I am a third generation resident of this town, growing up on Hatzic Lake, in Hatzic Prairie and Dewdney and I, too, have many concerns about what is happening to Hatzic Lake.
I have thoroughly checked out Mr. Hall’s Facebook page and I also agree that something needs to be done and would thank him for his efforts on this cause. I also believe that there is one more direction that needs to be explored more thoroughly, and it is not the popular one.
For several years now the residents of Hatzic Island have petitioned the Fraser Valley Regional District and Dewdney Area Improvement District for a permit to close the slide gates on the dike and hold the water back to maintain the level of the lake at a higher level for summer recreation.
What everyone does not seem to realize is that Hatzic Lake is an “elbow” lake, which means that it was formed when a portion of the river became cut off from the stronger flow and formed a lake. As a consequence, it is subject to the rise and fall of the Fraser River.
It was meant to flow through and cleanse the lake. When it is held back, the silt accumulates faster, the bottom rises causing the water temperature to rise because it is more shallow. Unfortunately the still, shallow water becomes a perfect breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria.
The lake is fed by the various creeks from the mountains to the north through the sloughs of Hatzic Prairie. The level of the prairie is lower than that of the lake and the island. This can be seen every time we have significant rainfall. The lake levels may rise slightly, but the fields and ditches in the valley behind will flood to the point of the water crossing the roads and making them impassable. As it is, even without the rain, when the lake level is held up all summer, the berry farmers still have to deal with constantly muddy fields.
That means fungus on plants caused by the excess moisture that cannot drain off even during the heat of summer. This causes the need for the application of more chemicals or the loss of crops and livelihood results.
As for fertilizer on the other farmers’ fields, it is being done as it has always been done since farming started with organic matter and does not seep off the fields unless there is extreme amounts of rain, of which we have had none. These farmers must also meet strict government regulations and are inspected on a regular basis.
Water is a slave to gravity and always flows to the lowest level. That lowest level is Hatzic Prairie.
If the water in the lake is held back and goes stagnant, the water in the prairie sloughs is all the worse because it can’t move through to the river as it is supposed to. It is a vicious cycle and affects all life in the area and the resulting practices needed to compensate.
So, since recreation seems to be more important than farming and producing the foods we rely on, maybe those concerned about the condition of the lake need to re-examine all the factors of this situation and what is really most important overall.
This would include all residents of the area as well as those members of the FVRD and DAID who are supposed to be educated in these matters and are paid to look out for this kind of situation and see that it doesn’t happen in the first place.
All it takes is a little common sense and a look at the whole picture before any impulsive actions or accusations are made.
Lisa Wallie
Mission