Knothole Lake - one of more than 40 beautiful mountain lakes in the park proposal area.
Meadows near Dennett Lake, Burke Mountain - with bog orchids, sundew, frogs and salamanders, these meadows are too ecologically sensitive to survive a proposed hotel/condo/resort development.
Support the Creation of Pinecone Lake/Burke Mountain Provincial Park
SOME SPECTACULAR OLD-GROWTH STILL LEFT!
Many people are surprised to learn that tracts of old growth forest still remain near the city. Some remember the unsuccessful effort in the 1930's to preserve the last stand of Fraser Valley old growth in Surrey. Most of the surrounding areas, being close to numerous mills along the Fraser River, have been logged out. However, in a few remote areas in our local mountains logging roads were, until recently, extremely difficult to build, and here old growth forest remains to this day. But not for long, unless we act now.
There are remnant patches of old-growth forest on the north shore mountains and in the further reaches of Golden Ears Provincial Park, but the most significant undisturbed tracts of old-growth in the Lower Mainland lie within the Boise, DeBeck and Upper Coquitlam River valleys - in the proposed Pinecone Lake/Burke Mountain Provincial Park. This ancient forest ecosystems contains some truly magnificent trees - including red cedar up to 12 feet in diameter and yellow cedar well over 1,000 years old.
There forests are important not just for human appreciation, but also for wildlife which require old-growth forest habitat. Spotted owl, pine marten, tailed frog, Pacific jumping mouse and shrew mole exist only in a few other locations in Canada. Clearly, we are just beginning to understand the ecological importance of these old-growth forests.
Yet there are plans to clear-cut all of these areas. Fletcher Challenge intends to log in the Boise Creek valley, even while the park study is ongoing. The Greater Vancouver Water District wants to log the Upper Coquitlam valley, despite the risk to our drinking water, and even if it costs more than leaving the forest intact. The Forest Service has prepared its own development plans for Burke Mountain, Widgeon Valley and DeBeck Creek. You as a taxpayer will pay for expensive road access and reforestation costs if these plans go ahead.
This is our last chance to protect the closest true wilderness to Greater Vancouver. You can play an essential role in ensuring this irreplaceable natural heritage is passed on to future generations.
Upper Coquitlam River - open to logging and a natural gas pipeline, but not public recreation. The undisturbed forest is home to the spotted owl and other species which need old-growth habitat to survive.
BURKE MOUNTAIN
Burke Mountain, only a half hour drive from Vancouver, has long been a favourite recreation area for Lower Mainland residents. It provides part of the scenic backdrop that makes this metropolis one of the finest in the world. For more than 25 years, community groups have been asking that Burke Mountain be designated a park. The mountain has a variety of hiking trails, including some suitable for the whole family.
Munro and Dennett Lakes lie in the heart of the Burke plateau, surrounded by fragile meadows and pockets of ancient yellow cedar, amabilis fir and mountain hemlock. This beautiful core area is threatened by a developer's proposal to build a huge ski resort including restaurants, hotels, condominiums, theatres, stores and a casino on private and Crown land. Most people familiar with the mountain say that it is ill-suited to this sort of development due to lack of snow and limited terrain. The implications of the proposed development in this environmentally sensitive area are alarming. The serenity of Munro and Dennett Lakes would be lost forever. A 1982 government study recommended that this private property be returned to public ownership and that a provincial park be created. These recommendations were ignored.
Or Creek, on the western slope of Burke, is kept off-limits to the public by the Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD). Although not currently used for water supply, a proposal to divert its waters into Coquitlam Lake would have devastating consequences to the Coquitlam River fishery. Public demand for recreation requires that Or Creek be returned to the citizens of this province. As part of the new provincial park it would allow access to Coquitlam Peak, one of the highest on the north shore.
Let's keep the natural beauty of Burke Mountain intact for family hiking and cross-country skiing.
WIDGEON VALLEY
Lower Widgeon Falls - striking granite sculpture and emerald green pools have become a popular destination for day hikers.
Located next to Burke Mountain, Widgeon Valley is one of the Lower Mainland's most valuable natural assets. Widgeon Slough, at the mouth of the valley, contains nationally important wetland wildlife habitat. The slough and valley are presently accessible by canoe from Pitt Lake, An easy trail leads from the head of the slough, through an emerald pooled creek canyon, to Widgeon Falls, a series of cascades which are a popular destination for day hikers. The crowning jewel of the valley is beautiful Widgeon Lake (photo on page 1). Over the last 20 years, Widgeon Valley has become an extremely popular recreation area for thousands of Lower Mainland residents.
Despite its popularity, Widgeon Valley faces numerous threats. The Forest Service wants to clearcut highly visible areas throughout the valley. The Greater Vancouver Water District wants to cut off public access to Widgeon Lake, and dam and divert its waters into Coquitlam Lake. This would devastate fish habitat and recreation opportunities. A private hydroelectric company has also applied to dam the lake, replace waterfalls with penstocks leading to a generating station, and build powerline through the valley.
The Nature Trust and GVRD have had the vision and foresight to recognize the importance of this area by jointly purchasing a strategically located parcel of land at the entrance to Widgeon Valley for habitat conservation and a future regional park.
It's time the Province acted to protect the rest of Widgeon Valley.
