Re-Thinking The Hudson’s Bay Slough
Prince George, BC – The Prince George Naturalists Club sees the Hudson’s Bay Slough as a ‘jewel in the heart of the city’ and has received City Council’s stamp of approval as it works to realize the area’s potential…
The Naturalists Club appeared before council this evening, seeking support in-principle for its vision of a circular, interpretive walk around what its referring to as ‘the Hudson’s Bay Wetland’. The group is anticipating a $200-thousand dollar project, but Chair, Dr. Clive Keen, assured councillors no funds were being sought from the City.
With strong support from The Exploration Place and groups such as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Caledonia Ramblers, Keen said a 12-member steering committee has been hard at work to secure external funding, including some private donations and volunteer efforts. He said work will only progress as the funds become available, so it could be four years, six years, or even eight years before the entire project is complete.
The project includes:
- $36-thousand dollars in trail improvements to city-approved standard (the trail would start at The Exploration Place)
- $114-thousand dollars for a bridge and boardwalks
- $33-thousand dollars in observation features
Dr. Keen said the intepretive trail could become a ‘showcase environment’ for local flora and fauna. "We’ve got a nature deficit disorder in this country and we can address it very well through this resource." He also contended it could be a destination for visitors. "Every time I go through Williams Lake, I have to go to Scout Island – I think it’s wonderful – and I see the same thing happening here."
After answering some questions from Mayor Shari Green about the long-term maintenance of the trail and receiving kudos from many councillors, including Councillor Cameron Stolz who praised the club for an innovative project ‘that’s going to be a huge enhancement to our community’, the group got its wish – unanimous support and continued access to city staff for advice and information to ensure its vision continues to ‘mesh’ with city plans as it unfolds.
Comments
I think that this is a great idea. The more public scrutiny laid upon this little gem, the better. Joe and Jane Taxpayer walking and biking the paths will chase away Sam and Sally Crack-head. Who doesn’t like to watch ducks? Twenty years ago the place was going to ruin so maybe it’s time to take a broom to it.
Good stuff, nice to see something happening there, used to live there and was a nice place to bike
Anybody ever thought of opening up the hotspring that is reported to be within 30 miles of town? What a tourist and local draw that would be!
Funding source? Ducks Unlimited funds such wetlands in other places. What is wrong with PG? Need to grow ducks in order to shoot them.
Annual fundraising event in PG. Raise funds here and spend them here.
//www.ducks.ca/events/?var=true&single=yes&se=&tp=BR&bm=&pg=CBW061B&ab=1&kn=J2&kp=BC03832014001&isn=&ex=&st=Xm
Ever notice how much conservation and restoration of wetlands from the work of duck unlimited?
Good initiative and thanks to this group of keeners in making our city a nicer place to live. Hats off.
Now for the dig….stolz/green approve the use of staff time assisting this group (which I approve, also) however, just not when it comes to staff digging up some expenses as requested by one of the citizens’ elected representatives.
Funny that way, right? Even if they had to dig through the hard copies, last years invoices shouldn’t be THAT buried. I’d assume that there must be some sort of filing system in place.
We shuld keep in mind that this slough is downriver from the effluent from three pulp mills, plus the runoff from the Citys storm drains. In addition the raw sewer from Vanderhoof, which I understand goes directly into the Nechako.
So a word of advice. Dont eat any fish if you catch them. Probably shouldnt eat the berries either.
Having said that, if they do the job properly it will enhance the area, which is a good thing.
The slough trails are so beautiful and scenic. But the slough it’s self stinks quite badly in the section that runs from Queensway to Moss Ave or Oak St depending on which end route you take.
I used to love walking and bike riding through there, I haven’t done it in years because I am both saddened and afraid of what that neighbourhood has become.
I wish this project all the best.
There is a flock of around 300 mallards feeding behind my garage. We inadvertantly spilled some birdseed and the ducks showed up–it was cold and thre wasn’t any open water on the river. A few of my neighbours are feeding them grain every day. Take a drive down Royal Cres in South Fort. These are the ducks that are too lazy to fly south. The Fox family is quite interested in them.
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