September 15, 2001
Honourable Stan Hagen
Minister of Sustainable Resource Development
437 5th St. Courtenay,
V9N 1J7

Dear Mr. Hagen;

We wish to bring your attention to the state of the Tsolum River and the continual leaching of Acid Mine Drainage into it from the Mt. Washington mine site.

We would like to thank you for the work done in 1988-89 in covering part of the mine site.  We understand that you were instrumental in getting the financing for that project.  The effect of that work is beginning to be seen in the Tsolum River today.  Last year I personally witnessed fry in Murex Creek for the first time in my memory.  I understand that copper concentrations have gone down considerably. However, as only half the mine site was treated, copper continues to leach off the site with deadly consequence to the Tsolum River ecosystem.

The time has come to finish the job so that our children can reap the benefits that the Tsolum River once provided.  In the past there has been a great deal of inter- agency squabbling and finger pointing.  As a member of a government, which is dedicated to cutting red tape and bureaucracy, we urge you to finish the job at Mt. Washington.  We feel that this would be a wonderful legacy for your time representing the people of the Comox Valley.

As I see from a recent photograph in the Comox Valley Record you are an avid sport fisherman.  This fishery would no doubt benefit from a healthy Tsolum River, as would the commercial fishery.  It is my understanding that the Tsolum was once home to particularly large steelhead and pink salmon, which numbered in the 100 of thousands.

We hope you give serious consideration to our comments.
Regards,
 
 
 

Frank Hovenden
President, Comox Valley Naturalists 
 

Box 3222, Courtenay, B.C. V9N  5N4
WWW.comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca