ginger

The AWA, Alberta's grandad of conservation, chimes in: https://albertawilderness.ca/letter-to-premier-kenny-reinstate-albertas-coal-policy/

done, also please note, if you do an overlay of the "Category 2" lands recently opened up to metallurgical coal mining by the UCP's rescission of the 1976 Coal Policy there is a striking correlation to the map of parks to be closed

I'll admit this is not always my favourite author or publication but this does cover this strangely under reported topic: https://thetyee.ca/News/2020/08/03/What-Kenney-Killed-Embrace-Coal/?fbclid=IwAR1kLMvwVJuila5HmmkEXXj3gPxz6ll6UkPTNx_sImYQGS9MnFp-Ne7HRxk

A little more technical discussion from a senior environmental lawyer: https://environmentalandresourcelawblog.blogspot.com/2020/06/potential-implications-of-albertas.html

Thanks Spark, i think we are 95% ad idem.

Thanks for all the input. I normally find comments from Sparkplug very well informed but I've got to respectfully say I'm not with him on this one. While it is true that there would be a comprehensive AER/enviromental review of any development, the important point is the that without consultation with anyone (except I guess the coal industry)the UCP has made open pit coal mining possible on Category 2 lands all along the eastern slopes. For most of my adult life that was completely forbidden by Lougheed's 76 policy. My experience from participation in a number of proceedings before the AER and its predecessor is that most applications get approved. So the point Im making is that the fundamental policy was changed on a Friday afternoon in the the middle of a pandemic without any consultation or notice. The political /policy decision has already been made. All of the progressive land stewardship work (much of it implemented by Conservatives) including the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan has been bypassed by a press release from Sonya Savage. The change is likely to enable at least some developments, even after environmental assessment. The time oppose the policy change is now

I'm hoping our community is tuning in to the UCP's calamitous decision to rescind the 1976 Coal Policy. CBC has done a good job reporting on it: https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform/bringing-coal-back . You will note that this change in policy enables open pit metallurgical coal mining on the "Category 2" lands along the Rockies from the Pass to north of Jasper. The category 2 lands were previously closed to mining under the 1976 policy. It takes awhile to absorb the enormity of this catastrophic change but let me try to illuminate with it one example. Atrum Coal, an Australian company, is currently exploring a site for a large,open pit,"mountain top removal" type coal mine about 2k north of the Upper Oldman , about 5k NW of the Oldman/Livingstone confluence. Here is the investor presentation regarding the project; https://www.atrumcoal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ATU_Investor-Presentation.pdf If you managed to read through the presentation without fainting you will see that the plan is not only to build the mine, but also a handling facility close to the river, which will feed a 36 km covered conveyor belt to take the coal down to the Pass, presumably though the Dutch Creek/Hidden Creek areas. Sorry for the drama but please be aware that right now, today, they are drilling at the site to delineate the coal reserves. A development would require an AER/Environmental approval process but i think it is fair to say that approval is likely given the change of government policy. There may be legal avenues to dispute the rescission and there are groups actively considering that. However, ultimately a government has the power to implement policy. This is a political issue. Okay, i'm dizzy again, I'll stop.

Great work! Always smart to just call it in. Once i made the mistake of confronting the poacher which resulted in a slashed tire.

reminds me that TU and Parks Canada are among my favourite organizations

I got rx Maui Jims through my optometrist at huge expense ($850) a few years ago. I think the brown polarized produces a great picture for fishing and general use.. I was careless with them and they started to get pretty scratched. I noticed that some of the scratches were caused by the arm ends touching the inside of the lens when the glasses were crushed in a soft case. On a flyer, i sent them back to MJ through my optometrist saying "design flaw". They sent me brand new rx lenses and frames in about 3 weeks without comment. So Im a believer (and am careful to now use a hard case)

Forgive me if this is irrelevant but I had a great experience with Maui Jims recently.. I had a pair of the brown polarized with fancy progressive prescription lenses that I got through my optometrist. I thought they were near perfect ( although way too expensive). Stupidly i stored them carelessly in a golf bag and they got badly scratched up which you would not expect to be under warranty. However I pointed out to them that some of the scratches were caused where the ends of the arms touched the lens when they were folded and suggested to them it was sort of a design flaw, In about two weeks they sent me brand new lenses and frame without any comment.

I'm with the the Cube. Im guessing the river is brown till at least month end. But the rain forecast for the weekend has decreased a lot, at least on the GFS model: http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/loops/wxloop.cgi?mm5d2_pcp3+///3

Re confronting poachers: a few years ago I posted here about what happened when I got mad and confronted a poacher near the Douglasdale baseball diamonds. In short , I said some rude things to a poacher who continued to bait fish after I had pointed out to him in a semi - friendly way that it was illegal. He went back to the car park and slashed tires. But it turned out he slashed the tires of of another fly fisher who hadn't been involved at all rather than mine. I felt sick about the whole thing and learned that the best thing to do is to stay back, say nothing and just call em in.

Thanks to Trout Unlimited/BRC for this study. Also the number of redds in the Mallard Point side channel speaks to the efficacy of their Mallard Point project. I think many of us noticed that big Browns were back this year. So support TU/BRC and ATTEND THE FALL SPLASH coming up Nov. 24

I guess i assume grow because like me he wants a conservative government elected in 019

I agree with Jordan that a large number of Albertans are in the centre or, to be more precise, just right of centre-- fiscally conservative but much less so socially. I am one of them. I am not a Wildroser. But I totally disagree that the formula for displacing the NDP is a PC rebuild. Recent history is all we need consider. For me,the collapse of Alison Redford, a true Red Tory, and the more astonishing collapse of the somewhat further right Jim Prentice make it overwhelmingly clear that the only way to get back in power is to make sure everyone on the right side of the spectrum votes for the same party, This is not a novel or outlandish concept--of course it is exactly how Harper got his job. I'll admit that historically I disliked Kenney's far right "rat pack" antics and I continue to be dumbfounded that anyone thought the niqab position was a good idea, but I think Kenney's experience, enthusiasm, hard work with ethnic groups,intellect,fundraising ability and friendliness have earned him a shot. I support a VERY large conservative tent.

SCEL: This is fantastic info. Are Bilberries what we commonly(incorrectly?) call Huckleberries? Thanks.

Another completely different route is a pellet smoker. Traeger is the leading brand. Perfect temp control all the way between fairly cold smoke(ie<100winter and about 140 summer) to 425f plus. About 10 different kinds of hardwood pellets. Op costs are WAY lower than buying charcoal. If you watch the bbq shows carefully you'll see that most of the pros with big mobile pits also have a Traeger or two and pellet smokers have won some big contests. The best thing is that all it takes make real bbq is throwing a switch. I don't think you can get cold or semi cold smoke in an egg so you won't really be able to smoke fish. The Traeger with a digital temp control (which you want)costs about $900. I've ended up with two of them.

I have an off grid cabin with a solar system which was down for a long while so I relied almost completely on my Honda 2000i for a couple years.. I'm a complete believer mostly because of the reliability- it always starts first pull hot and third pull cold. On at least two occasions black bears have treated it like a beach ball but it still goes. With the eco throttle on it is quite quiet on idle but I wouldn't say super quiet. One thing I would note is that under a big load it will throttle up a lot and get kind of noisy which might be an argument for getting the 3500 or going solar.

Some people might recall a couple of years I posted about a situation where I called in a poacher near the Douglasdale ball diamonds and made the mistake of letting the poacher know I had done so. The result was the poacher went to the parking lot and slashed the tires of another fisherman who had very little to do with the incident other than lending me his phone to make the call. What I took from that incident was that while you should always call in poachers you have to be careful about how you do it.

I have worn two sets of Simms non-felt soles(the Vibram and the earlier ones with the round nubs)almost smooth. The tops are still in ok shape. Then I discovered the screw in Simms starshaped aluminum lugs which are amazing on slimy rocks. Saved the other smooth pair for picky boat owners.

here's the drill: you contact the insurer giving a meticulous account of how the loss occured. Of course you have to carefully tell the truth,I didn't think that needed mentioning. If the insurer thinks there is a coverage issue they will certainly let you know. Don't necessarily rely on their opinion. There is no ethical issue and there is no reason not to make a claim- how could your wife's mistake of throwing out the bag be any different than backing over it with the car. The risk of suffering loss through negligence is why we buy insurance. Standing by for PM if you want.

Also, get over the personal issue on making a claim. Insurance is a scheme where we contracturally pool our risks and if it is covered by that contract there is no moral issue whatsoever. Don't forget all the premiums they have happily accepted from you.

Brian: I think it is almost certain that throwing personal items out by mistake is covered by a standard homeowners policy (subject to deductible)and that is the consensus of grey-hairs around here. Ginger QC

Interesting, thanks. Sorry bout the bubba thing.