Subject: BOUNDARY BAY ACCESS-- MORE LETTERS NEEDED!!
Date: Jun 26 07:57:51 2000
From: WAYNE WEBER - WAYNE_WEBER at bc.sympatico.ca


Birders,

Sincere thanks to those of you who have sent E-mail messages to
the Mayor and Council of Delta opposing, or expressing concerns about,
the severe parking restrictions scheduled to be imposed on Boundary
Bay access roads on July 1st. Counting only those letters which people
have copied to me, Council has now received more than 30 letters of
concern. However, if you were thinking about sending a message, but
have not done so yet, PLEASE do so soon! The address is
mayor-council at corp.delta.bc.ca . Even a short letter of 2-3 sentences
will help. Please send me a copy of your letter afterward.
Delta has indicated that the parking restrictions are only "phase
1" in a long-term plan which will eventually include new parking areas
and improvements for public access at some of the access roads.
However, they need to be convinced that, in the meantime, a complete
ban on parking along 88th, 96th, and 112th Streets is NOT needed, and
that measures like restricting parking to one side of the road (which
they are planning to do on 64th and 72nd) would be adequate.
Even some of the "conservation" interests, like the Friends of
Boundary Bay, have argued in favour of restricting public access to
the dyke, on the grounds the it would reduce "disturbance" to
waterfowl and other wildlife. I can assure you, from long personal
experience, that 2 or 3 hunters shooting on the foreshore (outside the
dyke), or one helicopter landing and taking off at the helicopter
training area near the foot of 112th Street, causes more disturbance
to birds than 100 birders, hikers, or cyclists on the dyke.
If you haven't yet written Delta Council, please re-read my
original message of June 18 (attached), and if you have time, read the
Delta Council webpage which includes a report on this complex issue.
But please send an E-mail message to council (or write them at the
address indicated) A.S.A.P.-- every message will help!

I will be writing a more detailed letter to Council shortly, and
seeking support from groups like the Vancouver Natural History
Society, Federation of B.C. Naturalists, and BC Wildlife Federation.
BC Field Ornithologists have already lent their support to my efforts.

Many thanks for your support!

Sincerely,

Wayne C. Weber
Kamloops and Delta, B.C.
wayne_weber at bc.sympatico.ca



-----Original Message-----
From: WAYNE WEBER <WAYNE_WEBER at bc.sympatico.ca>
To: VANBIRDS <bcvanbirds at egroups.com>; BCINTBIRD
<bcintbird at egroups.com>; TWEETERS <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Cc: TONY GREENFIELD <t_greenfield at sunshine.net>; BRYAN GATES
<bgates at pacificcoast.net>; JUDE GRASS <jude.grass at gvrd.bc.ca>; JEREMY
MCCALL <jmccall at helix.net>
Date: Sunday, June 18, 2000 6:34 AM
Subject: BOUNDARY BAY ACCESS THREATENED!!!


>Birders,
>
>The north side of Boundary Bay, located in the Municipality of Delta,
>B.C., is an outstanding birding area which has been used by birders
>for decades. It hosts huge wintering populations of waterfowl and
>Dunlin and many wintering raptors (including Snowy and Short-eared
>Owls). In spring and fall, it has impressive shorebird migrations.
>Rare shorebirds which have been seen here include Far Eastern Curlew,
>Bar-tailed, Hudsonian and Marbled Godwits, Snowy Plover, American
>Avocet, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and Red Phalarope, as well as more
>regular species.
>
>There are 6 north-south roads which terminate at the Boundary Bay
>dyke: 64th, 72nd, 88th, 96th, 104th, and 112th Streets. The
>Municipality of Delta is planning to COMPLETELY BAN PARKING on three
>of these roads (88th, 96th, and 112th Streets) beginning on July 1,
>2000. This is a result of complaints by farmers and other local
>residents about cars occasionally blocking driveways or access to
>fields, or making passage difficult for farm vehicles. This parking
>ban will be YEAR-ROUND, and will extend for 1-2 miles north of the
>dyke (to Highway 10). Parking restrictions will also be imposed on
the
>other 3 roads (64th, 72nd, and 104th Streets).
>
>I have lived in Delta for 11 years, and am very familiar with the
>situation. Although there have been occasional traffic and parking
>problems, they have been blown out of proportion by local farmers,
and
>these parking restrictions ARE NOT JUSTIFIED. The 3 roads where a
>total parking ban is planned are those which are the best access for
>shorebirds! Delta Council has heard little if any from birders on the
>subject, and is not aware of the serious impact this will have on our
>ability to enjoy our hobby.
>
>If you are concerned about these severe parking restriction, PLEASE
>send an E-mail to the Mayor and Council of Delta stating your
>opposition to the ban, and asking them to reconsider their decision,
>and adopt solutions that do not involve a total ban (e.g., parking on
>one side of the street only.) The E-mail address is
>mayor-council at corp.delta.bc.ca . Even if you bird the area very
>infrequently, and your letter is only 2 or 3 sentences, it will help.
>Council needs to know that large numbers of birders are opposed to,
or
>at least concerned about, this unnecessary
>action. Letters from Americans, as well as from Canadians, will help!
>
>Please copy this message to anyone not on an E-mail group who might
be
>willing to write Council about the matter. Letters may also be sent
to
>Delta Municipal Hall at 4500 Clarence Taylor Crescent, Delta, B.C.
>V4K 3E2, Canada.
>
>If you wish to read more about the problem, including a staff report
>to council on the situation and minutes of an information session
that
>was held, visit the Delta website at
>www.corp.delta.bc.ca/cpd/boundry_bay_council_report.htm .
>
>If you do write, I would appreciate it if you could send me a BLIND
>carbon copy (bcc) of your message, or forward it to me later. I would
>like to gauge the number of messages being sent to Council, but do
not
>want to appear to be orchestrating a campaign (even though I am!)
>
>Thanks for your support!
>
>Wayne C. Weber
>Kamloops and Delta, B.C.
>wayne_weber at bc.sympatico.ca
>
>