Save Okisollo and Surge Narrows Wave!

[s-kayak]

A message from Ralph and Lannie Keller on the north of Quadra Island requesting our help with a letter writing campagn!

If you’ve ever enjoyed paddling Surge Narrows and Okisollo – and (or) if you want that opportunity in the future, WRITE A LETTER NOW!”

Every letter saying why Surge and Okisollo are important to the writer – whether as a getaway-place, a skills-building place, an adrenaline-place, a job-related place – or just a ‘Best Place on Earth” place – is great. Let’s flood their inbox and let the bureaucracy know there are a lot of passionate paddlers in this community!

It can be a quick email: Just needs to say who you are, why your opinion is important, and what you think! Great if letters have some credentials attached to them (even unrelated to paddling) but Joe-the-Kayaker counts, too!

BC TIDAL RAPIDS NEED PROTECTION

There are new applications for tidal power production around most of Quadra Island. These applications are part of a recent gold rush of private claims staked for potentially profitable energy sites all over BC. Labeled “Green” some power projects may balance-out as benign, but others come with harsh environmental and social consequences.

Okisollo Wave and Surge Narrows, both on the north shore of Quadra Island, have been applied for as places to site tidal power generators. This means harnessing the energy that creates the waves, and building industrial infrastructure to collect and transport the power. This conflicts with existing public use; and Okisollo and Surge Narrows are also part of an already-strong economy based on wild natural features of the land and ocean.

Surge Narrows [Application # 1413161] is a well-used kayaking path and play area. Summer 2008 saw more than 1500 people kayaking in Surge Narrows, Okisollo and Octopus Islands. As a navigation channel used by large number of boaters, Okisollo is one of few access routes to the very popular Octopus Islands Marine Park. Any industrial obstruction would present a hazard to navigation and significant danger to paddlers.

Okisollo Channel & Surge Narrows Marine Park generate major economic benefits for the local community. These are valuable tourism destinations used by dozens of local companies. Some island businesses depend on the tidal rapids.

Surge Narrows and Okisollo tidal rapids are perfect locations for serious kayak training and high-adrenaline recreation. BC colleges, universities, and private schools use these rapids for outdoor leadership and kayak skills training. Okisollo is a controlled rough-water paddling area offering difficult paddling conditions that compliment more moderate rapids at nearby Surge Narrows. It is important for the BC paddling industry to have easily accessible and safe places where guides (and clients) can challenge and improve skills!

The area, especially the amazing Okisollo Wave [Application # 1413121] has received highest praise from from two world-freestyle champions and many professional paddlers, and gained international recognition and a large audience of kayakers thanks to magazine articles and DVD’s featuring the area’s natural beauty and dramatic tidal features.

Surge Narrows and Okisollo are special and valuable for the kayaking community!

If these applications are approved it will be difficult to stop industrial development in the Okisollo Channel. If you believe this area should remain wild, please voice your opinion now!

Email:
simone.engels@gov.bc.ca Simone Engels, Land Officer,
Integrated Land Management Bureau,142-2080 Labieux Rd. Nanaimo, BC V9T 6J9
cc to:
claire.trevena.mla@leg.bc.ca Claire Trevena, MLA
abramfam@oberon.ark.com Jim Abram, Strathcona Regional District
okispac@gmail.com Okisollo Planning Advisory Committee

optional bcc (or for more info): coastmtn@island.net Coast Mountain Expeditions
pictures: http://www.coastmountainexpeditions.com/?q=node98

Details:
• Application # 1413161 (Surge Narrows) http://www.arfd.bc.ca/ApplicationPosting/viewpost.jsp?PostID=9798
• Application #1413121 (Okisollo) http://www.arfd.bc.ca/ApplicationPosting/viewpost.jsp?PostID=9464

The Applicant: Orca Power is a new BC company, recently purchased by by Creation Casinos, Ltd., a company with casino operations in Lithuania; no previous power project. http://www.creationcasinos.com/news.html

[s-kayak]

An idea for how your letter might go..... reprinted with permission. Remember, you don't need "credentials" to have your voice heard, every letter helps!

October 24, 2008
Hello Simone,
My name is Ken Whiting. I am the publisher at The Heliconia Press, as well as a 5-time
National Champion and World Champion Kayaker. I am writing with regards to the
applications for tidal power installation that affect the Surge Narrows and Okisollo tidal
rapids. More specifically, I am writing this letter to communicate how tragic I feel it
would be for this particular area to be chosen as a site for a tidal power installation.
As a business owner, I appreciate the growing need for power, and I understand the
reasons why tidal power makes sense. This letter is not intended to question the validity
of tidal power, but to bring to light the fact that Surge Narrows and Okisollo tidal rapids
are incredibly unique.
I have had the great fortune to be able to travel and kayak around the world over the past
18 years. I have paddled in over 20 countries, on over 200 different rivers, and along
endless coast lines. In 2004, I visited Okisollo Rapids for the first time and I immediately
understood why it was regarded as one of the most fantastic paddling destinations in the
world.
In conclusion, I am writing to communicate my strong opinion that to change or impact
the Surge Narrows and Okisollo tidal rapids with the tidal power technology would be
nothing short of tragic.
Thanks for your consideration.
Ken Whiting
Publisher—The Heliconia Press

[s-kayak]

I'll be sending a similiar letter for myself...
Christine

W. Brice
PO Box 193
Ucluelet, BC V0R 3A0
www.kvarnoguesthouse.ca


Simone Engels,
Land Officer
Integrated Land Management Bureau
142-2080 Labieux Rd.
Nanaimo, BC V9T 6J9

October 25, 2008

Dear Simone,

RE: Tidal Power Generation Application # 1413161 and # 1413121

I have lived on Vancouver Island for most of my 40 years and enjoy a variety of outdoor and water-related sports that are unique to our area, particularly kayaking. I am currently the captain of the Canadian Surf Kayak Team; the team heads out to Portugal next summer.

While I acknowledge the very urgent need to meet our energy demands renewably; without the use of fossil fuels, I have many concerns regarding the proposed tidal rapid generation stations at both Okisollo Rapids (Copper Point) and Surge Narrows. I believe that there are other locations better suited to energy generation than these two sites.

First of all, both areas are “off the grid”, requiring more ecological impact (power lines/roads) to link any energy generated at these sites to BC Hydro.

Second, both points are adjacent to Marine Parks; very popular with recreational boaters of all kinds, and the view from the park area up onto the shore is an important aspect of a Marine Park. I live in Ucluelet and own a vacation rental – so I understand the economic importance of parks in BC.

Lastly, these tidal rapids are a popular recreation spot for non-power boats. They provide intermediate and advanced kayakers of many kinds (touring, white water and surf) as well as board surfers a unique place to play and improve their skills in one of “the best places on Earth”.

The paddlers who go to Quadra Island to enjoy these locations also enjoy the “rustic” nature of northern Quadra Island; how the families and businesses of those areas live “off the grid” and reduce their ecological impact.

To conclude, I strongly urge you to reconsider placing tidal power generating stations at Surge Narrows and Okisollo Rapids. There are better locations where there will be less environmental impact and where recreational users will not be impacted.

Sincerely,

Will Brice
Kvarno Guest House – Ucluelet
Team Canada (Surf Kayak), captain