RECREATION COUNCIL RANKS B.C. RIVERS
Fraser ‘most endangered’
by Canadian Press
VANCOUVER — The Fraser River, ranked by many experts as the top salmon-producing river in the world, also tops the Outdoor Recreation Council’s list of the most endangered rivers in British Columbia.
“There are a whole host of problems on the Lower Fraser
and that’s why it qualifies as No. 1,” said council director Mark Angelo, who helped compile the list.
The council received input from a provincewide survey of outdoor recreation participants, naturalists and professional resource managers.
“Some of the problems on the Fraser are beginning to be
addressed, so there’s hope,” Angelo said.
“But we had no choice but to rate it at the top of the list given the problem of missing fish, deteriorating habitat, explosive urban growth up the (Fraser) valley and pollution concerns.”
Other waterways on the council’s list: 2. Stikine-Iskut;
3. Coquitlam; 4. Puntledge-Tsolum; 5. Serpentine; 6. Coquihalla; 7. Babine; 8. Thompson; 9. Skeena; 10. Small urban streams.
The council releases its endangered list each year to draw attention to B.C.’s threatened waterways.
Angelo noted that the No. 1 river in each of the last two
years has subsequently been struck from the list.
In 1993 the Tatshenshini was ranked first — but was removed when the B.C. government killed a proposed open pit copper mine in the watershed and made the region a provincial park.
Last year’s most endangered river was the Nechako which
was threatened by Alcan’s plans to expand its Kemano hydroelectric generating station. Again, the government vetoed the project.
“The Nechako matter isn’t resolved yet but when the government killed the Kemano Completion Project they took a huge step towards saving that river,” Angelo said.
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COMMENTARY
■ Canada’s biggest sex and violence trial in years, expected to last at least three months, is scheduled to start soon. The charges in the Paul Bernardo murder trial, and the people involved are explained in a full page of articles. Page 5
LOCAL
■ Beth and Manfred Huesken of Chetwynd don’t intend to quit work despite winning $1-million in the B.C. 49 lottery Thursday. Page 3
■ This is mental health week. Local events include a kite flying contest and an information booth Today through Saturday at Pine Centre Mall. Page 3
BUSINESS
■ When investing, keep it simple and keep records of what you do, Mike Grenby recommends in his weekly money column. Page 8
PROVINCE
■ Hydroponic marijuana growing operations have been going up in smoke in Vancouver. Two burned last week due to pot growers bypassing Hydro meters to steal power for their grow lights. Page 2
■ B.C. is probably the best area in Canada for militia-type racist rightwingers to recruit members an antiracism rally in Kelowna heard Sunday. Page 2
WORLD
■ Prosecutors agreed today to drop murder-for-hire charges against a daughter of Malcolm X in a deal that requires her to abandon her frameup defence against a charge of plotting to kill Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and to seek drug and psychiatric treatment. Page 7
■ More than 10,000 soldiers, students and children paraded in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate the anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War 20 years ago. Page 7
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THE NATION
■ After almost two years of effort Jean Charest has become the official leader of the Conservative party. Page 6
■ Manitoba’s new government has a new pay system, with higher salaries for MLAs, and a slimmer pension plan. Page 6
Low tonight: 2 High tomorrow: 13
Details page 2
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PRINCE GEORGE
Citizen
Serving the Central Interior since 1916
MONDAY, MAY 1,1995
65 CENTS (HOME DELIVERED: 47 CENTS A DAY)
GUN LAW PROTESTED
by Canadian Press
WILLIAMS LAKE — Hundreds of Cariboo residents fired a salvo Sunday against proposed federal gun control laws.
About 550 people, including provincial Agriculture Minister David Zirnhelt and Mayor Walt Cobb, rallied at the local rodeo grounds.
“Our message was we’re not going to sit back and let the government put unreasonable legislation in place,” said Glen Kuenzl, a director of the Williams Lake Sportsmen’s Association. To show how mad they are, Kuenzl said they plan a “politically incorrect handgun shoot” on May 13.
Kuenzl said they will have a target competition at their rod and gun club using .25 and .32-calibre handguns, guns that face a ban under new legislation.
Gov’t pledges lake warnings
by KEN BERNSOHN Citizen Staff
People in Mackenzie will get more warning than in the past if the level in Williston Lake is going to drop, Energy Minister Anne Edwards said today.
“We want to make sure there are clear rules if the water level (in Williston Lake) drops below 2,150 feet (above sea level),” said Edwards, also responsible for mines and petroleum resources.
The water level in Williston Lake is directly affected by the operation of the Gordon Shrum generating station at the W.A.C. Bennett Dam, and the Peace River generating plant. Water released from the lake generates 38 per cent of the hydroelectric power in B.C.
“Hydro has been instructed to adopt a written policy (telling what to do) if the water level drops below 2,150 and for clear political accountability if the water level drops below 2,130,” said the minister responsible for B.C. Hydro.
An expected drop to 2,150 would require a formal public notification process. Dropping the level to 2,130 would require briefing ministers, public hearings and a cost-ben-efit analysis, Edwards said from Victoria.
The government instructions were in a response to the Crown corporation’s Electrical Systems Operations Review, the largest search for public opinion and input into how the utility operates in Hydro’s history.
Another instruction from the government tells Hydro it has to describe how the power provider will continue to have public consultation, rather than “drift off” on its own, as has happened in the past when the utility has had different priorities than the public wants, Edwards said.
Many people in Mackenzie have been concerned about levels on the lake, especially after Hydro forecast a drastic drop in the water level two years ago, a drop which was avoided. The prospect of that drop led to $10 million of provincial money for a cost-sharing program to help Mackenzie companies cope with less water in the lake.
In addition, Hydro has been told to tell the government the actual cost of adjusting Williston Lake levels in 1994.
Another problem identified in Hydro’s review was what Edwards called “information gaps,” which the government wants filled in.
Home show
Citizen photo by Dave Milne
Crowds packed the Kin ‘Centre on the weekend as 23,000 people took in more than 275 displays and booths at Home Show 1995. The Prince George Home Builders’ Association said the 18th annual event was the biggest one yet.
BEATING IN DAWSON CREEK
Six teens charged with murder
Citizen news services
DAWSON CREEK — Residents are taking a new, hard look at kids who run in packs after six teenagers were charged with the beating death of a transient.
The teens were charged Saturday with the second-degree murder of James Baldwin, 58, whose bloodied, body was found April 20 near his makeshift home in a city park.
“This is very unusual and so senseless,” said Mayor Bill Kusk. “There’s no excuse for it.”
Baldwin, an Alberta resi-
dent who had drifted into Dawson Creek three weeks earlier in search of work, was found dead in a wooded area near the creek that gives the community its name.
He had been living under an orange tarpaulin since refusing Social Services’ offer of a hotel room.
The teens, who cannot be identified under the Young Offenders Act, are considered to be regular kids, Kusk said.
One is 15, one is 16 and four are 17.
“This isn’t a big city type of gang,” said RCMP Const. Russ
Greer.
“There are a lot of youths here who associate with each other, hang around on street corners pestering pedestrians for cigarettes and money. They may have recently gotten to the extent where they’re getting a little bolder.”
Resident Brian Richardson said the six teens travelled together around town. He knows two of them.
“They were all pretty freaked out about what happened. . .some were suicidal.” Greer said he has seen certain types of youths become
involved in serious crimes during his 13 years as a Mountie.
“I don’t know if that’s because they know more and more what they can get away with under the Young Offenders Act or not.
“I don’t know if you can paint all kids with the same brush.”
Kusk said crime and drug use are increasing in Dawson Creek, but attacks on strangers remain relatively rare.
Dawson Creek is in northern British Columbia alongside the Alberta boundary.
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