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[ CoNservatioN ] Tactics Stall


MOTOR BOATING REGULATIONS FOR


COLUMBIA RIVER WETLANDS R


enowned nature artist and wildlife advo- cate Robert Bateman calls southeastern


British Columbia’s Columbia River Wetlands “one of the most precious things on a world scale,” and he is among thousands joining the call to protect this critical wildlife habitat from increasing threat of fast-moving, noisy, motorized recreation activities such as jet boating and jet skiing. Tis 180-kilometre-long wetland complex


forms the headwaters of the Columbia River and is one of the largest intact wetlands left on the continent. Filling the Rocky Mountain Trench between the towns of Canal Flats and Golden, B.C., these wetlands are particularly critical to both migratory and resident birds and wildlife. Te Columbia River Wetlands were designat-


ed wetlands of international significance un- der the Ramsar International Convention on Wetlands. Tey also join South America’s Lake Titicaca, Siberia’s Lake Baikal, Eastern Africa’s Lake Victoria and nearly 50 other water bodies in the Global Nature Fund’s Living Lakes Net- work, an international conservation network dedicated to the protection of water resources. In response to nearly 10 years of effort by


local canoeists, hunters and conservationists led by a local non-profit, Wildsight, Trans- port Canada is finally poised to impose regu- lations to control unsustainable motorized recreation activities in these wetlands. Te proposed regulations include a ban


on waterskiing and powerboat operation in the wetland portion of the system. However, pressure from motorized users has stalled protection measures for the Columbia River main channel—a central habitat feature of the wetlands. Te initial proposal, which included a ban


on all motorized use of the river during critical spring and fall wildfowl staging and nesting


16 SPRING 2010


15-voyageur horsepower. PHOTO: DAVE QUINN


Pressure from motorized users has stalled protection measures


periods, was shot down by motorized inter- ests, who earlier launched a lawsuit to rescind a 10-horsepower limit imposed by the Prov- ince of British Columbia, based on the prem- ise that the river is a navigable waterway, and therefore under federal jurisdiction. Now up for debate is a proposal for a year-


round 20-horsepower limit on the river. “We see otters, beaver, heron, eagle, wa- terfowl with chicks, songbirds, moose and


bears using the main channel, and it is one of the few remaining opportunities for non- motorized recreation in this region,” says Maryann Emery with the Golden Outdoor Recreation Association, who has been canoe- ing the Columbia for over 30 years. “Our members would like to see a complete


ban on motorized use of the main channel, but the 20-horsepower limit is an acceptable compromise,” concedes Emery. “Tis place is an unbelievable treasure, both from a wild- life and quiet recreation standpoint, and we need to act now to protect it, not just for us, but for the future.” Transport Canada says they will make a


final decision on the future of the Columbia River main channel and its wildlife some- time in 2010. —Dave Quinn


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