Sierra Club BC has jumped on board with the Friends of Bridge Lake (FoBL) in its fight to prevent a Crown land swap by the Ministry of Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations.
FoBL director Pam Canty announced the collaboration with Sierra Club through the Bridge Lake group's recent newsletter.
The national environmental organization has an online action page on its website to facilitate protesting the proposed land exchange through letters to Premier Christy Clark and all 19 provincial ministers.
The Sierra Club BC website at http://action.sierraclub.bc.ca/actions/protect-bridge-lake has posted a blank email letter for completion, as well as the following statement:
"The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has offered 18 hectares of protected Crown Reserve land in the Cariboo to a developer for a subdivision as part of a land exchange.
"Your help is needed urgently to protect a safe haven for wildlife and cherished recreation opportunity on Bridge Lake…."
The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) has already received a number of letters from local residents to express their concern about the proposed land swap on Bridge Lake for a private island.
At its May 6 meeting, the CRD board directed staff to write to the Friends of Bridge Lake advising no application for Official Community Plan amendment or rezoning has been received for the property in question.
No additional actions will be taken in response to the letters at this time, but Area L Director Bruce Rattray says if an application is received, the letters to the CRD will be included in that file and considered as part of the public-hearing process.