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Coquitlam citizens must speak up on stream regs
by Letter to Editor - Tri City News •
Sunday May 14, 2006 at 08:59 AM
If you care about our wildlife, trees and our beautiful green city of Coquitlam, you need to do something to help protect our streamside forests, which are being threatened by pro-development council members.
Tri City News Coquitlam citizens must speak up on stream regs May 12 2006 The Editor,
If you care about our wildlife, trees and our beautiful green city of Coquitlam, you need to do something to help protect our streamside forests, which are being threatened by pro-development council members. Once the habitat is destroyed and the wildlife destroyed, it is gone for good. As guardians to our beautiful city, citizens have to voice our opinions and tell council enough is enough. Streamside forests (also called riparian buffer zones) have a diverse selection of plants that provide numerous benefits to the streams they border, as well as to the selection of wildlife that find shelter in their unique environment. This includes our fish and birds. The damage to these zones incurred by not leaving adequate vegetation will create numerous problems, resulting in the partial or complete destruction of the immediate stream habitat, as well as destruction of the vitality of areas further downstream. Riparian buffer zones need to be large enough to help intercept polluted runoff that flows directly to streams from nearby roads and parking lots. They are the main source of critical components to healthy salmon streams, such as leaf litter and insects that drive stream food chains, and they reduce the potential damage from flooding. A good percentage of the city’s councillors, most of whom accepted financial contributions from development interests, want to change the setback regulations, which could potentially allow for further development of the lands around our streams and rivers. Citizens have to stand up and make our government officials accountable for their actions. Let’s take the power back in our municipal government and let them know that they cannot just do what ever they want. Lets remind pro-development council members whom they are working for. Let them know they will not be voted in again if they refuse to do what the citizens want. Go to http://www.coquitlam.ca to get councillors’ individual email addresses or email all of them at feedback@coquitlam.ca.
Ask that your opinion be put on the record and always include your name, phone number and mailing address. And lastly, attend the public hearing at city hall Tuesday, May 23 regarding the new proposed streamside regulations. We need you to make a stand, we need your voice. Elisabeth Baldazzi, Coquitlam
www.tricitynews.com/
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