OUR CONCERNS:

We are extremely concerned about the British Columbia Timber Sales (BCTS) 6 proposed cut blocks situated in the xwesam/stelk’aya (Roberts Creek) watershed slated to be logged in 2025 (brown blocks) and 2026 (blue blocks)

See BCTS map HERE

For the past 6 years Sunshine Coast Streamkeepers Society (SCSS) members have been on the ground walking xwesam (Roberts Creek) from the estuary to the falls (located between Lower Road bridge and Hwy. 101) every week in the fall counting the returning spawning salmon. This salmon run is unique and precious! We want to speak for them. 

It is important to realize, xwesam (Roberts Creek) has the last remaining significant wild salmon run on the southern Sunshine Coast. It is precious.

The decision and basis to log these large portions of 40–80-year-old trees is based on reports that don’t take into consideration the reality of our world today. The significant weather events we are experiencing were not contemplated to happen so quickly and with such destruction.

The infrastructure downstream is NOT built to withstand the possible flooding that happens with significant rain events. The increased risk of large flood events would deposit silt, mud, and debris on the last spawning grounds in Roberts Creek. This would disseminate the redds (nests).

Along with the flooding, every resident on the Sunshine Coast will attest, we have experienced unprecedented droughts in the last few years. It is clear our reality has changed, and unfortunately that reality is putting our wild salmon survival at risk. The record long droughts create low creek flows preventing salmon from entering their birth creeks and the risk of water temperatures too high for salmon to survive (+18C).

Climate change was projected to happen in the future, well that future is now. I never dreamt that I would see the catastrophic weather events happening around the world. Mother Earth is changing. With that change many innocent species are being lost. SCSS wants to make sure none of those are wild salmon (pink, chum and coho). These are the species that make Roberts Creek the last of its kind here on the southern Sunshine Coast. I am writing to speak for the wild salmon that cannot speak for themselves. 

Every fall almost every person visiting the xwesam (Roberts Creek) pier, either resident or visitor, stops at the bridge beside the estuary to look for and watch the spawning salmon returning to their birthplace. I know because I am one of them. Most are quick to share their stories and interest in this miracle of Mother Earth. These resilient, tenacious, powerful, and amazing creatures survive every challenge we as humans have thrown at them on top of all those of the natural world. I have seen hundreds of females with no tails left, only a stub. They wore them down building their redds (nests), moving the gravel, rocks, and debris away so they can lay their eggs and then coming back to cover their precious legacy. It seems to be one of the saddest things to watch them take their last breath and yet a wonder to see such selflessness and at testament that they deserve our protection to remain on this earth. We need to fight for them.

Let’s not lose them. Let’s honour their trek back home to keep their species alive.

So far, without fail, in the spring, we see the tiny evidence of the sacrifice and pain when we witness the little fluttering fry emerging from the creek’s streambed!

There is a massive disconnect between what the professionals that have been written in the reports and what is happening on the ground in our towns, this province and country.

There seems to be lip service and saying what the public wants to hear, and those people making decisions care about the health of our ecosystem. That is not being borne out by the decisions of government departments that are hell bent on the status quo by using antiquated information or data that is skewered in their favour, or in favour of the corporate world that only cares about the bottom line. 

If we do not speak up now, demand changes, and stop these clear cuts we will no longer have spawning salmon in xwesam (Roberts Creek) and possibly anywhere else. This would be one of the saddest legacies of my generation. We could have prevented it. So, let’s do everything we can to save wild salmon in Roberts Creek.

We will take everyone to stop this, please let us know if you would like to be kept informed on our campaign and join the fight to save xwesam (Roberts Creek) wild salmon!

(Portions of the above letter appeared in Coast Reporter “Letter to Editor” on April 5, 2024)

On behalf of the SCSS Board of Directors

S Samples, President,

SC Streamkeepers Society

– To view how the Sunshine Coast has been logged for the past 37 years, please use the link HERE (Google Earth)

**Also, a recent article worth reading regarding the “‘Gaps’ in science of forest hydrology.” In B.C.’s forests, a debate over watershed science with lives and billions at stake by Canadian Press on March 17, 2024

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I am writing to express my opposition to the planned cutting of six cut blocks of forest in the xwesam (Roberts Creek) headwaters in 2025 and 2026.

SCSS Submission to BCTS Public Comment submitted May 3, 2024

Cut Block IDs

Cut blocks TA0520-Elph008 & TA0520 – G043B4NN, ELPH1028 and A94817-G043B4SG, A94817-G043C3ZP and TA1078 &

Forestry Service Road IDs: (Note: building roads can cause as much or more damage to vulnerable ecosystems than tree cutting.) 

McNair FSR 8629Br08 

Sechelt Roberts FSR 7575Br29 

I am President of the Sunshine Coast Streamkeepers (SCSS) and have been monitoring Roberts Creek since 2018. I am also a member of the Cook’s Ferry Indian Band in Spences Bridge, BC. 

SCSS Field Work: 

SCSS have been performing annual spawning counts of xwesam (Roberts Creek) on a weekly basis in the fall spawning season for 5 years. We also do 6 – 7 creek assessments each year measuring pH, Dissolved Oxygen, turbidity, temperature and bankful measurements on Roberts Creek. We have also done two annual habitat assessments on the area that is accessible by spawning salmon and their fry. We have also installed two water temperature loggers (1 in lower RC (below Lower Road), and one in upper RC (Cliff Gilker Park). The loggers record the water temperatures every hour. We now have 3 years of data. We also have done an Invertebrate Assessment, by counting the different species and number reveals health of the creek’s eco-system. 

The lower spawning area of xwesam (Roberts Creek) is an excellent nursery area for the salmonid fry after they emerge from the streambed. 

We also have been removing truckloads of invasive plants from the riparian area and planted native plants in their place. The native plants protect salmon by providing shade and food. 

My firsthand lived life experience:

Every fall, nearly every person visiting the xwesam (Roberts Creek) pier, residents, and visitors alike, stops at the Roberts Creek Road bridge beside the estuary to look for and watch the spawning salmon returning to their birthplace. I know because I am one of them. Most are quick to share their stories and interest in this miracle of Mother Earth. These resilient, tenacious, powerful, and amazing creatures survive all challenges we humans have thrown at them on top of all those of the natural world. I have seen hundreds of females with no tails left, only a stub, worn down from moving the rocks and debris away so they can lay their eggs and then coming back to cover their precious legacy. It seems to be one of the saddest things to watch them take their last breaths and yet it is also a wonder to see such selflessness and a testament that they deserve our protection to remain on this earth. This is why I am fighting for them.

So far, without fail, in the spring, we see the tiny evidence of the sacrifice and pain when we witness the little fluttering fry emerging from the stream bed!

I have noticed a disconnect between what is written in the reports and what is happening on the ground in our towns, province, and country. Our watersheds deserve more. The government decision makers must care about the health and longevity of these fragile ecosystems. It is difficult to have confidence in the reports on the proposed cut blocks.

If we do not speak up now, demand changes, and stop this removal of forests, we will no longer have spawning salmon in xwesam (Roberts Creek) and possibly anywhere else.

 Our concerns:

Sedimentation: The main concern is that removing long standing trees will have an impact on xwesam (Roberts Creek) headwaters by changing the natural hydrology of the ecosystem of both forest and the numerous Roberts Creek upper tributaries. This can cause flooding that deposits silt, mud, and large rocks on the fragile salmon’s spawning grounds at the creek’s lower levels. xwesam (Roberts Creek) is unique in that it has never been silty or muddy for the many years I have walked and assessed this creek, and this is especially notable that the creek is in this condition even after heavy rain events. The water does become quite dark after heavy rain, this due to tannin from trees etc. but not mud, sand, or silt which destroys salmon nests (redds).

The long droughts are already increasing water temperatures in Roberts Creek to dangerous levels. Temperatures above 18C causes mortality for salmon, this together with the reduced stream flows endangers salmonids. Our temperature loggers are already recording 18C+ during the summer. Fortunately, it is for a day or two, if this time period increases, the salmon will not survive.

I am also very concerned about the above risks not only in cutting of many hectares of trees but also in the building of logging roads that can destabilize hill sides during the more frequent unprecedented weather events.

It is important to realize, xwesam (Roberts Creek) has the last remaining significant totally wild salmon run on the southern Sunshine Coast. It is precious.

Climate change: The decision and basis to log these large portions of 40–80-year-old trees is based on reports that don’t take into consideration the reality of our world today. The significant weather events we are experiencing were not contemplated to happen so quickly and with such destruction.

The report admits the road infrastructure downstream is NOT built to withstand the possible flooding that happens with significant rain events. The increased risk of large flood events would deposit silt, mud, and debris on the last spawning grounds in Roberts Creek. This would disseminate the redds (nests).

Along with the flooding, every resident on the Sunshine Coast will attest, we have experienced unprecedented droughts in the last few years. It is clear our reality has changed, and unfortunately that reality is putting our wild salmon survival at risk. The record long droughts create low creek flows preventing salmon from entering their birth creeks and the risk of water temperatures too high for salmon to survive. 

The BC Timber Sales Chinook Business Area report done by Polar Geoscience in October 2023 are as follows: 

Click to access polar_hydrologic_assessment_roberts_and_stephens_creeks_phase_12.pdf

SCSS comments on report:

4.13 Fisheries Resources

This study commissioned by BCTS is very inadequate as it does not give accurate fish data/information on either xwesam (Roberts Creek) or Stephens Creek. This is a MAJOR oversight and therefore this report cannot be considered in the decision-making process. This is by far, not a fulsome report as there is no mention of the significant spawning run of the annual chum and coho and bi-annual of pink salmon in Roberts Creek. There is NO mention of this extremely important fact!! Also, there are numerous reports of salmon entering Stephens Creek as well. I would like to have a registered biologist do a comprehensive fish report before any logging of the headwaters of Roberts Creek so the hundreds of spawning salmon that arrive every fall are given consideration. 

It should also be noted that the report does not include the blow out of the Stephens Creek Lower Road culvert on November 15, 2021. The destruction was massive, many homes downstream had sand and water enter them and Lower Road was closed for three weeks to repair. This is an example of what will happen when the infrastructure is not satisfactory, or we have a climate change related event. (I have included a picture.)

5.0 Watershed Values

In the box under the title Fish and fish habitat, my MAIN concern is mentioned:

“Sedimentation associated with land uses can also be detrimental to fish habitat, impacting both water quality and stream channel conditions.”

The next concern is also noted in the same box as follows:

“Several fish species are present downstream of BCTS’s chart area, principally within the lower reaches of Roberts Creek. Potential changes to peak and low flows (magnitude, frequency, and/or duration) may affect habitat values (e.g. via channel degradation/aggradation, loss of functioning wood, stream cover, food sources.) Instream flows for fish survival may also be adversely affected during drought, usually in late summer and early fall.”

7.2 Low Streamflow’s

It must be noted:

“Based on the identified elements-at-risk, low flow risk in the assessment area is currently moderate in Roberts Creek and Stephens Creek. …. As a result, there is potential that low flow risk may be amplified with the projected effects of climate change (Section 6.6) even though the incremental risk from forest harvesting remains low.”

Low flows are particularly concerning for 2 important reasons:

1. Low flows prevent spawning pinks (September) chum and coho to enter the creeks. This last fall was an example of this. Many fish were waiting in estuaries, many never survived. 
2. The low flows significantly contribute to very dangerous temperatures in creeks. Roberts Creek is already recording +18C in August. SCSS  installed temperature loggers in 2021 and it is already concerning as salmon mortality is a real possibility if there are no deep pools for salmon to access during the longer summers droughts.

7.4 Sediment Yield

There are so many things that must be done to make sure sediment does not destroy salmon spawning grounds. They are: “Environmental Management System (EMS) and environmental field procedures (EFP) and control measures identified in Section 9. are considered, sediment yields, and the HAZARDS associated with planned forest development can be maintained at low levels.” 

        How can a person like me be confident these measures and    precautions will be implemented?

Simply said: 

Logging Roberts Creek is not worth the risk to wild salmon as the removal of long-standing forest will change the hydrology of the Roberts Creek watershed. Roberts Creek has been for millennia been the spawning grounds for chum, pink and coho salmon. 

Roberts Creek has the last significant wild salmon run on the lower Sunshine Coast. Chapman Creek is a hatchery creek. The diverse DNA is worth fighting to preserve.

Salmon face so many challenges in the natural world, when we add more and more man-made obstacles for them to survive, there will be a tipping point and we no longer have salmon returning to this unique and beautiful creek.

In conclusion:

Sunshine Coast Streamkeepers Society opposes ANY further logging in the xwesam (Roberts Creek) watershed. We want a comprehensive fish and fish habitat study to be completed and the risks are identified. And that the full effects of the climate change and the increasing number of unprecedented weather events be considered. We believe when a comprehensive fish study is done, industry, government and stakeholders will agree that interfering with the wild salmon of Roberts Creek is NOT worth the risk.

Kʷukʷstemc (thank you in Nlaka’pamux)

Respectively,

Shirley Samples

President 

Sunshine Coast Streamkeepers Society

scstreamkeepers@gmail.com