by Damien Barstead

As discussed in previous articles of the Creekside news, Haig-Brown Kingfisher Creek has been challenged with development problems that rival just about those of any other creek in North America. Albeit, the preservation of the 20-acre Haig-Brown property, in the lowest reaches of the watershed, along with the cooperation of the developer Barrie Brown, in the upper reaches of the watershed, are invaluable assets that help ease the strain and hopefully ensure the health of the entire system.

The saga of the Pease/Brown property in the upper watershed (see Issue 10) posed different types of threats from development. Initially it was industrial development. Now, it is unstoppable urban expansion. But who wouldn't want to move to this area, with its nice golf course, new homes, and close access to town and a beautiful little stream, flowing through a pristine looking forested corridor.

The catch is, for the future of the stream, that everyone must realize that they are a part of the watershed, not just a neighbor of it, and must strive to stop any possible contamination. As watershed residents, and as individuals, we have the power to control and care for our environment.

The scale of the problems facing our natural environment, and the poor track record of people in dealing with problems greater than themselves, have on occasion, caused others, as well as myself to lose faith, at least for a little while.

Top of page.

Everyone can enjoy healthy
watersheds in our urban areas

I feel that Canada's pioneer conservationist, Roderick Haig-Brown, best sums up this sentiment:

"What we need and must somehow find in this last part of the twentieth century is a land and water ethic - perhaps better, an ethic of land, air and water. It is perfectly possible to have settlement, industrial development and reasonable exploitation of primary resources without condemning our children to generations of poverty and deprivation because we have ruined the land that should support them. What it will take is an attitude of mind, an understanding that blacktop destroys, dirty water destroys, bad air destroys, and a solid determination to control or prevent abuses even if it seems to cost something in immediate material effects. I believe we have a changing attitude, a developing ethic that can achieve this, just as we have all the essential technology to achieve it. All ideas have their time and the time for this one is well in sight."

(Roderick Haig-Brown.
Bright Waters, Bright Fish. pp 134-135.)