I would like to comment on the Lac Le Jeune CONSERVATION Association meeting last week.
The constitution of the LLJCA reads:
“The purposes of the association are:
a) To help ensure the protection and conservation of our physical environment: the air, water, forest, and wildlife that surround us.
b) To care for and preserve the natural beauty of Lac Le Jeune and surrounding area for the enjoyment and recreation of all.”
Have we as a group lost sight of the purposes of the association? I am concerned that our focus now seems to be on the residents rather than the environment in which we live. The fact that the presentation on the Ajax mine proposal was not included in the LLJCA meeting, the lack of interest shown by a few LLJCA members, including executive members, and the comment made that it was not in the association’s best interest to be part of the Ajax Mine discussion are all examples of the apparent lack of concern for the place in which we live.
There are many conservation issues that could be addressed at our local level. An example might be to inform/educate people about the fragile environment we live in. At the trailhead at Stake Lake there is a well done information board about the uses, history, plants and wildlife in the Stake Lake Trail system. A board like that would be beneficial at the trailhead of the Gus Johnson, the road to Rossmore Lake and/or the bottom of the old “racetrack” trail system by the little lake.
Maybe we should be looking at some trail enhancement, such as little bridges over wet areas or highly used places. At Hudson Bay Mountain in Smithers, the Mountain Bike Association has done an amazing job with the trails. They applied for and received considerable grant money for their trail work. Maybe there is some grant money that could be available to our community (in consultation with the appropriate government agencies) to hire people to help us improve the trail system here.
Many small communities build and maintain bluebird boxes. You will notice these on the fences on the way to Logan Lake and a few around the ski hill area here.
Another example might be to use our association to put pressure on the Forestry Ministry to ensure the surrounding logged areas are replanted in a “timely” manner. Take a drive out to some of the areas that were reforested 8-10 years ago and you will be amazed at the growth that has happened. We cannot see that here in our logged areas.
What about an information handout to new residents, covering topics like fire restrictions, maintaining range fences, appropriate care of septics, refuse care to avoid attracting our 4 legged friends, etc? When we built our house we had to sign off on a list of topics like this before we were given a building permit. I do not think that happens anymore.
As development in our area continues and it becomes a busier place, we need to establish stewardship of this beautiful place we are privileged to live in.
Submitted by Bev Lorimer, September 23, 2011
Resident since 2000
A friend and user of this area since 1988.
