A proposed logging operation near Hummingbird Creek has unleashed a wave of protest by Swansea Point residents and others who don害羞草研究所檛 want to see history repeated.

The floodgates opened when Swansea Point residents Lois and Dave Schurek received a letter from Tolko Industries Ltd., dated Feb. 22, informing them of 11 cutblocks being proposed for the uplands above Swansea Point and the Schureks害羞草研究所� home, located on the east side of Highway 97A along Hummingbird Creek.

害羞草研究所淭his letter is being sent to you as a domestic water licence holder adjacent to our Crown land operating area and as part of our information sharing referral process害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� the letter states.

The Schureks, to Lois害羞草研究所� knowledge, are the only ones in Swansea Point to have received this correspondence.

害羞草研究所淲e only got the letter because we have water rights in that creek and they want to log that 7016 block害羞草研究所� and it害羞草研究所檚 within 1,000 metres of our well,害羞草研究所� said Lois. 害羞草研究所淚f they had left that one off and only went for 10, they wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have had to notify us. So we害羞草研究所檙e the only ones that got notification and that害羞草研究所檚 our only way to object.害羞草研究所�

The Schureks have since ignited a protest against the proposal, a response driven by memory of the large, devastating debris flows Swansea Point experienced in 1997 and 2012, as well as numerous smaller mudslides in the area, including one that occurred on Tuesday, March 14.

The Schureks say past upland logging operations contributed to those debris flows, and they don害羞草研究所檛 wish to see another.

害羞草研究所淭here is no question that we害羞草研究所檙e going to have this again,害羞草研究所� said Schurek.

Tolko spokesperson Janice Lockyer said the letter received by the Schureks is part of a process that害羞草研究所檚 in its infancy.

害羞草研究所淲e are well aware of the concerns and we are looking at the geography of the area and all that stuff,害羞草研究所� said Lockyer.

害羞草研究所淚 think what害羞草研究所檚 really important for people to understand right now is this is a very preliminary part of the process. We are working right now with a hydrologist and geotechs to start the modelling for this process. So we害羞草研究所檙e not even looking at hanging ribbons until next year. We have a lot of work to do before we even understand what害羞草研究所檚 going on there, or whether it will work or what kind of adjustments we害羞草研究所檒l need to make.害羞草研究所�

In response to Tolko害羞草研究所檚 letter, the Schureks are calling for a moratorium on all logging activity above Swansea Point. Others from the community who have since learned of the proposed cutblocks are doing the same.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 think that害羞草研究所檚 unreasonable,害羞草研究所� said Lois. 害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 not anti-logging. That害羞草研究所檚 a small piece of land considering all of the mountains in B.C. But it would certainly save a lot of lives.

害羞草研究所淚n 1997, there was 120 to 125 homes, now there害羞草研究所檚 500. So when you say you害羞草研究所檙e going to put that many people in harm害羞草研究所檚 way 害羞草研究所� because it happens in the summer, these slides don害羞草研究所檛 happen in the wintertime when they害羞草研究所檙e empty.害羞草研究所�

Jim Cooperman and Shuswap Environmental Action Society are also supporting the Schureks, stating it would be completely irresponsible to clearcut log the unstable hillsides above Swansea Point.

害羞草研究所淲ithout tree cover, more snow accumulates on clearcuts and it melts faster, especially when it rains害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� said Cooperman. 害羞草研究所淕iven the instability of this hillside, we can expect more slides across the highway and perhaps even more damage to private properties. As well, with climate change intensifying, there will be more intense storms that will further increase the potential for more landslides in the future.害羞草研究所�

The Schureks害羞草研究所� certainty that logging practices contributed to past debris flows is founded in part on a legal action they took against the province and a logging company that had been working in the hills above Swansea Point prior to the 害羞草研究所�97 debris flow. That disaster rolled through Lois害羞草研究所� elderly parents害羞草研究所� home and property while they were at home, and she said despite having physical ailments, they managed to survive the ordeal.

害羞草研究所淚 did my homework, in 1997 I rented an airplane, went up and took a look,害羞草研究所� said Schurek. 害羞草研究所淭hen we went up and filmed it in a rain storm. When I had that to show them, they just folded and said, 害羞草研究所榳e害羞草研究所檒l pay you, and we got it.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭rees absorb something like 60 to 70 per cent of the rainfall害羞草研究所� We did huge studies when we won our case. The roots absorb it so it doesn害羞草研究所檛 get to the bedrock and the hard place and it doesn害羞草研究所檛 cause the (soils) to slip. You take them out and you害羞草研究所檙e going to have slippage constantly.害羞草研究所�

The Schureks have sent their 害羞草研究所淭olko package害羞草研究所� of letters to Tolko as well as local politicians, including Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo. He passed the information on to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Resource Operations, according to spokesperson Dave Townsend.

Responding to a request for comment, Townsend said the watershed above Swansea Point is within Tolko害羞草研究所檚 industry forest licence and the ministry expects all forest licencees ensure risks to environmental integrity and public protection are appropriately mitigated in the planning process.

He said the ministry is currently aware of local residents害羞草研究所� concerns and will be in contact with them.

害羞草研究所淭olko advises that the planning process will take 12 to 18 months to complete and that no layout on the ground is anticipated for two years,害羞草研究所� said Townsend. 害羞草研究所淭he ministry has been assured that they are committed to continued communication with residents throughout the planning process.害羞草研究所�