A proposed logging operation near Hummingbird Creek has unleashed a wave of protest by Swansea Point residents and others who don香蕉视频直播檛 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香蕉视频直播� home, located on the east side of Highway 97A along Hummingbird Creek.

香蕉视频直播淭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香蕉视频直播�,香蕉视频直播� the letter states.

The Schureks, to Lois香蕉视频直播� knowledge, are the only ones in Swansea Point to have received this correspondence.

香蕉视频直播淲e only got the letter because we have water rights in that creek and they want to log that 7016 block香蕉视频直播� and it香蕉视频直播檚 within 1,000 metres of our well,香蕉视频直播� said Lois. 香蕉视频直播淚f they had left that one off and only went for 10, they wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 have had to notify us. So we香蕉视频直播檙e the only ones that got notification and that香蕉视频直播檚 our only way to object.香蕉视频直播�

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香蕉视频直播檛 wish to see another.

香蕉视频直播淭here is no question that we香蕉视频直播檙e going to have this again,香蕉视频直播� said Schurek.

Tolko spokesperson Janice Lockyer said the letter received by the Schureks is part of a process that香蕉视频直播檚 in its infancy.

香蕉视频直播淲e are well aware of the concerns and we are looking at the geography of the area and all that stuff,香蕉视频直播� said Lockyer.

香蕉视频直播淚 think what香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檙e not even looking at hanging ribbons until next year. We have a lot of work to do before we even understand what香蕉视频直播檚 going on there, or whether it will work or what kind of adjustments we香蕉视频直播檒l need to make.香蕉视频直播�

In response to Tolko香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think that香蕉视频直播檚 unreasonable,香蕉视频直播� said Lois. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 not anti-logging. That香蕉视频直播檚 a small piece of land considering all of the mountains in B.C. But it would certainly save a lot of lives.

香蕉视频直播淚n 1997, there was 120 to 125 homes, now there香蕉视频直播檚 500. So when you say you香蕉视频直播檙e going to put that many people in harm香蕉视频直播檚 way 香蕉视频直播� because it happens in the summer, these slides don香蕉视频直播檛 happen in the wintertime when they香蕉视频直播檙e empty.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淲ithout tree cover, more snow accumulates on clearcuts and it melts faster, especially when it rains香蕉视频直播�,香蕉视频直播� said Cooperman. 香蕉视频直播淕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.香蕉视频直播�

The Schureks香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播�97 debris flow. That disaster rolled through Lois香蕉视频直播� elderly parents香蕉视频直播� home and property while they were at home, and she said despite having physical ailments, they managed to survive the ordeal.

香蕉视频直播淚 did my homework, in 1997 I rented an airplane, went up and took a look,香蕉视频直播� said Schurek. 香蕉视频直播淭hen we went up and filmed it in a rain storm. When I had that to show them, they just folded and said, 香蕉视频直播榳e香蕉视频直播檒l pay you, and we got it.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭rees absorb something like 60 to 70 per cent of the rainfall香蕉视频直播� We did huge studies when we won our case. The roots absorb it so it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 get to the bedrock and the hard place and it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 cause the (soils) to slip. You take them out and you香蕉视频直播檙e going to have slippage constantly.香蕉视频直播�

The Schureks have sent their 香蕉视频直播淭olko package香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播� concerns and will be in contact with them.

香蕉视频直播淭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,香蕉视频直播� said Townsend. 香蕉视频直播淭he ministry has been assured that they are committed to continued communication with residents throughout the planning process.香蕉视频直播�