Re: “Shawnigan Lake subject to variety of pollution,” letter, March 27.
The letter-writer’s uncomplimentary generalizations about the ignorance of Shawnigan property owners falsely accuses those who have always cared about the quality of our lake water.
From Shawnigan’s early days as a logging/sawmill community and holiday destination, we have been under assault from outside influences, and as an unincorporated community, have had little political power to control our destiny.
We do the best we can under the circumstances.
The possible pollutants the writer suggests Shawnigan already faces in no way make it right to allow the decision to permit SIA to bring contaminated soil into our watershed.
Shawnigan has for some time been working toward watershed improvements, focusing on the things we have the power to change. This latest assault clearly shows that the community is once again at the mercy of others and must demand responsible-decision making.
The letter-writer states: “Find a more suitable source for drinking water.” There is no other source of water that could sustain a community of 8,000 residents, unless Greater Victoria would like to share from its well-protected watershed. That is precisely why we must do what we can to protect what we have.
Planet-wide we are becoming aware that we all face impending depletion of sources for clean drinking water. It is time for everyone to work together to protect our most valuable resource. How grateful we would be to receive, not criticism, but support from other communities.
Jennie Stevens
Shawnigan Lake
