Tag Archives: Read Island

Education, Health

As Omicron spreads, the number of unreported COVID cases keeps growing ( local data)

According to the provincial government’s Daily Update, there are now at least 3,906 active COVID cases on Vancouver Island. This statistic is low. The number of people who are believed to have COVID and gone into self isolation, but have not yet been tested, is growing

“As many people have noted in the past few weeks, we reached our capacity both from testing,  from the lab equipment, from the personnel and the reagents,” said BC Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry on Friday. 

Continue reading As Omicron spreads, the number of unreported COVID cases keeps growing ( local data) →
Waste

Southern Discovery Islands beach clean-up completed

The southern Discovery Islands beach clean-up is now finished.  

“The last truck load of debris left our yard this morning. So we’re now just into the final stages of cleaning up our own yard as a result of all the little styrofoam balls and things,” said Breanne Quesnel.

Continue reading Southern Discovery Islands beach clean-up completed →
Indigenous Nations, Rivers & Oceans

The BC Salmon Farmers Association new ‘independent’ sea lice report 

The opinions that follow belong to the people expressing them and are not necessarily shared by Cortes Radio, its board, staff, producers or listeners.

The BC Salmon Farmers Association has just released what they claim is an independent study of ‘Sea lice in the Discovery Islands.’ 

Their study is filled with terms like – “independent data,” “independently collected data,” “independent professional biological consultants,” “independently collected and analyzed scientific data,” “independent monitoring,” “independent sampling,” and “independent biologists” – but does not say who actually did the research. 

Continue reading The BC Salmon Farmers Association new ‘independent’ sea lice report  →
Water

All about the Island Aquifers

This is the third in a series of articles about island aquifers. First, we spoke to the Quadra ICAN water security team members Jude McCormick, Kris Wellstein, Bernie Amell and Mike Gall about evidences that the groundwater supply is diminishing on Quadra Island. Then we reviewed some previous stories about this issue on Cortes Island.  Now we return to Quadra ICAN, where the water security team delve deeper into the issues affecting island aquifers.

Continue reading All about the Island Aquifers →
Water

All about registering groundwater wells

With the deadline for registering irrigation, commercial or industrial use wells fast approaching, the Quadra ICAN water security team is concerned that some people may miss out. 

According to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development press release, “A water licence is not required for a household well or groundwater used for domestic purposes, such as watering lawns and gardens. Domestic groundwater users are encouraged to register their well for free.” 

Kris Wellstein pointed out that water used for home industries like egg stands, market gardens and fruit trees (if the fruit is sold) is classified as commercial.  

Continue reading All about registering groundwater wells →