freedom of Information requests done by the Wilderness Committee showed that Cloudworks’ nearby Upper Harrison project and their Rutherford Creek project in the Sea to Sky region had  used poor construction practices, caused destruction of fish habitat, damaged wetland habitat, logged streambanks, illegally built a bridge, and illegally harvested wood and  caused numerous landslides. 

I think these unacceptable travesties speak for themselves. The companies involved should be fined and prosecuted, not awarded any new construction contracts, power or anything else. If the Province is bent on destroying the environment and fish habitat, a $50-$100 million environmental contractor bond should be put up before any work begins. Independents,federal and provincial government environmental agencies will assess any damages during and post completion, with the ability to shut-down work at any time. Liability goes beyond the company and executive guarantees are assigned (Director's Liability Insurance). If a contractor does not have the financial capacity,they're immediately disqualified. All damages awarded go directly to the Province to rectify damages in minimum tranches of $5 Million. Environmental agency's assessors are paid weekly with a deposit of $1 Million up-front, before any contractor arrival on site.            

Why are we even considering damage to fish bearing streams to produce power theat we do not need???

I am opposed to the Big Silver Creek Waterpower Project. Every year thousands of people visit Harrison Lake to hike the surrounding hills and fish in the creeks that flow in to the lake. And it’s not just tourists and nature lovers who you will find in those hills. They are also home to western screech owl, tailed frog, harlequin duck, northern goshawk, spotted owl, red legged frog, pacific water shrew and grizzly bears, many of which are listed as species at risk. 

The surrounding creeks are also home to rainbow trout and dolly varden, steelhead, coho, sockeye, longnose dace and cutthroat trout, including Shovel and Big Silver creeks, which are both fish-bearing streams. 

I have spent many years hiking and enjoying the wilderness areas around Harrison Lake as my parents owned a holiday place there.

As a BC resident I am strongly opposed to the proposed Big Silver Creek waterpower project. I believe our creeks and rivers should be left in a natural state, and not destroyed so that a large corporation can make money. Once these creeks are altered in this way they will never return to their natural state. The financial gain from this project is not worth the environmental cost.

I respectfully submit my strong opposition to this development for many reasons, not the least of which is the track record of the company proposing it. I consider the inevitable long-term damage to the streams in question and the collateral downstream and nearby land destruction clearly not worth the very temporary economic benefit. Tourism is the economic future here, not private power projects.
Thank you for your consideration.

January 12, 2012

Personal Information Withheld - Sechelt, British Columbia

Big Silver Creek Waterpower project, formerly known as Big Silver Creek IPP is being proposed for an environmentally sensitive area. 
 Our salmon are at risk and all the eco systems that support them. We must protect them for our future generations  and our First Nations brothers.  The rivers and environs in this proposal are  home to western screech owl, tailed frog, harlequin duck, northern goshawk, spotted owl, red legged frog, pacific water shrew and grizzly bears, many of which are listed as species at risk. 
 
 The surrounding creeks are also home to rainbow trout and dolly varden, steelhead, coho, sockeye, longnose dace and cutthroat trout, including Shovel and Big Silver creeks, which are both fish-bearing streams. 
 This will all be at risk if we allow Cloudworks Energy Inc and their new owners Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. to industrialize this pristine area with roads and power lines and dams. Cloudworks has a very poor environmental record on its previous projects in the Upper Harrison and the Rutherford Creek areas in Sea to Sky country. They built illegal bridges,logged too close to stream banks and caused numerous landslides.  there is no justification to jeopardize our natural heritage for a few megawatts of power. Please do not approve this project.

I oppose the private power project proposed by Cloudworks Energy Inc. and Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. for Tretheway, Shovel and Big Silver Creeks.  The area through which these creeks flow are popular for hiking and fishing.  This area also provides habitat for grizzly bears and western screech owls in addition to other species.  But it is not only the desire to protect these species that should stop this project from proceeding.  We as a society should recognize that this type of habitat is finite and the areas that British Columbia is and should be proud to contain should be preserved.
Of additional concern is the poor practices that Cloudworks has used in the past.  I understand that Cloudworks has a history of illegally harvesting wood, damage to wetland habitat and destruction of fish habitat in previous projects it has done.  Although I am opposed to this project in toto, Cloudworks's history is of additional concern.

My concern stems from information from the Wilderness committee on the Harrison Lake creeks area.

Every year thousands of people visit Harrison Lake to hike the surrounding hills and fish in the creeks that flow in to the lake. And it’s not just tourists and nature lovers who you will find in those hills. They are also home to western screech owl, tailed frog, harlequin duck, northern goshawk, spotted owl, red legged frog, pacific water shrew and grizzly bears, many of which are listed as species at risk. 

The surrounding creeks are also home to rainbow trout and dolly varden, steelhead, coho, sockeye, longnose dace and cutthroat trout, including Shovel and Big Silver creeks, which are both fish-bearing streams. 

All of this is at risk if we allow Cloudworks Energy Inc. and their new owners Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. to fragment this wilderness with roads and transmission line right of ways. 

Both companies have records of being involved in controversial projects. Freedom of Information requests done by the Wilderness Committee showed that Cloudworks’ nearby Upper Harrison project and their Rutherford Creek project in the Sea to Sky region had  used poor construction practices, caused destruction of fish habitat, damaged wetland habitat, logged streambanks, illegally built a bridge, and illegally harvested wood and  caused numerous landslides. 

Innergex, furthermore, is the current owner of the Ashlu project near Squamish, which sparked much of the opposition to private power projects in BC when it was forced through over the objections of the local Regional District when the provincial government passed Bill 30.
Please act to protect this sensitive and popular area for future generations and the health of the planet.

I am writing in regard to the Tretheway, Shovel and Big Silver creeks projects east of Harrison Lake.
Once again, I have to reiterate my comments about other power projects; the main point being that we do not need to destroy our wilderness in order to satisfy the Americans' insatiable appetite for power, and this is NOT green power. If anyone on the board thinks it is, first read my comments below and then visit one of the sites.
Freedom of Information requests done by the Wilderness Committee showed that Cloudworks’ nearby Upper Harrison project and their Rutherford Creek project in the Sea to Sky region had  used poor construction practices, caused destruction of fish habitat, damaged wetland habitat, logged streambanks, illegally built a bridge, and illegally harvested wood and  caused numerous landslides.Innergex, furthermore, is the current owner of the Ashlu project near Squamish, which sparked much of the opposition to private power projects in BC when it was forced through over the objections of the local Regional District when the provincial government passed Bill 30.
When is this madness going to stop? I have spent many years cruising and hiking the West Coast and I would like to think that my grandchildren would also be able to enjoy this unique wilderness, whether you have any regard for your children and grandchildren or not.

Development of mini-hydro Run-of-the-River(ROTR)hydro-electric generation projects in the watershed of Harrison Lake is highly unadviseable. The unique nature of the watershed in proximity to the tidal influenced Fraser, and the transition of the Coast and Interior forest ecosystems (biogeoclimatic zones) make many species in Harrison tributaries highly vulnerable to habitat destruction and change.
The need for the product of ROTR hydro projects is highly suspect and does not serve the needs the provincial population. The pricing of their product is destructive to the provincial economy as increased energy costs under these IPP agreements are inflationary and excessive.
Development of these IPP projects is under-regulated, given the 50MW EA Review policy. The associated developments of roads, transmission lines are destructive by orders of magnitude, beyond the economic benefit of the energy produced.
The managment of these projects is substandard and potentially damaging for many years, as evidenced by problems at the Rutherford Creek site.
In summary, the benefits of these Independent Power Producer(IPP) projects do not accrue to the people of BC, but to the owners and shareholders of the IPP. The risks and costs of these projects are born by the citizens of BC by their loss of habitats,  wildlife population impacts, alienation of Crown lands, loss of water rights, loss of control of energy resources, increased energy infrastructure costs (transmission lines), and rising energy costs. The benefactors of these losses are in no way held accountable for the losses that they impose on the people of the province. The alienation of Traditional Territories of the First Nations peoples and their heirs and ancestors are poorly considered in these IPP agreements.
The Harrison Lake tributaries must be kept free of the influences of ROTR hydro-projects.

Hello - I would like to express opposition to the Big Silver Creek Waterpower project onthe following grounds:
- We are in an important era where reduction of energy use is important.
- Environmental impacts to generate more elctricity by means of IPPs is not justifyable considering that BC is a net importer of electricity ONLY because it chooses to sell power to the US during periods of more valuable power (in the US).  This approach sells of power outside the BC jurisdiction for use by Americans forcing the shortfall to be made up by projects such as this.  It is not acceptable for BC ecosystems to sustain this sort of impact to meet energy needs of other regions!
- The region where this project is proposed is home to western screech owl, tailed frog, harlequin duck, northern goshawk, spotted owl, red legged frog, pacific water shrew and grizzly bears, many of which are listed as species at risk. 
- Surrounding creeks are also home to rainbow trout and dolly varden, steelhead, coho, sockeye, longnose dace and cutthroat trout, including Shovel and Big Silver creeks, which are both fish-bearing streams. 

Please reject the project submitted by Cloudworks Energy Inc. and their new owners Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. 

The BC Government is continuing its destruction of the BC river system in a very systematic approach. Government works for big business, and big business supports government. Keep on chewing up the province just like the Alberta government tears up Alberta to get at every last drop of oil (tar goop).

The natural places in this world belong to all of us, and to our children's children. They are not 'yours' to give someone 'permission' to use in a way that will harm us all in the long run.
We cannot continue to destroy the planet without dire consequence. Please just stop and think about a world without natural beauty? We need to find ways to meet our needs energy needs that do not do so much harm to the waterways and surrounding areas. Thank you.

Please stop this project now. Leave our rivers to be wild. Stop tampering with the natural flow of water and the ecosystems that depend on this. In wildness is the preservation of this planet. 
The world is watching your decision.
Make the right one and stop this project.

Dear Sirs/Madam,
Regarding the Big Silver Creek Waterpower Project, I wish to express my strong opposition to this project. British Columbians do not need to destroy more watercourses and turn them into hydroelectric projects. At the present time and in the forseable future the need for waterpower has not been proven nor is it necessary. If, sometime in the future that can become necessary, it should be resubmitted for consideration.

I'm opposed to all 4 IPP‟s proposed by Cloudworks Energy in the Harrison Lake area (Treatheway, Shovel, Big Silver).

I travel to BC to enjoy the beauty of nature. In simple terms, I spend money in the province solely based on the natural resources that you are working to destroy.

The damage that will be caused by the proposed projects is irreversible, and will change the face of B.C. forever. 

January 11, 2012

To those concerned,

Please reconsider dewatering and permanently scarring this pristine mountain stream.  I whitewater kayaked through the upper section of Big Silver Creek in 2008 and found it to have outstanding water quality, amazing scenery, and excellent whitewater.  Since many of our rivers in the southeastern United States are already dammed up, dewatered and generally severely impaired by man, we make regular pilgrimages to southwestern British Columbia to enjoy NATURALLY FLOWING rivers and creeks.  Canada has the richest abundance of natural resources on the continent, if not the world.  Don't spoil them.  They are your heritage, not a mass array of short-sighted investments that only will leave a wake of desctruction.  How often I and many of my peers across the country visit and pump money into the local economy is directly related to how many of the streams in British Columbia are sold for dollars.  

While it would seem only fair that if water the public has the right to enjoy in its natural state is going to be taken away, then there should be recreational releases for any user group who requests them, let's not kid ourselves that much more important than user access to the water is the protection of these watersheds.