Letter CRD re: Gardom Pond - June 24, 2019

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Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola  Galiano  Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
 
200 – 1627 Fort Street, Victoria BC  V8R 1H8 
Telephone:  250-405-5151   Fax:  250-405-5155 
Toll-Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver:  660-2421 
Elsewhere in BC:  1-800-663-7867 
Email:  information@islandstrust.bc.ca   Website:  www.islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
 
June 24, 2019           
 
Attn: Capital Regional District Board 
625 Fisgard Street, Victoria B.C. 
V8W 1R7 
 
Dear Capital Regional District Board, 
  
I am writing to you on behalf of the North Pender Island Local Trust Committee to request that the 
Capital Regional District halt all work on modifying Gardom Pond, and undertake broader consultation 
with the North Pender community and further study of the pond as a resource in a changing climate. 
  
On June 19, 2019, the North Pender Island Local Trust Committee passed the following Resolution: 
  
That the Chair of the North Pender Island Local Trust Committee write to the Capital Regional 
District Board to request that the Capital Regional District stop all activities around modifying the 
Gardom Pond Dam, undertake community wide public consultation, and undertake further study 
of the nature of the pond as a resource in a changing climate. 
  
The North Pender Island Local Trust Committee is making this request due to concerns being raised by 
the community about the potential impacts of the dam modifications on the groundwater aquifers, and 
concerns regarding the lack of engagement with the broader community to understand the impacts of 
the modifications.   
  
The North Pender Island Local Trust Committee believes that the best way to ensure that sound 
community decisions are made is to ensure that all involved and impacted are included in conversations 
around the decision. As such, the North Pender Island Local Trust Committee requests that broader 
community consultation be undertaken on this issue before draining this potentially critical water. This 
is not an issue that just applies to the water license holders, it is an issue that involves our whole 
community as it may impact groundwater levels, available water to fight fires, and potentially impacts 
our abilities to preserve and protect our fragile island ecosystems.  
  
The Islands Trust Council and the Capital Regional District Board have adopted climate emergency 
resolutions. In March 2019, Islands Trust Council passed the following resolution: 
  
1.
       
Declare a Climate Change Emergency in the Islands Trust Area.
 
2.
       
Add climate change mitigation, resilience, and adaptation policies to the Islands Trust Policy  
Statement amendment project.
 
3.
       
Direct the Trust Council Chair to write to the Chairs of Regional Districts in the Islands Trust Area 
asserting Trust Council’s full support for declarations of a Climate Emergency;
 
4.
       
Direct the Trust Council Chair to write to the Provincial Minister of the Enviro

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