Reference: 301663 August 23, 2016 Rhona Martin, Chair and

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From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Attachments:
Minister, ENV ENV:EX
Emily Johnson
RE: CSRD Board Request - Mosquito Control
Tuesday, August 23, 2016 3:31:32 PM
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Mosquito Control.pdf
Reference: 301663
August 23, 2016
Rhona Martin, Chair
and Directors
Columbia Shuswap Regional District
c/o Emily Johnson, Executive Assistant
Email: EJohnson@csrd.bc.ca
Dear Chair Martin and Directors:
Thank you for your letter of June 28, 2016, requesting permission to spray for nuisance mosquitos
within Shuswap Lake Provincial Park and Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park in the Columbia
Shuswap Regional District (CSRD). I apologize for the delay in responding.
I understand that no treatment is planned for this year and that the CSRD is interested in continuing
treatment in future years.
Historically, BC Parks had participated in mosquito control in some areas where the West Nile Virus
was a concern. Currently, the local health authorities are no longer suggesting this is a threat and the
CSRD has indicated they are only treating for nuisance mosquitos. Because of this, BC Parks cannot
issue a “letter of permission” for this type of activity. The appropriate authorization would be a Park
Use Permit, for which the CSRD would have to apply.
A Park Use Permit application would be reviewed against the Park Act as well as current
conservation policies. In addition, an impact assessment would have to be conducted to determine if
this is an appropriate use.
I understand BC Parks staff met on July 14, 2016, with the CSRD to discuss this request and that both
parties have agreed to keep this application moving forward. If you have any further concerns or
requests, please do not hesitate to contact the BC Parks Regional Office in Kamloops at 250 3716200.
Thank you again for taking the time to write.
Sincerely,
Mary Polak
Minister
From: Emily Johnson [mailto:EJohnson@csrd.bc.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2016 4:13 PM
To: Minister, ENV ENV:EX
Cc: Director Martin; Lynda Shykora; Director Morgan; Dearmond, Wes ENV:EX
Subject: CSRD Board Request - Mosquito Control
Dear Minister Polak,
I have attached a letter from CSRD Board Chair, Rhona Martin. The CSRD Board appreciates your
attention to this matter.
Kind regards,
Emily Johnson
Executive Assistant | Corporate Administration Services
Columbia Shuswap Regional District
T: 250.833.5922 | F: 250-832-3375 | TF: 1.888.248.2773
E: ejohnson@csrd.bc.ca | W: www.csrd.bc.ca
P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
COLUMBIA SHUSWAP REGIONAL DISTRICT
rCSRD'
PO Box 978, 555 Harbourfront Drive NE, Salmon Arm, BC VIE 4P1
COLUUB1* SHUSWAP REGKWAL DISTRICT
T: 250.832.8194 | F: 250.832.3375 | TF: 1.888.248.2773 | www.csrd.bc.ca
June 28, 2016
File No.: 5280 05 06
The Honourable Mary Polak
Minister of Environment
Sent via email: env.minister@gov.bc.ca
Dear Minister Polak:
Re: Mosquito Control in Provincial Parks
This letter is to request that the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) be permitted to carry out
mosquito control for nuisance mosquitos, specifically, within Shuswap Lake Provincial Park and
Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park.
This stems from correspondence with BC Parks in which BC Parks informed the CSRD that unless
there is a clear health and human safety concern, they will be unable to issue a permit for larvicide
treatment within Shuswap Lake Provincial Park or Roderick Haig Brown Provincial Park this season.
CSRD staff has had much discussion with BC Parks regarding this policy and the impacts to residents
and visitors. Our Board is concerned that nuisance mosquitos may drive away tourists and valuable
economic development in our area.
The CSRD is not asking for BC Parks to treat mosquito lar/ae but is requesting that BC Parks allow
the CSRD to carry out mosquito control, as it has done for many years, within the Shuswap Lake
Provincial Park and Roderick Haig Brown Provincial Park.
CSRD staff continue to work with the Province in terms of the work being done to evaluate effectiveness
of mosquito control services by following up with capture monitoring and identification to determine
species presence. To facilitate the monitoring work we request that the treatment approval be extended
for this year; this will allow time for consultation with our partner in the service, the Little Shuswap Indian
Band, and to better evaluate the impacts of not treating the park habitat.
Our Board appreciates BC Parks and really wants our residents and visitors to enjoy their experience
at the parks. Please consider this request and do what you can to help us make provincial parks an
enjoyable place to visit.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Yours truly,
COLUMBIA SHUSWAP REGIONAL DISTRICT
Per:
k£?-^c-
Rhona Martin
CSRD Board Chair
Cc: Director Morgan, CSRD Electoral Area 'F'
Ministry of Environment, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Kamloops
ELECTORAL AREAS
A GOLDEN-COLUMBIA
B REVELSTOKE-COLUMBIA
C SOUTH SHUSWAP
D FALKLAND-SALMON VALLEY
E SICAMOUS-MALAKWA
F NORTH SHUSWAP-SEYMOUR ARM
MUNICIPALITIES
GOLDEN
REVELSTOKE
SALMON ARM
SICAMOUS