Please accept the following letter for the September 3, 2026 meeting regarding the application for zoning amendment Lot DL 5739, Lac Le Jeune, BC. The Lac Le Jeune Conservation Association has concerns related to the rezoning application, that changes original designation of land use to that of a Hobby Farm.
Concerns:
Our concerns are not with the development of a hobby farm per se, but rather
with the effect(s) that the revised land usage may have on the water quality of
the “little lake”.
Under the original designation i.e. single family LR1, P1 any housing
development would be strictly regulated with respect to services to and from
the development, most specifically, relative to our concerns, are those related
to waste and sewage disposal. In a housing development, sewage disposal
would be via engineered, inspected and certified septic systems. Under the
rezoning, safe removal of animal waste might not be as easily achieved or
monitored. Animal waste would not be processed through an approved septic
system.
The proposed usage would presumably have some number and variety of
animals housed on the property defined under the rezoning application. This
designated parcel lies over the lake aquifer, is contiguous with the riparian
area, the boundaries are immediately adjacent to the lake shore and the
designated area encompasses a significant proportion of the natural drainage
area above the lake. This is complicated by the inclusion within the
boundaries of the property of an intermittent creek that also accumulates
drainage from areas above as well as outside of the property and flows most
actively during the spring thaw orfollowing any heavy rain across the property
and directly into the little lake brining with it any contamination it carries.
Our concern is that without a thorough preliminary study aimed at establishing
appropriate regulations and mitigation methods specific to the approved land
usage, there would be a significant risk of high levels of coliform bacteria and
other biologically hazardous materials entering the lake water. It should be
noted that the Lac Le Jeune community and the park residents already
intermittently receive boil water advisories associated with elevated coliform
levels, so it would be most unfortunate if this risk were to be increased
through failure to establish appropriate regulations and controls.
The Lac Le Jeune community has been actively involved in monitoring of the
lake waters since 2012 when the Ministry of the Environment proposed that
we set up a volunteer group to collect water samples and record data related
to the water quality with instrumentation supplied by the Ministry.
The volunteers were taught the methodology and initially directed by the
Ministries’ head technologist. The study continued for the next 5 years,
accumulating data on oxygen concentration, ionic composition, chlorophyl a
concentration, as well as total and organic carbon concentration. Data was
taken every three weeks over the period of the study by a volunteer body that
consisted of at least 15 dedicated Lac Le Jeune residents.
This study was followed by an even more thorough one under the auspices of
BCIT, that included aging of fish, analysis of fish diseases and parasites,
estimation of fish population, analysis of phytoplankton and zooplankton
species and populations and also included analysis of benthic species and
populations. Our volunteers assisted with this study as well. The results of
both studies may be viewed on public record.
I think this testifies to the dedication of our community to the welfare of our
water supply and to the degree of education those of us who participated have
received in water monitoring technology.
It is our hope that airing these concerns will help in the development of a set
of protocols that will ensure a safely run and successful hobby farm. We are
sure that Dr. Wynne with his medical training is sure to be aware of all of the
issues inherent in such a venture.
Sincerely,
Lac Le Jeune Conservation Association
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