LandSat of Skeena Estuary

Sacred Legacy

People have lived in the Rupert area for thousands of years.

Not because of the “port”, but because of the proximity to the Skeena River and its salmon.

Over three million salmon depend upon the river, its rich estuary, and eelgrass beds-- at least some time in their life cycle.

It is our sacred duty to make sure no harm befalls it.

The Threat

The map on right is forestry’s view of locally log-able areas, The black earth is their color, not mine.

“The elders are Watching”

That is a native saying one hears often at public meetings. I interpret it to mean our actions must be made in terms of the longer view about what is good for the land and its future beings.

Like most forestry issues the immediate goal is easily accessible (low elevation) “good” trees. – Will the land suffer?

“Other Values”

While ‘modern life’ has withdrawn from the land, still many of us make our living from the waters around us. On left is DFO coastal resources map for estuary showing commercial salmon grounds, crab, herring and urchin fisheries.

 Note Flora Bank (which I have inserted) it represents the eelgrass beds which are like pastures for fish and other wildlife,

TOURISM

Over a decade ago, the provincial government and MOF realized the potential conflict between cruise ship tourism using the scenic ‘inside passage’ and clear-cut logging.

A moratorium was put in place, then gradually, logging was allowed if it could prove it did not compromise other values.

With the BC resource economy in recession, most these constraints have been quietly removed.

The value of “zone 1” (Skeena Estuary) in 1989 paper was seen and its fate was foreseen as a public land use decision. (The LRMP is yet to be held – so let the logging begin).

Landsat

Image

Most of the area is still uncut—

Except on Porcher where the North East side has been extensively clear cut.