Archive: Maple Ridge
DeWolf Den, a part of the history of Scouting in Maple Ridge
With a look at the past and to the future, the Silver Valley Spring Festival is being held at the Maple Ridge Park on Saturday, 19 April 2008, and it should be a great event that will help people discover the importance of their community.
The Silver Valley Neighbourhood Association would appreciate any photos of the following:
- Davison’s Pool when the diving board was still there
- Cross’s Cottage Park when the cabins where there.
- MaCauleys Rock without the houses
- The resthome at the corner of 232 St and 132 Ave [Fern Crescent] or
- Ice cream place at the Old - Black Sheep pub
- A picture of the Yennadon post office
Who knows about the picture of the log building above? Hint: It’s part of the history of Scouting in Maple Ridge and it’s located in the Silver Valley area.
See you Saturday, April 19 2008
February 7th, 2008
On Thursday, the local “Maple Meadows Mommy Meetup” group participated in the first “Little Kid’s Tree Planting Day”. One tree hugger enthusiast, seven moms and fourteen children between the ages of 2 and 8 gathered for this fun and awareness-raising event. In total, 32 trees were planted at Crosses Cabin Park in the Alouette River watershed. The children (and adults for that matter) had a blast throwing snowballs, digging in the dirt, enjoying some fresh air, all the while learning a bit about nature and the importance of trees and actually doing something to help improve our environment.
As a follow-up to the November 7 Open House, you are invited to attend a 2nd Open House to provide input to the recommendations of the Alouette Rivers Flood Management Task Force. The purpose of the Task Force is to recommend to Council a strategy on managing the flood hazard along the Alouette Rivers. A brief presentation from the Task Force Chair will be made at 7:30pm. Your opinions will greatly help the Task Force in recommending a strategy to Council.
Date: Wednesday February 20, 2008
Time: 7:00pm to 8:30pm - Presentation at 7:30pm
Location: South Lillooet Centre (Yennadon Community Centre), 12854 232nd Street, Maple Ridge
Task Force members will be available to answer questions. Your attendance is welcomed.
Should you have any questions regarding the Open House, please feel free to contact the Engineering Department at 604-467-7339.
Via: MapleRidge.ca
This seven lot subdivision proposal at 28491 Dewdney Trunk [RZ/083/06] is part of the watershed of Whonnock Creek and the District of Maple Ridge have taken steps to protect Whonnock Creek and by connection Whonnock Lake. These steps include expropriation procedures of lands and the construction of a dyking system so that water levels of Whonnock Lake are maintained.
I do understand that the application reflects some of the OCP guidelines and has included some positive steps for “Rain Water Management”.
What we know!
The seven proposed lots would need the following:
- Seven Wells. Each well should produce at least 600 gals per day
- Seven Impervious surfaces. The housing foot print of the proposed homes will be 2500-3500 sq ft for a total of approx 15000 - 22000 sq ft of impervious surface.
And then we have an impervious street surface of approx 9000 sq. ft. Total impervious surface approx 31000 Sq ft which is approx 3/4 of an acre. What steps have been taken to reduce this impervious area? These days you can use pervious ashphalt, brick walkways and patios and rain garden surfaces for rain run-off.
What we don’t know
- What is the dollar amount of the security as part of the Watercourse Protection Development Permit [required to ensure that the Development Permit Guidelines are met]. For large-scale applications the environmental security deposit is 2.5 % of the total construction costs, while smaller projects the deposit is $1500 … so how much money?
- Is there a Tree Inventory prepared by a certified arborist:
- so the District can clearly determine areas that the developer has suggested as being “limits of clearing?” and
- so that the vegetative / tree health in the proposed conservation zone be determined and ensure that this area is not a future liability to the District. We need to insist that these conservation areas are healthy!
- The Historic Base Line flow levels for this part of Whonnock Creek to ensure that downstream water flows reflect pre-development flows. Note Sec 8.9 of the Official Community Plan states that pre-development flow regimes are to be maintained. Accurate data for the base flows [low flows] as well as reducing high flows is required so that there isn’t any disruption to the integrity of the watercourse and the living and movement of aquatic life. Note the photo of beaver lodge and dam below!
- The soil stratigraphy and the ability of the soil to retain water or not. This soil report is required in other districts, particularly when a watercourse is involved. [Coquitlam]
- What are the proposals for the re-vegetation of the drain-off areas for each building site and for each of the impervious driveway areas.
What we do know:
In the Executive Summary of this application the Engineering Department stated that, The lands to the east were recently subdivided and built on. These lands were subdivided over 15 years ago and since that time a higher level of awareness of sustainability is now reflected in the Official Community Plan.
The District had to extend the water system eastward to the Garibaldi St and McNutt subdivision due to a failure in a private water system [yes each home owner had a property assessment to cover these costs] However, at this site there is the BCIT woodlot between it and Garibaldi St [the distance is approx 2 kms.] so if a well water failure occurs in the future will this subdivision be a capital project paid for by the general public?
A significant number of residential homes located on these rural locations have suites [Whispering Falls, Rock Ridge] - due to the basic economics of affordability!
- Suites whether registered or not will increase demand on well water and septic systems so a Ground Water Impact Assessment Report should be required as all homes south of this lot are also on a well systems.
There is no provision for the densification of the tree and vegetation cover even though there is a housing densification.
The District should have a “Wildlife Habitat Assessment Report” as there is evidence of beaver activity in the South Eastern area of this property.
Beaver lodge in top center of photo taken 13 February 2008. Photo credit: © 2008 Ken Hemminger
If the District of Maple Ridge wants to protect Whonnock Creek and by extension Whonnock Lake we need to have more information for an educated decision on this subdivision application.
Morse Creek is one of the few remaining “Uptown” Creeks in Maple Ridge and forms a major component of the north slope watershed as it flows towards the south Alouette River.
Morse Creek on 11 July 2006, 10 days after the infraction at the source of the dispute. Photo: © Ken Hemminger
I applaud the District of Maple Ridge and particularly the Staff, in their successful position they took to protect a watershed in the Smart Growth Area of Maple Ridge.
If someone wanted to know how much soil was moved by the owner of this property on July 1 2006, you just have to just look at the trees!
A positive step to environmental sustainabilty, an example to all.
Proposed Residential Development of 12256 - 222St, Maple Ridge. Development Permit: DP/032/07
This proposal has requested a variance to the setback from the T2 watercourse [referred by the Developer as a drainage channel!] in the amount of 2.27 meters and 1.33 meters – these were the numbers presented by the developer at the Public Information Meeting of Dec 17, 2007.
Background information for this north slope watershed in Maple Ridge:
- The District of Maple Ridge at this point has spent approximately $60,000 protecting Morse Creek which is part of this north slope watershed, to prevent it’s compromise. So why wouldn’t the DMR require a building design that preserves this part of the watershed?
- The “Smart Growth on the Ground - Bulletin 3 June 2004” indicates that the DMR has committed to completing an integrated Stormwater Management Plan (ISMP) for each watershed. This commitment includes public participation.
- The 2004 Progress Report with the GVRD[now Metro Vancouver] – Liquid Waste Management Plan
states on
- Page17 C38, that there is a “Silver Valley Storm Water management Plan”, and
- Page 17 - C39 states that 2 studies for watersheds will be completed in 2005 [These are the two watersheds mentioned in the Technical Bulletin June 2004]
The above-mentioned documents [the watershed studies] directly relate to this application DP/032/07 [at 12256 222 St] in that T2 [a creek that empties into the South Alouette] is part of this watershed. This variance request applies to the underground parking as well as the building, so the recharge area for T2 will not just be a surface challenge. The volume of material that would have to be removed [due to the underground parking] will affect the soil hydrology and its’ water carrying capacity for T-2.
This same creek passes through agricultural land and includes a parcel of agricultural land owned by the DMR, so maintaining pre-development base flows on T2 is very important for the District. The newly formed Agricultural Advisory Committee should be informed of these developments.
The District is also planning on improving the 128/Abernathy connection in connection with the Golden Ears Bridge so we shouldn’t have to spend taxpayer’s money on over sizing the road culverts on 128th Ave to compensate for any increased storm water from upstream developments.
Upcoming meetings of the Advisory Design Panel
The next meeting of the Advisory Design Panel is May 13, 2008 so the above mentioned project may be on that agenda and the District staff may want to consider the down stream impact of this “variance ” request for 12256 – 222 Street, Maple Ridge.
If you have any concerns about this application please contact the Planning Staff at the District of Maple Ridge or the Mayor and Councilors. 604-463-5221.
Read the rest of this entry »
The Alouette River was declared a “Heritage River” in 1998 by the BC Government.
The Alouette River has important recreational, economic and cultural heritage and the Alouette River Management Society [ARMS] has played a significant role in the preservation of fish and habitant.
The Annual General Meeting will be held Feb 19, 2008 at 6:30 Pm at the Rivers Heritage Centre.
For further details contact ARMS at arms@telus.net or phone 604-467-6401.
You never know where fish will go!
For those of you coming to this page from Google, be sure to check out our updated schedule for the Silver Valley Spring Festival.
The Silver Valley Neighbourhood Association is having a spring festival at Maple Ridge Park, to celebrate: local history, common community interests and enjoy the natural beauty of the Alouette River which has been designated as a BC Heritage River. Read the rest of this entry »
The use of evergreen trees for street plantings would be an opportunity to replicate the past evergreen-forested slopes of Silver Valley – Maple Ridge.
Why are evergreen trees important?
Acting as an enormous “carbon sink”, trees soak up carbon dioxide from the air, producing life-giving oxygen in return. In fact, a medium-sized tree generates the same amount of oxygen, as each one of us needs to breathe.
In a tree, ‘breathing’ takes place inn the leaf. Chlorophyll (the substance causing the green colour) absorbs the CO2 and uses it along with water to dissolve minerals taken up through the roots. After the chemical reaction is completed, the leaf releases oxygen and water vapor through its pores.
Because evergreen trees are not dormant during the winter months, they release oxygen 12 months of the year, so it would be wise to chose evergreen trees for street side plantings.
Suggestions for evergreen street trees
Serbian Spruce
Skyrocket Juniper
Iseli Fastigiata
Alternatives include: Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’, ‘Green Arrow’, Weeping Alaskan Cedar, Picea omorika.
Alternatives include: Picea glauca ‘Pendula’, Weeping White Spruce (leader does not always stay straight), Cedrus deodara ‘Kashmir’ (broader than the selections above at maturity), Blue Haven Juniper
Leyland Cyprus: As recommended in the District of Mission – Tree Retention Bylaw.
There seems to be some choices!
A combination of deciduous and coniferous may also work in all development areas.
I think that the District of Maple Ridge should consider some of the evergreen trees as alternatives in our community.
It was the end of November 2007. It was the end of 80+ trees!
Clearcut at Silver Valley Road and 232nd Street.
Image credit: © 2008 Ken Hemminger
The Silver Valley Area Plan, has some guiding principles, such as the Environment First and Development Principles 3.2.2.(g) - Tree retention should be maximized throughout the Silver Valley area.
Water from the clearcut entering Anderson Creek.
Image credit: © 2008 Ken Hemminger
Now it has been suggested that the increased water flowing from this site will be controlled by a bio-filtration pond. The one shown [as of Dec 29, 2007] although temporary, is now filled with silt and basically non-functional.
An ineffective on-site settling pond is filled with sediment.
Image credit: © 2008 Ken Hemminger
Will the real bio-filtration pond be established once the 31 townhouses are finished?
If this type of development continues, there will be continued downstream flooding and erosion.
