The Eulachon don't cut the mustard if you can't get your Yacht out of the harbour.
Silt a safety concern
Dave Willis
Special to Surrey Now
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Action needs to be taken right away to improve local water levels.
That was a common theme during the question and answer portion of Vancouver Fraser Port Authority CEO and president Captain Gordon Houston's talk at the Delta Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday.
Local marine businessmen said "millions of tonnes" of silt have built up in local waterways, creating navigation and safety issues in addition to becoming a threat to sustainable business.
Houston said the VFPA is working with government to establish sustainable funding for dredging along the Fraser River.
He called it a "vital focus for the VFPA."
Houston didn't have answers for specific questions about local water levels but said he didn't "discount the urgency" for action.
"The water's getting less, the flow is gone and the silt is coming in faster than we can keep it out even if we pay for dredging ourselves," Mike Owen said after the luncheon meeting at the Delta Town and Country Inn.
Owen, who owns a marine services business in Ladner, said action is needed now to improve the situation.
On one recent day the tide was so low if you didn't have a canoe or kayak, you couldn't come up the river from Westham Island to Ladner, he said.
A sustainable dredging fund is needed, he added.
Another businessman said dredging won't be enough and that local waterways that had rockwalls built up in the past need to be opened back up to improve the water flow.
Houston said the recent merger of the Fraser River, North Fraser and Vancouver port authorities has been beneficial.
"As a result of amalgamation I believe the VFPA is well on its way to becoming a global competitor and a community partner," he said.
© Surrey Now 2008
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Topic: Silt a safety concern (Fraser) (Read 1142 times)