Saskatoon Light and Power will not be presenting their report to Council on Wednesday, August 18th. Apparently, it isn't ready. And the issues are proving too controversial. Saskatoon City Council does not make decisions about controversial issues in the summer.
This may be good news, of a sort. Maybe the Whitewater Hydro project just won't float?
So now let's go back to enjoying the (ahem) "summer."
It's a good thing we all look so dashing in fleece...
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
City Council Meeting, August 18th, 7 pm
Yo Pelicanistas,
An ad hoc group of citizens is making a brief (20 minute) presentation to council Wednesday, August 18th, at 7 pm. They would dearly love to have some support from like-minded citizens. Please come out and help fill a few seats in the council chamber gallery. City Council needs to know that our objections to the disneyfication of the weir are substantial and on-going.
Here's a preview from the beginning of the presentation:
"I am part of a group of concerned citizens and taxpayers of Saskatoon who have serious questions about the immediate and long-term viability of the proposed Whitewater/Hydro project. Our questions were not adequately addressed during the public presentations held by the City. We are troubled by the public engagement process which is severely limited feedback and due diligence in terms of meaningful evaluation of the project and accountability on a variety of issues. ...Our questions fall into four broad categories: environmental, social, health and safety, and cost and project feasibility. "
If you share these concerns, come out Wednesday to City Hall (222 3rd Ave North) at 7 pm.
Hope you are enjoying the summer, despite the weather!
An ad hoc group of citizens is making a brief (20 minute) presentation to council Wednesday, August 18th, at 7 pm. They would dearly love to have some support from like-minded citizens. Please come out and help fill a few seats in the council chamber gallery. City Council needs to know that our objections to the disneyfication of the weir are substantial and on-going.
Here's a preview from the beginning of the presentation:
"I am part of a group of concerned citizens and taxpayers of Saskatoon who have serious questions about the immediate and long-term viability of the proposed Whitewater/Hydro project. Our questions were not adequately addressed during the public presentations held by the City. We are troubled by the public engagement process which is severely limited feedback and due diligence in terms of meaningful evaluation of the project and accountability on a variety of issues. ...Our questions fall into four broad categories: environmental, social, health and safety, and cost and project feasibility. "
If you share these concerns, come out Wednesday to City Hall (222 3rd Ave North) at 7 pm.
Hope you are enjoying the summer, despite the weather!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Fiddling while Rome burns
MANY QUESTIONS LEFT UNANSWERED
Public Consultations, aptly called “Open Houses,” were held by Saskatoon Light and Power this week. An Open House reminds you of what? An effort to sell you a house or condo? Or the opening of a new facility, like a new hospital or a new car dealership? Does it make you think of a forum for public discourse on a controversial issue like replacing the contemplative Weir and Island Bird Sanctuary with a combined hydro dam and white- water park? Not really!
Local residents were furious that they had no opportunity to speak publicly about their views on this development. Instead, an assortment of pro-hydro-white water advocates stood at different “stations,” in front of vague panels about the glories of the joint projects, providing what they hoped would be soothing answers to people’s questions. This way, people did not hear one another’s questions and did not have a chance to find out what their neighbours and fellow citizens were thinking. This was billed as a “new way” to do public consultations.
The Open Houses and Stakeholder Meetings left many questions unanswered.
1. Why did the concepts offered to us as different options for the weir development all show the hydro dam and white-water park coexisting in the space now occupied exclusively by fish and birds? Although Saskatoon Light & Power representatives grudgingly acknowledged that the hydro development could happen without the white-water park, no where was this possibility illustrated on any of the brightly coloured panel boards.
2. The baseline environmental report found that a water sample they took from the river detected elevated arsenic levels, levels above those considered safe for humans. If we are going to have kids tubing in the river, how are they going to be safe from coming into contact with this substance?
3. Recently a raw sewage leak that spilled into the river went undetected for some time. How will we warn people, especially children, to say out of the white water park if the water isn’t monitored continually?
4. If storm water runs into the river and raises the levels of bacteria in the river above levels safe for recreational use of the river (as has been documented in Calgary’s Bow River, for instance) how will that be measured and how will adults and children be warned to stay out of the river?
5. If a water park is built, where is the funding coming from and who will receive the revenue it generates? If funding is from the province, from what budget source and why? When asked, ‘who will pay for the operation of the White-Water Park?’ Saskatoon Light and Power officials said the provincial government is likely going to pay for the Park to be constructed—though they haven’t officially committed to doing so—but they don’t know who will pay for ongoing operation of the park, though it could be the City.
6. What will be the noise level be like when large sporting events are held at the White-Water Park? How will this affect City Park residents? Birds on the river island?
7. How much lower will projected hydro dam revenues be if we have several years in a row of very low flows in the river, as we did in the drought years in the 1980s?
8. Why was no Need Assessment or survey done to ascertain whether or not the people of Saskatoon want to pay 15 million dollars for a white-water park that will mostly be used by highly skilled and specialized sports enthusiasts?
9. Why are we paying 15 million dollars for a white-water facility that will only be used four months of the year? If anyone uses it in colder weather, they will a handful of devoted white-water enthusiasts.
10. Will kayaking and tubing and surfing in the South Saskatchewan River—called Canada’s most threatened river by a recent World Wildlife Fund Report—make Saskatonians look like we are fiddling while Rome burns?
Public Consultations, aptly called “Open Houses,” were held by Saskatoon Light and Power this week. An Open House reminds you of what? An effort to sell you a house or condo? Or the opening of a new facility, like a new hospital or a new car dealership? Does it make you think of a forum for public discourse on a controversial issue like replacing the contemplative Weir and Island Bird Sanctuary with a combined hydro dam and white- water park? Not really!
Local residents were furious that they had no opportunity to speak publicly about their views on this development. Instead, an assortment of pro-hydro-white water advocates stood at different “stations,” in front of vague panels about the glories of the joint projects, providing what they hoped would be soothing answers to people’s questions. This way, people did not hear one another’s questions and did not have a chance to find out what their neighbours and fellow citizens were thinking. This was billed as a “new way” to do public consultations.
The Open Houses and Stakeholder Meetings left many questions unanswered.
1. Why did the concepts offered to us as different options for the weir development all show the hydro dam and white-water park coexisting in the space now occupied exclusively by fish and birds? Although Saskatoon Light & Power representatives grudgingly acknowledged that the hydro development could happen without the white-water park, no where was this possibility illustrated on any of the brightly coloured panel boards.
2. The baseline environmental report found that a water sample they took from the river detected elevated arsenic levels, levels above those considered safe for humans. If we are going to have kids tubing in the river, how are they going to be safe from coming into contact with this substance?
3. Recently a raw sewage leak that spilled into the river went undetected for some time. How will we warn people, especially children, to say out of the white water park if the water isn’t monitored continually?
4. If storm water runs into the river and raises the levels of bacteria in the river above levels safe for recreational use of the river (as has been documented in Calgary’s Bow River, for instance) how will that be measured and how will adults and children be warned to stay out of the river?
5. If a water park is built, where is the funding coming from and who will receive the revenue it generates? If funding is from the province, from what budget source and why? When asked, ‘who will pay for the operation of the White-Water Park?’ Saskatoon Light and Power officials said the provincial government is likely going to pay for the Park to be constructed—though they haven’t officially committed to doing so—but they don’t know who will pay for ongoing operation of the park, though it could be the City.
6. What will be the noise level be like when large sporting events are held at the White-Water Park? How will this affect City Park residents? Birds on the river island?
7. How much lower will projected hydro dam revenues be if we have several years in a row of very low flows in the river, as we did in the drought years in the 1980s?
8. Why was no Need Assessment or survey done to ascertain whether or not the people of Saskatoon want to pay 15 million dollars for a white-water park that will mostly be used by highly skilled and specialized sports enthusiasts?
9. Why are we paying 15 million dollars for a white-water facility that will only be used four months of the year? If anyone uses it in colder weather, they will a handful of devoted white-water enthusiasts.
10. Will kayaking and tubing and surfing in the South Saskatchewan River—called Canada’s most threatened river by a recent World Wildlife Fund Report—make Saskatonians look like we are fiddling while Rome burns?
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Edmonton's Civic Leaders are Conservation-minded
"Natural Connections Integrated Conservation Plan is Edmonton's plan for the protection, management and restoration of local natural areas and biodiversity, and the engagement of the community in that effort. The plan applies an outcome-based, ecological network approach to the conservation of Edmonton's natural areas systems. It includes three components: a Strategic Plan, a Biodiversity Action Plan and a Biodiversity Report."
Check out Edmonton's Natural Connection's web page:
http://www.edmonton.ca/environmental/natural_areas/natural-connections-conservati.aspx.
So while Edmonton is doing public consultation on how to preserve and protect the city's natural resources, we in Saskatoon will be attending consultations on how to exploit our river, the only conservation-minded component of which is a more effective (and long overdue) revamp of the weir's fish ladder....
Check out Edmonton's Natural Connection's web page:
http://www.edmonton.ca/environmental/natural_areas/natural-connections-conservati.aspx.
So while Edmonton is doing public consultation on how to preserve and protect the city's natural resources, we in Saskatoon will be attending consultations on how to exploit our river, the only conservation-minded component of which is a more effective (and long overdue) revamp of the weir's fish ladder....
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Dates for public consultation on the Whitewater Dam
Wednesday, June 9, 6 p.m. o 9 p.m. at North Park Wilson School, 1505 Ninth Ave. North
Thursday, June 10, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Radisson Hotel, 405 20th St. East
Thursday, June 10, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Frances Morrison Library, 311 23rd St. East
Thursday, June 10, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Radisson Hotel, 405 20th St. East
Thursday, June 10, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Frances Morrison Library, 311 23rd St. East
Pelican Watch goes before Council
Thanks to everyone who contributed suggestions for this presentation. Here it is in its entirety.
Good evening Mayor and Councillors. I am here representing a group called Pelican Watch. We’re concerned about spending $65 million on the White Water/Hydro Dam. Here, in brief, are 25 reasons why we think this is not a good idea:
1. Because the weir is visited daily, as a place of peaceful contemplation, by people from all walks of life, including those who can’t walk to the more inaccessible parts of Meewasin Trail.
2. Because River Landing isn’t even finished yet.
3. Because the sea do’s and power boats frighten the birds and wildlife away from the river upstream from the weir and there should be a part of the downtown waterway that is off limits to us.
4. Because the pelicans are free. That is, they don’t charge for hanging around and looking beautiful.
5. Because the pelican is a powerful emblem of Saskatoon’s ability to live with nature and not against it.
6. Because we and other provincial governments have already reduced the flow of the South Saskatchewan by 70%.
7. Because the Alberta government has a moratorium on new irrigation projects on the South Saskatchewan and if the Alberta government is worried about the river then it must really be in trouble.
8. Because the South Saskatchewan is, according to a recent World Wildlife Fund report, Canada’s most threatened river.
9. Because the river keeps us all alive--literally.
10. Because not only do Saskatoon citizens drink the South Saskatchewan River water, so do citizens of: Hague, Osler, Dalmany, Warman, Martensville, Clavet, Bradwell, Allan, Elstow, St. Louis, St. Isabelle de Bellevue, Wakaw, Cudworthy, Humboldt, Muenster, Annaheim, Lake Lenore …and an increasing number of acreages and estates.
11. Because the bird sanctuary on the island near the Mendel should remain a sanctuary, free of human interference.
12. Because the South Saskatchewan river is already dammed.
13. Because some years the South Saskatchewan River is so low you could wade across it.
14. Because we can’t afford another megaproject.
15. Because the folks who come to put their kayaks, tubes, and surf boards into the whitewater park will come in cars and SUVs and how green is that.
16. Because the delicate riparian zone between the river and the bank would be altered in favour of human traffic and haven’t we just built something called River Landing that does just that?
17. Because the idea that pelicans will fish in the same small section of water alongside high energy activities like kayaking is just good old fashion bafflegab.
18. Because the South Saskatchewan River is a wide, slow, ancient, dignified river, and to artificially force it into rapids and waves will make the river look—frankly—ridiculous.
19. Because we should be asking not what the river can do for us but what we can do for the river.
20. Because, as your mother would say, the river is not a toy.
21. Because people come down to the weir, to propose marriage to one another, to kiss, to argue about buying a new house while having coffee, to eat a burger while grabbing a few spare minutes to gaze peacefully at the river, they come to to watch the pelicans feed, to shed a tear over the death of their mother, they come to be soothed by falling water, by water where humans cannot and should not go.
22. Because the river is a living ecosystem and not merely a resource.
23. Because Saskatoon Light and Power should try harder to go green, rather than having token projects like one windmill and one mini dam.
24. Because pelicans fly to the river from Redberry Lake each summer morning and they come quietly, without disturbing anyone.
25. Because the South Saskatchewan River is already dammed, and what it actually needs is to be saved.
Good evening Mayor and Councillors. I am here representing a group called Pelican Watch. We’re concerned about spending $65 million on the White Water/Hydro Dam. Here, in brief, are 25 reasons why we think this is not a good idea:
1. Because the weir is visited daily, as a place of peaceful contemplation, by people from all walks of life, including those who can’t walk to the more inaccessible parts of Meewasin Trail.
2. Because River Landing isn’t even finished yet.
3. Because the sea do’s and power boats frighten the birds and wildlife away from the river upstream from the weir and there should be a part of the downtown waterway that is off limits to us.
4. Because the pelicans are free. That is, they don’t charge for hanging around and looking beautiful.
5. Because the pelican is a powerful emblem of Saskatoon’s ability to live with nature and not against it.
6. Because we and other provincial governments have already reduced the flow of the South Saskatchewan by 70%.
7. Because the Alberta government has a moratorium on new irrigation projects on the South Saskatchewan and if the Alberta government is worried about the river then it must really be in trouble.
8. Because the South Saskatchewan is, according to a recent World Wildlife Fund report, Canada’s most threatened river.
9. Because the river keeps us all alive--literally.
10. Because not only do Saskatoon citizens drink the South Saskatchewan River water, so do citizens of: Hague, Osler, Dalmany, Warman, Martensville, Clavet, Bradwell, Allan, Elstow, St. Louis, St. Isabelle de Bellevue, Wakaw, Cudworthy, Humboldt, Muenster, Annaheim, Lake Lenore …and an increasing number of acreages and estates.
11. Because the bird sanctuary on the island near the Mendel should remain a sanctuary, free of human interference.
12. Because the South Saskatchewan river is already dammed.
13. Because some years the South Saskatchewan River is so low you could wade across it.
14. Because we can’t afford another megaproject.
15. Because the folks who come to put their kayaks, tubes, and surf boards into the whitewater park will come in cars and SUVs and how green is that.
16. Because the delicate riparian zone between the river and the bank would be altered in favour of human traffic and haven’t we just built something called River Landing that does just that?
17. Because the idea that pelicans will fish in the same small section of water alongside high energy activities like kayaking is just good old fashion bafflegab.
18. Because the South Saskatchewan River is a wide, slow, ancient, dignified river, and to artificially force it into rapids and waves will make the river look—frankly—ridiculous.
19. Because we should be asking not what the river can do for us but what we can do for the river.
20. Because, as your mother would say, the river is not a toy.
21. Because people come down to the weir, to propose marriage to one another, to kiss, to argue about buying a new house while having coffee, to eat a burger while grabbing a few spare minutes to gaze peacefully at the river, they come to to watch the pelicans feed, to shed a tear over the death of their mother, they come to be soothed by falling water, by water where humans cannot and should not go.
22. Because the river is a living ecosystem and not merely a resource.
23. Because Saskatoon Light and Power should try harder to go green, rather than having token projects like one windmill and one mini dam.
24. Because pelicans fly to the river from Redberry Lake each summer morning and they come quietly, without disturbing anyone.
25. Because the South Saskatchewan River is already dammed, and what it actually needs is to be saved.
Friday, May 7, 2010
The Pelicans are back, but so is the Disneyfication of our river!
Here you can see the pelicans are back at the weir. They won't be, once "the world's largest standing river wave" is constructed here. Of course the environmental assessment said the pelicans would like the changes, but how often do you see pelicans and surfers--surfers, is the City out of its mind--side by side!
Hey, Pelicanistas, it's time to start our protest in earnest.
City council is meeting on this Monday night, May 10th. We don't yet know if there is any point being there and flapping our wings about this travesty, but we'll let you all know. Stay posted.
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