Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - One of the questions raised at Mosaic’s Cortes Island ZOOM meeting, last January, revolved around the environmental impact that reactivating the log dump will have in Gorge Harbour. While they were not permitted to speak, community members could use the chat box. Local diver Mike Moore typed that he had observed a thick layer of wood debris and sediments, covered by ‘bacterial mats.’ He suggested that any disturbance of the sediments could pollute nearby shellfish operations.
The question arose again last week. In a post to the Cortes Tideline, Dr Brian Hayden cited scientific studies from 1977 and 2011 to substantiate his concerns about the log dump.
“This is a recipe for disaster for the marine environment – the benthic environment, the sea, the seabed floor – for Gorge Harbour, and it’s had a bad impact from the time they started dumping logs here until the present,” he said.
Cortes Currents forwarded Dr Hayden’s objections on to Mosaic.
A company spokesperson replied that the log dump site has been in use for 40 years and their operations will only be a fraction of the size that occurred historically at this location.
“The rate of use of a site like this is an important factor. We’re planning a few truckloads a day when active, which is only a portion of the year,” she emailed.
“Over the last few decades, various science and standards, including environmental standards, legislation, Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Best Management Practices (BMP) and professional requirements, have evolved to improve and to ensure environment values are managed appropriately. Today’s standards ensure environmental values are considered, and Mosaic Forest Management follows or exceeds all legislation. Our team of independent professional biologists, qualified marine biological professionals, engineers and forest professionals have assessed the site to ensure all our activities comply with or exceed federal and provincial legislation. We have completed an environmental assessment (including an underwater SCUBA assessment) that meets or exceeds the DFO requirements.”
“We have positive working relationships with our neighbours that hold aquaculture tenures directly adjacent to our Gorge Harbour facility.
The was essentially what Colin Koszman, Mosaics’ Land Use Forester said last January, except in more detail.
So Cortes Currents asked Mike Moore for a diver's perspective
