I will try to keep to five items this report, so here goes!

Plutonic Power proposals
It seems that "green energy" is the buzz phrase of the year in Area J and other parts of the world. The question in my mind is when does a project change colours - from "green" to something else. Right now there is a huge proposal out there to tap into a few dozen of the rivers in Area J in Bute Inlet and Toba Inlet. These are to be "run-of-the-river" projects, not your mega-projects like the dams of earlier decades. As one author put it though, " .... what these new projects don't have in size, they make up for in sheer numbers. They are making it up in intrusions into hundreds of undeveloped areas with roads, dams, pipelines, temporary construction camps, and a permanent spider-work of transmission lines."

In the case of Bute and Toba Inlets, we are talking about 375 kilometers of transmission lines. We are talking about around 3 dozen rivers in these wilderness areas that are heavily used by our first nation and non-first nation communities for tourism and recreation opportunities. And then there are the forest dwellers. Will they be impacted? How could they not be?

At the July 16th Strathcona Regional District Committee of the Whole meeting (12:30 pm), we will have a presentation from Plutonic Power on their proposal. I am also trying to get a speaker from the "other green power side" to also present at the same meeting so that we get a more balanced view of the project and any possible pitfalls. The meeting is being held at the Maritime Heritage Centre in Campbell River.

For more info on this project and others like it visit www.watershedsentinel.ca and read "Rivers of Riches" (Jan. 2007)

Scallop farm proposal (south of Rebecca Spit Park)
The Cape Mudge band has applied to the Integrated Land Management Bureau (ILMB) for an investigative permit to see if they can raise scallops in a long-line operation on approximately 63.8 hectares of water area in front of Indian Reserve #9, which is adjacent to Rebecca Spit Provincial Park on the north side and to the private lands directly to the south of the Reserve. The SRD has advised ILMB of the need for the Band to apply for a Temporary Industrial Use Permit or to apply for a rezoning in order for the use to be allowed. According to the community calendar in the last Discovery Islander, the Band is having a public information meeting on Monday June 23rd at 7:00 pm at the Cape Mudge hall. I have not confirmed this information. You should call the Band office to confirm.

I am meeting with the Chief and other representatives of the Band on June 20th at 11am along with the Chair of our SRD board and our interim Chief Administrative Officer to discuss their proposal and the process that needs to be followed under the Local Government Act. I will report back to you on that meeting in my next report.

Gravel pit / mine application
There has also been an application for a gravel pit to be operated in the area of Copper Cliffs. The applicants are holding their own public meeting on Monday, June 23rd, along with the Ministry of Energy and Mines It will be at the Quadra Community Centre starting at 6:30 pm. As you will see under the previous item, there will be a conflict in meetings on that night.

I have received numerous letters and calls about this particular application, due to its proximity to residences. I am sure that the applicants will be able to answer questions and concerns at the meeting.

Quathiaski Cove terminal
I just received a notice by email, that the grand opening of the Q. Cove terminal will be on Friday, June 20th at 1:00 pm.

This terminal building project has been the result of a lot of hard work on the part of many of us in the community as part of the ongoing BC Ferries Advisory Committee discussions. The plans started out as an unacceptable proposal by BCFS and was re-worked by numerous members of the community as a first draft and then it went back and forth for, literally, years. With the help of Rob Wood (of Rob Wood Designs) BCFS finally came back with an acceptable proposal that was then approved by their executive and eventually built. I did insist throughout the process that local contractors be used wherever possible and I think that BCFS did that as much as possible. So at least some of our ferry fares came back to re-circulate on the island! Coffee and desserts will be served after the ribbon cutting.

I am sure that the chair of the Ferry Advisory Committee will give a more detailed account in his next report, but since I just got this notice, I wanted to make sure that you knew about it.

Quadra Island Salmon Enhancement Society (QISES)
I attended the first annual QISES fund raising dinner and auction, held at Tsa Kwa Luten Lodge on Saturday, June 14th. It was a wonderful affair and was an outstanding example of the generosity of the people of Quadra Island and the surrounding area. The food was delicious and the items for auction were worth bidding on! And the salmon resource of this area will continue to be supported! The regional district has also supported salmon enhancement not only on Quadra, but in the outer islands and the inlets as long as I have been the director for Area J through grants-in-aid.

Well, I said five items and I believe we are there. As always, there are many other issues and activities that deserve mention, but I only get so much space and don't want to test your patience with lengthy reports. So, that is it for now. Feel free to call me between the hours of 8:30 am and 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday (not on weekends, folks!) at 285-3355, or you can fax me at 285-3533 or you can email me anytime at abramfamoberon.ark.com , or by mail at Box 278 in the Cove, V0P 1N0... Lots of choices!

Respectfully submitted,
Jim Abram
Director, Discovery Islands - Mainland Inlets (Area J), SRD