Jump to content
Fly Fusion Forums

DonAndersen

Members
  • Posts

    2,208
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    136

Posts posted by DonAndersen

  1. order Paving meeting held Nov. 28 saw a audience of perhaps 75. The audience was composed of most of the landowners within close proximity of the proposed wet gravel pit, several downstream landowners, business owners located along the stream, Trout Unlimited representatives from Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, Alberta F&G, Alberta Conservation Association, Red Deer Watershed Alliance & Butte Action Committee, plus a number of interested Anglers, landowners and county residents. 
    Border Paving had their Hydrologist Consultants, fisheries consultant, plus in-house staff presenting info.

    1) As expected, water and how to protect the North Raven River from potential effects on the stream was the major focus of the audience. The Hydrologist presented his findings which the audience felt meager at best. Many expressed the view of why risk the stream. This section of the meeting used perhaps 70% of the 2 hour session.

    2) Border provided “story boards” showing pit locations, exactions, end pit lakes and the like

    3) Border outlined a desire to combine applications for both pits as requested by Dept. of Environment. 

    4) Road use, anticipated use of the pit, operating hours were all detailed. 

    5) As part of the application process, attendees could sign in for further info sent to them, use a response sheet provided by Border. All responses sent or recorded become part of tbe package provided to the County 
    .
    For those who wished to comment on the application, please see previous post for letters addresses.

    Regards,

    Don

     

    • Like 1
  2. Folks,

    Adjoining the lands of Border Paving, the proponent of the gravel pit, and within 50 yards on both the east side and north side are lands held under title by the Alberta Conservation Assoc., Trout Unlimited Canada, Alberta Fish and Game Assoc.. 
    These lands were purchased by the above authorities with additional contributions of Central Alberta Trout unlimited Chapter.
    If you purchased a fishing or hunting license and or are dues paying members of one or more of those organizations, these lands belong to you and you must have standing in any decision rendered. 
    These lands held by the above groups have management plans developed by the owners whose decisions reflect any similar owner decisions. Examples of these decisions include land use, access, grazing and the like. 
    Please address all comments about the application of Border Paving to:

    Planning Dept.
    Country of Clearwater,
    4340 47 Ave, Rocky Mountain House, AB T4T 1A4

    Please write a letter as letters have much more “weight” than emails or online petitions. 

    Regards,

    Don

    • Like 1
  3. I’ve fished Whiteswan a number of times. Nearly every day near noon the wind comes up from the west which translates to 2’+ waves in the east end severely limiting where you can fish. 
    The west end is not nearly as effected. For that reason I camp  at Packrat. While there is road traffic by, it drops off in the evening. and overnight..  The flats at Packrat can readily accommodate a lot of boats with water depths from 2>20’. Chironomids, small leeches and pheasant tail nymphs  all have been successful in the past. 
     

    Don

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
  4. Border Paving Application

    Many of the folks who had read the Facebook or web site pages may not be aware of the steps that are taken for a Development Permit to be issued for the construction of the Gravel Pit. To aid in the understanding of what happens and when

    it happens I contacted Eleanor Pengelly, Development Officer, Planning & Development Department of Clearwater County where the proposed Gravel Pit will be located.

    Here are some general guidelines for the process regarding gravel (aggregate) pit applications in Clearwater County and timelines in the process.

     

    1] The applicants hold a pre-application meeting with the County's planning department

     

    2] The County provides the applicants with mailing information for adjacent landowners

     

    3 The applicants schedule an open house to inform adjacent landowners of the proposal – this is to take place at the Butte Community Hall November 28/19.

     

    4] The applicants invite adjacent landowners to the open house and advertise the open house in a local newspaper

     

    5] The applicants hold their open house and present their proposal to the public, gathering feedback and answering questions (up to this point, the County directs inquiries to the applicants and encourages the public to attend the open house)

     

    6] After the open house, as part of their development permit application, the applicants submit an open house report to the County, including who attended, what the concerns are and how the applicants will mitigate those concerns

     

    7] Once the County deems the development permit application complete, the County sends out a referral package to adjacent landowners and affected parties such as Alberta Environment, to solicit comments regarding the proposal.

     

    8] The County gives 30 days for referral comments to be received (all written comments received are compiled to be presented to the Planning Authority)

     

    9] At this point, the applicants may provide additional information or amend their application

     

    10] Once the final application information is complete, the County schedules the application to go to the Planning Authority (the Municipal Planning Commission) for a decision (this board meets once a month)

     

    11] Once a decision is made, copies of the decision are sent out to the adjacent landowners.  Municipal development permits are subject to appeal for three weeks from the date of decision

     

    12] If appealed, a Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB) public hearing is held.  The SDAB can approve, change or refuse the permit

     

    13] If a municipal approval is granted, the applicants provide a copy of their development permit to Alberta Environment so that the provincial applications can go forward (such as Water Act approvals, Code of Practice Registration, Reclamation etc.)

     

    14] As far as municipal timelines go, these can vary anywhere from three to six months, depending on the complexity of the application and sequence of events.

     

     

     

    OK – now you have the process, I will add some personal comments about the process

    1] If you want additional information about the Proposal, contact Bobbi Medin at Border Paving at 403 343 1177.

    2] If you wish more clarification please contact Holly Bily (lead development officer) or Eleanor Pengelly at the Clearwater County Office. 

    3] In addition to provincial approvals, gravel pits are subject to municipal development permit approval.

     

    If you wish to comment on the Proposed Gravel Pit, you should:

     

    1] Attend the public information session hosted by Border Paving November 28/19 at the Butte Community Hall from 5>8 pm. Your attendance and comments will be reflected in the Border Paving Development Permit Application to Clearwater County.

     

    2] Letters to the Dept. of Environment regarding the application. I would write the Minister, Jason Nixon detailing your concerns.

     

    3] My understanding, if the development permit is issued by Clearwater County, a Water Act Approval is required. This application triggers an another process where advertisements and public comments can be made.  At this point, The Dept. of Environment Approval Officer Terrina Perley in the Red Deer Office should be where you write to express your concerns.



    4] It must be understood that your concerns may not be considered as you do not fall within the guidelines of the Dept. of Environment for the directly effected. To be directly effected you generally must live within a short distance of the proposed development. Over the last near 30 years, the "directly effected concept" has virtually stymied may citizens who have concerns of how their province is managed. However, loud voices scare politicians.   Make yours heard.

     

    Regards,

     

     

     

    Don Andersen

     

  5. On 11/16/2019 at 8:44 AM, fishteck said:

    Don:

    There is no one answer to the declining trout populations. Sure habitat enhancement, water management, prevention of invasive species and advancement in control of whirling disease are all needed. Although I question just how much benefit can be derived from these initiatives in the short-term.  But without a reduction of fishing pressure to maintain a sustainable fish population the Alberta trout population and our cherished sports fishery will be a thing of the past. And most importantly, with selective fishing regulation change an immediate positive impact on fish survival is possible.

    I have added a link to the two documents reviews I posted earlier

    The declining fish population is an action that already is past. We haven't stopped  WD and recruitment is shabby, we are losing bugs all over as evidenced by a 50% reduction in aviary insect feeders. 
    we haven’t done anything but increase destruction of the landscape.

    And your trying to convince me C&R is the issue.  really?

    Don

     

    • Like 2
  6. Folks,

    Contrary to what Border Paving executive told us at the first public meeting, they wish to expand their gravel extraction below the water table according to ACA mouthpiece, Let’s Go Outdoors.

    A public meeting hosted by Border Paving will make a presentation at the Butte Community Hall November 28/19 5>8 pm. 
     

    Below is what arrived via the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

     

    From Let's Go Outdoors:

    Breaking story:

    Millions of conservation dollars and countless hours of work to improve stream bank and fish habitat along the North Raven River could go out the window.

    Border Paving Ltd is proposing changes to their operation permit seeking to mine gravel below the water line.

    Why is this significant?

    The North Raven River is a spring fed river, it's soul source of water is provided by underground aquifers. The request by Border Paving to mine below the water line could have a significant impact on the under-ground water way, potentially cutting off the water source that provides the water to the river.

    Open House

    Border Paving will be hosting an open house Thursday November 28 at the Butte Hall from 5 to 8pm. If you are concerned about this proposal and the threat it poses to one of the top Brown Trout rivers in Alberta, I would encourage you to attend.

     

     

    • Sad 2
  7. I get a real kick outta these type of articles. Rather than deal with the much larger issues, these articles go back to blaming the angler.When are Anglers going to get their head around the big items.

    - habitat loss - silt, dams, roads, cows etc.

    -invasive  species like carp

    - disease - WD and the like.

    All of the above are the result of our actions.  Mind you, none of them buy a license.

    Don

    • Like 4
  8. Some years ago on CBC I learned that damsels have two colours which can be either male or female. The researcher believed it was a defensive move to confuse predators. 

    Females are better groceries due to egg mass.

     

    Don 

  9. Dan,

    ive seen the same thing. Lots of colours but mostly on the light green colour. I wonder if it related to the adults. There are dark olive and bright blue. They seem to be of either sex if using “who is on top” criteria.

     

    Don

    • Like 2
  10. I drifted several sections of the Clearwater this year and you don’t want to bring s drift boat down it from Highway 22>Highway 752. It is thin in many places. I bottomed out my pontoon boat many times. 

    Tbe river is in runoff right now and this will help the situation. Launching a drift boat is tough. There maybe only two spots in 12 miles. 

    North Sask is even tougher to get boats in and out within a reasonable distance. Downstream of Highway 11 there is a take out at Drayton.

    Catch ya’

     

    Don

    • Like 1
  11. FishnChips says “ I have a Hardy JET 9WT that I collected a few years ago. The glass blanks are identical in colour to fibreglass Hardy Mooching Rods which were popular in the '70s on the BC coast.”

    The rod blank was made by J. Kennedy Fisher who built blanks for Winston & Hardy as well as a number of smaller companies. I have owned a number of blanks built by them. Wonderful rods. 

     

    Don

    • Like 2
  12. On 4/21/2019 at 9:14 PM, monger said:

    Well I put about 50 fish to work with the old rod and reel this weekend. Had to slow the casting stroke down considerably, but it was pretty nice to fish. Fighting the fish was sure different, with the rod bending all the way down to the cork. Can't say the rod has bumped it's way into the line up, but I will use it occasionally.

    The reel sounds better about 10" under the water

    Peasant!

    Hardys are meant to be heard.

    Please send it to me, I appreciate quality.

     

    Don

    • Like 1
    • Haha 1
  13. The first Hardy Marquis I bought was in 1971. It still gets used 50 or more days a year. The Marquis forms the backbone of my reel collection with sizes 1>7 in use. I have 8 Marquis c/w many spare spools. After 100>125days/year  since 1971 which means 4500 fishing days with only one issue detailed below, you cannot go wrong.

    The only issue I ever had with the reel is when they switched from nickel silver line guards to chrome plastic. That happened on one reel in the late 70’s. 

    The Hardy rod you got will be a honey of a rod. The blank was built by J. Kennedy Fisher who also built blanks for many other rod companies including Winston when they were in SAN Francisco.

    i have owned several of the blanks all who have cast just great. The rod will not cast like the graphite’s of today but toss it a line it will very well. You will have to drop the (windshield on fast whip/whip stuff) exhibited by the fast action graphite bunch and adopt a more lazy stroke. 

    Enjoy your purchase.As far as the Hardy drag, noise, I I hope they never change it. Like the grumble of a Harley, the throaty blast from a MGB , Hardy drag noise is what FFing is all about.

    regards,

     

    Don

    • Like 1
×
×
  • Create New...