The Friends of Miracle Creek is a local volunteer group in Youbou located on the shores of Cowichan Lake. We are concerned with the long term health of Cowichan Lake as a sustainable ecosystem. Land use activities around Cowichan Lake include traditional logging activity on private forest lands and recently accelerated development of lakeshore property. The following concerns regarding riparian and shoreline habitats have been expressed by local residents as a result of these land uses. The concerns are summarized as follows:

1. Over 80 named creeks flow into Cowichan Lake and it historically has been one of the richest salmon rearing habitats on Vancouver Island.
2. On going concerns of active logging in a designated watershed.
3. Property values rapidly escalating while property owners and developers apply pressure on land use.
4. Lakeshore property owner's rights and increasing land values promote high land use expectations at the expense of lake shore riparian areas.
5. Inability to enforce shoreline riparian protection regulations.

The overlapping of land use jurisdictions by Forestry, Property Owners, Recreational Users and Environmental Protection are ongoing issues to warrant attention by local volunteer groups to raise awareness of the consequences of detrimental activities that affect the Cowichan Lake ecosystem.

Contacts:

George deLure Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bill Gibson Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Gerald Thom Phone: 250.749.7203