18 Terrace Review — Wednesday, May 23, 1990

by Pam Whitaker

“What happened?’’, they'll ask as they pour in from Alber- ta, the United States, Europe, Japan and Prince Rupert. Some of the fishermen will seek to camp near the river like they did last year or the year before, but they'll find their favorite spot annihilated.

It will resemble, rather, an open pit mine, the place from which the contracting company building the Esker overpass about 23 miles west of Terrace took their land fill.

‘For the benefit and safety of the public,”? Ian Smythe said from the B.C. Crown Lands regional office in Smithers about the access restriction. And so it is, because Highway 16 crosses the CNR tracks on a corner be- tween Shames and Exstew Rivers in such a way that is potentially hazardous to traffic. a

It was perfectly legal — the land was crown land. The De- partment of Highways had a small gravel pit on the site and applied to the Lands Office to expand the gravel pit as it was near the place where the over- pass was being built and boun- tiful alluvial deposits were suitable for landfill purposes.

The proposal to use this area of Crown Land as a massive gravel pit was submitted to the Federal ministries of Forests, Fisheries and Oceans, the En- vironment, and Parks as well as the Regional District of Kitimat- Stikine. They approved it with the stipulation that Ministry of Highways would work closely with a fisheries biologist to en- sure no lasting damage would be done to fish habitat.

The area contained a natural backwater and lagoons with flow controlled by beaver dams. Visiting fishing enthusiasts en- joyed camping near the lagoons or in nooks and crannies along the road rife with thimbleberry, alder and devil’s club. Natural camping spots still can be found, apparently, along what used to be the left fork of the access road. This reporter was unable to walk the area as the Skeena was high and the way barred by an uncontrolled flow of water.

The “‘borrow’’ site does not extend to the actual banks of the Skeena so fishing itself will not be affected. Its use is finished or near finished now and will soon undergo a reclamation process. The final draft of this reclama- tion plan must be approved by Fisheries and Oceans before the procedure begins.

It will probably include hav- ing a channel dug to the Skeena from the wet portion of the pit which, done under the direction of the fisheries biologist, should be useful for coho salmon. This would include planting rootwads

_ and-stumps in the channel to make it more like home for the fish. The entire bottom of the pit ‘will probably be reprofiled, with ‘cottonwood trees planted and ‘the slopes seeded with grass. After this is done the access road and culverts will be removed for habitat protection and water flow purposes. Jn other words, as before,

Overpass rearranges popular fis

we ewe f

Part of the regional transportation plan for the Northwest is elimination.of level rail crossings on Highway 16, and this overpass west of Terrace is one project in that plan well under way. Local anglers have been complaining, however, because access to one of the Skeena River’s most favored fishing areas has been cut

off by construction.

Photo by Pan Whitaker

those with 4x4’s may get through to the river while others park their cars and walk in. There will be ample parking on the paved detour road that will be left.

Campers, however, will some- how have to push through to the river itself or look for a spot far

to the left or far to the right of

where they used to go. T@will-be™ [°° ' ~

difficult to find a place where they can once again nestle in the

thimbleberry and contemplate, _

on quiet daybreaks, old ‘split rock’ towering over the ‘River of Mist’.

EDNESDAY IS DIRTY SHIRT DAY

Men's or Ladies’. cotton blend dress of business shirts expertly laundered,

Only drive-thru In town

~ Best, most rellable and cleanest service » Drop off point at Thornhill Public Market

|Richards Cleaners

-* 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. — Saturday KIODIE CORNER FROM THE POST OFFICE

presented by i) College of Dental Surgeons of BC.

DENTAL CARE ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET

Although many British Columbians have some form of dental insurance coverage, thera Is a small portion of the population who find dentistry difficult to budget for. Pensioners and others on fixed incomes may find that their limited finances simply don't keep up with the rising cost of inflation, As aresult, many goods and services such as dental care may be deemed as non-essential. re

However, It's impartant to realize that for the price of toothpaste and dental floss, 95% of dental care can be done by Individuals at hame. Regular proper brushing and flossing habits will dramatically lower the cost of professional services. Poor home care Is cited as one of two reasons why patients usually face largerbills. The dental teampoints to patients who avoid regular dental visits as the'second reason. Their dental problams go undetected until they bacome large, complex and thus more expensive to treat.

For those who want to malntain their teeth but are concemed about the costs Involved, start by making a dental appointment for an examination and consultation. Ageneral examwill cost about $20. X-rays, it needed, will range from approximately $9 to $57, depending on the number required, At this point your dentist can determine the status of your dental health, outline treatment costs if required and, above ail, suggest improvements In home care that can reduce future costs, Price- sensitive patients can then discuss extended payment arrangements or an affordable treatment schedule thal can provide cara over a period of time.

Tha dental profession continues to investigate ways of making high- quality dental care more accessible to all residents of British Columbia. One successtul program, Implamented by the College of Dental Surgeons in the 1960's, was the establishment of four low-cost denture clinics In the Lower Mainland and Victoria. Low-cost dental care is also provided by supervised students in dental, dental hygiene and certified dental assisting schools. However, thera are no wide-ranging solutions to dental costs on the Immediate horizon, and we must continue to encaurage Individuals to use the “team approach” to goed dental health.

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Today, although i may be impractical for everyone to have ideal :

- comprehensive dentistry performed, a mouth free of disease Is Indeed

a reallstic goal, .

This cofumn le written by 8.C. dentiat, Dr. William McNiece. information within [s nat intanded to diagnose or plan treatment; readere should consult their. dentist for individual dental care. Readers' questions are welcome, Please write: Ward of Mouth, College of Dental Sungeone of 8.C,, Suite 600, 1765 W.

Oth Ave., Vancouver, 8.C., V8) 5C8, ss