tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90455455222269666182024-03-13T10:43:32.159-07:00Coast to NorthAll my life I have lived on the south-west coast of Canada but soon we are moving up North... This blog is to chronicle the move and let everyone know how we are doing up in the frozen north...Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-10501984739124732592012-02-01T11:52:00.000-08:002012-02-01T12:17:53.933-08:00WinterThere was a fall here - actually a beautiful one - but life went by so fast that I completely missed writing during it. So now we are in the middle of what is turning out to be a very strange winter. Shh, don't say it too loud... but we have not been the cold and frozen North this year! It has actually been unseasonably warm, we had one really cold stretch for about 4 days and other than that it has been between +5 and -9 it seems. It has also been a lot cloudier and we have received very little snow, compared to normal. I am not certain what this will mean for the long term, but for the short term everyone up here is enjoying the warmer temperatures. Well, everyone except for Hubby. He was really missing the snow... we didn't have enough to go snowmobiling until recently.<br /> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigu5xuTOCPygKrHFUByuKftBfSRWi4HPoBIXsY2VhQkbM6wYywFGLhLhaV38pTUFBe81aYylrP78XNW6eZohwy1P0unmY14Gc71cLsd53vYG1gAnCEqq4NzylVL8qP5QcHcgwmwLuO-p4/s1600/IMG_1221.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigu5xuTOCPygKrHFUByuKftBfSRWi4HPoBIXsY2VhQkbM6wYywFGLhLhaV38pTUFBe81aYylrP78XNW6eZohwy1P0unmY14Gc71cLsd53vYG1gAnCEqq4NzylVL8qP5QcHcgwmwLuO-p4/s400/IMG_1221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704260311003116722" border="0" /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Allan snowmobiling... the only time so far this winter!</span><br /></a></div><br />Apparently though, one of the ski hills that is nearest us (up here something that is near is within a days drive, this particular hill is about 2.5 - 3 hours away) has the most snow of any ski hill in North America (as of the other day anyway). So we are planning to head up there soon and try out snowboarding. The kids are very excited to try snowboarding - I am a little uncertain! I was never a very good skier, I don't see that I will be any good at snowboarding - but I will give it a shot!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6iFrhOlBYAr2V7_9hx363GxAwHVwvtAHk-nLNlGgU8cKd1C7djstdsBhBBzfAtCOJ-9quLXbgmlWJNzaEWtoXfFLC5B19sLgxVRtJLh4iROcpH0PIgTuT_lFzDPJ2_TH0nClsp-9z-s/s1600/IMG_1224.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6iFrhOlBYAr2V7_9hx363GxAwHVwvtAHk-nLNlGgU8cKd1C7djstdsBhBBzfAtCOJ-9quLXbgmlWJNzaEWtoXfFLC5B19sLgxVRtJLh4iROcpH0PIgTuT_lFzDPJ2_TH0nClsp-9z-s/s400/IMG_1224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704259270886253698" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">My 10 year old!</span></span></a></div><br />Other than that, winter has been a flurry of activities with the kids sports (basketball and speed-skating, currently), school, birthdays (Maria is TEN!!), the High on Ice Festival (was fabulous but the sculptures are all melted already!), and life in general. Life is good.Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-34943822104375220362011-08-30T19:32:00.000-07:002011-08-30T20:12:40.270-07:00Summer Fun! Summer arrived late this year and apparently we may have frost tonight - so summer is leaving early, but we sure enjoyed it while it was here!
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6TF5voBOl1pRb78kYp4DUP2fuxnj-2Hg7iUovChmFt9faQTiQ5l242VWTuWeI1V1f04h4xcUlHx19Ksu4fIGAtJBBZhgUVwj0ADq0MajfZSHs9XctyQUmYjNys6UKWodRlssMYqoETg/s1600/IMG_0071.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6TF5voBOl1pRb78kYp4DUP2fuxnj-2Hg7iUovChmFt9faQTiQ5l242VWTuWeI1V1f04h4xcUlHx19Ksu4fIGAtJBBZhgUVwj0ADq0MajfZSHs9XctyQUmYjNys6UKWodRlssMYqoETg/s400/IMG_0071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646845781690816562" border="0" /></a>
<br />This year, more than any other so far, we have really enjoyed Charlie Lake. We have been kayaking a few more times (still with just the kids boats) - Maria and I really enjoyed it the other evening as a storm was approaching - we got to ride the waves!
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtWi0XzkBN1ceDGqZ7g8lud309DeaXO2CgqxeGvhHk578l6eDNs_ky9k0CKbf2E7OpqvWp9Y4AD73S1tf0QO0wYYJjEy6yVJ4ITMdU7t0BxlN3Dti3A6uDJhrc1soLWEsKpi2YdJ4Tos/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtWi0XzkBN1ceDGqZ7g8lud309DeaXO2CgqxeGvhHk578l6eDNs_ky9k0CKbf2E7OpqvWp9Y4AD73S1tf0QO0wYYJjEy6yVJ4ITMdU7t0BxlN3Dti3A6uDJhrc1soLWEsKpi2YdJ4Tos/s400/IMG_0040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646843555606162194" border="0" /></a>
<br />We have also been fishing... a lot!! Michael has finally figured out the secrets of fishing at Charlie Lake and has had quite a bit of success this year - enough that he catches something almost every trip. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIk4zaQBbD4OBhdIIkrdxApfzh6rWih5izB-NNCB84elDJAA6aLcjBvkb5QVYsHTHhKsbtC3WsR4kRszA9GUQO2HPM7WECdiZjuhOI1d2HDTjLKARkGgr3MKxJ9arCN65JLLz_hdaR_S4/s1600/IMG_0062.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIk4zaQBbD4OBhdIIkrdxApfzh6rWih5izB-NNCB84elDJAA6aLcjBvkb5QVYsHTHhKsbtC3WsR4kRszA9GUQO2HPM7WECdiZjuhOI1d2HDTjLKARkGgr3MKxJ9arCN65JLLz_hdaR_S4/s400/IMG_0062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646845218746901426" border="0" /></a> So far there have been numerous walleyes and quite a few pike... so far no sign of the fish that is supposed to look like an eel (thank goodness!).
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq_5YmnTny5zwYhuAj5_WgY6Z5p9WNXiu_qgA5dPiIn4tJju3WhpWYMfeHcQ3_gIyRxbkW5nN3oUeR3ifJsLJklGok0xRUSUAEevM8z6WRX0L8sYCFXEBpuszQpcMWU2BeXfqTGnzqAQ/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGq_5YmnTny5zwYhuAj5_WgY6Z5p9WNXiu_qgA5dPiIn4tJju3WhpWYMfeHcQ3_gIyRxbkW5nN3oUeR3ifJsLJklGok0xRUSUAEevM8z6WRX0L8sYCFXEBpuszQpcMWU2BeXfqTGnzqAQ/s400/IMG_0055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646844631803091602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRIHboSQGXe9Nr-c9U5CLKLpLv1BZLAU3wqxEVnw77znXjlPbe3N0bPnioXZShDliQL4VLCyEwa5-D5MvnFtYo3Wtigr2XMxC6H-pdjNhBmGv64-23Nz_zcNIhAnf7IyYfWpVchbfEAg/s1600/IMG_0480.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRIHboSQGXe9Nr-c9U5CLKLpLv1BZLAU3wqxEVnw77znXjlPbe3N0bPnioXZShDliQL4VLCyEwa5-D5MvnFtYo3Wtigr2XMxC6H-pdjNhBmGv64-23Nz_zcNIhAnf7IyYfWpVchbfEAg/s400/IMG_0480.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646848346742499058" border="0" /></a>
<br />The kids have each had a turn bringing in a fish as well, which was a lot of fun for them, especially Allan. He is hooked now (no pun intended!) and often requests to go fishing.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigr6LQ74GVxhRmSFpAJ-Oo2Y2QG_X_9FuVdil09V2JeJYfxVEFHsQczaMSbhfS6URYfPoTJNG354SQqcaJVQwPlgA3-C8kW35BQfzuUUOUcMMTv9dxct2__JpbGNxsRnfTOFN1QNBNPgE/s1600/IMG_0475.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigr6LQ74GVxhRmSFpAJ-Oo2Y2QG_X_9FuVdil09V2JeJYfxVEFHsQczaMSbhfS6URYfPoTJNG354SQqcaJVQwPlgA3-C8kW35BQfzuUUOUcMMTv9dxct2__JpbGNxsRnfTOFN1QNBNPgE/s400/IMG_0475.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646847469548250050" border="0" /></a>
<br />kids are calling so this is it for now... more to come!!
<br />
<br />Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-17794997245667609252011-08-13T07:55:00.000-07:002011-08-13T08:11:05.980-07:00Kayaks!!Before heading off to the houseboat this summer, we purchased some inexpensive Pelican Solo Kayaks from Canadian Tire. These have been awesome. The kids have played on these so much already... at the houseboat they paddled them around for hours. We also pulled one, with a kid on it, behind the zodiac! These little kayaks are so strong and sturdy and they are so stable that the only time the kids have fallen off was when they tried to fall off... and it was no problem at all to get back on. I even went out and paddled a few times and it was great fun.
<br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_s7lPPXDXzVmZa_opQolGNhxtbB8cDaP6DaXhl9zNkqkhn6Y2DU_XeZgxszUM8hRh2DyVYKhfF4OvZF-PB3ykX5kqT17ajGzh_HriH3OhHkgOl6VcosbS7c-0OPyLw01s33Yz_vlxZQ/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_s7lPPXDXzVmZa_opQolGNhxtbB8cDaP6DaXhl9zNkqkhn6Y2DU_XeZgxszUM8hRh2DyVYKhfF4OvZF-PB3ykX5kqT17ajGzh_HriH3OhHkgOl6VcosbS7c-0OPyLw01s33Yz_vlxZQ/s400/IMG_0169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640354651471238562" border="0" /></a>
<br />Since coming home from the houseboat, we have taken the kids to Charlie Lake and they paddled around and explored and are still really enjoying them... They have also figured out that the boats are so stable that they can stand in them and use them like paddle boards, which is particularly fun when other boats go by and they can ride the waves that come in.
<br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDEzL2skS9xaSgocWgGHPTC_c0UhSKwrHy_k3KhFdBVr1ZCyMwmj51S9ZkmKHblGm0nfxn0PTv5yeKUgZza2fR2WG_OrBkHZ3gRMHigQl-qhrZFQkSX9gsGQw_OgDkmRrWMhXSEDVW8M/s1600/IMG_0189.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDEzL2skS9xaSgocWgGHPTC_c0UhSKwrHy_k3KhFdBVr1ZCyMwmj51S9ZkmKHblGm0nfxn0PTv5yeKUgZza2fR2WG_OrBkHZ3gRMHigQl-qhrZFQkSX9gsGQw_OgDkmRrWMhXSEDVW8M/s400/IMG_0189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640354734906914946" border="0" /></a>
<br />So the outcome of these inexpensive toys... is that they are not going to be inexpensive for long. Hubby and I have watched the kids go out and have so much fun that we have decided WE would like kayaks too... and of course the adult version of kayaks are a fair bit more money! However, it looks like something we can do as a family and spend a day out on the lake (and maybe the river if we practice a lot more!) and use for years and years... I want to play too!
<br />Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-61312160487691082292011-07-17T09:28:00.000-07:002011-07-17T09:58:27.139-07:00Mid-JulyWell, we are now in the middle of July and the common question around town is... are we ever going to get summer?!?! Up here that is pretty much the truth as we only have about a month left for a potential summer, before the colder weather starts in! We have had three weeks of rain - although there have been the odd nice day thrown in to tease us! There have been three different weeks of flooding - I feel bad for the people who have been in the low areas - I can not imagine cleaning up after a flood only to have it flood again less than a week later! We have major roads that have been washed out and worse than that we have BUGS!!<br /><br />I can't even describe how bad the bugs are this year... they have had so much standing water to multiply in it is ridiculous. A brief foray out to the garden to see how my stunted, water-logged veggies are doing results in a mad-dash back into the house sporting a number of new bites. A few weeks ago it was (I was told) gnats - my daughter had bites all over the back of her neck, behind her ears and on her forehead. These little bugs would leave a trickle of blood behind as they took a chunk out of her, leaving her a complete mess. Now we are inundated with mosquitoes...<br /><br />We had some visitors last week and we were very limited with the activities we could take them to do, as a result of the rain, high rivers, mud and bugs... however we dragged them around as best we could! When they left here they were certainly looking a little worse for wear and covered with bug bites! It was a lot of fun and we are so glad they made the trek up - although I don't know if they will ever want to come back!!<br /><br />Another thing we have been having to deal with this summer is vehicles. Hubby's truck self-destructed a few weeks ago, while he was working a 3-4 weeks of straight night-shifts at work. As such we never really had to worry about it because he was working nights, so he used the van when we didn't need it and we used it when he didn't need it. Now that he is back to his normal schedule at work, we are starting to notice the lack of a vehicle. For instance yesterday and today he is at work, with the van, and we are at home without any transportation. We took it as an opportunity to try out the local transit system yesterday. <br /><br />We have a bus stop three houses down (and around the corner), so we caught a bus there and headed down-town. We wound up at the mall, bought some shoes for the kids and some groceries that we needed, had lunch and then hopped on a bus at the mall back home. We had to get a transfer to get home, but that was easy enough, and all in all - I was impressed! I have always been intimidated by public transit and transfers and what bus goes where... but it was easy and if I didn't know which of the three buses to get on, the drivers were all friendly and helpful. It was clean and bright and not at all yucky - and we got a little giggle at the lady who waited ten minutes for the bus at the mall and got off the bus at Walmart across the street... I don't think I am prepared to give up my vehicle entirely and replace it with buses but it is good to know that in a pinch, or if desired - that option is there.<br /><br />Well, I have just looked outside and I see the rain has started again... my daughters summer camp starts tomorrow, I think we can forget the sunscreen, maybe a snorkle instead!Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-49811218250464298122011-06-24T21:02:00.000-07:002011-06-24T21:06:55.445-07:00Pouting...When will this rain END?!!? It has been raining off and on for about a week or two but today it has rained ALL day - not even a peek at the sun today... I don't like it. <br /><br />Tomorrow is the kids soccer tournament - it had better be better weather, we are going to be out there from 8:30 until after 6!! <br /><br />I will stop pouting soon, but not yet.Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-91537972927029854942011-06-06T11:27:00.000-07:002011-06-06T11:50:26.344-07:00This spring...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF8aJDOEQSz3-PjJW9H-WnCO01Es0YJaDhCk9rGTpi4SFaRnVRC9nvY-8fQbjMape5w1l3efV1os1Wlf7_OVSLqHLpR0SRgI_qhtBrlWc100vg6a1Y8Bg3DEjLNL6ol6ozzozDRskDmA/s1600/P1070571.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF8aJDOEQSz3-PjJW9H-WnCO01Es0YJaDhCk9rGTpi4SFaRnVRC9nvY-8fQbjMape5w1l3efV1os1Wlf7_OVSLqHLpR0SRgI_qhtBrlWc100vg6a1Y8Bg3DEjLNL6ol6ozzozDRskDmA/s400/P1070571.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615180999798011186" border="0" /></a><br />We had the most amazing May... it was hot and dry and beautiful and green! I have never noticed this much green up here... and flowers and trees galore! At the kids school I walked by a tree, which I have walked by almost every single day for the past three years without noticing it, and this year the tree was spectacular. I am fairly certain it is a variety of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">crab apple</span> but its flowers were red and almost resembled an azalea - and the smell!! It was really amazing.<br /><br />I think that there have been more varieties of trees and flowers blooming and green showing than in the past years due to our earlier than usual thaw. I don't know when our last frost was - but I think it was near the end of April. I kept expecting one in May - every other year I have planted my garden too soon and then had snow and or frost come along and spoil my plans. This year I kept waiting and it never did frost or snow through May. So I finally planted veggies and a few flowers near the end of May... which is of course, why we got snow last week. Although thank goodness it didn't seem to frost at all and the snow was gone quickly - we are back to normal weather, although a bit rainy!<br /><br />Another result of our lack of a late frost (at least I think so) are mosquitoes. Before we moved up here everyone kept talking about the bugs up here and how bad they are. I have not been bothered by bugs at all since we moved up. There are certain areas - at marshy lakes and in the woods, where there will be more mosquitoes, but not in my yard. It was no different than anywhere else I have been - until this year. I think that normally the late frost must kill off a bunch, because this year without a late frost - holy crap!! It doesn't matter what time of day or how hot it is - they were out there biting! I am hoping that the snow killed the little buggers because that was most unpleasant.<br /><br />June has just begun and we have already exceeded the total precipitation that we had for all of May - and it looks like we will be having more... but May was nice while it lasted.Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-60275181378363186542011-06-03T11:44:00.000-07:002011-06-03T11:46:09.725-07:00Switch!Well, yesterday before the storm it was about 25 degrees... hubby received a very nasty sunburn while fishing. Today we woke up to snow!! Tomorrow is supposed to get back up to 17 degrees... I think the weather has a mood swing disorder!Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-26574034917127785442011-06-02T16:24:00.000-07:002011-06-02T16:31:15.541-07:00Storming...The summer storms started early this year... we started the thunder storm season last month and today had (are still having!) a good one! <br /><br />As I was driving the kids home from school I noticed the wind sock on the hospital sticking straight out and blowing Northward, about 3 blocks later at an elementary school the flag there was blowing completely Southward... needless to say, the storm broke pretty much straight on top of us! With pounding rain, hail, huge gusts of rain and plenty of thunder and lightning (and apparently a few power outages!) it has been entertaining... and typical. We have been having beautiful weather in the mid-twenties and this weekend the fair is in town - so of course the weather is going to turn!<br /><br />Anyway, I am enjoying the storm - although I bet my baby plants aren't!Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-17698319278847842622011-05-15T16:48:00.000-07:002011-05-15T16:50:25.941-07:00Today...Washed the cars in the front yard...<br />did gardening...<br />played in the hose with the kids...<br />played bocce ball...<br />inspected flying ants and carpenter ants...<br />had freezies outside...<br />got a sunburn...<br /><br />... I guess spring is over and now we have summer!Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-8203765935939347342011-04-28T09:58:00.000-07:002011-04-28T10:10:58.251-07:00Quiet RainIt is raining today. I don't know when it last rained here, probably October. This spring we have had slush and rain mixed with snow, but this is the first time we are having rain all by itself. It is a very gentle rain, one that you don't even realize is falling until you look into a puddle or go outside. When I dropped the kids off at school Allan was asking why he had to wear his raincoat since it isn't raining, only to step out of the van and realize that it was. He thought this was fascinating and when I left I could hear him trying to explain to his friends that where we lived before "you always KNEW when it was raining before you got out of the car". Obviously he has forgotten the torrential downpours we had last summer which led to the flash flood!<br /><br />I don't think this rain will last, I can already see the clouds have lifted on the horizon (it is handy living where it is flat, sometimes). It has been a nice rain though, hopefully it will wash some of the dust/dirt away that was left when the snow melted, freshen everything up a bit. Although I have been thoroughly enjoying the beautiful sunny weather we have been having, sometimes a rainy day isn't so bad.Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-27825118672954964182011-04-27T12:28:00.000-07:002011-04-28T10:15:37.896-07:00The MeltdownThis year, spring was a little later in arriving. In each of the past years that we have lived here, we have missed the "big melt" while we have been away for spring break... this year, we got to witness it. It was actually kind of fascinating, watching the piles and mountains of snow disappear - and they weren't slow about it! These huge piles of snow have basically created a huge layer of water over almost the entire town - there have been rather large rivers running down the sides of the roads and the kids have thoroughly enjoyed the mud that is everywhere.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtcRV2525rMgUL_GGtlE1MteWj7x9JPm57ibK9Olk42zu3vj08CvaM8ZrnsB5LmF9RsRySiW5TcIyFi-7m0Btif9ewKeSxtdgIKC6_zn3u62URME5Om6odokfE1xkE4g-JJPcPN-3KMI/s1600/DSCN0737.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtcRV2525rMgUL_GGtlE1MteWj7x9JPm57ibK9Olk42zu3vj08CvaM8ZrnsB5LmF9RsRySiW5TcIyFi-7m0Btif9ewKeSxtdgIKC6_zn3u62URME5Om6odokfE1xkE4g-JJPcPN-3KMI/s400/DSCN0737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600349294353728370" border="0" /></a><br />Every year, the Kinsmen's Club hosts an Easter egg hunt at the park beside our house. This is the first year we have been in town for it, so we were happy to join in and we met up with quite a few of the kids friends too. It was great fun; they had the kids in different age groups and all of them had to find two hard-boiled eggs with numbers on them. Kids ages 6 and under had to find pink eggs in the playground, ages 7-9 had to find blue eggs a little bit into the forest and the 10 -12 year olds had to find white eggs, deeper into the forest... all in the snow. They gave the kids about 15 minutes to find their eggs then they called them all back and they drew a grand prize winning number for three of the eggs and all the kids got a chocolate bunny. It really was well done, and fun!<br /><br />Anyway, a day or two later we went back to the park to look through the forest to play and find eggs that weren't found during the easter egg hunt (we found about 10!). It was astonishing to see how much snow had disappeared in those two days and to see the creeks that had cropped up... we also found something else in the forest, she had left a lot of "chocolate eggs" in the spirit of the easter egg hunt!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFZvm7Kyn-9gXEmIxicEfZ7eNbl45Bz0BKNvr91vl3lBLWILEb9HS99zARnGZYZLWBc9uWaFI5TFQpnnbSb2Qgb3_AAhA7dB_yUE6oqoTCS65M3tAi2GRJCglEBlFds89zkhtw-k5Atw/s1600/DSCN0761.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFZvm7Kyn-9gXEmIxicEfZ7eNbl45Bz0BKNvr91vl3lBLWILEb9HS99zARnGZYZLWBc9uWaFI5TFQpnnbSb2Qgb3_AAhA7dB_yUE6oqoTCS65M3tAi2GRJCglEBlFds89zkhtw-k5Atw/s400/DSCN0761.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600351009828643858" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPoWdPZbnDUSwLEVFCRrVCvjbQufR1lLlK920EtH99N74MyRMc3XSRYLfq5xg53OZ04VBtOzffkZAt_iW49lCe5LXyAwxPXwPU2hiIn2KbKwuOSPTQ3UnyF5qiLEJ7e1NVtJh0oJaoYc/s1600/DSCN0764.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPoWdPZbnDUSwLEVFCRrVCvjbQufR1lLlK920EtH99N74MyRMc3XSRYLfq5xg53OZ04VBtOzffkZAt_iW49lCe5LXyAwxPXwPU2hiIn2KbKwuOSPTQ3UnyF5qiLEJ7e1NVtJh0oJaoYc/s400/DSCN0764.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600350032035098226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-style: italic;">We didn't notice her until we heard her "huff"... we were pretty darn close at the time!!</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvi29FRU3QpFLJPjiN7y5sEgbleDN9g6fuhhAu2xn5VCJ-uJLJ7FCPHDf3MeyHNSgZtOEFc78WRNEKUu8Od_ozP7IXUVQqSe-iKUJwwro9f9xuQkA0kSxPo4Lb3oEu2Nx8f1piqJlkxQ4/s1600/DSCN0765.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvi29FRU3QpFLJPjiN7y5sEgbleDN9g6fuhhAu2xn5VCJ-uJLJ7FCPHDf3MeyHNSgZtOEFc78WRNEKUu8Od_ozP7IXUVQqSe-iKUJwwro9f9xuQkA0kSxPo4Lb3oEu2Nx8f1piqJlkxQ4/s400/DSCN0765.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600350524375954178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">You can see the moose behind us, an also how much the snow melted just two days after the easter egg hunt!</span><br /></span></div><br />Later on, during that long weekend, we decided to take the new (to us) little quad out for a test ride and we had a lot of fun there too. We were up on a flat on top of a hill, that eventually goes down to the Beaton River. I rode the quad for a bit and let each of the kids have a turn riding it (with me on the back)... Maria did great, she rode a few laps very carefully and slowly. Then Allan hopped on and pegged the gas full tilt! He was good once things were explained a bit more, but boy oh boy, the kid likes speed!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqC0RBu1LTuWMYULbMTOnsLJr794Ua3YeEIz_LzUMKuCOseeAw0PRxWxxGsWm_N50dOZk9-ch1t0r2DAoFMLYYJglRZqWADDunh4Pt84LD-hvAyi1S3UIQkjCOPyhA-GBt0DhGBaN0j0Y/s1600/DSCN0780.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqC0RBu1LTuWMYULbMTOnsLJr794Ua3YeEIz_LzUMKuCOseeAw0PRxWxxGsWm_N50dOZk9-ch1t0r2DAoFMLYYJglRZqWADDunh4Pt84LD-hvAyi1S3UIQkjCOPyhA-GBt0DhGBaN0j0Y/s400/DSCN0780.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600354731830299138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:78%;" >Just before I let the "speed-demon" have a turn driving!</span><br /></div><br />Meanwhile, just over a little hill from where we were riding, the kids found a stream that had formed from the snow run-off. It was a pretty fast moving stream and the kids (and us too!) had great fun floating things down the creek and watching it go over the waterfall at the edge of the field.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxCIwT0JOWKGAUcwfiRwzgxikboSa2U49Xj0IIa8c8ilUMta9_uvQkxbMXvAJDGxLfdLv64cscIeyNwQ11JP7nb8ma_Q0LX6E24XOjqqRPbCC_Ef-0KrWKVCDcegnQVVs3pM9VuoTUfc/s1600/DSCN0783.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxCIwT0JOWKGAUcwfiRwzgxikboSa2U49Xj0IIa8c8ilUMta9_uvQkxbMXvAJDGxLfdLv64cscIeyNwQ11JP7nb8ma_Q0LX6E24XOjqqRPbCC_Ef-0KrWKVCDcegnQVVs3pM9VuoTUfc/s400/DSCN0783.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600352699042342930" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoz-kEqd46R88AJCD8yjU6ohO4G6gZWKZfIKhcGL111IhR2_HLnnLUF5fCtTITkhi1O82QBvj4C_6oaXOe7SDGgooTe3upFEBcgVFZ5YOq1Cc6XO7tN3Hc1z81xFRGw15KDjnMy5UgbA/s1600/DSCN0786.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoz-kEqd46R88AJCD8yjU6ohO4G6gZWKZfIKhcGL111IhR2_HLnnLUF5fCtTITkhi1O82QBvj4C_6oaXOe7SDGgooTe3upFEBcgVFZ5YOq1Cc6XO7tN3Hc1z81xFRGw15KDjnMy5UgbA/s400/DSCN0786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600356812972816242" border="0" /></a>Maria and Allan found a bunch of bones from some large animal, I am thinking it was a moose, but there wasn't a head so I can't be certain. They had been there for a while but were still fascinating! We also found some animal tracks which I am thinking were probably lynx?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs98yCUFI3Ab1AWHoI8D6vJWr1KWqmCMiEzlrKqcJJhYgPGclewMzCvEoalwQXHKWsM89eoJQvx84PeJiFm4d8AsAmGmq_u54fTb84sKREk8ApFStDyQXUdn9aRM06MSM6flJNKJturOI/s1600/DSCN0773.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs98yCUFI3Ab1AWHoI8D6vJWr1KWqmCMiEzlrKqcJJhYgPGclewMzCvEoalwQXHKWsM89eoJQvx84PeJiFm4d8AsAmGmq_u54fTb84sKREk8ApFStDyQXUdn9aRM06MSM6flJNKJturOI/s400/DSCN0773.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600351612759801762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-style: italic;">I have since been told that the bones were from more than one animal... the spine you see here hubby thinks it is a deer, whereas the leg and hip bones were BIG and likely from a moose.</span><br /></span></div><br />Now, my front yard is completely free of snow, my backyard is almost free of snow (the places where it had been piled and where the sun doesn't shine yet are still snowy), I have raked the snow-mould off my lawn and I have my first flowers blooming. I love this time of year!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeTKNT69cv9dt9RaY-0r1uQUcSzSpKvPzo_MWY8TbSRkwzVQYeLMkYbgMvmHzCo9KvZdtW1QCBXD6CW8ACB69LI1VBQF07B8-uOMN62oj0Hvepn77ipdgAnL1qan1m9C6EyElLcmESi0/s1600/DSCN0792.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeTKNT69cv9dt9RaY-0r1uQUcSzSpKvPzo_MWY8TbSRkwzVQYeLMkYbgMvmHzCo9KvZdtW1QCBXD6CW8ACB69LI1VBQF07B8-uOMN62oj0Hvepn77ipdgAnL1qan1m9C6EyElLcmESi0/s400/DSCN0792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600357312422376802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I am pretty sure this is a hyacinth, but it is tiny... only about 2 or 3 inches tall</span><br /></span></div>Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-85205320137681321832011-04-13T11:59:00.001-07:002011-04-13T12:01:52.420-07:00Fingers crossed...We are supposed to be getting a fair chunk of snow over the next two days... after the beautiful weather that we have been having, that would truly SUCK. I am hoping the weatherman was wrong and <span style="font-style: italic;">meant</span> to say rain...Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-84972271739472766682011-04-05T10:24:00.001-07:002011-04-07T17:39:42.584-07:00Spring Break!!We were away for spring break. We left winter behind and went down to the Island for Allan's cardiologist check-up and for some long overdue visiting. We were short on time, as seems to be the case each year, but we crammed in visits and got to have some wonderful time catching up with almost everyone! The check-up went really well and we got to have a quick snoop around Victoria that afternoon for our annual "Breakwater walk", which has showed us something interesting each year. This year the point of interest was the otters... well, I don't know if it was interesting or disturbing (both) but apparently it is mating season and it was not nice - so we got all kinds of questions...<br /><br />Then off to Squamish for a visit to our old hometown... where we got to have more great visits and see so many of "our" people in such a short amount of time. Hubby and I even got to go out for an anniversary dinner - just the two of us!! The grandparents took the kids to the fair that evening and they had a great time too.<br /><br />The entire time we were down on the Coast and the Island the weather was typical for this time of year... soggy, gray, little bits of sun but then more gray and soggy. I was surprised this year, by the moisture on the Island in particular. Everything was soggy and rot was prevalent - it seems I have been living in a dry climate for long enough to notice it much more acutely than before. Squamish wasn't quite as rotten and wet, but it wasn't far behind... perhaps because it hasn't completely thawed from winter yet? As soon as we left Squamish and were heading up the highway towards Whistler, there were snowbank still along the edges of the road.<br /><br />Our drive home was fabulous. Driving over the Duffy Lake Road has, in the past few years, been an adventure in brake repairs... this year we managed to (narrowly) avoid any brake issues. The roads were mostly bare and clear the entire drive up - with only little bits of snow falling through the 100 Mile to Prince George areas, but nothing sticking to the ground. Once we passed Prince George, it was beautiful, sunny, warm and great driving. Which is good because that tends to be the boring part of the drive, so it is good to be able to drive at a decent speed! After we passed Chetwynd we noticed Northern Lights in the sky as well as a beautiful night sky, full of stars. We followed the Northern Lights all the way home, watching them change shape, stretch and fold... we arrived back home just before 11pm absolutely exhausted.<br /><br />The next morning we awoke to a beautiful blue sky and temperatures up to about +8 degrees, the snow banks are still there but they are melting quickly (causing small streams to run down most roads - and therefore requiring us to buy the kids new rubber boots!) The kids started back to school wearing lighter jackets, no more snow-pants or winter boots (the rubber ones from now on!). It is surprising how warm it is - the kids both complained last night of being WAY too hot at bedtime; even though our heater didn't turn on yesterday. It feels much warmer here, than it did on the Island/Coast, even though the temperatures are about the same... it is also surprising how long the days are already. We left here just after the equinox, but already the days are considerably longer than the nights, and it is still bright out at the kids bedtime.<br /><br />Spring is here.Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-3057855939724640052011-03-19T10:21:00.000-07:002011-03-19T10:32:41.969-07:00Just like that......although spring up here is different from spring on the coast, all of a sudden I can feel that spring has begun. It is still white, everywhere you look, and we had snow last weekend; but it has warmed up and as soon as it hit -8, the roads turned slushy and you could start to see pavement. By the time it reached -2 the roads were all either slushy or just wet, depending on how much traffic drives on them. By +4 there were some dry, bare roads; some that were under a lot of water and my road, which hasn't seen a plow for quite some time, which is just messy.<br /><br />So apparently spring up here is a matter of road conditions instead of garden growth - but I'll take it! It was warm! Warm enough to be outside in my shoes and sweater instead of boots and a parka! Warm enough to go outside and feel the sunshine; instead of having to feel the sun through the window. I am certain we will have some winter-like weather still; but spring has started, now it is a matter of weeks instead of monthsCoast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-91183499659567312572011-03-12T07:45:00.000-08:002011-03-12T07:59:52.637-08:00Anytime now...Ok, enough already. It is time for spring to be a visible thing on the horizon at least... but there isn't a sign of her. March has been the worst part of the winter; colder, snowier... and we are only a little way into it! February gave us melting snow and little peeps of the spring to come, but March has stomped all over that spring and buried it in my yard... under the snow. I never thought I would look forward to having the mud that is everywhere during spring, but I REALLY miss that mud. Sigh... enough of my pity party. Even I am sick of hearing me complain about the cold and snow.<br /><br />Hubby is thrilled with our extended winter. He took up snowmobiling this year - and after deciding the snowmobile that he chose the first time was wrong for him, he is now on machine number 2 and is eager to take it out and use it as much as he can before spring... Judging by my yard, I think he will have plenty of time to use it.<br /><br />Maria is very excited to have more snow, that kid LOVES snow. She often says she feels sorry for the kids on the Coast who don't get much snow. Allan just goes along with whatever Maria says, but his patience with the snow is waning too.<br /><br />Ah well, this coming up week our temperature is<span style="font-style: italic;"> supposed</span> to get warmer... at least warm enough to be outside comfortably, even if more snow is going to fall... let's hope they are right this time!Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-3557464066397219762011-02-18T09:44:00.000-08:002011-02-18T09:47:41.218-08:00Ice crystals...Today is a beautiful day full of blue skies and bright sunshine... and ice crystals. The forecast today calls for ice crystals... also -28. Apparently what this means is amazingly cool, straight up and down, rainbows. My camera doesn't work when it is this cold, so you will just have to take my word on it... it was beautiful.Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-44783342761828587482011-02-17T13:24:00.000-08:002011-02-17T13:36:43.908-08:00A HurdleSome people that we know up here (two separate families) are in the process of moving to Victoria. Neither of these families really expected to be going, nor are they from there... I have to say that I experienced a large surge of jealousy about this, which is strange because recently hubby was offered a job down on the Sunshine Coast which we both decided against because we don't want to move... but still... it would be nice.<br /><br />Talking to my sister the other night, she gave me some perspective. Fort St John is the right place for us to be... it has a good work situation, it is a great place for our kids and our family. We get a lot of sunshine and blue sky... the only thing Fort St John is lacking or is not ideal, is geographically. Geographically this town is too far away from our family and friends. Geographically this town is lacking mountains and forests and oceans. However the positive things about this town enable us to overcome the shortcomings and go to the places where we like the geography. <br /><br />Perhaps this only made sense in the strange conversation my sister and I were having... but to me it did make sense. I will miss our friends that are moving down to Victoria... but we will be able to visit!Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-11219262750702619352011-01-17T10:14:00.000-08:002011-01-17T10:25:30.058-08:00Snow Day!!!We are having the first snow day since we moved up here. That is... WE are having a snow day, although the school is still open! We had record snow falls over the weekend, I think about 20cm since Friday - which is really a lot for up here. I think Dawson Creek got even more. The buses aren't running today, the mail delivery is cancelled for today but the schools are still open. Apparently they have a clause that states the schools will never close down due to weather because years ago some parent dropped their kid off at school and went to work... not realizing the school was closed. Everything turned out ok with that kid, but the result was that the school's will always be open on school days... but I think that some days, you just have to call a snow day anyway... besides, this way they can help me shovel!Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-27983419036199807602011-01-02T16:25:00.000-08:002011-01-02T16:27:15.437-08:00Happy New Year!I hope this year is as good as last... I will get back to posting as soon as the kids go back to school!Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-31299631651964842232010-12-11T15:19:00.000-08:002010-12-11T19:54:29.951-08:00Quintessential...My little guys went to a birthday party today and the invitation said to dress him warm, and bring skating gear. I wasn't quite sure about this plan since it has been pretty cold the last while; around -20. Today though, it warmed up a bit (to -18) and the wind died down, so we bundled him up and headed out. It turns out that these people live a bit out of town and have a pond in their backyard which is frozen all the way through. So I took Allan off to the backyard where they have a large tent set up with plywood on the ground and a woodstove inside to keep it nice and warm; there I put on his skates and helmet. He and the other boys were skating around on the pond, passing pucks, and losing them in the bullrushes; the dogs were running around, onto the ice; the chimney from the tent was sending up smoke... it was such a Norman Rockwell image of winter... it was really awesome.Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-90388841059395940302010-12-09T12:18:00.000-08:002010-12-09T12:32:31.404-08:00Research Paper - by S. Keeler<div style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><div style="text-align: left;">I have finally finished my research paper on the environmental impact of multiple dams on a river; in particular the reasons why the Site C dam should not be built. I have had a few mentions that people would like to read it... if you want to - here it is!<br /><br />Susie<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Abstract</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> This article examines the environmental impact that dams have upon a river and its surrounding areas. In 2006, B.C. Hydro resurrected their plans to add another large dam, the Site C Dam, to the Peace River in Northeastern B.C. The plans have been met with much controversy both for and against the project. One of the many arguments for the construction of another dam on this particular river is that this river has already been compromised. The Peace River has two more large dams: the W.A.C. Bennet Dam, and the Peace Canyon Dam, just upstream from where the Site C Dam is proposed to go. According to these proponents for a new dam, the damage has already been done to this river; therefore, how would adding another dam be harmful?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Many studies and much research have been done on the environmental damage caused by large dams in terms of the negative impact on fish, water quality, habitat loss, recruitment of tree species, sediment flow to the deltas, loss of nutrient delivery to the oceans, as well as many more varieties of problems. The World Commission on Dams conducted a thorough study on dams around the world and found the environmental impact of large dams to be more negative than positive, and that they have lead to irreversible loss of species and ecosystems.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This paper examines how the environmental impacts on a river are compounded when there are multiple dams on a river. In this paper, I first explain the widespread environmental damage caused by adding a single dam. Next, I cover the problems that arise when more than one dam is placed on a river. Finally, I explain what the environmental outcome will likely be for the Peace River, when the Site C Dam is built. Thus, the research presented in this paper demonstrates that multiple dams on a river can be devastating to the environment and destroy the overall ecosystem of the river and because of these reasons, the Site C Dam should not be built.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;">“The 'Dammed' Site C”:<br />The Environmental Impact of Multiple Dams on a Single River<br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> In 2006, B.C. Hydro resurrected their plans to add another large dam, the Site C Dam, to the Peace River in Northeastern B.C. The plans have been met with much controversy both for and against the project. One of the many arguments for the construction of another dam on this particular river is that this river has already been compromised. The Peace River has two more large dams: the W.A.C. Bennet Dam, and the Peace Canyon Dam, just upstream from where the Site C Dam is proposed to go. According to these proponents for a new dam, the damage has already been done to this river; therefore, how would adding another dam be harmful?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> A large dam is defined by Thayer Scudder in The Future of Large Dams; Dealing with Social, Environmental, Institutional and Political Costs, as a dam that rises 15 metres or more from the foundation and has a reservoir capacity of over 3,000,000 cubic metres (2005). Many studies and much research have been done on the environmental damage caused by these dams in terms of the negative impact on fish, water quality, habitat loss, recruitment of tree species, sediment flow to the deltas, loss of nutrient delivery to the oceans, as well as many more varieties of problems. Jacques Leslie, the author of Deepwater; The Epic Struggle over Dams, Displaced People, and the Environment (2005), tells us that the World Commission on Dams conducted a thorough study on dams around the world and found the environmental impact of large dams to be more negative than positive, and that they have lead to irreversible loss of species and ecosystems. <br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Knowing that a single dam on a river can wreak such havoc on the ecosystem and the environment, and by looking at evidence from a variety of other large rivers around the world that are already extensively dammed, this paper examines how the environmental impacts on a river are compounded when there are multiple dams on a river. In this paper, I will first explain the widespread environmental damage caused by adding a single dam. Next, I will cover the problems that arise when more than one dam is placed on a river. This will be shown using evidence from the Columbia, Colorado, and the Nile Rivers; as these are some of the most extensively dammed and studied rivers in the world. Finally, I will explain what the environmental outcome will likely be for the Peace River, when the Site C Dam is built. Thus, the research presented in this paper will demonstrate that multiple dams on a river can be devastating to the environment and destroy the overall ecosystem of the river and because of these reasons, the Site C Dam should not be built. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> A river is an essential part of our world's ecosystem. Rivers serve many different functions and uses around the world, but their essential function is to flow fresh water from mountains, springs, and snow run-off to the oceans. Sandra Postel, author of Where Have all the Rivers Gone, explains that as the river flows, the fresh water picks up nutrients from various organic and sedimentary sources. This nutrient rich water feeds the land and eventually the sea with this complex food web. This water sustains economically and culturally important fisheries; protects and feeds wetlands with their ability to filter out pollutants; provides habitat for a rich diversity of aquatic life; maintains water quality, including salt and sediment balances and a myriad of other important factors in the ecosystem balance (1995). Malcolm Only and Terry Prowse explain in their paper Multiple-hydrological stressors of a northern delta ecosystem that the river also creates habitat for land dwelling creatures; many amphibians and mammals seek shelter and food in the fertile areas that border the rivers (2000). Another important part in the function of a river is the delivery of seeds from trees and other plants. Michael Burke, Klaus Jorde and John Buffington explain that the seasonal fluctuations in the river's flow is directly related to when trees drop their seeds, the river aids in the distribution of those seeds to areas downstream (2008). Fast flowing rivers are also the best source for fresh drinking water; the constant flushing of the water keeps minerals from depositing too much and keeps the sediments from building up, which helps to maintain healthy, disease-free water (Postel 1995).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> As the population of earth has grown and spread out, people have devised ways of manipulating water to serve their changing needs; large scale dams were once considered to be the answer to many problems. The Egyptian's have practiced irrigation and have drawn water from the Nile River for at least 5,000 years. While this once served as a viable practice, Sandra Postel tells us in her article, Where Have All the Rivers Gone, that the population of Egypt grows by approximately 1 million more people every nine months and that demands on the river are extreme. Postel also reports that globally, water demand has more than tripled since the 1950's and the rising demand has been met by building ever more and substantially larger water supply projects (1995). Jacques Leslie, the author of Deepwater: The Epic Struggle over Dams, Displaced People, and the Environment, writes that in 1950, there were 5,700 large dams worldwide; today there are more than 50,000. Leslie further states that large dams fragment 60% of the major river basins of the world and geophysicists believe that the dams have shifted so much weight that they have slightly altered the speed of the earth's rotation, the tilt of its axis, and the shape of its gravitational field (2005). This great diversion of water has served a very useful purpose; Leslie explains that hydro-electric turbines generate one-fifth of the world's electricity supply, and the water they store make possible as much as one-sixth of the earth's food production. People can now live in arid surroundings and not only have fresh water to drink, but also water for their crops and power for their homes and businesses (Leslie 2005).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Developed and developing nations have utilized dams to spur on economies and improve their citizen’s standard of living. Thayer Scudder explains in his book, The Future of Large Dams, that large dam projects were pushed forwards by powerful coalitions of politicians and civil servants on the basis of economic, social and political grounds. Following World War II large dams were seen as a boon to the economy in the creation of jobs during construction (2006). Scudder also adds that the dams then created hydro-power to use and sell, which was also a good for the economy. These dams diverted water to farmers fields and to areas that were normally arid, and they store water for use by urban populations (2006). Joel Osbourne Jr. talks about the many water projects in Southern California, that were designed to keep people coming to that area to keep the economy strong, in his article California's Pipe Dream (2010). Thayer Scudder asserts that developing nations often find that large dams remain a necessary option to deal with the needs of a human population that is expanding beyond the natural capacity of the area. Scudder goes on to explain that late-industrialized countries require these dams to address the poverty and rising expectations of large populations. The dams will be needed to store and transfer water to rapidly expanding urban areas and to provide electricity to those populations and the industries that must employ them if poverty is to be alleviated. Scudder claims that areas like India, where drought and flooding are the norm, need to control their water in order to become more economically viable (2006).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> The environmental problems that have resulted from these large, singular dams have been numerous. Poor water quality is a serious result of these dams; when water stops flowing, as it does in the reservoirs behind the dams, the water temperature increases and there is an increased likeliness of disease and toxins (Harada & Yasuda 2004; Jud 2006; Scudder 2006). The nutrient rich silt that normally flows with the water in the river is also held back behind the dams. Since the nutrient rich flows aren't travelling down-stream, the wetlands and deltas are not receiving the nutrients to feed the aquatic and plant life which are, therefore, not thriving (Postel 1995). Joji Harada and Nario Yasuda advise in their article, Conservation and Improvement of the Environment in Dam Reservoirs, that the transformation of a river into a reservoir causes the habitat and breeding environment of plants and animals to shrink and disappear as the reservoir submerges rare plants and the nesting areas of birds and animals. There are many other environmental problems associated with large dams, but the main casualty of these dams have been the fresh-water fish.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Fresh-water fish have been the most obviously, adversely affected by these dams. Sandra Postel reports that aquatic organisms can not live long without water; large reductions in stream-flow, even for a short period of time, can be damaging or deadly to them. Postel states that the total diversity of animal life per unit area of a river is 65 times greater than that of oceans. Postel continues to say that the American Fisheries Society lists 364 species and sub-species of fish in North America as threatened, endangered or of concern and the vast majority of those are at risk due to habitat destruction (1995). Alexanra Ravinet expands on those numbers in her article Rivers Get Over the Dam, by saying that dams have contributed to the extinction of 106 native salmon and trout stock in four Western states, despite hatching programs and fish passages (1999). Charles Boggs et al, explain the obstacles that fish face in the article Iteoparity in Columbia River summer-run steelhead: implications for conservation. The physical aspect of the dam has direct mortality hazards in the form of the turbine blades, the rapid changes in pressure as well as trauma from passage over the spill-way; but then there are also the indirect effects including “energetically costly migration delays, accumulated physiological stress and possible adverse timing between migration and readiness for ocean entry” (2008). Then, as Shem Baker Jud illustrates in his paper Salmon as Lazarus in the Oregon Desert, there is also the issue of the non-migrating fish that are trapped behind the dam and the small genetic pool they remain in; or the other fish who attempt to migrate but get stuck in the disorienting currents of the reservoir which wind up trapping the fish deep in the lake. Jud advises that our reliance on fish-farms to re-stock fish is not enough because the fish-farms tend to breed fish with commercial viability; however, there are many other species of endangered fish, which have no commercial value, that are of vital importance to the bio-diversity of the river (2006).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">With each additional dam that is added to a river, the environmental problems associated with the first dam re-occur, and are often compounded. In looking specifically at the Kootenai River in western North America; a study by Michael Burke, Klause Jorde and John Buffington was done to analyze the relative effects of multiple dams by studying the hydrology, channel hydraulics, bed flow mobility and the consequences for recruitment of riparian trees. On this particular stretch of river that they studied there were two dams; the Corra Linn Dam built in 1938, and further downstream was the Libby Dam built in 1974. Burke, Jorde and Buffington's study found that the Libby dam was responsible for the majority of the environmental impacts: namely broad changes in hydrology, water quality and sediment supply, changes in channel hydraulics and bed mobility. Whereas they found that the older dam, the Corra Linn, was more responsible for adversely affecting the recruitment of riparian trees, which rely on seasonal fluctuations in flow patterns for seedlings to establish themselves down-stream. Overall in their study, Burke, Jorde and Buffington found that the Corra Linn was responsible for some of the impact but that the impact from the Libby Dam dominates, accounting for 91% of the total changes, within their parameters (2008).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Additional environmental problems arise when even more dams are added to a river. It is the decline of the worlds largest rivers that most graphically convey the magnitude of the problem. Where Have all the Rivers Gone, by Sandra Postel, tells us that the Colorado River ranks among the most heavily plumbed water course in the world. Controlled by more than 20 dams it now irrigates approximately 800,000 hectares of farmland, serves the household needs of more that 21 million people and generates 12 billion kilowatt hours of energy annually. Postel goes on to explain that in 1922 seven U.S. States signed the Colorado River Compact which divided up the water between them. Unfortunately when doing so, they over-estimated the river's annual flow of water, they didn't include Mexico's portion of the water, nor did they designate any water for the river environment itself (1995). Now, except in years of unusually high floods, the entire flow of water is captured and used – and has been for some time. Postel points out that flow readings at El Meritimo, the southern-most measuring station on the Colorado, were discontinued in 1968 because there was nothing to measure. The Colorado used to carry tons of salt to the Gulf of California, now this salt is being spread across the irrigated landscape, poisoning the soil. The nutrient-full silt that normally flows down the river and feeds the wetlands, estuaries, deltas and eventually the sea; is all trapped behind the numerous dams (1995). Postel further reveals that the delta and upper Gulf of California comprise the largest and most critical desert wetland in the American Southwest, as well as one of the world's most diverse and productive sea ecosystems. Besides drying up wetlands and causing a severe deterioration in water quality, the reduction in freshwater flow has also cut the flow of nutrients to the sea and reduced critical habitat for the Gulf's nursery grounds. Postel reveals that the catches from the upper Gulf of California shrimp and other fisheries have dropped off steeply as the river lessened and more than one third of the species of fish that rely on this river are now extremely endangered (1995).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> The historian Donald Worster was quoted as saying the Columbia River in Western North America, is “a river that died and was reborn as money”. According to Kai Lee's article The Columbia River Basin; Experimenting with Sustainability, the Columbia river basin's 19 major dams, together with more than five dozen smaller hydro projects, constitute the world's largest hydro-electric power system. Lee goes on to explain that the river basin has also become a plantation of more than 3 million acres watered by some of the world's largest irrigation works, including the Columbia Basin Project anchored at Grand Coulee, which is the largest dam in the United States (1989). Ellie Willinghoff reveals in her article Columbia River Power Play, that the Pacific Northwest salmon stocks were some of the world's richest, but after these dams were built the supply of Royal Chinooks and other native salmon on the Columbia river is down to about 1.5% of where it had been 100 years ago (1994).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Another example of a river that is in serious trouble is the famous Nile. Like the Colorado, the Nile is a lifeline for a desert area that gets virtually no rain. According to Sandra Postel's Where Have All the River's Gone, it sustains 60 million people and irrigates 3 million hectares of cropland. Postel explains that Egypt has practice irrigation for at least 5,000 years using a basic pattern of water use called “basin irrigation” in which a series of canals formed large basins that stair-stepped downstream. Postel further illustrates that the Nile water was diverted into the higher basins, flooding them and depositing nutrient rich silt. The water then drained successively into each lower basin, until at the end of the sequence it re-entered the Nile to flow into the Mediterranean (1995). According to Postel, this was considered by experts to be an ecologically sustainable adaptation to the natural environment; however, this system also limited crop production to just a third of the year. During the 19th century, Postel notes, Egypt converted to perennial irrigation with an extensive system of small dams and canals. This persisted until the 1960's when the High Dam at Aswan was built and provided complete control over the Nile's water. Postel writes that before the Aswan dam was built, approximately 32 billion cubic meters of water flowed down the Nile to the sea each year. In 1995 the amount of freshwater reaching the Mediterranean was only 1.8 billion cubic meters; all of which was released during the winter, when crops need less irrigation (1995). Postel continues to explain that a substantial amount of the water that does reach the sea has first irrigated the delta's rice, cotton and other crops, so what reaches the Mediterranean is salty, polluted, farm drainage. Postel claims that of the 47 commercial fish species that were thriving in the Nile before the dams, only 17 were still being harvested a decade after the dams completion. However, Postel speculates that perhaps the most threatening long term consequence of the Nile's diminished flow is that of the delta: a vital part of the country's economy, which is slowly falling into the sea. Most river deltas naturally subside from the weight of their own sediment, but under natural conditions the deposits of silt from the river usually counter this subsidence. Postel points out that the Nile delta stopped growing 100 years ago when the first small dams were built, but since the completion of the High Dam, which traps virtually all of the silt in Lake Nassar, the delta has been in retreat. Borg-el-Borellos, a former delta village, is now two kilometers out to sea (1995).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> The Peace river is an important natural ecosystem; it is part of the Peace-Athabasca delta which is one of the world's largest freshwater deltas. Terry Prowse and Malcolm Conly's study of Multiple-hydrologic stressors of a northern delta ecosystem, outlines the important factors of this river and its basin: this river has a large wetland habitat; the basin has one of the largest undisturbed grasslands in North America, with a large variety of animal life including bison; the river and its basin are of national and international significance for waterfowl and other migratory bird species; the river is a major spawning site for a variety of fish populations (2000). The Peace river has already been altered from it's natural state by the two large dams that are already upon it; the W.A.C. Bennet dam and the Peace Canyon dam. Prowse and Conly make note of the fact that during the time when the reservoir behind the W.A.C. Bennet dam was being filled (1968-1971), the water levels in the river were reduced by approximately 36%, exposing 500 square kilometres of mudflats, which had dramatic consequences including a serious reduction in the muskrat population (2000). Michael Church writes, in his paper titled Change and Adaptability, that another outcome has been a proliferation of beavers; due to the relative stabilization of water levels, which in turn is a result of a change in flow pattern from the dams. The seasonal flow pattern in the first 100 kilometres has been inverted from a traditional late spring freshet (high flow levels due to snow melt) and a low winter flow to a winter high and a summer low pattern (2009). Church declares that even below the first major tributary at the Pine River, the flow regime has been altered and that this effect is measurable all the way to the Peace-Athabasca delta, 1200 km downstream. Church also reports that the winter ice occurrence has been changed: in most years there is no ice at all in the first 100 km after the dam. He states that the former flood plain of the river is now a dry terrace, and that as far downstream as the town of Peace River, Alberta, the gravel bed is not moving as it formerly did (2009). This change in the flow of the river will have undoubtedly affected fish populations; and as we learned from Charles Boggs et al, in the article Iteoparity in Columbia River summer-run steelhead: implications for conservation, fish don't cope well with changes in the temperature of the water, nor with altered flow patterns, and that the changes in the gravel bed have a negative effect on spawning (2008). Michael Church carries on to say that the trees which grow along the river have been changing as well; with an influx of poplar, alder and willow as well as a reduction in spruce, jackpine, and white birch (2009).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> B.C. Hydro's proposal for a third dam on the Peace River is for another large scale dam, the Site C dam. According to B.C. Hydro's website, the Site C dam is going to be approximately 1,100 meters in length and rise 60 meters above the river bed. The reservoir will be 83 km long and they estimate that when it is flooded, the river will be two to three times its current width and it will flood 5,340 hectares (2010). With this additional dam we can expect more environmental damage. Conly and Prowse suggest that as the reservoir is being filled, the flow of the river will decrease; to the detriment of plant and animal life bordering the river (2000). Church advises us that the gravel beds will be even further altered, affecting even more spawning grounds of fish and thereby declining their populations. Church also declares that the riparian forests will continue to change as the river is blocked and the lake behind the dam grows (2009). Postel's article Where Have all the Rivers Gone, warns us that the Peace-Athabasca delta and estuary may be in jeopardy as less sediment and silt will travel down the river to deliver nutrients (1995). There are likely to be a lot more environmental outcomes that we won't know about until after the dam is built.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Jacques Leslie explains, in his book Deepwater; The Epic Struggle over Dams, Displaced People, and the Environment, that the World Bank; the world's largest dam financier, was under pressure from critics to establish policies to protect indigenous people and tighten regulations to limit environmental harm, in terms of the dams that they were funding. In the mid-1990's the World Bank agreed to create an independent commission that could arrive at an honest assessment of all large dams. Leslie tells us the result was the formation of the World Commission on Dams; an independent body of twelve commissioners, charged with assessing dams impacts, positive and negative, and providing guidelines for future construction (2005). Leslie informs us that in pursuit of fair representation, the commissioners were drawn equally from three categories; pro-dam, mixed, and anti-dam and two and a half years after its formation the commission revealed a final report. Leslie writes that the report titled Dams and Development: A New Framework for Decision-Making, was a huge report based on the findings from the most thorough study of dams impacts ever conducted; and it seems to confirm many dam opponents claims (2005). Leslie reveals that the report said that large dams construction typically ran behind schedule and over-ran budgets; that irrigation dams typically did not recover their costs, did not produce the volume of water expected and were less profitable than forecast; that the environmental impacts were more negative than positive and that they have led to irreversible loss of species and ecosystems. Leslie then continues to explain that the document went on to provide a framework for building dams in the future and most controversially it lists 26 guidelines meant to replace the existing arbitrary and politically weighted process of dam decision making. The World Bank, says Leslie, which was gambling on a more favourable report, rejected the Commission's report saying it was too cumbersome (2005).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> It is not a question of whether or not large dams adversely affect the environment; it is a fact and all the people involved in the building and creation of large dams know this. At the very minimum the fish and water quality are affected: at the extreme, the entire river dries up and dies. This in turn creates a cascade of problems from the salt deposits left on the land, poisoning the soil; the drying up of the delta and estuaries leading to loss of habitat for aquatic and land based creatures; the loss of nutrients to the estuary to feed the sea life; the subsidence of the delta into the sea; overall a complete deterioration of an ecosystem. However, on the other hand, we need water to water our crops, to drink, and to wash. We need electricity and hydro-power does not release fossil fuel pollution into our environment; is there a solution to this problem? There isn't a solution as yet, but perhaps some steps in the right direction. The initial step forward involves better water management of the dams that are already in place: to recognize that there are limits to the amount of water that can be diverted from a river and also to release flows that mimic natural highs and lows. Both of these should be mandatory requirements that would immediately benefit the river environment. As for future dams, including the Site C Dam, they should have to meet all the criteria of the World Commission on Dams and if they do not, then the dam should not be built. In the process of trying to meet the criteria of the World Commission on Dams; all planning of should be flexible and transparent in order to minimize public conflict. Only if all parties involved are informed and in agreement, and all the criteria of the World Commission on Dams are met, should a large dam be built. Once that dam is built there should be a governing body that ensures that the operation of that dam stays within the boundaries of the river management protocols that the World Commission on Dams has devised. Knowing that the proposed Site C Dam has been rejected in the past as unfeasible, I do not believe that it will meet the criteria set out by the World Commission on Dams, and they certainly don't have agreement with all the parties involved; and thus for these reasons, the Site C Dam should not be built.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cited References</span><br /></div>B.C. Hydro. 2010 Jun. Fact sheets; Site C backgrounder. (Internet). B.C. Hydro Website. (cited 2010 Nov 12); Available from http://www.bchydro.com/planning_regulatory/site_c/Information_Centre/fact_sheets.html PDF file.<br /><br />Bankes Nigel. 2004. Environment: Garrison Dam, Columbia River, the IJC, NGOS. Canada. US Law J. (Internet). (cited 2010 Oct 12); 30: 117-127. Academic Search Premier. http://nlc-reglib.nlc.bc.ca:2053/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=119&sid=0491701f-ca46-4e45-b5b8-4a594e084e4d%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=16118246. EBSCO registration required for access.<br /><br />Boggs Charles T, Evans Allen F, Keefer Matthew L, Peery Christopher A, Wertheimer Robert H. 2008 Dec. Iteroparity in Columbia River summer-run steelhead (oncorhynchus mykiss): implications for conservation. Cdn J Fisheries & Aquatic Sc. (Internet). (cited 2010 Oct 7); 65(12): 2592-2605. Academic Search Premier. http://nlc-reglib.nlc.bc.ca:2053/ehost/detail?vid=7&hid=119&sid=0491701f-ca46-4e45-b5b8-4a594e084e4d%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=35821649. EBSCO registration required for access.<br /><br />Bourne Joel K Jr. 2010 Apr. California's pipe dream; a heroic system of dams, pumps, and canals can't stave off a water crisis. Ntnl Geographic. 217(4): 132-145.<br /><br />Buffington John M,Burke Michael, Jorde Klaus. 2009 Jul. Application of a hierarchical framework for assessing environmental impacts of dam operation: Changes in streamflow, bed mobility and recruitment of riparian trees in a western North American river. J Env Mgmt. (Internet). (cited 2010 Oct 7); 90: S224-S236. Academic Search Premier. http://nlc-reglib.nlc.bc.ca:2053/ehost/detail?vid=9&hid=119&sid=0491701f-ca46-4e45-b5b8-4a594e084e4d%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=43168295. EBSCO registration required for access.<br /><br />Cash Kevin J, Culp Joseph M, Wrona Frederick J. 2000. Integrated assessment of ecosystem integrity of large Northern rivers: the Northern river basins study example. J Aquatic Ecosystem Stress & Recovery. (Internet). (cited 2010 Oct 12); 8(1): 1-5. Academic Search Premier. http://nlc-reglib.nlc.bc.ca:2053/ehost/detail?vid=11&hid=119&sid=0491701f-ca46-4e45-b5b8-4a594e084e4d%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=16711470. EBSCO registration required for access.<br /><br />Church Michael. 2009 Spr. Change and adaptability. BC Studies. (Internet). (cited 2010 Oct 7); 161: 96-97. Academic Search Premier. http://nlc-reglib.nlc.bc.ca:2053/ehost/detail?vid=14&hid=119&sid=0491701f-ca46-4e45-b5b8-4a594e084e4d%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=41018688. EBSCO registration required for access.<br /><br />Conly Malcolm F, Prowse Terry D. 2000. Multiple-hydrologic stressors of a Northern delta ecosystem. J Aquatic Ecosystem Stress & Recovery. (Internet). (cited 2010 Oct 12); 8(1): 17-26. Academic Search Premier. http://nlc-reglib.nlc.bc.ca:2053/ehost/detail?hid=109&sid=1757727e-965a-4e29-a56a-c73456958302%40sessionmgr112&vid=5&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=16711468. EBSCO registration required for access.<br /><br />Gummer William D, et al. 2000. The Northern river basins study: context and design. J Aquatic Ecosystem Stress & Recovery. (Internet). (cited 2010 Oct 12); 8(1): 7-16. Academic Search Premier. http://nlc-reglib.nlc.bc.ca:2053/ehost/detail?hid=109&sid=1757727e-965a-4e29-a56a-c73456958302%40sessionmgr112&vid=15&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=16711469. EBSCO registration required for access.<br /><br />Harada Joji, Yasuda Nario. 2004. Conservation and improvement of the environment in dam reservoirs. Int J Water Res Dvlp.(Internet). (cited 2010 Oct 12) 20.1: 77-96. Academic Search Premier. http://nlc-reglib.nlc.bc.ca:2053/ehost/detail?hid=109&sid=1757727e-965a-4e29-a56a-c73456958302%40sessionmgr112&vid=17&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=12313500. EBSCO registration required for access.<br /><br />Jud Shems Baker. 2006 Fal. Salmon as Lazarus in the Oregon desert: The historic settlement and relicensing of the Pelton-Round Butte project. Natu Res J. (Internet). (cited 2010 Oct 7); 46(4): 1043-1079. Academic Search Premier. http://nlc-reglib.nlc.bc.ca:2053/ehost/detail?hid=109&sid=1757727e-965a-4e29-a56a-c73456958302%40sessionmgr112&vid=19&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=25792269. EBSCO registration required for access.<br /><br />Lee Kai N. 1989. The Columbia River basin: experimenting with sustainability. Environ. (Internet). (cited 2010 Oct 12); 31(6): 1-10. Academic Search Premier. http://nlc-reglib.nlc.bc.ca:2053/ehost/detail?hid=109&sid=1757727e-965a-4e29-a56a-c73456958302%40sessionmgr112&vid=21&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=8910091238. .EBSCO registration required for access.<br /><br />Leslie Jacques. 2005. Deepwater; the epic struggle over dams, displaced people and the environment. New York: Picador. 347p.<br /><br />Postel Sandra. 1995. Where have all the rivers gone? World Watch. (Internet). (cited 2010 Oct 13); 8(3): 9-19. Academic Search Premier. http://nlc-reglib.nlc.bc.ca:2053/ehost/detail?hid=109&sid=1757727e-965a-4e29-a56a-c73456958302%40sessionmgr112&vid=23&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=9506110841. EBSCO registration required for access.<br /><br />Ravinet Alexanra. 1999 Jul 8. Rivers get over the dam. Christian Sci Monitor. (Internet). (cited 2010 Oct 12); 91(155): 14p. Academic Search Premier.http://nlc-reglib.nlc.bc.ca:2053/ehost/detail?vid=25&hid=107&sid=1757727e-965a-4e29-a56a-c73456958302%40sessionmgr112&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=2005931. EBSCO registration required for access.<br /><br />Scudder Thayer. 2006. The future of large dams; dealing with social, environmental, institutional and political costs. Sterling (VA): Earthscan. 338p.<br /><br />Winninghoff Ellie. 1994 Nov 21. Where have all the salmon gone? Forbes. (Internet). (cited 2010 Oct 7); 154(12): 104-116. Academic Search Premier. http://nlc-reglib.nlc.bc.ca:2053/ehost/detail?vid=30&hid=107&sid=1757727e-965a-4e29-a56a-c73456958302%40sessionmgr112&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=9411107637. EBSCO registration required for access.Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-30182531769903117982010-11-29T08:48:00.001-08:002010-11-29T08:56:02.603-08:00Super Frost...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxIHV9cGW0wT0Bolx1axelH3NCTcnAsc2dJ-oMKaPfh9YKcqAXwgTtp2-RC0ObeIsO1pND8w71tSw4WGjDAA-AQIJqIZpJCBpCxsFO8uSS6pActnEu8endSac3MTscAOyhyaow1dTSyk/s1600/IMG_8357.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxIHV9cGW0wT0Bolx1axelH3NCTcnAsc2dJ-oMKaPfh9YKcqAXwgTtp2-RC0ObeIsO1pND8w71tSw4WGjDAA-AQIJqIZpJCBpCxsFO8uSS6pActnEu8endSac3MTscAOyhyaow1dTSyk/s400/IMG_8357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545015090583375426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCo5xFqepVAnFFmqi2DTh9OBBtQtFUQ9cUyk6nmNMrqpN2iYPJ0-TGLQoCac3LMtK-IFhAh-C5EcNJTW2JwIMcS-avPeJzYCqRt7Wk4wvM9fVAQm4xwwRtjO5AKCF7gSnK3CYHNo4qgys/s1600/IMG_8358.JPG"><br /></a>I think it may actually be called Hoar Frost, but that might be something completely different. We had really thick fog last night and this morning we went outside to beautiful weather, cold (about -15 so not too cold) and clear and the antenna on my van was over an inch around with frost. The weeping birch trees around town look amazingly cool with this thick white coating all over them, but it is too chilly for my camera to go for a walk, so the pictures are just from my yard but even the chain link looks pretty...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCo5xFqepVAnFFmqi2DTh9OBBtQtFUQ9cUyk6nmNMrqpN2iYPJ0-TGLQoCac3LMtK-IFhAh-C5EcNJTW2JwIMcS-avPeJzYCqRt7Wk4wvM9fVAQm4xwwRtjO5AKCF7gSnK3CYHNo4qgys/s1600/IMG_8358.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCo5xFqepVAnFFmqi2DTh9OBBtQtFUQ9cUyk6nmNMrqpN2iYPJ0-TGLQoCac3LMtK-IFhAh-C5EcNJTW2JwIMcS-avPeJzYCqRt7Wk4wvM9fVAQm4xwwRtjO5AKCF7gSnK3CYHNo4qgys/s400/IMG_8358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545015537497268482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqD_qRSJP2Z0wqoy4pmBzEOl-UKoMdgfaKnIJz-Nma0ISAmT6OZQztpD3rwSvBAJ2w1cAEnISUcew7H7813Rt5RORtBPGB2GtX2WcBI-kvs9GVVvyEen6hiBVEMhR1AF124YTQAiYo-g/s1600/IMG_8360.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqD_qRSJP2Z0wqoy4pmBzEOl-UKoMdgfaKnIJz-Nma0ISAmT6OZQztpD3rwSvBAJ2w1cAEnISUcew7H7813Rt5RORtBPGB2GtX2WcBI-kvs9GVVvyEen6hiBVEMhR1AF124YTQAiYo-g/s400/IMG_8360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545015932226698786" border="0" /></a>Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-67391713031813379482010-11-26T09:34:00.000-08:002010-11-26T09:38:56.092-08:00A Pet Peeve...I despise pushing the shopping buggies through the parking lots in winter. Between the rocks that jam into the little tires and make them stop and the snow which make the wheels stick... I really, really don't like it. (grumble, grumble, grumble...)<br /><br />That was my whine for the day, which is otherwise a good day. So pretty minor in the whole scheme of things! Except that someone should really come over and put away my groceries, as I seem to be playing on the computer instead.Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-82912824884986094052010-11-21T13:36:00.000-08:002010-11-21T13:46:06.542-08:00Sugar Snow<div style="text-align: left;">I was having a conversation with Hubby's Mom the other day and she asked if we had a lot of snow, since she had heard we had been having a fair bit recently. After telling her we only have an inch or two, I realized that is slightly misleading... Our snow is not like the snow on the Coast and Island. Our snow is so fine, it is a powder. It is easier to sweep it away, than to shovel it. You can blow on it, and you get a big cloud of it in the air. Each little snowflake is about the size of a sugar crystal, so when we have an inch or two - that is actually quite an accumulation. All those little crystals of snow have filled in every nook and cranny to build up those two inches.<br /><br />This is in comparison to on the Coast where the snow is more like cornflakes (or bigger). Two inches of cornflakes build up much faster than two inches of sugar... and the Island now has about a foot of snow, (I heard). Where we have an inch or two... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! <br /></div>Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9045545522226966618.post-42828695537047454222010-11-18T09:10:00.000-08:002010-11-18T09:19:36.564-08:00Third Time's the Charm...Twice so far this year, we have had snow. And twice so far this year, I thought "that's it, winter is here." And twice so far, I have been wrong! As a result we have had a fabulously long fall, very mild temperatures and overall beautiful weather... until now. This week, it got cold! Minus 18 kind of cold, but with a windchill to make it much colder! Then yesterday it started to snow, the powder fine, sparkly snow that sounds like corn starch. This kind of snow doesn't build up very much because it is so fine; my grass is white, but I can still see bits of grass poking through. I had to shovel the driveway, but it wasn't hard to do. (Although my legs were stinging from the cold when I got in!) Today is another beautiful day, the sun is making the snow twinkle and shine... but it is cold. I think when I say that "winter is here to stay", I will be right this time. And considering that the Santa Claus Parade is tomorrow, winter was right on time!Coast to Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15027994594824240526noreply@blogger.com0