Originally posted May 6 2021
To Supporters of the Brokenhead Wetland Interpretive Trail (BWIT),
This letter is to inform you of some developments that are happening that may have potential impacts on the Brokenhead Wetlands and hence also the BWIT.
The RM of St Clements has sent Debwendon Inc. information about a Master Plan they are preparing for a proposed quarry to be located along Stead Road east of PTH 59. The quarry will be within one kilometer of the Brokenhead Wetlands Ecological Reserve (South Block) and within 2km of the Trail. Debwendon has pledged to protect the Wetlands in their mission statement and is very concerned that this new activity will create impacts that contribute to drying out the wetland resulting in the disappearance of the many rare plants, medicinal plants, and animals that live in its environs.
An introductory meeting with the Rural Municipality Mis planned to identify concerns of the Community (which includes representatives of Debwendon and its many Trail users, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation and cottagers at Gull Lake, among others) and will give us an opportunity to express our concern and resistance to the proposed project.
We know Gull Lake residents have been trying to get a moratorium on further gravel pit development in the area for over five years and we have jointly met with the Province regarding the damage that has been perpetrated around Gull since the 1950s from gravel extraction. Last summer the Province put a temporary hold on further applications (and renewals) for quarry leases around Gull Lake or within reach of the source water for the wetlands. However, this new information is very disturbing. We will also be meeting with the Province next week.
Carl Smith, Chair of Debwendon, and myself will attend the Zoom meeting this Monday on behalf of Debwendon.
We are looking for your support and will provide updates as much as possible on further developments. If any of you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know by sending an email to: info@debwendon.org. If you wish to sign up for our e-list, please send an email to info@debwendon.org.
Sincerely,
Carl Smith, Chair
Peggy Bainard Acheson, Treasurer
Debwendon Inc.
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