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This is the Life: Duck Lake not accessible to all

Duck Lake, according to longtime Creston Valley resident Cyril Colonel, is where it is all happening...
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The Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area

Following is the continuation of last week's edition of This is the Life:

Duck Lake, according to longtime Creston Valley resident Cyril Colonel, is where it is all happening — it is the great landing site for many birds as they migrate each spring and winter. Rather than restrict access to the area around the lake, Colonel says, access should be iimproved to allow local residents and visitors to appreciate its abundant wildlife.

My first memories of Colonel go back to when, shortly after we moved to Creston in 1979, he was a leader in saving thousands of historical artifacts when a privately owned museum in Yahk went under. Colonel and others worked tirelessly and incredibly quickly to get legal and financial support to ensure the collection stayed in the area, and it became the basis for what we now enjoy as the Creston Museum. To say he has lived a life of dogged determination is an understatement.

When Colonel got wind of my intent to write a column about Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area’s restrictions of vehicle access on some of the dikes and roads near Duck Lake, he began to send me a series of fascinating, articulate and detailed email messages. I’ll let Colonel speak for himself, with a selection of the observations he has copied to me:

“In my railroad, construction and trucking days I travelled most every rail line, highway and byway in B.C., part of the Yukon, a little of Alaska, a good portion of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and as far as Brandon, Manitoba. Needless to say I have never experienced a valley like we live in. During my time on the farm, through different commodity promotions I had visitors from Europe and they had similar comments and a few took residence here.

“So I guess basically I have a passion for this valley and the people in it and personally feel a degree of remorse when I see people … I might feel are trodden on and restricted in various ways from experiencing all this valley has to offer. There are people in this valley that can afford to travel to distant places. Also, there are people in this valley that cannot afford to travel to distant places and deserve the opportunity to take in and enjoy our local territories. They are the people that watch or, maybe, patrol what we have for others. I have a bit of a passion for those types and have a tendency to act if something appears not right to me.

“There is one major factor I cannot forget, which is there is 17,000 acres not on the tax roll in this valley in the CVWMA and to me it is critically important that this territory is operated and managed to its full capability so it is a full benefit to wildlife, as well as to the people of this valley.

“Over the years it was a great place and very accommodating when funded by our provincial and federal governments. When that ceased things went seriously down hill to the point of closing until a group gathered and shamed the government through BC Hydro to put up some dollars. The place went through a series of managers and they all failed, and the present management is not doing any better as far as creating good will and harmony and what it is making out of the area. Evidence of that shows in a petition, which is now circulating, with hundreds of signatures on it. There are more serious issues that have occurred but no one knows what they are unless you are a wildlife enthusiast.

“A major attraction, Duck Lake, is suffering from horrendous road conditions where only a four-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance can reach it. It was this way all last summer. When I made that comment to the biologist, the remark was passed that they don’t get as many visitors. Comparatively speaking, as far as wildlife is concerned, Duck Lake is far more active than the region of the interpretation centre. What is happening because of the remoteness to the administration area is that the management is trying to manage the people and visitors. I visit this area and meet people that both can’t get to it and those that manage to make it, and they have some very unbecoming statements about the CVWMA and its operations and maintenance and ask why doesn’t the chamber of commerce or some business association do something about it.

“Within two weeks or so when the ice goes off the lake there will be the most spectacular sight of the spring waterfowl migration and most visitors can’t reach it. If you are not a nature lover it means nothing, but remember there are thousands of nature lovers that make major contributions to the economy. I can tell you stories of people from Calgary and other places that have booked rooms here for four days and went home because they couldn’t get to the lake. They came solely to watch the spring migration.

“It is important to read the brochures that are being promoted by the chamber on Duck Lake and visit the area in the next few weeks and you will recognize you are leading visitors into a trap. There are no or very few migratory waterfowl at the interpretation centre but hundreds of thousands will be at Duck Lake, but who knows, like I say, unless you are a naturalist. I am not a naturalist but I know exactly what is being missed.”

I don’t think there is anything going on between the CVWMA and the local population that can’t be resolved with better communication and awareness that local support is key to the future of this incredible asset.

The CVWMA is at a crossroads, awaiting word about how the provincial government intends to fund it. Typically, governments respond to public interest and pressure. Let’s hope that all voices are heard on this issue.

Lorne Eckersley is the publisher of the Creston Valley Advance.