The crystal clear waters of Meighan Creek have sparked a battle about transparency between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the district. While the mayor says DFO has given little reason for refusing to approve a new road to the Highlands, some environmental advocates say the district is downplaying what it knows about the decision."The road is going to kill the creek," said Squamish Streamkeeper Jack Cooley.In June, council passed a motion to send a delegation to Ottawa to discuss DFO issues. Sutherland said he and an administrative staff member plan to meet with a federal minister responsible for DFO decisions. The current Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is Loyola Hearn.But Cooley said he sees little reason for taxpayers to finance a trip to across the country to stir up support for the Newport Ridge Drive expansion, which would cross the salmon-bearing creek.DFO habitat head Corino Salomi said the department has provided detailed comments about their stance, and was not sure how effective the trip would be. "It's always a preference that we try to deal with it with local staff that are familiar with the issue," he said. "I suppose the mayor has the option of doing that [taking concerns to Ottawa]."The motion for the trip came on the heels of a shirtsleeve meeting where DFO's stance on the road was labeled a "fear response" that has been backed up with "nothing in terms of science," according to chief administrative officer Kim Anema.Mayor Ian Sutherland has echoed this alleged lack of transparency."We don't believe we have enough information from DFO," he said. "At the end of the day they don't really give us a reason for their refusal."But correspondence between DFO, the district and developers shows otherwise.In July 2006, DFO sent a detailed letter explaining their stance to Townline Ventures, the proponents behind the proposed Thunderbird Creek Development.The residential development would tie into the Newport Ridge Drive expansion. Without it, added traffic would be directed through existing neighbourhoods along Perth Road and the Boulevard.Within the letter, DFO regional director Greg Savard stated the road would pose a very high risk to critical fish habitat for salmon. "Meighan Creek is among the most productive natural Coho streams in the Squamish corridor," stated Savard. "It is DFO's view that the road and bridge proposal will result in a decline of the productive capacity of this invaluable system as a result of impacts to the fundamental habitat components such as groundwater supply and spawning and rearing habitat."The letter goes onto say it would be difficult, if not impossible, to mitigate and compensate for the road. It also outlines how the road would remove more than a 40-metre wide stretch of the escarpment with retaining walls that would interfere with the creek's current groundwater supply. The creek is fed by small springs and seeps that collect surface and subsurface water trickling down the hillside. According to the letter, a road cutting into the escarpment would harm this process.Sutherland acknowledged he has seen the letter but said his real problem is the lack of options it offered."It talks about challenges, but doesn't offer solutions," he said. "Many meetings have been held since that letter was sent. Mitigation has been discussed. We cannot get comment from DFO on what needs to be done to move the project forward."DFO have offered alternative routes to the new development but nothing that would allow the district to stick to the proposed design.In letter sent to Sutherland in Jan. 2007, DFO area director Jim Wild suggested the road be moved further north to avoid crossing Meighan Creek.The idea has been deemed unfeasible by Sutherland, who says people will not waste time driving further north to get on a road that backtracks to the Highlands.Cooley said asking residents to drive an extra five or 10 minutes to reach their home is not unreasonable to protect the waterway."It's a small sacrifice I would say."Cooley suggested the district consider directing a Newport Ridge Drive expansion though part of Garibaldi Spring Golf Resort, which would cross Meighan Creek but not disturb its spawning pools and the springs that water it.Sutherland also rejected this idea."The bridge can't just be moved over a little bit because if you move it over a little bit, it doesn't work," he said.With a strong affection for Meighan Creek, Cooley continues to share his concerns with council. He has given Coun. Mike Jenson, Coun. Corinne Lonsdale and Coun. Patricia Heintzman guided tours of the site.This time of year, a tour of the small rearing pools will lead to many spotting of young Coho, which live in the waterway for a year until heading out to Harris Slough and onto the Mamquam or Squamish River.The Chum are nowhere to be found, since they leave the waterway just weeks after hatching in the spring.The best time for Cooley to showcase the value of the creek comes in the fall when adult salmon make their way up the creek to spawn, laying their eggs in the shallow pools.With dorsal fins often sticking out of the water, they are much easier to spot than the three-inch long Coho fry found there now."Come down in November and you'll see Chum all over the place," he said.Sutherland is waiting to hear back on his request to meet with the federal minister with no date in place as of yet.
