Transportation

Our deep concerns regarding the airstrip

1 Comment

(Originally published on the Cortes Tideline)

June 20th 2024

Dear Michael and Martine

We are writing to express our deep concerns regarding the improvement of an airstrip on Cortes Island. This development is likely to lead to the increased use of private aircraft, which are significant emitters of CO2 and other pollutants. At a time when global emissions need to be drastically reduced, encouraging luxury emissions like private air travel is detrimental to our planet. Limiting these unnecessary emissions is crucial for supporting the billions of living creatures – human and otherwise – affected by climate change and preventing further environmental degradation.

For more information on the climate impacts, we recommend this article on Tideline: https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show16859a0x50y1z/My_airstrip_concern_oversized_private_jet_emissions (also reposted on Cortes Currents)

We would like to inquire whether an environmental impact assessment was completed for the airstrip improvement. The airstrip is bordered by one of the few remaining areas of older-growth forest on Cortes and is in close proximity to a sensitive intertidal marine reef. Creating a larger impermeable surface could significantly increase runoff and reduce groundwater recharge, impacts that are likely to be exacerbated by climate change. Stormwater runoff from these surfaces picks up pollutants, which can harm nearby ecosystems.

Additionally, increased noise pollution from aircraft, particularly helicopters, has the potential to disturb sensitive species such as nesting great blue herons and bald eagles. There has also been a significant increase in heavy traffic in the Hague and Gunflint watersheds and around Gunflint Lake. We are concerned about erosion on the roads causing increased runoff of pollutants. While we recognize that this is not the only construction project happening on Cortes Island, it is important to consider the cumulative impact of heavy trucking and other development activities.

We are not confident that these impacts have been adequately considered by you. As such, we strongly urge you conduct a comprehensive environmental impact assessment as soon as possible.

While we are concerned about the current work on the airstrip, we are also very concerned about potential further related developments and their future impacts on the island, the climate, species, and habitats. This reiterates the need to carry out comprehensive environmental assessments and to engage in dialogue with the community and Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI), as the lead conservation organization on the island.Cortes Island’s appeal lies in its healthy forests, lakes, marine and other ecosystems, and a wealth of important species, including many at-risk species.

We respectfully ask that you join us in in striving to preserve and enhance the very attributes that have made Cortes so attractive, and avoid causing any unnecessary harm to this very precious island.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Max Thaysen
FOCI President
On behalf of FOCI Board of Directors and the FOCI Climate Action Committee

Links of Interest

Top image credit sent by concerned Cortes Resident

One thought on “Our deep concerns regarding the airstrip”

  1. I share the concerns expressed by Max Thayson and FoCI. Apart from the very legitimate environmental concerns of FoCI, the airstrip and its paving are indicative of a larger societal problem and that is the move toward creation of exclusive enclaves for the very wealthy on islands like Cortes. Healthy societies and communities are co- operative and caring by any definition. They provide safe spaces for natural intact ecosystems and the wild creatures that inhabit them free from impacts like excessive noise, and for people of all ages and a wide range of incomes and abilities with space for the young to play and grow.

    We have watched other favoured places be ruined by development that made a few wealthy and that attracted the rich with outsize homes that they occupied for one or two months or weeks a year. This could easily happen here at the cost of community.

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