There were only half a dozen members present at the Horsefly River Roundtable meeting Aug. 14.
Some people were at the meeting regarding the Mount Polley breach in Likely and others were working on the spawning channel.
We are putting together a budget to integrate First Nations language on some signage on the Salmon Walk.
We are also working on chosing a location for a bench and plaque to honour the late Clarence Hooker who worked so diligently on the spawning channel in past years.
The loose railings that were to be looked into have been totally dismantled and a new design on the entrance to the spawning channel has been undertaken by DFO, which it is hoped will encourage the salmon to go up the channel on their own as opposed to being forced up with the fence across the river.
The Roundtable signed a five-year agreement with DFO to manage the trail around the spawning channel in the same manner we have for the last five years with all reference to maintaining the campground removed.
The new outhouse which will have a permanent watertight tank will be located where the cement slab is at the campground, however, fundraising and cost sharing with government is needed.
Eventually, all the concrete will be removed and new work engineered by DFO will be installed; until then portable outhouses will have to be used at the next Salmon festival, and any other functions.
We were very pleased to receive a poster announcing that First Nations is hosting a traditional powwow to honour the return of the sockeye to the river on the weekend of September 6 and 7.
There are posters at various locations in Horsefly, however, I do not have one, so cannot give you any more information, and I can’t find it on the internet.
Our Salmon Festival is taking place on Rivers Day weekend, Sept. 27 and 28, and plans are well in hand for an excellent weekend.
DFO is estimating the Horsefly run to be approximately 600,000 sockeye, so this may well be the best run in a while, so bring the kids and come and enjoy nature’s bounty.
The Roundtable, in conjunction with Fisheries and Oceans Canada held a stream cleanup at the Horsefly Lake Provincial Park on August 29 and 30.
The goal is to eventually clean up some old and rotting wharfs along the river as well.
The Environmental Farm Group Plan did not get off the ground quick enough to access funds for this year, but planning is continuing with Horsefly producers for future opportunities.
This gives the farmers and the Roundtable time to plan our goals for next year and to achieve the required funding to proceed.
The autumn meeting Schedule is as follows: 7 p.m. at the Horsefly Library on Sept. 18, Oct. 16, and Nov. 20.